《HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY》


 1

    ¡°Here you go,¡± thendlord said as he stretched his hands towards Elena, ¡°The keys to your new apartment. Wee to the building,¡±


    Elena Davis smiled as she reached out to take the keys, ¡°Thank you,¡± she said and watched as the elderly man walked out, closing the front door behind him. She looked around her new apartment and smiled happily. This is a start of something new. The beginning of a new phase in her life. It filled her with happiness, anxiety and fear all at the same time that she didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry, but what she did know was that she was going to do everything in her power to make things work out for good¡­ She had to. After failing the first time, she didn¡¯t really have a choice, did she?


    Elena Davis had graduated from the university three years ago and had begun the journey of starting her own catering business. Unfortunately, she had failed and had to close down. Elena had been distraught, but a few months ago, her twin sister Emily had suggested that she start over. She¡¯d told her that it was not umon for most business owners to fail in the beginning, and she just had to be consistent. She¡¯de up with the idea of moving to a new environment too, and then pointed out that if Elena moved to Vacaville, where Emily also lived with her husband, she¡¯d be able to help her start over, so Elena had agreed without much hesitation. It wasn¡¯t like she had reason to stay.


    She pulled out her phone to call and sister, and smiled happily when Emily picked up, ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± she said with excitement in her voice, ¡°The apartment is officially mine and I just got the keys from thendlord,¡±


    ¡°Well, congrattions. Aren¡¯t you d I talked you into it.¡± Emily replied, ¡°But you didn¡¯t have to rush to get a ce so early. You could have continued to stay with Daniel and I. There¡¯s enough room and it would have been fun,¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Elena replied, ¡°But I have furniture and a lot of stuff from my old apartment so I just wanted everything to be done with once and for all. Besides, you told me you and Daniel are trying for a baby and I didn¡¯t want to¡­.. interrupt the ¡®process¡¯ in any way. Don¡¯t want to be in the middle of all the¡­. You know¡­¡±


    Emilyughed loudly.¡± Fine. I get it. As long as you are here, it doesn¡¯t matter. All I know is that my sister and I get to live in the same city again and that¡¯s something I¡¯ve wanted for a while now. You shoulde home soon. Daniel and I are going out tonight for some drinks. You shoulde with us¡­ I can introduce you to some friends from work¡­. And oh, Elijah ising too. Bet you¡¯d be happy to see him.¡±


    Elena frowned,¡± And why would I be?¡±


    There was an awkward pause before Emily said, ¡°Never mind. Don¡¯t bete,¡±


    Emily hung up and Elena stood for a while, staring at the wall. Elijah¡­. She hadpletely forgotten about him. Elijah Kendrick was Emily¡¯s best friend when they were in the university, and Elena had had a huge crush on him.. She¡¯d never had the guts to tell him or anyone else how she felt about him. Not even her sister. There had been no point, because Elijah had never looked her way. Not even once.


    After graduation, everyone had separated to pursue their careers, and slowly she¡¯d forgotten about Elijah. Until now. Her heart fluttered a little bit as she thought about seeing him again. How much had he changed? Would he notice her?¡­See her differently.. after all this time?


    Elena was an over thinker, and by the time they were finally heading for the bar that evening, she was a little nervous. The club doors after they passed security were opened wide, and lots of men and women filtered in and out, mingling in groups and chatting andughing loudly. Some sat at the bar, drinking. Some were on the dance floor¡­ Couples in each other¡¯s arms, dancing, talking and smiling at each other.


    Emily¡¯s husband, Daniel led the way and Elena clung to her sister, holding hands as they filtered their way into the club. Elena felt a bit out of ce since it¡¯d been a long time since she went clubbing, but Emily noticed and squeezed her hand reassuringly.


    ¡°Rx,¡± Emily told her, ¡°You¡¯re here to have fun, remember?¡±


    Elena shrugged and followed them to a table where two beautifuldies were already seated. When they joined the table one of the girls snorted. ¡°Where the hell have you two been? You¡¯re thirty minuteste,¡± The girl said. She had blond curly hair and a pretty face, while the other girl, a brte nodded in agreement while she stared at Elena.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay,¡± Emily apologized, ¡°I had to convince the princess here,¡± she nced at Elena, ¡°That her outfit was really fine after we wasted fifteen minutes searching for the right one. You guys, meet my sister and the first love of my life¡­ Elena,¡±


    Both girls smiled at her while Elena smiled back shyly. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± the blond girl said, ¡°I¡¯m Lexi and this is Charlotte. Wow, Emily has told us so much about you. We¡¯ve seen pictures before but damn, you two do look like. If you wore the same clothes and styled your hair the same way, I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯d have difficulty differentiating the both of you,¡±


    ¡°What is it like looking at someone and seeing your own face?¡± Charlotte asked, ¡°Must be weird¡­ Like looking into a mirror,¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s definitely not weird for me,¡± Elena replied, ¡°I know we look alike, but I do see some¡­. Differences between us. I guess other people might not see them¡­ At least not at first, but after a while, they do,¡±


    A waiter arrived with a menu and Elena went through it. She didn¡¯t want to get drunk, but she wanted enough alcohol to get a little ¡®buzz¡¯. Daniel would be driving them home, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about that. She finally settled for a Long Ind iced tea. Emily ordered the same thing while Daniel ordered for beer.

 2

    After the waiter left to get their order, Emily nced at Lexi, ¡°Where is Elijah?¡± she asked her, ¡°He texted me on the way and said he was here already. Was he messing with me?¡±


    ¡°Now why the hell would I do that?¡± a voice said behind them.


    Elena didn¡¯t need to look behind her to know who owned that voice¡­.


    Elijah.


    ¡ª¡ª¨C


    Elijah Kendrick was a handsome young man. It was one of the reasons why Elena had had such a huge crush on him in their university days.


    Elena and Emily were identical, and sometimes students and teachers would confuse them for each other if they didn¡¯t know them well. Elena and Emily met Elijah at the same time. But there was something about Emily, some energy buzzing at an undetectable level, that drew Elijah¡¯s attention and made him feelfortable.


    Elijah and Emily had been best friends ever since, and Elena hated that she looked like Emily-exactly like her-and was still different enough that the sweet, shy guy, the one with a cute smile and long legs, didn¡¯t look twice at her.


    Elijah was quiet and observant when he was in public, a knife-sharp sense of humor and yful personality when he was with people who knew him the best. He was the reason Elena hated being a twin for the first time in her life. She didn¡¯t think about that day much anymore, and her crush on him lessened to a low-lying simmer. Barely detectable unless you held your hand directly over the heat. But then one day, she opened stupid Instagram and saw that he¡¯d followed her. Of course, she¡¯d followed him right back, and saw a picture of him in his stupid ¡°don¡¯t I look good in blue¡± scrubs, and felt her heart die all the deaths from how cute he looked. So now she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him.


    Which was why she¡¯d avoided her sister by locking herself in her room to study. Scared that locking up the butterflies that wanted to flutter through her veins at the sight of him, her sister would take one look at her and know.


    Picturing her  twin sister¡¯s best friend was one thing that made her head and heart war mightily. And every single time, her head won.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Leave him alone.


    It would be too weird.


    He doesn¡¯t even look at you that way.


    Those were all the things Elena told herself when her crush on Elijah red out of control. And it had worked too. Worked until they graduated, and everyone went on and focused on their lives and careers.


    Four years ago, Elijah had been the man of Elena¡¯s dreams. The guy she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about and couldn¡¯t stop staring at, but right now, he was standing right in front of their table, but her attention was not on him. Another man was standing on Elijah¡¯s left and that was where her gaze was.


    The man was taller than Elijah, broad shoulders encased in midnight ck, hands tucked into the pants pockets.


    Elena¡¯s eyes narrowed. His hand came out of the pants pockets, and she caught a sh of ink along the back of his big, rough-looking hand. Her mouth was hanging open when she realized that Elijah was speaking to her.


    She took her gaze off Mr strange and stared at Elijah¡¯s smiling face and clean-shaven jaw, then spread out her hands to receive his warm hug. She smiled back at him. ¡°Elijah,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s really good to see you again. How have you been?¡±


    ¡°Very fine, thank you,¡± replied Elijah, ¡°Emily has been talking non stop about your arrival. I¡¯m d you are here. Trust me, you¡¯ll enjoy the city,¡±


    Elena grinned at him, ¡°Well, time will tell,¡± Her gaze fell on the other man again, and Elijah¡¯s voice seemed toe from a distance when he introduced the other man to her,


    ¡°This is my elder brother, Chandler Kendrick,¡±


    ¡°Hello¡­¡± Elena whispered. Her head was nodding before she could even attempt to mask her reaction.


