Page 49 of Beyond Friendship

I halt in my tracks, unable to resist the pull of his voice. I slowly pivot, my eyes meeting his breathless and mesmerizing stare.

“It was wrong of me to ask because it’s not my business.” His words hang in the air, laced with regret and genuine remorse.

Damn him for sounding so sincere. It renders my anger impotent, leaving me teetering on the edge of an emotional precipice. I take a step back, needing distance from the man who has stirred my heart into chaos. As I do, my heel catches on the threshold, and my body tilts backward, plunging me into a momentary freefall.

Brian is quick, his reflexes sharp, but as he reaches out to steady me, he loses balance as well, and we crash against the wall with a resonant thud. Every nerve in my body comes alive when I find myself pinned between the unyielding panel and the heat of his body pressed against mine.

He braces himself against the wall, creating a fraction of space between us, his breath brushing against my cheek.

“Are you okay?” His voice, a low timbre filled with concern, sends shivers cascading down my spine. I inhale shallowly, struggling to form coherent words, my gaze drawn to a small piece of fluff on his shirt collar.

Without thinking, my fingers reach out, trembling slightly, and brush the offending fluff away. A sound escapes his lips, a mixture of a groan and a sigh as the electrifying connection between us intensifies. Our eyes lock, a silent understanding passing between us, and his heat seeps into me, fanning the flames of desire that flicker within. I move closer, drawn like a moth to a flame, our breaths mingling in the charged space we occupy. Time slows, the world around us fading into insignificance, as we stand there suspended in the ethereal realm of longing.

The universe holds its breath, as if aware of the pivotal moment that awaits us—the moment when our lips will finally meet, when the barrier between us will crumble, and our desires will intertwine.

“Amanda? Oh shit!”

We jerk away in shock to find Alisha staring at us from the hallway.

“Uh, never mind. I can fix it,” she stammers before hurrying away.

Brian takes a step back and clears his throat as he looks at the floor. “Sorry. That… I gotta go.”

He flees from me as if his life depended on it. At the entrance to the store, he looks back over his shoulder for a moment before disappearing.

Then the realization hits me—we almost kissed. But then he said, sorry.Does that mean he didn’t really want to kiss me? Or does he mean sorry that we got interrupted?A mix of desire, confusion, anticipation, and uncertainty rushes through me. I take a deep breath and run my hands through my hair as I try to make sense of all these mixed-up feelings inside me. Okay, we almost kissed, but didn’t. I make a mental note not to read too much into this moment. Because with Brian Alexander Fox, I know my heart hopes he’ll change his mind and give us a try, but to protect myself I have to keep in mind that it might stay a wishful dream.

14

AMANDA

As I pull up to Six-Pack, anticipation courses through me as I spot vans from the technicians and crew building the stage scurrying in and out with boxes. My heart flutters as I behold Brian’s car, parked in its usual spot.

My mind keeps recalling the moment he almost kissed me at Venus.

It’s been over a month, but my mind keeps reliving it. I take a deep breath and compose myself. These thoughts and feelings can wait until later; right now, the only thing that matters is the upcoming launch.

I bolt inside, feeling my heart race with anticipation.

“Hey, Amanda!” Darius calls, jogging up to me. “Are you excited?”

I smile at Darius, who stops tall and proud, with a bright smile on his face beside me. He’s wearing stylish blue jeans and a simple black T-shirt. This, combined with his slightly disheveled light brown hair, gives him a relaxed look.

My eyes light up as I survey the room. Everything looks how we planned it. They completed the runway in the middle of the dance floor, and technicians are tinkering with the lights while other workers are bustling around setting up the seating area. Large black pillars stand at the corners of the catwalk, each adorned with an overflowing vessel of fresh flowers that fill the room with a sweet aroma. I’m overwhelmed with joy at the sight of it all and I can’t help but let out a loud gasp of wonderment.

“Man, I can’t wait for tonight,” Darius says, his words tumbling out in excited tones as he shares his enthusiasm for the evening. “A night of beautiful women in lingerie—all courtesy of you.”

I chuckle. “You’re very welcome. Where’s Brian?”

“Oh, he’s near the dressing rooms. Your order of lingerie arrived half an hour ago, and he made sure they placed it in the right room.”

“Great. Then I’m off to work.” I pause, realizing I may need his help. “Darius, if any models arrive, can you welcome them and then bring them to me?”

A smirk stretches across his face. “Yes, ma’am! I’m about to become the best host those ladies have ever had.”

I laugh at his enthusiasm and clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks. If anything comes up, let me know.”

I weave my way through the building, my heart pulsing in anticipation. When I reach the women’s locker room, my breath catches in my throat when I see Brian standing, illuminated by a solitary beam of light that filters in from an open window. Damn, he looks sexy as hell with his rolled up sleeves, the curve of his biceps exposed, and a lock of golden hair moving back and forth with every move as he searches for something.

---