Page 5 of Beyond Friendship

I can feel her eyes burning into me and as I turn, the intensity of her gaze makes my stomach churn with dread. I force myself to look at her.

How have I not noticed that she has the same dark, expressive eyes as her brother?Dammit, Nick. Just as I’m ready to blame it on him, I remember my best friend mentioning his sister coming back to Boston after having lived and worked elsewhere for years.Well, fuck me.My heart sinks and if my dick had a voice, it would scold me now, trying to prevent me from doing what needs to be done. If were anyone else, it would have been so easy to succumb to the heat between us and take her home for the night. And with our connection, I’m not doubting it would be sensational, but knowing who she is and the risk that comes with it, I can’t do that—she can only stay a fantasy I’ll never fulfill.

She opens her mouth as if to speak, but before she can say anything, I lean close to her ear and murmur, “Let’s forget what happened.”

Blood pumps through my veins as she straightens her posture, locking her gaze with mine.

“Yeah, that would be better, wouldn’t it?”

My conscience and my libido are at war inside of me as I try to determine the correct course of action while simultaneously daydreaming about undressing the beautiful woman in front of me and running my tongue over every inch of her body. I grit my teeth. No, not an option. She’s my best friend’s younger sister. I take a deep breath and try to keep my expression as calm as possible.

“I will not jeopardize my friendship with your brother. So it’s better we forget what happened.”

She sighs but nods.

A pang of something—guilt? Regret?—hits me in the chest.

And a moment later, it’s accompanied by a sudden strange yet alarming set of palpitations in my chest. I press a hand against my heart. This, along with the fact that she’s my best friend’s sister, further cements the impossibility of us ever being together, so I murmur, “We can be friends, but that’s all it will ever be.”

She edges closer to me, her fingertips brushing my arm. “Guess we’ll be friends with chemistry then.”

I swallow hard, trying to push away the sensations that fill my body from her touch.

She stares at me for what feels like an eternity, not saying anything. I wait for her to speak, and she does.

“Let’s go,” she says before walking off toward my two closest friends sitting at the bar.

An hour later, I’m captivated by Amanda Brown as we talk.

“So a clothing boutique,” I say with a smile, admiring her ambition to start her own business.

Nick, sitting on the other side of his sister, says, “Brian is going to own his own bar/nightclub soon.”

Amanda sits up. “How far along are you with this plan?”

“Getting there,” I reply. “These two are a big help.” I shoot them both a grateful smile. Nick is born with entrepreneurship coursing through his veins and a brain for business pointed enough to make him a millionaire. The only thing he fails at is cooking—you should have seen the kitchen after he attempted to make an omelet. Cole, on the other hand, can craft flawless contracts but has the dancing finesse of two left feet. Together, they are an unstoppable force when it comes to investing in upcoming businesses. “With their help, I’m on the road to realizing my dream.” For a moment, the guilt of keeping my condition from them wants to take over. What if they invest and I…? I quickly stop my thoughts and focus on the woman beside me.

She rewards me with an earnest smile. “That’s amazing, Brian.”

As the evening progresses, Nick leaves us behind to dance with a girl he recognizes and couldn’t resist. Cole, however, left to find refuge in his own world by working on some business deals he had slated for the night, which leaves Amanda and me alone. We sit at the bar, and I notice her sneaking peeks at me in between sips of her drink.

“Something wrong?” I ask.

“I’ve seen you drink tonight, but no alcohol?” She gazes into her cocktail glass, grinning. “Guess I caught myself assuming that every future bar owner drinks alcohol.”

My smile widens, savoring how she doesn’t question if I’ll realize my dream but assumes it’s happening. I could tell her I have my occasional alcoholic beverage, but never more than two, but where’s the fun in that? So, I say, “Well, another assumption debunked then.”

Her laugh tinkles like a bell, setting off sparks in my gut. Our eyes lock like magnets, like they have all night. There’s that damn spark again, tempting me to lean closer and caress her skin.Why does she have to be Nick’s sister?If not… we wouldn’t be chatting here at this bar. No, we’d be tangled up in my bed with her moaning my name while I’m nestled between her thighs.

She glances at her small wristwatch. “I think it’s time to call it a night.”

Nick strides in our direction. The woman he’s been dancing with has her hands firmly clasped around his arm. His whimsical smirk is an undeniable evidence of his intentions.

“I’m heading home,” Amanda says to her brother, who raises a dubious brow.

“Oh, right. Let me...” He glances at the woman, then back at Amanda as she shakes her head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll grab a cab.”

---