    There was no smiling from Chandler. No, his facial expression could be categorized as a smirk if she¡¯d ever seen one. His mouth was firm and wide, a hard, smirking sh in his face.


    Which was also not clean-shaven. There was a jaw, all right, but the simrities ended there. He was darker, bigger, and taller than Elijah in all categories. But the eyes, she noted immediately; he had the same color eyes as his brother.


    ¡°Hello, it¡¯s nice to meet you, Elena,¡± he muttered, eyes ncing down the front of her body. Is it okay if I sit here¡­Beside you?¡±


    Oh, it was very okay, Elena thought, but she couldn¡¯t say that out loud, so she simply nodded, and tried not to sniff loudly when he squeezed into the space beside her. He was a big man and he seemed to upy not just the seat but the air around her too. Spicy and clean and male, and Elena like that¡­ She liked that a lot.


    Emily sat with Daniel, and although they joined in the conversations, they seemed to be in their own world too. Holding hands, smiling at each other at intervals, and sneaking in kisses at some point. Elena thought that her sister was lucky. Emily seemed to have everything and have life figured out. She had her career figured out, her friendship and marriage figured out, and Elena couldn¡¯t rte to that.


    The waiter returned with their drinks, took Elijah and Chandler¡¯s order and left again. He returned with a bottle of Hennessy and Elena watched through the corner of her eyes as Chandler poured himself a shot and drank it in one gulp.


    Elena learnt that Lexi was actually Elijah¡¯s girlfriend, and that Chandler was a businessman and owned his ownpany. She also observed that Charlotte couldn¡¯t seem to keep her eyes off Chandler. She batted her eyes at him numerous times, flirted subtlety with him andughed at almost everyment he made. It was funny and a little cringey, but Elena didn¡¯t me her. The man was very attractive.


    Chandler on the other hand didn¡¯t seem to care about Charlotte¡¯s advances. He didn¡¯t seem to be interested in her -or anyone else for that matter. He seemed reserved, and spoke only when someone spoke to him or asked a question. Which was why Elena was surprised when he suddenly took another shot, dropped the ss, turned to her and said, ¡°There¡¯s a lot going on over there,¡± he nodded in the direction of the dance floor, ¡°Wanna dance?¡±

 3

    Elena blinked at him, unsure of what to say and surprised about how direct he was. Her mouth opened, but she didn¡¯t have a chance to say anything before Emily chipped in.


    ¡°Yes, she would really like to dance. Wouldn¡¯t you, Elena?¡± Emily asked, with an evil, mischievous smile on her face.


    Elena narrowed her eyes in her sister¡¯s direction, and watched as Emilyughed out loudly before returning her attention to Daniel. ¡°Sure,¡± she told Chandler, ¡°But just so you know, I¡¯m a terrible dancer,¡±


    He smiled at her then. ¡°For some reason, I find that very hard to believe,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Elena insisted,


    ¡°Then I guess you don¡¯t have anything to worry about because you see, Elena,¡± he leaned closer to her ear, so close that every hair on her body became erect, ¡°I¡¯m a terrible dancer too so I guess we¡¯ll figure it out there,¡±


    Thankfully, he moved away so she could stop holding her breath and she smiled at him. Chandler stood, then held out his hand to her. Elena took it, and together, they moved to the dance floor.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Have you ever been invited to a costume party? You take the time to n your outfit, you buy the supplies, perfect the look, and then arrive, only to discover that you¡¯re the only one who wasn¡¯t in on the secret. Awkward¡­That¡¯s how you¡¯d feel.


    Awkward. That¡¯s how Elena felt as she walked to the dance floor with Chandler¡­. her hand gently sped in his. Elena always knew, abstractly and from vague hints over the years, that Elijah and his brother weren¡¯t close. That he was kind of an outsider, though Elena figured Emily was prone to exaggeration when she¡¯d said he was an actual delinquent.


    Elena had never met Chandler, but from what she could remember, Chandler Kendrick was at least six years older than Elijah and they weren¡¯t close¡­ At least not like Elena and Emily. And if this hangout was any indication, Emily was right. Being brothers and having simr eye color was where the simrities ended.


    Chandler was the outsider. The ck sheep of the family. The rebel. Elijah was quiet and shy, and while Chandler didn¡¯t talk much, he was outspoken, straightforward and bold. Elijah was a doctor, while Chandler was a sessful businessman. He was theplete opposite of his brother, and he was covered in ink and attitude. Seriously, what kind of businessman had so many damn tattoos, Elena wondered as Chandler faced her.


    The strains of music seemed to drift away as they stood, and as Elena looked over her shoulder at the other couples enjoying each other¡¯spany on the dance floor, she felt even more awkward, and began to wish that she¡¯d said no.


    Chandler watched her with keen interest. She was doing her best to ignore his presence entirely, or maybe she was that lost in thought, he wasn¡¯t sure. He observed that at some point on their way to the dance floor, she¡¯d slipped her hand out of his, and he¡¯d let go of her hand, acting like he didn¡¯t notice. He approached slowly, sheathing whatever weapon that might spook her, giving her a small smile as he held his hand out.


    ¡°Come on, Elena. Dance with me?¡±


    Elena¡¯s chest fell and rose on an inhale as midnight eyes snapped to his face.


    ¡°You really want to? I mean, it¡¯s not even a slow song,¡±


    ¡°Ouch.¡± Chandler said and hand rubbed at the spot above his heart, and he saw her gaze flicker to his tattoos. Again, he acted like he didn¡¯t notice. He was used to people giving him weird nces because of his tattoos. Most people did not like it, even his mother at some point, but she got used to it. ¡°Yes, even social reprobates like myself enjoy dancing with a beautiful woman, and it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a slow song or not. Never mind about that. I don¡¯t care about the song because I wanted to talk to you.¡±


    Even as the pink deepened on her high cheekbones, she was clearly undecided, Chandler observed. Time to see if this first corner piece would click into ce, or if he waspletely off-base. ¡°Come on,¡± he said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ve known your sister for a while and she is fearless¡­ A little bit scary too I must admit, but I¡¯m sure that fearlessness is something you both share¡­. A twin thing as they put it,¡±


    Chandler had meant that to be apliment, but oh, no, she didn¡¯t like that. Her eyes shed like an impending lightning storm, and he felt the surge of electricity gather around him like a cloud. He was beginning to think that she¡¯d turn around and walk away from him, but he was surprised when she slid her hand in his, and stepped closer. Not quite close enough, but at least that was something.


    Bracketing her feet with his own, Chandler slid his free hand around her waist and brought her flush against him. Just close enough to not be improper, considering they were not alone, but just enough so he could feel the heat radiating from her body and still be enveloped by her flowery scent .


    If someone from their table walked past, they would stare. Chandler was sure of that. They might gawk at the way he was holding her. And damn if he didn¡¯t want them to. The Hennessy was doing things to his system. Something that made him daring and a little wild.


    He knew what they¡¯d see, how they¡¯d judge. The bad boy and the good girl, a strange pairing maybe, but if they saw them like this, swaying on the dance floor, they¡¯d assume they had a thing for each other. That something about her had him kind of obsessed. Something about her made him feel dangerous. And maybe that was true, even if just for this one night.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    In his arms, Elena Davis felt incredible. Her body was warm, her skin was soft, and she smelled like flowers. But she was holding herself a little stiffly, so Chandler backed off just a couple of inches as he gently led her in a slow circle. When he directed her in a slow turn out and spin, she smiled.

 4

    ¡°See? I¡¯m full of surprises, too,¡± he told her.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Apparently.¡± She replied.


    ¡°So ¡­¡± he watched her face. ¡°Do you like Vacaville so far?¡±


    She shrugged lightly, ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say for sure right now. I¡¯ve been here for only two weeks. In Fact, I just got my apartment today, so¡­. I think I¡¯ll hold on to my review for now,¡±


    ¡°Too bad,¡± he said, ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d say you felt much better about Vacaville since you¡¯ve just met this really cool dude-,¡± he paused and gave her a look, ¡°-That¡¯s me by the way¡­¡±


    Elena couldn¡¯t stop the smile this time.


    Chandler continued, ¡°¡­ But I guess I was wrong. You¡¯re not a fun person.¡±


    Elena set her jaw stubbornly, and the smile quickly disappeared. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very fair. You can¡¯t make a conclusion just like that because of one thing.¡±


    ¡°No?¡± he turned her again, pulling her back into his chest. ¡°Agree to disagree.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯d want me to dissect you right now?¡± Elena asked, face flushed from the way he¡¯d just tilted her back. ¡°Because I have made my own¡­ Observations. So do you want me to?¡±


    ¡°Hell no.¡± He replied.


