Page 8 of Rekindled Heat

"Whoa, are you okay?"

"It's been a long day."

I think I really must look tired because his features soften.

"Come on back. We have some water and juice, and you can rest for a bit until we figure this out."

That's it, that's all I needed.

Erik

Brandy is here, in my house, in my backyard, smiling and looking as gorgeous as ever. When Anne told me who was here, I couldn't believe it. Then I saw her smile, and all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and kiss her for hours. Then, the realization hit. I left her a long time ago, and I never went back. Why would she come to me, of all people?

I haven't even asked her why she's in Miami. And I need to have a stern talk with my mother, giving away my address, even if it is to a friend. Is Brandy my friend? I told her we would be friends that horrible night that I dumped her. She looks so different, yet feels the same.

Anne tries to get Brandy to talk about my teenage years, but so far, she just dodges the questions.

"Tell me all about your quilting business," Anne says.

Brandy sips her water and smiles. "I do custom work, as I mentioned, and I also teach classes and sell patterns. That's why I'm here in Miami. There's an apprenticeship with a famous quilter, and I got accepted."

Well, it looks like the silent treatment works, and Anne does all the digging for me. Brandy is really talented. I still keep the quilt she made me when I left for college. It hangs on the ceiling of my bedroom. She had this whole collection of night sky scenes she did for a contest. I was the lucky one to get such a thoughtful and priceless gift.

She's so beautiful. I forgot how her auburn hair curled at the ends, making her look carefree. The humidity here in Miami won't be good for her hair. I used to love it when she let it loose. I'd take the tresses between my fingers and enjoy the softness. I wonder if she still twirls her hair when she's nervous.

I watch her. She laughs at Max’s jokes, drinks her water, and gazes at the ocean. She seems rather comfortable in my house, which makes me uncomfortable.

"How long are you staying, Brandy?" I say, interrupting whatever they are saying.

"Depends on the artist. Could be anything between one to three months."

"How on earth did you expect to come here without enough funds to stay somewhere decent?"

"Your mother assured me your hospitality."

"My mother doesn't speak for me, nor does she own my house."

"Erik, you're being rude," Anne says.

I look at Max for confirmation of what I know is true. I'm being a jackass. But she can't stay here. I never asked for this. And besides—look at her. I don't think I could stay away from her. She's wearing a yellow sundress with white daisies on it. Her curvy body fills the dress just right. Her long legs have a soft tan, and just admiring them makes my cock twitch a little bit. Okay, a lot.

This will not work. I can't look away from her. She's wearing white sandals that show off her pedicured feet. The yellow color on her toes makes me smile, and I know I must look like a loon smiling for no reason. I want to kiss her toes. I want to worship her entire body. Damn it.

"I'll pay for your stay in a hotel." I blurt out.

Brandy’s eyes go wide. "I don't know that I'm comfortable doing that. I hear there are parts of the city that aren’t safe."

"For god's sake, Erik. You've got a perfectly good guest room upstairs and you're away most of the day at work. You probably won't see Brandy during the week. Right, Brandy?"

"Right."

There it is. The sad puppy look. How am I going to fight that? She crosses her legs, showing more thigh than is proper. Hell, I’ve got a semi now. I get up and go to the bar to refill my drink. When I get there, I fill my glass with water instead. If I get too drunk, I might not care and make unwanted advances towards my ex-girlfriend. Would they be unwanted, though?

Anne and Max seem to have hit it off with her. I'm not surprised. She was always very popular, but she didn't take advantage of it. Instead, she spent all her free time with me. We shared dreams and possibilities, but I became enamored with city life once I started at Yale and took weekend trips to New York City. I didn't exactly hang out with the in-crowd, but I had my own little group with Max and Theo.

She often begged me to let her visit, but I didn't want to mix my two worlds. Now, I accept the fact that I was an idiot. Every letter she sent me during those first two years of college was filled with encouragement and love. Back then, I resented those letters, but I've still got them hidden in a box in my bedroom closet.

I went back to my chair and did my best to look irked. Brandy looked at me and got up from her chair, walked toward my seat and knelt down before me.

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