Page 9 of Beyond Friendship

“Hey, that’s what friends do,” he murmurs in my ear. His words are loving, and I shudder involuntarily with pleasure at the warmth of his breath on my skin. Heat gathers in my body as I recognize the strength of his muscles below my palms while his hand glides lightly up and down my back in a mesmerizing motion. He isn’t pulling away from the embrace either.Does this mean anything? Is he enjoying this closeness the same way I am?

I lean back, and the electricity between us is palpable. The connection I’ve been striving to deny all these years is finally staring me in the face, begging for acknowledgment as our eyes meet.

I press myself against him, and his gaze sparks with a familiar longing, like he’s been waiting for this moment too. My heart races in anticipation. My lips are barely a breath away from his when he abruptly pulls away with an agonized expression on his face.

“I’m sorry. I can’t,” he whispers. A powerful ache surges through me and a single tear slips down my cheek as he strides across the room, collecting his things. “I’m going home to take a shower and nap before heading off to Six-Pack. You should rest too, Brownie.”

Before I can reply, and without looking at me, he’s gone, leaving me grateful for his assistance but swamped by the longing to understand.Why am I not enough?

3

BRIAN

Present.

With my backto the dance floor, I grasp the glass filled with liquid amber and let the bubbling laughter that’s permeating the room seep into my ears. I’m so attuned to her presence that my senses are on high alert every time I’m in the same space with her.Don’t turn and look. Focus on something else. But I can’t, so I sneak a peek over my shoulder at the goddess standing a few meters away in conversation.

She’s wearing a low cleavage mint-green dress, her open back exposing her sculpted figure in a way that entices all males in the area. Her date is standing beside her, and my hand clenches around the tumbler when I see how he rests his hand on her hip.

“Okay, give this to me before it breaks.”

I frown at Darius, who’s prying the tumbler from my hand.

“You’re not working, boss. Go have fun. Why don’t you ask Amanda to dance?”

My head snaps to my loyal employee. “What?”

“You’ve been grinding your teeth and eye-fucking her the whole damn time. I’ve never seen you this tense.”

“I’m not... tense, and I’m not eye-fucking anyone. Especially not one of my friends.”

My phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and walk off. “I need to take this. You keep pouring drinks.”

Once in the less noisy hallway, I answer.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, honey. How’s Cole’s wedding party going?”

My heart swells with warmth, hearing the pride in her voice. After entering my office and closing the door, I sink into my leather chair. “Six-Pack looks fantastic. I snapped some photos, and I’ll show you when we have dinner Wednesday night.”

“Any interesting single women tonight?” she asks.

“Mom!”

“What? I’m just hoping to see you in a committed relationship soon. My darling boy deserves a wonderful woman by his side.”

I rub my hand over my face as she continues.

“Brian, sweetheart. You’re an amazing man. It’s time to stop those playboy one-night stands and find a special woman who you can keep around for more than one night.”

“MOM,” I say with a cough. “I’m thirty-two.”

“Exactly. And you’re blessed with your father’s charisma and handsome appearance. Women always loved getting his attention.”

“Until he met you. Dad always said you rocked his world from the moment he met you and that it never changed.”

Her stifled sob echoes in my ear, and my heart aches with sadness as an image of them dancing through the living room rises. Their love was pure and intense.

---