    She bit down on the smile that threatened to spread. Oh, Chandler wished she hadn¡¯t. He wanted to see that smile unfold and know that he was the one to make her do it.


    ¡°But I¡¯ll tell you one thing I know is true, and if you want to do the same to me,¡±   he conceded, ¡°then I¡¯ll allow it.¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    They danced quietly for a few moments of the song, and he thought about what to say, and how to say what he wanted to say, ¡°What I know to be true,¡± he began slowly, ¡°is that my stupid brother has never danced with you like this.¡±


    Her eyes shed again, but Chandler couldn¡¯t pinpoint the emotion behind it. ¡°How on earth could you possibly know that?¡± she asked.


    He shifted his hand, brushing his fingers against the knot of bone that he could feel under her soft, soft skin. She shivered. Instead of giving her the answer she wanted, he lifted his chin. ¡°Your turn.¡±


    As they swayed together, her hand tightened slightly in his. Forgetful of what it might do to her lipstick, she chewed on her lip and thought carefully before saying anything. ¡°Okay, I admit. I don¡¯t know much about you,¡±


    Chandler smirked, and Elena rolled her eyes at him, ¡°I mean, I did know about you. I knew Elijah had a brother, but I also thought that you two weren¡¯t close. I was honestly surprised when you showed up with him,¡± She watched his face carefully. ¡°Did something happen between you guys? I mean, not that it¡¯s any of my business. You don¡¯t even have to answer¡­. Forget I asked that,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Chandler said, ¡°I like that you are asking questions about me. It means you want to get to know me,¡±


    They swayed again, his fingers moving against her skin as they did. ¡°That¡¯s not why I asked,¡± Elena nced over his shoulder, almost refusing to meet his eyes. ¡°I hope you know that.¡±


    Chandlerughed under his breath. He liked this girl, he decided. He wanted to ruffle her feathers and see her in her full glory when she wasn¡¯t afraid to hide whatever she kept simmering under the surface.


    ¡°I do know that,¡± he told her, executing another gentle turn. ¡°But it¡¯s okay that you asked¡­¡± His voice trailed off. ¡°As for your question. The answer is no. Nothing happened between Elijah and I. We used to be very close when we were kids, but as we got older, we kinda drifted apart. We didn¡¯t fight, and it wasn¡¯t Elijah¡¯s fault¡­ Just some family issues¡­ Maybe it was my fault. I don¡¯t know, buttely we¡¯ve been trying to¡­. Develop that bond between us again. We¡¯ve been hanging out more often than we used to. He invited me toe out with him tonight, so here I am. You might not understand¡­. I can see that you and your sister have a good rtionship with one another, ¡±


    Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and Chandler¡¯s eyes followed the movement. ¡°I guess we do. We always have. There were times when we got into fights but we made up quickly all the time. A twin thing I guess. Emily is my best friend in the whole world and I can¡¯t imagine not being close to her,¡±


    Chandler nodded. The music ended, and he stopped their swaying. ¡°About your apartment¡­ When do you intend to move in?¡±


    ¡°As soon as my furniture arrives. I already have everything packed and ready to go. I still have to find a good store for my business too. God, I sure have a lot to do and if things don¡¯t go as nned, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do,¡±


    He nodded, ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said, ¡°Moving can be tough and really stressful. I¡¯d be d to help¡­ In any way I can¡­. If you need it,¡±


    Elena shook her head, ¡°Thanks but I don¡¯t mean that. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I do appreciate the offer, but It¡¯s not just about moving,¡±


    Chandler said nothing. He just stared, waiting for her to exin, not wanting to interrupt or force her into saying anything, and crazily enough, Elena found herself talking; to a man she just met and knew absolutely nothing about.


    ¡°I tried to start my own business, and failed,¡± she began, sighing deeply, ¡°It started out great, but along the line, I don¡¯t know what happened and everything I worked for crashed to the ground. It was Emily¡¯s idea that I move to Vacaville and start over. I¡¯m happy and eager to start all over again, but I¡¯m scared. What if I fail again? What happens then? Do I move again¡­. Start over again¡­ Or do I just give up. It¡¯s times like these when I wonder how my sister does it. She seems to have everything figured out, you know¡­Her entire life is just perfect but I on the other hand¡­ I seem  to keep doing something wrong,¡±


    Elena stopped talking and faced him again. The entire time she¡¯d been talking she was staring at his shoulder and when her eyes met his she couldn¡¯t quite figure out what she saw there. Was it understanding, or just pity. She didn¡¯t want him to pity her, so she shook her head and took a step back, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to unload all that on you,¡±

 5

    Chandler caught her arm, stopping her movement. She stared at his ce where he made contact and he dropped his hand to his side. The thing was that he did understand. He understood how it felt to have a sibling who seemed to be the apple of everyone¡¯s eye. The child the parents were always proud of. The one who had everything figured out. ¡°I¡¯m notining,¡± he said, ¡°I kinda did the same thing and you listened¡­. And it¡¯s okay to start over. As long as you don¡¯t give up. You can try as many times as you need to,¡±


    Elena smiled at him. It was weird and funny at the same time. How she¡¯de here, anxious to see her crush from years ago¡­ Who happened to be his brother, and now she couldn¡¯t even remember if Elijah existed. She stared at the clover tattoo on the side of his hand and wondered why he had so many of them.


    Chandler noticed her staring. The wavy length of her deep brown hair caught the lights in the room and he tilted his head and watched her for a moment. It had been a while since he¡¯d spent an evening like this with a woman, especially someone like Elena. Dressed up and out on the town, with a good girl to boot. It almost felt like he was someone else because he¡¯d managed to find himself in such a situation. She was incredibly beautiful in the unaffected, natural way that heavily made-up women hated. There was something about the way she was staring up at him, something he couldn¡¯t define. She had a hint of childlike wonder in her eyes and in the slight curl of her lips.


    Watching her, he felt his chest swell with something foreign and warm at the thought that he was the man with her tonight. No one else. Not his brother, the Golden Boy who everyone loved or any of the other peacocks under that roof.


    Just him.


    In every way, Elena Davis was too good for him, Chandler thought. She was neat and clean and innocent with no trace of a scar or ink on her skin that he could see. It was obvious in her eyes that despite her struggles with her business, she was loved and happy and secure, and that was the kind of woman he had no ce feeling any sort of attraction to, but very slowly, he reached his hand out and cupped her elbow with his hand, just so that he could feel her skin against the pads of his fingers. She startled but didn¡¯t pull away.


    ¡°Wanna go to the bar and get some more drinks?¡± he murmured next to her ear. The edges of her hair tickled his mouth; that was how closely he was standing next to her.


    Elena didn¡¯t answer right away, but she took another one of those deep, fortifying breaths and turned to catch his stare. Chandler¡¯s heart turned ufortably in his chest.


    ¡°Sounds like a good and bad idea at the same time,¡± she answered seriously. ¡°So yes,¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    Chandler¡¯s lips hooked in a smile, and he held out his elbow. This protective instinct to be with her throughout the evening took him by surprise, and as her small hand curled around the crook of his arm, he grinned more widely.


    Chandler led them to two open stools at the bar and ordered tequ shots for them. He pulled out one of the stools for her and after she was seated, he slid his tall, broad frame onto the other stool and folded hisrge hands together in front of him on the bar. Ink crawled up his forearms, as did ropey muscles and strong veins. Have you ever tried to check out a man without him noticing? It takes skill, people.


    Elena had no issues with tattoos. She didn¡¯t have any either, because she¡¯d never been fascinated by them before, but on Chandler, they looked very attractive. Carefully and professionally drawn too, she observed. It gave him a dangerous look, although she suspected that he¡¯d still look that way even if he didn¡¯t have them. His stature was enough¡­. The tattoos only enhanced them.


    ¡°Nice ink,¡± she told him, still staring at his hands. ¡°Just how many do you have?¡±


    He licked his bottom lip, and reflexively, Elena felt her thighs clench together. His eyes, gleaming in the dim light of the bar, never strayed from hers. ¡°I was expecting that question sooner orter,¡± he said.


    Elena raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡±


    His thumb tapped the surface of the bar. His lips curved into a devious smile that made her toes curl inside her shoes. ¡°You have been staring at them all night, love. I figured you¡¯d ask me a question about them and you didn¡¯t disappoint¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ well, is it okay if I ask then?¡±


    He grinned and nodded, ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of them that I lost count. Some on my body too.¡± There was a pause, then he added without taking his eyes off her, ¡°I can show you the rest of them sometime if you want me to,¡±


    He was flirting with her. The realization almost came as a shock to Elena , and she looked away shyly. The bartender chose that moment to bring their drink, and Elena weed the distraction. He¡¯d managed to work her up with that dance and his bloody intense stare. She sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to stayposed if he added flirting to the mix so she needed that buzz.


