Page 33 of Beyond Friendship

“Sure, I—”

I press the end call button before Chantel can finish and turn to Amanda.

“Brian!” she gasps, eyes wide in shock.

I flash her a cheeky grin and shrug. “Don’t worry. The eager Ms. Chantel will wait patiently for your call.”

Amanda twists a strand of hair around her finger as she focuses on traffic.

“But you said—”

I let out a huff, remembering our conversation gone wrong in my office. “Oh, I consulted my agenda,” I explain, giving her an apologetic look.

A devilish grin appears on her lips as she casts an inquisitive glance in my direction. “I never mentioned the specific date, Brian.”

Busted by the goddess.My lips twitch in amusement and I shrug.

“See it as my apology for my behavior that day.”

She cocks a brow and smirks. “Only for that day?”

I give her a meaningful wink, which causes her cheeks to blush a soft pink.So adorable.

“I hate it when people presume I can’t hold my own in the business field. And it’s even worse when they think I can’t do it without my brother’s help.”

I nod. “That Chantel woman has no shame. The way she suggested you ask Nick for help was disgusting. If anyone can handle their business, it’s you. You’re a talented woman who set up ‘Venus’ with outstanding success. So Chantel should thank her lucky stars that you want to sell their lingerie line in your store and not the other way around. Without wonderful stores that sell their stuff, they’re nothing.”

She casts me a sideways glance. “Thank you.”

“For what? I’m simply stating a fact.”

She stops the car and stares out the window.

“We’re here,” she says, admiring my place.

I glance at my contemporary home, smiling with pride as I exit the passenger side. Some people assume as the boss of a nightclub, I’d live in an upscale, luxurious penthouse in the Centre of Boston. Well, not this guy. As much as I enjoy the high, energetic buzz of Six-Pack, when I lock it up and go home, I love to have my privacy and space. That is why I love this place. Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, my home stands at over nine thousand square feet, approximately seven miles west of the hustle and bustle of downtown Boston. Natural light floods my two-story home through a multitude of oversized windows. Thanks to a few smart investments over the years, and with Nick’s knowledge, I’ve been able to buy this private oasis.

I grin. Pulling the keys from my pocket, I saunter toward the entrance. Out of the blue, a dizzy spell comes over me, and I stumble. Within a second, Amanda is right beside me, gripping my arm with a steady hand. The daze disappears as fast as it came.

“Brian, are you okay?”

Fuck. I hate hearing the worry in her voice.

I pull my arm free and stride to the front door. “I’m fine. Want to come in?”

She shakes her head while coming my way.

“Your body is telling you to rest, Brian. And I have to go to work.”

After I open the door and deactivate the alarm system, she places the bag next to me. I stare at her, realizing I don’t want her to leave, and speak before I can think it over. “What are you doing after work?”

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Uh, nothing. Dinner and taking a shower. Why?”

My lower region stirs with thoughts of her wet body glistening in the shower.Dammit, I need to get laid.

“I have a blueprint of Six-Pack in my home office, and I thought it might be a good idea to go over the possibilities and your ideas for the layout after work.”

She averts her gaze and bites her bottom lip while considering my proposal.

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