Page 13 of The Friend Zone
“You didn’t say I couldn’t.”
“I am now.”
“Too late.”
Her back hit the wall, and he didn’t stop coming. He stepped right up to her, crowding her against the Sheetrock.
“Give it,” he said, holding out one hand.
“Nope.” She stared up at him in defiance.
Their eyes locked in a silent battle.
“I’m going to count to three,” he warned.
“You can count all you want,” Dana said, trying desperately to ignore the pleasing scent of sandalwood invading her nostrils.
“One.”
“This is my work. You need my permission to read it.” She rolled the book into a cylinder and tightened her fingers around it, fighting the urge to raise up on tiptoe and press her nose into his neck.
“Two.”
“What exactly do you plan to do, huh? I’m going to fight you.”
“Three,” Omar said with finality.
He tugged her toward him and her breasts smashed into his chest. Dana let out a low screech filled with alarm but also the thrill of excitement. Omar reached behind her, and she twisted to avoid his hands, but his reach was long. He grabbed her wrists and forcibly curled her arms in front of her body. Darn, he was strong.
He easily tugged away the notebook. “Thank you,” he said.
“Give it back!” Dana jumped, but he held it above her head out of reach.
“I only have a few more pages to go.”
He walked calmly back to the sofa, as easy as you please, while she stayed in the same spot for a few seconds, trying to get her shallow breathing under control because being so close to him deeply affected her. He, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine.
She settled on the other end of the sofa and watched him read with a knot in her stomach. His expressions alternated between a blank face and deep frowns.
When he finished, he set down the book.
“Did she kill her husband?” he asked.
“I’m not saying.”
“Damn, what an opening. Excellent.” He placed the book in the space between them.
“Really?”
Dana was so self-conscious about her work, she never let anyone read her stories. She guarded them like the gold at Fort Knox, so his compliment meant a lot.
“Hell, yeah. You know I don’t read much, but your story kept my attention.”
“You’re biased because I’m your friend.”
“You’ve known me long enough to know I wouldn’t pay you a compliment if I didn’t mean it. It’s a really strong start.”
Dana let out a quiet breath of relief. He was her cheerleader. She wasn’t allowed to doubt herself in his presence. He also spoiled her—as much as she let him. She was so used to taking care of others and spending on others, but he didn’t hesitate to take care of her in small ways—dinners out, tickets to events.