    Chandler silently watched as she sipped the liquor. Not even a flinch. His admiration grew. When she lifted those beautiful brown eyes to him, he fucking melted.


    ¡°No thank you,¡± she said finally.


    ¡°Ouch,¡± said Chandler, but he was smiling. He honestly wasn¡¯t expecting her to say yes, knowing the kind of person she was. She was too good for him, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to stop trying. ¡°Do you have a problem with the ink?¡± He had to know, which surprised him, because he¡¯d never been concerned with what other people thought about his tattoos. Not once in his life, and crazy enough he was relieved when she shook her head.


    ¡°No. Why would I have a problem with it?¡± Elena replied, ¡°I mean¡­ It¡¯s your body. No one should have a say in what you want to do. Besides, it¡¯s not like they¡¯re tacky. It¡¯s beautifully drawn and they suit you,¡±

 6

    ¡°You¡¯re going to make me blush if you keep talking like that,¡±


    Elenaughed out this time. Chandler Kendrick¡­ Blush? Now wouldn¡¯t that be fun to see? She opened her mouth to say something when Emily, Daniel and Charlotte showed up behind them.


    ¡°I really hate to break up¡­Whatever this is, but we have to go,¡± Emily said, ¡°Daniel has this really important meeting tomorrow morning so he has to go to work early,¡±


    Chandler looked behind them and frowned when he didn¡¯t see his brother. Emily seemed to notice what he was looking for and said, ¡°Elijah and Lexi are in the parking lot. They¡¯re waiting for you,¡±


    Elena stared at Chandler and smiled politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I have to go,¡± she told him, ¡°I had a great time tonight. Thank you, Chandler,¡±


    Chandler smiled back and nodded, ¡°I had a great time too, Elena. Goodnight,¡± to Emily he said, ¡°Could you please tell Elijah that he can go. I¡¯ll take a cab back to my ce and call him tomorrow morning,¡±


    Elena began to leave with her sister and Daniel, then turned around when she noticed that Charlotte wasn¡¯t leaving with them. She looked back just in time to see Charlotte slid into the chair she¡¯d just vacated, and her heart clutched in her chest ridiculously as she watched Chandler smile broadly at something Charlotte said.


    Elena looked away immediately. It was none of her business. She barely knew the guy and if he wanted to take Charlotte or any other girl home for the night, she shouldn¡¯t care.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The one thing Elena hated about moving was the stress that came with it. There was so much to do. So much to think about, and just when you thought you had everything figured out, something else came up. Probably something that went wrong, or something you forgot.


    Elena didn¡¯t want that. She nned to do everything right and make sure this move wasn¡¯t going to drain the little energy she had. The truck carrying her stuff was arriving in two days. Her new apartment had been cleaned, but there were still a few more things to do. She still had to go shopping, and Emily, being the sweet, supportive twin sister, wasing with her.


    Elena was throwing on a pink crop top to match the blue jean she was wearing when Emily burst in without knocking. ¡°Ready?¡± she said, poking her head in first beforeing in and shutting the door behind her.


    ¡°You know, at some point in your life, you¡¯re really going to have to learn how to knock before going into people¡¯s rooms.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Emily rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall. ¡°Rx,¡± she said, ¡°Like Damon said in the Vampire Diaries, ¡®if I see something I haven¡¯t seen before, I¡¯ll throw a dor at it,¡±


    Now it was Elena¡¯s turn to roll her eyes. ¡°Haha. Very funny. What do you want Emily? And to answer your question, I¡¯m almost ready,¡±


    ¡°Good. Look, I just came to tell you that I¡¯m bringing a friend. Her name is Beth. We met at my office and she¡¯s really sweet. She said she wants to go clothes shopping and since we were going to the mall, I thought it¡¯d be a good idea if she came with us. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you before agreeing, but she asked when she called this morning and I couldn¡¯t say no. Anyways, if you¡¯re not okay with it, I¡¯ll call her back ande up with an excuse¡­Maybe tell her that we canceled or something,¡±


    Elena raised an eyebrow,¡± It¡¯s okay, Emily,¡± she said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Of course your friend cane with us. I have no problem with that. The more the merrier,¡±


    Emily pushed herself away from the wall, smiling mischievously. ¡°That¡¯s good, because I was lying. If you¡¯d said no, I¡¯d have told her it was your fault,¡±


    Elena grabbed a pillow and flung it in Emily¡¯s direction. She missed, because Emily darted out of the room,ughing loudly as she went. They picked up Beth on their way to the mallter that afternoon, and minutester, Elena decided that she liked the girl. Beth was cheerful, easygoing and funny. She had short dark hair and  had one of those faces that seemed to be happy all the time.


    At the mall, Elena bought as much as could for her new apartment. Toiletries, items for the kitchen and the bedroom, new sheets, curtains and cleaning supplies. By the time they finished trying out the new clothes they¡¯d bought, they were exhausted. Emily suggested they go out to eat before heading home and that sounded like a good idea to Elena and Beth.


    They were heading out of the mall when Elena spotted someone. It was Chandler and Elena thought the way her heart jumped at the sight of him was very embarrassing. She wasn¡¯t sure if Emily had seen him yet and she didn¡¯t call her sister¡¯s attention to him. It didn¡¯t matter if she did anyway, because Chandler Kendrick was moving forward in their direction and Emily would eventually see him.


    It had been three days since she met him at the club and there had been no contact whatsoever between the both of them. How could there be, when they didn¡¯t even have each other¡¯s phone numbers¡­. And he hadn¡¯t even asked for it, Elena reminded herself. Okay, she didn¡¯t ask for his number either, but it wasn¡¯t her fault. Emily had interrupted their discussion at the bar that evening, and not only had he said goodnight to her so quickly, but he¡¯d also reced her immediately, she thought, remembering the way Charlotte had upied the stool she¡¯d vacated and the wide smile she¡¯d seen on Chandler¡¯s face as he directed all of his attention on her.


    Maybe that was his thing, she thought. Ask a girl to dance, make subtle flirtatiousments, then say goodnight without any effort to keep up the connection with them. Elena frowned, although she didn¡¯t realize that she was. She shouldn¡¯t be surprised. Chandler was nothing like his brother, Elijah and she hated to admit that it was one of the reasons why she¡¯d found him so charming. He was dangerous. The kind of guy she was sure would break her heart into a millions pieces and still not give a shit. Maybe he¡¯d done her a favor by not taking her number.

 7

    Lost in thought, she had no idea when he got close to them. Chandler recognized her immediately, and he smiled at her. Elena found herself wanting to smile back, but she didn¡¯t. Knowing that she¡¯d be living in the city, and how close her sister and his brother were, she knew that she would likely run into him sometimes, so the earlier she put boundaries between them, the better.


    ¡°Hello,dies,¡± said Chandler, in that voice of his that had remained ingrained in her memory for the past three days.


    ¡°Hey Chandler,¡± Emily greeted back. Beth on the other hand simply smiled and waved at him, while Elena remained silent, although she couldn¡¯t stop herself from stealing nces at him.


    ¡°What brings you to the mall?¡± Emily asked him, ¡°Hunting for chicks? Or whatever the hell you men do with your spare time?¡±


    Chandlerughed this time. A deep, sexy, rumble that did something weird to Elena¡¯s insides. ¡°Nah, I just wanted to get some stuff,¡± he replied, ¡°And I don¡¯t¡­ hunt for chicks. If I wanted a girl, I wouldn¡¯t need to ¡®hunt¡¯ for one¡±


    Elena couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes at hisment. Just how cocky could he be, she thought. She wasn¡¯t surprised though. A man that handsome would definitely have women throwing themselves at him, and that was one of the reasons why she had to stay away from him. She looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze.


    ¡°We¡¯re off to the restaurant over there. You can join us when you are done if you want¡± said Emily.


    What? Elena wanted to pinch her sister, but Beth was standing between them so she couldn¡¯t get to her without Chandler noticing. She didn¡¯t want Chandler to join them. She didn¡¯t want him around her with his tall muscr frame and sexy green eyes. Thankfully, he declined Emily¡¯s offer, stating that he was in a bit of a hurry and Elena breathed a sigh of relief. He said goodbye to them, and just before he walked away, he nced in Elena¡¯s direction.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Elena,¡± he said, then walked away without giving her a chance to respond.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The truck arrived early on Saturday morning and Elena had to drive to her new apartment without Emily and Daniel as she didn¡¯t want to keep the men waiting. Her search for a store for her business wasn¡¯t going too well, so she threw her attention into the only thing that was ready. She refused to dwell on any negative thought and Emily was always around to assure her that things would get better.


