Page 437 of Hate Mates

Daniel shrugged. “He comes down the alley and sees her being harassed. He saves her, looks into her eyes, and the rest is history.” Not because that’s what his character wanted but because that’s what he wanted. That’s how he felt about Brianna, going all the way back to last year when he spoke to her at an event in New York.

“What happens after he saves her?” Brianna asks again.

“He lifts her onto his white horse, and off they go to live happily ever after.” Daniel smiled. This was the world he enjoyed. It was the world he wanted to live in.

Brianna nodded, not in agreement but understanding of what Daniel wanted. She wanted the hero and heroine to be given more conflict and more obstacles. She wanted Sasha and Carson to have disagreements, maybe a breakup or an extended separation before eventually coming back together when all seemed lost. “Daniel,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Maybe we each write an outline of what we think should happen from beginning to end.”

Daniel's smile faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Sure, that's probably a good idea. We can compare notes and find a middle ground."

Brianna felt a twinge of guilt at the disappointment in his eyes, but she pressed on. "Great. We can review them when we meet in Vegas next week."

The video call ended, leaving Brianna staring at her reflection on the darkened screen. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. The excitement of their upcoming collaboration was tinged with a hint of apprehension. Their differing views on romance were becoming more apparent, and she wondered if they could truly find a balance between his idealism and her more pragmatic approach.

The week flew by in a flurry of packing and last-minute preparations. Before she knew it, Brianna stepped off the plane in Las Vegas, the dry heat hitting her like a wall as she exited the airport. Her heart raced as she scanned the crowd, finally spotting Daniel waiting near the baggage claim. He looked even better than she remembered, his messy dark hair tousled by the desert wind, his brown eyes lighting up as they met hers. Brianna felt a flutter in her stomach as she approached, suddenly aware of how her sundress clung to her curves.

"Hey, you made it," Daniel said, pulling her into a warm hug. The woodsy, intoxicating scent of his cologne enveloped her.

"Wouldn't miss it," Brianna replied, her voice slightly breathless as she pulled away from the embrace. "How was your flight?"

"Not bad," Daniel said, grabbing her suitcase from the carousel. "Though I have to admit, I was a bit distracted. Couldn't stop thinking about our project."

"Me too," she admitted. "I finished my outline last night. You?"

Daniel nodded, guiding her towards the exit. "Just wrapped it up on the plane. I'm curious to see how they compare."

The ride to the hotel was filled with easy conversation, punctuated by moments of charged silence. Brianna found herself hyper-aware of Daniel's presence beside her in the back of the taxi, the heat of his thigh barely brushing against hers.

As they checked into their rooms—adjoining, as luck would have it—Brianna felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. This weekend would determine not just the direction of their story but potentially the course of their relationship.

"Dinner in an hour?" Daniel suggested as they reached their doors. "We can go over our outlines."

Brianna nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. "Sounds perfect."

An hour later, freshly showered and changed, Brianna knocked on the door connecting their rooms. Daniel opened it, looking devastatingly handsome in a crisp button-down and dark jeans. His eyes widened slightly as he took in her form-fitting black dress, his gaze lingering momentarily before meeting her eyes.

"You look... wow," he said, a hint of color rising to his cheeks.

Brianna felt a rush of warmth at his reaction. "Thanks," she replied, smoothing her hands over the silky fabric. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

They made their way down to the hotel restaurant, a sleek, dimly lit space with views of the glittering Vegas strip. As they settled into a cozy booth, Brianna couldn't help but notice how the soft lighting accentuated the planes of Daniel's face, casting intriguing shadows. After ordering drinks and appetizers, they pulled out their outlines. Brianna's heart raced as she unfolded her papers, suddenly nervous about sharing her vision.

"So," Daniel said, his voice low and intimate in the hushed restaurant. "Shall we compare notes?"

Brianna nodded, taking a steadying breath. "You first," she said, gesturing to his outline.

Daniel explained his vision for their story—a sweeping, romantic tale of love at first sight, filled with grand gestures and happily ever afters. His eyes lit up with passion as he spoke, his hands gesturing animatedly. Brianna found herself captivated by his enthusiasm, even as she noted the differences between their approaches.

When he finished, Daniel looked at her expectantly. "What do you think?"

Brianna took a sip of her wine, gathering her thoughts. "It's beautiful, Daniel. Your passion really comes through." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "But I wonder if we might be missing an opportunity for deeper character development."

She slid her outline across the table, her fingers brushing his as he took it. "In my version, Sasha and Carson face more obstacles. They struggle, grow, and even spend time apart before finding their way back together."

Daniel's brow furrowed as he read, his expression unreadable. Brianna held her breath, suddenly aware of how much his opinion mattered to her.

"It's... different," Daniel said slowly, looking up at her. "But I can see the potential. The conflict would certainly make their eventual reunion more powerful."

But Brianna could see he disagreed with her approach even as he said the words. She let Daniel continue his reading of her outline and as he did, a frown crossed his face. “What’s wrong?" Brianna leaned forward.

---