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fourteen

Skylar

I wish I could have stayed with Chase, but I was swamped with work, a significant portion of which was his fault. And part of me felt we were crossing the imaginary line between friendship and more.

But I wanted more. He wanted more.

What was stopping us?

Was I actually letting my brother control a part of my life?

I shake my head and look at the computer screen. A color-coded spreadsheet begs for my attention as the cursor blinks at a blank space. I should work and focusing on the spreadsheet, but my thoughts were trapped elsewhere.

His touch on my thigh in the cab. The hair brushed away from my face. The ride back to my workplace. His lingering kiss. Each moment built a memory.

Lunch felt like a date and now that’s all I’m thinking about.

Me: What was all that?

I see the dots dance on the screen, then they disappear. They start up a moment later and his reply comes through.

I’m not sure about what you’re speaking of. Today was a busy day.

Did we have a date? A lunch date?

Would you like to consider it as a date?

Chase!

Skylar!

You know what I’m going to say…

That we’re playing with fire, yes. But would you like to consider it as a date?

Would you?

You know my answer to that.

I grin and feel the butterflies dance in my stomach at his text.

So, what are you doin?

Thinking.

About?

What I’m going to have for dinner tonight. Want to join me?

Do I? I really want to.

Should I? I shouldn’t.

Will I? That’s the question.

Thank you for lunch today. It was good.

Changing the subject on me?

I would never…

I’ll send you a pin for my address. Dinner will be ready at seven.

I never agreed to have dinner with you

Get back to work. I’ll see you tonight.

I never agreed to go to his place for dinner tonight. And the audacity of him to think that I would.

Ten-Fourteen. That’s the address he gave me.

I stand outside his building and look up.

It’s an eco-friendly building of ten floors, that I remember being in the news, having a huge garden on the very top and solar panels.

He lives in Music Row, the heart of Nashville’s music industry.

While I may not be a country music fan, this is the mecca for those that are, and even I’m impressed by the area.

A lot of history has happened along these streets. And he lives in the center.

I grab the hand of the door and enter the lobby. It’s decorated with Earth tones with metallic highlights. I head to the elevator and once inside; I press the P for the penthouse.

I walk the short distance to his front door and press his doorbell.

The door swings open, and I was not prepared for the sight in front of me.

He’s shirtless. And not just that, he’s dripping wet.

With one towel around his neck, and another around his waist, my mouth goes dry as I look him up and down.

He looks like a Roman gladiator. His body is sculpted to perfection as water droplets run down his rippled abs.

My eyes roam his practically naked body, appreciating every hard line and curve.

I watched him use the towel to dry his hair, as if it was in slow motion.

All the while, his face breaking into a devilish grin.

“You’re early,” he says.

Picking my jaw off the floor, I suck in a deep breath and steady myself. “I don’t like to be late.”

He steps aside, and I walk past him.

What am I doing? Oh yeah, I’m enjoying life.