    There were two men, including the driver and they got to work immediately. Daniel and Emily arrived twenty minutester, and together they worked, putting the living room, bedroom and kitchen in order and cing all the furniture in the right ces. By 4pm, the house was arranged beautifully and the men took their leave.


    Emily was very upset when it was time for her to leave with Daniel and Elenaughed at her grumpy face. ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± she told her sister, ¡°And we can visit each other whenever we want. Isn¡¯t it better than when I lived in another state?¡±


    ¡°I guess so,¡± agreed Emily, ¡°But I¡¯ll still miss you,¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t have friends in Vacaville, except the people Emily had introduced her to since she arrived, but she still wanted to celebrate her new win. A small house party seemed like a good idea, and Emily being who she was, was very happy with the idea so she helped Elena with the nning and invites, while Elena took care of the food and baking. One requirement of owning a sessful business wasworking, and Elena saw this as an opportunity to sell herself and her products. The earlier she started getting catering jobs and orders, the better for her, and to make that happen, she had to meet people.


    By 5pm the following day, her few guests started to arrive, Emily arrived first with Daniel, followed by Beth and a guy named Evan, then Charlotte, Lexi and Elijah. Elena had made some cookies and cupcakes. She had also made some fried rice in case some of the guests were too hungry and there were enough drinks for everyone.


    An hourter, everyone seemed prettyfortable with one another. They congratted Elena on her new house and chatted excitedly. At that moment Elena was happy. She was also starting to really like Beth. Beth was so friendly and caring, and Elena couldn¡¯t count the number of times she¡¯de to the kitchen to see if she needed any help or just to see if things were going fine.


    When Elena¡¯s phone rang and she saw that the call was from her agent, she went into the kitchen, hoping for some good news. She¡¯d found a ce that seemed suitable for her business, but the man was only calling to let her know that the ce had already been rented out to another person. That wasn¡¯t the news Elena wanted to hear, but there was nothing she could do about it.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± the man whose name was Vincent said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep looking, and I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find another ce for you soon,¡±


    Elena nodded, trying not to let it ruin her mood, but she couldn¡¯t hide the disappointment in her voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Vincent,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s just that I really liked that ce. All the other ones I¡¯ve seen had one issue or the other but this one was so perfect. Just keep me posted. Thank you,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Vincent said and hung up.


    Elena let out a sigh and reached out to open the fridge when a voice spoke behind her, scaring the shit out of her.


    ¡°Bad news?¡± the voice said.


    She jumped and turned around to see Chandler Kendrick in all of his mind wrecking, handsome glory, standing at the entrance of the kitchen. He was wearing faded, ripped jeans, a dark gray beanie covering his hair, and a ck henley stretched tight across his chest. His sleeves were pushed up to reveal the sleeves of ink on his muscr forearms, and Elena hated to admit to herself that this man indeed gave her butterflies. Just what was it about the Kendrick men that always got her head messed up? She didn¡¯t know, but she sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to let him get away with scaring her like that.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

 8

    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she asked him, ¡°You scared me!¡±


    Chandler raised both hands as he took a step inside the kitchen, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mean to. Emily said you were here so I came to say hello,¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t roll her eyes, but she did let her eyelids fall shut before lifting them slowly. Hiding her reaction made her even more fascinating in Chandler¡¯s book. He saw her shoulders rise and fall as she took a deep breath and let it out. It made him grin.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked, with a bit more heat behind her tone.


    ¡°Just find it funny that you need breathing exercises to deal with the other Kendrick brother. Am I really that vile?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing breathing exercises,¡± she exined calmly. ¡°I just ¡­ wasn¡¯t expecting,¡± Elena paused, and her dark eyes flicked briefly in his direction, ¡°Well¡­ you.¡±


    ¡°Not many people are, love.¡±


    ¡°That is not my name,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°I am aware of that.¡± He gave a brief nce of his own, careful not to piss her off more than he already had. ¡°I just think that it fits¡­. Well, you,¡±


    Her expression suggested that she¡¯d noticed the way he used her own words back at her, and he had to try hard not to smile again.


    ¡°Was that supposed to be apliment?¡± Elena asked. This time, her gaze wasn¡¯t brief. It didn¡¯t move away from him. It pinned him in ce, like a bug under a light.


    His eyebrows popped up. She might not be snarky like her sister, but this was a banked heat he wasn¡¯t expecting. ¡°Depends on if you like it.¡±


    The thing was that she did like it, but she didn¡¯t want him to know that. Her brow furrowed, but she didn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°What are you even doing here? I don¡¯t remember inviting you,¡±


    ¡°Ouch. You know, you were a lot nicer to me at the clubst week.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not always nice,¡±


    He tipped his head back andughed deeply. Thatugh made Elena unountably nervous, and she couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. Maybe because she didn¡¯t want to make Chandler Kendrickugh. She didn¡¯t want to have him in her apartment, looking slightly rumpled and more casual than he had the night she met him.


    ¡°What do you want, Chandler?¡± she asked.


    His eyes warmed slightly at her use of his name. She didn¡¯t want that either.


    He scratched the side of his scruff-covered face. ¡°Right now, I want to know why you¡¯re looking at me like that, Elena.¡±


    She tipped her head back and sighed. ¡°For some reason, I feel like the quiet little girl on the yground who just caught the attention of the mysterious cool guy in ss who never pays attention to anyone.¡±


    Her honesty took even her by surprise. Not because she wasn¡¯t a generally honest person. But she¡¯d barely given the thought any time to process, and boom, there it tumbled out of her mouth.


    Chandler hummed. ¡°Not far off, I guess. But you have to admit, you are a pretty intriguing youngdy.¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t know what to reply to that statement so she simply rolled her lips together.


    ¡°Look,¡± Chandler continued, ¡°Elijah told me you were having a little party so I came to say hello, and to give you this too,¡± Elena watched as he slipped his hand into one of his pocket and withdrew something wrapped in a green gift wrapper. Slowly, she took it when he offered it to her and Chandler stood there, watching her open it up.


    Elena removed the wrapper and opened the box. Inside there was a princess themed key holder. Beauty and the beast to be precise, and it was the most beautiful and cutest key holder she¡¯d ever seen. There was a tiny Belle and the beast in the ss along with the enchanted rose. It kinda looked like a slow globe too as there was snow all around inside the ss.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Elena whispered before she lifted her head to look at him. He¡¯d been staring at her, watching her reaction to his gift and from the smile on his face, to him, it was a mission aplished. ¡°Thank you, Chandler. I love it,¡±


    He shrugged, ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m d you like it. I wanted to get you something that said, ¡®Wee to your new apartment¡¯. Consider it a peace offering too,¡±


    ¡°Why would you need to bring me a peace offering,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You seem to be upset with me for some reason. I wasn¡¯t sure what I did,¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°I¡¯m not upset with you,¡± Elena replied after the slightest hesitation, ¡°I have no reason to be,¡±


    The way his gaze searched her face, she felt like she was being subjected to the human equivalent of a lie detector test.


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± His tone was chock-full of skepticism, and Elena couldn¡¯t me him. ¡°Because I feel like I got a weird vibe from you when we met at the mall. You didn¡¯t invite me to your party, and you weren¡¯t exactly thrilled to see me just now when I showed up.¡±


    ¡°Yup, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me the truth?¡± He slipped his hand into his pocket and watched her intensely, ¡°So why wasn¡¯t I invited?¡±


    Elena turned away from him and opened the fridge, pretending to look for something inside. She knew she looked silly, so she closed it and faced him again. ¡°First of all, this ¡®party¡¯ was Emily¡¯s idea, not mine. She handled the invites because I don¡¯t even know anyone in Vacaville. I only know Elijah and that¡¯s because we went to the same college, and even if I wanted to invite you, I had no means to contact you. You should know that since you made no attempt to keep in touch. Also, you didn¡¯t get an invite but yet, you showed up so I don¡¯t see any reason why we¡¯re having this conversation,¡±


    Chandler said nothing for a while. With his hands tucked into his pants pockets, the light in the kitchen cast shadows under his cheekbones. He looked dark and terrifying even though his lips were still smiling in her direction. His head tilted, ¡°Okay then.¡± He said finally. That wasn¡¯t the reply Elena was expecting. He squared his shoulders and opened his mouth to say something else when Emily burst through the door.

 9

    Emily¡¯s eyes widened dramatically as she stared at Chandler, then they flipped to Elena and blinked a few times. Chandler crossed his arms over his chest and leveled a dry look in her direction.


    ¡°Hey Emily,¡± he said quietly. As frustrated as he was with Emily¡¯s interruption, he¡¯d never been so happy to see her in all the time he¡¯d known her. Because if she hadn¡¯t walked through that door, he might not have been able to keep himself from reaching for Elena just to see what she¡¯d do. If he thought she was smokin¡¯ hot in the yellow dress she¡¯d worn to the club that day, what she was able to do with a pair of leggings and a crop top was a fuckin miracle of fabric. But instead of staring at her like he quite desperately wanted to, Chandler kept his gaze pinned on her twin sister. The one meeting his stare head-on, quite unapologetically.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Emily asked no one In particr.


    Chandler decided to answer because Elena couldn¡¯t seem to find her tongue, ¡°Nothing much. Elena and I were just wondering why I didn¡¯t get an invite to her party. I understand that you handled the invites,¡±


    Elena felt like mming her head against the wall, but Emily didn¡¯t share the sentiment, ¡°You should be d you weren¡¯t thrown out when you showed up without an invite then,¡± she said, ¡°Last time I checked, not getting an invite doesn¡¯t mean crash the party,¡±


    Chandler shrugged, clearly not bothered by Emily¡¯sment, ¡°Too bad, Elena wants me here. She loved my gift too, you know,¡±


    ¡°Well, goody for you then. But you know this is the kitchen and guests are supposed to be in the living room,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Emily,¡± Elena told her twin, walking past Chandler towards her sister, ¡°Is everything okay?¡±


    Emily nodded, ¡°Yeah, everything is fine. Except that the hostess is missing. I didn¡¯t know he was the one keeping you in here,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Emily. He didn¡¯t keep me. We were just talking and I will be out soon,¡±


    Emily rolled her eyes, and now it was Elena¡¯s turn to grimace, except interestingly enough, she didn¡¯t grimace at Chandler. It was aimed at her sister.


    That had a smile spreading wide over his face. ¡°It¡¯s okay, love. There¡¯s no need to get upset at her. Emily has always been my biggest supporter since we met even if she tries real hard to be mean when she gets the chance.¡±


    ¡°Love?¡± Emily asked in disbelief.


    Elena¡¯s face colored, and enjoying the drama, Chandler pressed, ¡°Yes, she likes the name too, you know. Don¡¯t you, Love?¡± he asked Elena, turning to face her.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, I¡¯m gonna puke if you keep calling her that,¡± Emily mumbled.


    ¡°She has a name, you know.¡±


    Elena pressed her fingertips against her temples like she was stemming a headache.


    ¡°She can decide what she wants to be called,¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Chandler!¡±  they said in perfect, perfect unison. The tone, the tilt of the head, narrowing of the dark eyes.


    ¡°That is so freaky.¡± Chandler shook his head as he watched them. ¡°You guys would have no difficulty fooling some people if you wanted to.¡±


    Emily beamed at him. ¡°Yeah. We could fool you too if we wanted to,¡±


    He shook his head, ¡°No, not me. You two may look alike, but when someone is put into a surprising position, you can¡¯t mask that immediate reaction. I¡¯d know right away.¡± They shared another look, but Elena broke it off when her eyelids fell shut. ¡°You can¡¯t fake your identities with me. I¡¯m a wild card.¡± Chandler added.


    ¡°Yeah sure¡­. That¡¯s a role you¡¯re veryfortable in,¡± Emily muttered.


    ¡°Emily,¡± Elena said sharply.


    Emily set her jaw stubbornly, but her cheeks flushed a slight red at the reprimand, and Chandler watched the exchange in amusement. Elena snapped out of her stunned stupor, and she stepped between them. ¡°Okay, stop. This bickering between the both of you doesn¡¯t help anyone right now.¡±


    She turned a warning look in Chandler¡¯s direction, ¡°Chandler, I think you should go join the others in the living room,¡± she said.


    Chandler thought It was hot, so he grinned. She was like a princess/teacherbo that was checking every damn box he could possibly conjure up in what made a woman attractive. Maybe he¡¯d never found thatbination attractive before tonight, but hell, he did now. He wanted to muss her hair. Push her buttons. Get her all riled up to see what she¡¯d do. Maybe she wasn¡¯t far off about the yground analogy because something about her made him think of a little kid who tugged on a pretty girl¡¯s braids just because he liked her. And he wanted to tug those braids hard.


    ¡°Alright, love.¡± He said, just to see Emily¡¯s reaction and she frowned. Elena moved to the side to let him through, and he grinned down at her when he passed.


    Emily turned to her sister immediately Chandler walked out the door, ¡°What the hell is going on between the two of you?¡±


    Elena stared at her sister in surprise, ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±


    Emily didn¡¯t mince words, ¡°I mean you and Elijah¡¯s brother. What is going on between the both of you? He seems to be around you all the time,¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t know if her sister was serious or trying to be funny, ¡°All the time? Emily, I¡¯ve seen him like what¡­ Three times?¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yeah, and somehow the both of you find a way to be alone together,¡±


    Elena rolled her eyes at her sister, ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous, Emily¡± she said, ¡°And even if I was, what¡¯s so wrong about that?¡±


    Emily paused this time and the expression on her face turned into concern. ¡°I¡­. I just don¡¯t want to see you get hurt. You just arrived in Vacaville and the way he¡¯s always around you makes me¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­Overprotective. I don¡¯t want anyone to take advantage of you. That¡¯s all,¡±


    Elena smiled and wrapped her hands around her sister, ¡°I know, and I appreciate the concern, but just in case you forgot, I¡¯m a big girl, and we¡¯re age mates¡­. Even if you¡¯re seven minutes older,¡±


    Emily grinned at her, ¡°Seven minutes is still something,¡± she said, ¡°Now, let¡¯s go out to the living room. You¡¯re the host and you have been absent from your own party for twenty minutes,¡±

 10

    In the living room, soft music yed in the background, creating an ambiance filled withughter and conversation. Everyone was getting along quite well, and Elena was happy. This indeed was the start of something new in her life. She didn¡¯t know how it was going to go or end yet, but she was here for it.


    Amidst the group conversations they all engaged in, Chandler found himself engrossed in an animated conversation with Charlotte. Herughter was infectious, her sparkling eyes capturing his attention momentarily as she leaned in closer, her fingers lightly grazing his arm.


    ¡°You are a very handsome man, Chandler Kendrick,¡± sheplimented, making sure no one else could hear her, her voice carrying a hint of flirtation.


    Chandler, ever the polite and courteous gentleman, acknowledged herpliment with a gracious nod. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s very nice that you think that,¡± he replied, ¡°You are a lovely woman yourself, Charlotte,¡±


    Charlotte smiled at hispliment and Chandler hoped she didn¡¯t take his polite words as interest. He wasn¡¯t stupid. He knew what Charlotte wanted from him as she¡¯d never failed to make her intentions clear to him with her bodynguage and flirtatiousments whenever he was around her. She was a vivacious and confident young woman, and had had her eyes set on catching his attention since the day they met. Despite Charlotte¡¯s hints and persistent attempts to charm him, he¡¯d always remained polite but distant, but Charlotte¡¯s infatuation for him only seemed to grow stronger, and her attempts to capture his attention had only transitioned from subtle gestures to bolder moves, driven by an unwavering desire to make him notice her.


    Across the room, Elena stood gracefully, a delicate ss in hand, her eyes fixed on him. She observed the interaction between him and Charlotte, a faint smile ying on her lips. The music wove its spell around them, but her gaze remained fixed solely on him for a few seconds before she looked away.


    Charlotte¡¯sughter tinkled through the air, drawing Chandler¡¯s attention back to her. She leaned in closer, her words apanied by an inviting smile. ¡°We should hang out sometime, Chandler. Just the two of us. It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve had this much fun talking to someone!¡±


    Chandler chuckled, his gaze momentarily lingering on Charlotte before wandering across the room, where Elena stood. He shook his head and returned his attention to Charlotte, ¡°That sounds nice, but I¡¯m a very busy man, Charlotte.¡±


    Charlotte chuckled. With a flick of her hair and a winsome smile, she leaned even closer, ¡°I know you are, Silly. But surely, you can make out sometime for yourself¡­. Just to have some fun, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    Chandler looked in Elena¡¯s direction again. Their eyes met across the room, sparking a connection that neither could deny. He felt an inexplicable pull toward her, and the silent exchange spoke volumes. Their connection was maic, and although he was respectful and appreciative of Charlotte¡¯s admiration, he wanted to focus his attention on nurturing whatever he felt between himself and Elena, whose presence had ignited a profound spark in his heart. Too bad he had a feeling Elena was going to try to fight it.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Charlotte,¡± he said, ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be possible,¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright then¡± she said, then reclined in her seat.


    Elena watched the exchange between Charlotte and Chandler with interest. She told herself repeatedly that it didn¡¯t matter what they were talking about as it was none of her business, but yet she couldn¡¯t stop herself from stealing nces in their direction, wondering what they were talking about. She knew that Charlotte was flirting with Chandler. The woman had no intention of hiding and at one point when she saw Charlotte lean over and ce her hand on Chandler¡¯s arm, Elena found herself wanting to rip that hand off. The party finally came to an end as it was gettingte, and one by one everyone stood to say goodbye.


    Elena went out with them to see them off and hugged everyone before they got in their cars. Evan and Beth went first, followed by Elijah and Lexi. They couldn¡¯t seem to keep their hands off each other and hurriedly said goodnight before driving off. Charlotte went next and Chandler on the other hand didn¡¯t wait for a hug or any parting words like the others, he said goodnight pretty quickly and was in his car before Elena could figure out something to say.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Hiding her difort about Chandler¡¯s actions, Elena hugged her sister and Daniel, thanking them for their help. Emily cupped her cheeks so she¡¯d look at her, ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked, as if sensing her sister¡¯s mood, ¡°Because if you¡¯re not, you cane home with us,¡±


    Elena chuckled, ¡°I feel like you¡¯re trying so hard to get me toe back to your ce,¡± she said,


    ¡°That¡¯s because she is,¡± Daniel chipped in, and Emily shot him a look. He grinned at his wife, but he backed off so she¡¯d talk to her sister.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Emily,¡± said Elena, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, and if I¡¯m not alright or something happens, be sure that you¡¯re the first person I¡¯ll run to,¡±


    Emily seemed to be a bit satisfied with that, so she finally let Elena go and got into the car with Daniel. With her guests gone, Elena went back into the house that had recently be her home. Thankfully, her visitors had been kind enough not to mess up the ce. All she had to do was clear up the disposable cups and do some dishes¡­then some sweeping and wiping and the house would be clean again. But first, she had to change into something a bit morefortable.


    In the bedroom, she stepped out of her clothes as she thought about Chandler and Charlotte. Was he interested in Charlotte? If he was, then why flirt with her. Granted, he hadn¡¯t asked her out, but he sure as hell had been sending her signals. Signals that she ought to ignore for her own good, she told herself. Men like Chandler Kendrick could not be trusted. When she remembered the way he left, she got a bit angry and yanked open the top dresser drawer with more force than necessary. The nerve of the man to crash her party, give her a nice thoughtful gift, give all his attention to another woman, then leave without saying goodbye properly.

 11

    She tugged on some cotton shorts, a tank with a built-in bra and a T-shirt, worn through in spots from being washed so many times. When she flipped on the bathroom lights, she took a second to remember, again, what she¡¯d felt like before the night began. Happy. Terrified. Excited. Now she just felt exhausted. A makeup remover wipe took care of her face, bringing it back to its normal state. A brush did the trick for her hair when it was tugged high on top of her head and off her neck. Her hand was just about to flip the light switch off when the door buzzer rang.


    Elena froze. ¡°Nooo,¡± she moaned because for some weird, fucked up reason, she just knew. Oh, did she know who it was. She knew it couldn¡¯t be Emily because she¡¯d given her sister a key. It rang again, and she swore under her breath. It was the kind ofnguage that would¡¯ve cost her a fortune in her family swear jar.


    With a brick of nerves lodged in her throat, Elena hit the speaker button. ¡°Who is it?¡± she asked, hoping that her guess was wrong.


    ¡°Let me up, Love.¡± Chandler¡¯s voice said.


    ¡°Oh shit, fuck, dammit,¡± Elena mumbled. She cleared her throat and pressed the button again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who is this? I just got this ce so if you¡¯re looking for the previous tenant they¡¯re not here anymore.¡±


    Elena pinched her eyes shut at how utterly ridiculous she sounded. It was embarrassing in fact, but Chandler called her out right before she fled. Like a coward.


    ¡°Elena,¡± he replied patiently, the smile evident in his voice. ¡°Let me up, please. I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s a great idea.¡±


    Elena rolled her eyes but hit the buzzer. The faster he came up, the faster he could leave, she thought. The faster he left, the faster she could ignore whatever she was feeling towards him this night. His heavy footsteps approached the door, and she pulled it open, one hand perched on her hip. ¡°Say what you need to say and go Chandler.¡± She said,


    Chandler slowed to a stop, his fathomless eyes tracking from the top of her messy bun, across her sleep clothes, and stopped at her naked toes. A grin covered his face when he met her gaze. ¡°This is the real you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Elena shifted ufortably. ¡°What do you need, Chandler?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer right away, which allowed her some studying time of her own. The buttons on his Henley had been undone, and there was another line of ink under the notch of his throat. Honestly, what was he trying topensate for with that many tattoos?


    ¡°May I pleasee in?¡± He held up his hands. ¡°It¡¯ll take me five minutes.¡±


    ¡°You have three.¡± Elena told him.


    ¡°Ouch.¡±


    When she pulled the door open and moved to the side to let him in, he did the same thing he¡¯d done in the kitchen and grinned down at her when he passed. ¡°You know, it¡¯s like you get meaner everytime we meet.¡±


    Elena shut the door with a frustrated huff, briefly leaning her forehead against the cold surface before she turned to face him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she told him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be taking my frustrations out on you. I¡¯m just a little exhausted, that¡¯s all.¡±


    He was studying the living room as if he hadn¡¯t just been in it thirty minutes ago. Her face burned when he picked up the small plush kitten sitting on the arm of the couch. Watching him study the stuffed animal, she felt invaded by his presence. With a smile, he set the cat back down. The lighting was dim now because she liked it that way when she was home alone, so only two tablemps illuminated the room. Because of that, when Chandler finally faced her, hands tucked into his pants pockets again, it cast shadows under his cheekbones.N?velDrama.Org content.


    His head tilted. ¡°That was a great party,¡± he said, ¡°I had fun,¡±


    Images of him and Charlotte shed in her memory and Elena rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure you did,¡± she replied, making no effort to hide the way she felt.


    ¡°Was that supposed to be sarcasm?¡±


    ¡°It is whatever you think it is, Chandler,¡±


    Chandler chuckled, then he leaned in to study the framed pictures on the bookcase next to him, candid shots of her and her sister and parents.


    ¡°Well, if it was sarcasm there¡¯s no need for it. I sure did have fun at your party, princess,¡±


    ¡°Can you stop calling me names like that?¡± she asked wearily.


    Chandler took a few steps toward her , and she had to fight every instinct to back away. ¡°Even in those pajamas,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯ve got that look to you. I can¡¯t help it.¡±


    ¡°Spoken like a true man. I can¡¯t help it,¡± she mimicked his deep voice.


    He tipped his head back andughed deeply. Thatugh made Elena unountably nervous, and she couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. Maybe because she didn¡¯t want to make Chandler Kendrickugh. She didn¡¯t want to have him in her apartmentte at night, looking slightly rumpled and more casual.


    ¡°What do you want, Chandler?¡± she asked.


    His eyes warmed slightly and he scratched the side of his scruff-covered face but he didn¡¯t answer her question. He picked up a framed picture of her and Emily. It was taken at a football game when they were just barely stepping into their teenage years, a phase when absolutely no one could tell them apart if they didn¡¯t want them to. It was taken before Elijah came into their lives, before there was a single thing her sister had that she wanted. Even if she didn¡¯t have Elijah in the way Elena had wanted him, he was still hers.


    And she was ending the night exactly the same way, without any firsthand knowledge of what it was like to be the sole recipient of the attention of the man she liked. Except this time it wasn¡¯t about Elijah. It was about the man standing before her. Her lips pinched tight because she hated the self-pity. It was pointless and ineffective. Nothing, absolutely nothing was gained from feeling sorry for yourself when it came to circumstances outside of your control. That was a valuable lesson she¡¯d learned in life. What was the point of feeling sad because the guy she liked didn¡¯t look at her that way? There wasn¡¯t one.

 12

    Chandler carefully set down the frame. ¡°It must be strange to look at someone else and see your own face looking back at you.¡±


    Elena shrugged, ¡°People say that to me all the time, but I don¡¯t think it is. When I look at Emily, I see Emily.¡± She knew their family was the same. Elijah probably was too. But she wasn¡¯t sure about Chandler even if he¡¯d said that he could tell them apart. Maybe it seemed strange to him, but that was the thing about being a twin, wasn¡¯t it? They were a novelty, and honestly, she wanted him to look at her and see her. Not Emily¡­ Her. ¡°I guess I¡¯m pretty used to it by now.¡± She concluded.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Chandler,¡± she said gently. ¡°What do you want? I know you didn¡¯te back to talk about the ins and outs of being an identical twin.¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­¡± He paused and gave her a lopsided grin. ¡°No I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Her brow furrowed. ¡°Okay. Then why did youe back?¡±


    Chandler nervously sped his hands together, the words he intended to speak echoing repeatedly in his mind. He couldn¡¯t remember thest time he felt so self conscious about asking a girl out. Something about Elena just got to him. Made him feel uneasy¡­But not in a way that made him want to stay away from her. Instead he was drawn to her and found himself thinking about her more often than he cared to admit, since he hadn¡¯t even known her for a long time. He sighed deeply and cleared his throat, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness gripping him, and ran his fingers through his hair before meeting her eyes, ¡°I wanted to ask if you¡¯d like to go out with me sometime¡­. For dinner¡­ I guess or whatever you¡¯d prefer,¡±


    The light smile on Elena¡¯s face faltered for a moment, a flicker of hesitation crossing her eyes before she slowly looked away from him. ¡°You mean¡­. like a date?¡± she asked.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He chuckled softly, ¡°I mean a date, Elena. Not¡­ Like a date,¡±


    She sped her hands together, a sense of conflict evident in her expression. ¡°Chandler, I appreciate your offer, truly. But I¡¯ve just moved here, and I¡¯m focused on getting my business off the ground. It¡¯s a lot for me right now.¡±


    Chandler nodded understandingly, a tinge of disappointment shadowing his features. ¡°I understand, Elena. Your work is important, and I respect that, but I¡­. I wouldn¡¯t interfere with that in any way. I can promise you that,¡±


    He reached for her, but Elena moved away from his touch, and Chandler let his hand drop to his side. Her voice tinged with a hint of regret. ¡°It¡¯s not just that¡­ I¡¯ve also noticed someone else around you, and I don¡¯t want to cause anyplications or drama. I value our friendship¡­that¡¯s if you already consider me a friend, and I wouldn¡¯t want anything to jeopardize that or any rtionship I might have with anyone.¡±


    Chandler looked confused for a second, ¡°What do you mean someone else?¡± he inquired, his voiceced with genuine concern. ¡°There¡¯s no one else you should be concerned about,¡±


    Elena hesitated for a moment before gathering her thoughts. ¡°Chandler, I¡¯ve noticed you and Charlotte. There might be nothing going on between you guys as you say, but you can¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know she has a thing for you,¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with me asking you out on a date, Elena.¡±


    Elena shook her head, ¡°It does, Chandler.¡±


    ¡°What does it have to do with it?¡± he asked her, sounding as frustrated as he felt, and not trying to hide his disappointment, ¡°It¡¯s not like I led her on. Am I supposed to be punished because of the way she feels about me? I have no control over that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not punishing you!¡±


    ¡°But you won¡¯t go out with me?¡±


    ¡°No I won¡¯t, and it¡¯s not because I want to punish you. Look, forget that I brought up Charlotte, okay? Let¡¯s put it this way, Chandler. I wanna focus on my business right now and I don¡¯t think I want to date anyone. I¡¯m sorry,¡±


    Chandler watched her advert her eyes. She felt something for him too, he was sure about that. Maybe it wasn¡¯t as intense as it was with him, but there was something between them. He could tell, and he could see that she was fighting it. He could try to persuade her, but if she was going to be with him, it had to be because she wanted to, not because he talked her into it.


    ¡°Does your agent have another ce to show you?¡±


    ¡°What,¡± Elena asked, slightly taken aback by the sudden change in topic.


    ¡°When I came to see you in the kitchen earlier this evening, you were talking to someone I assumed to be your agent,¡± he exined,


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Elena rubbed her forehead. ¡°I was supposed to see a ce he said was going to be good for me, only for him to call hourster to tell me that someone else took it,¡±


    ¡°That sucks. You know, I could help you,¡± said Chandler, ¡°I have a friend who¡¯s an agent and he always has the best houses. He helped me find my house and I¡¯m sure he can also find you a great space for your business. If you want, I could introduce you to him.¡±


    ¡°You would? Oh, that would be great. Thank you Chandler,¡± she beamed at him, and Chandler loved it. He wanted her to look at him like that all the time, but he¡¯d asked her out and she¡¯d turned him down. ¡°I really appreciate the help. You have no idea how much this issue has stressed me out. The earlier I¡¯m done with it, the earlier I can settle down.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I have an idea how you feel. When I was house hunting I went through the same thing till I found this guy,¡± he pulled out his phone and handed it to her, ¡°Anyways, can you give me your phone number. I will call you after I talk to him so we can figure out when you¡¯ll be avable toe see the ce,¡±


    Elena did as he asked, and watched as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I came back unannounced,¡± he said, sounding a bit embarrassed, ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t think about it. I just¡­ I wanted¡­ Look, Elena I know you said you don¡¯t want to be with anyone, so I¡¯ll respect your decision but if you ever change your mind, you know how to find me. I¡¯d be honored to take you out. Goodnight¡±


    Elena nodded, and after he walked out and shut the door behind him, she wondered if she¡¯d done the right thing.

 13

    Two days passed, and Elena didn¡¯t hear a peep from Chandler. Which was disappointing. She¡¯d said no to his date but she wasn¡¯t sure why she was still looking out for his text or call. She told herself that she was only looking forward to his call so she¡¯d know if he¡¯d spoken to the agent he told her about, and refused to admit to herself that maybe¡­Just maybe she also wanted him to text¡­ To check up on her. It was really pathetic. She wasn¡¯t one of those girls who yed hard to get by engaging in mind games, but she couldn¡¯t help the way she felt.


    She had just taken a shower and slid into bed when her phone beeped. She sat up, and the thrill she felt when she saw that the text was from him embarrassed her a little. If she could feel this way over a text from him, she wondered how it¡¯d feel if they actually kissed, or touched or made -hell no, she wasn¡¯t going to let herself think that far.


    ¡®Hi, Elena¡¯ the next read, ¡®I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t texted since. It¡¯s been really hard to get a hold of this guy. Anyways, I finally got to speak to him this evening and he says he has a great ce for you and he¡¯s sure you¡¯ll really love it. He will be avable to show it to you tomorrow morning, so I would like to know if you cane see it.¡¯


    His text was formal and straight to the point, Elena observed. She couldn¡¯t me him. He was simply trying to keep his distance after she¡¯d turned him down but still, was it too much to ask how she was doing? She sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to tell him what she was thinking, so instead she texted back:


    ¡®Tomorrow morning is very fine. I¡¯d be happy toe see it. What time are we taking about here?¡¯


    ¡®9 am should be fine¡¯ Chandler texted back, ¡®It will be better that way so we can all go ahead with our ns for the day. I¡¯ll send you the address tomorrow so you can just find us with the map.¡¯


    ¡®Sounds great. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Thank you, Chandler,¡¯


    ¡®You¡¯re very wee¡¯


    Elena waited for a few minutes. That was it? Was he simply respecting her decision or was he mad at her, she wondered. If he was upset then that was really messed up. The fact that she didn¡¯t want to go on dates with him didn¡¯t mean that they couldn¡¯t be friendly towards one another. Minutes passed and still nothing, so she decided to text him instead,


    ¡®How are you doing?¡¯


    There! She¡¯d sent it. How are you doing was a simple text. It wasn¡¯t pushy or desperate. It was casual, and that was what she needed it to be. Two minutes passed, then she got a reply.


    ¡®I¡¯m very fine. Work has been a bit stressfultely, but it happens. How are you?¡¯


    Well, at least he was asking questions, she thought. He was trying to keep the conversation going. That was something.


    ¡®I¡¯m doing fine too. What¡¯s going on at work that¡¯s making you so stressed.¡¯


    ¡®We¡¯re hosting this party soon. It¡¯s mostly a cover up to get investors, but we still gotta n for it,¡¯


    Elena was in the process of sending him a reply when another text popped into her phone,


    ¡®I¡¯ve missed you, Elena,¡¯


    She sat still for a few seconds. The text hade unexpectedly, and for a while she didn¡¯t know how to reply.


    ¡®You barely know me, Chandler¡¯


    ¡®True, but I stand by my words. I have missed you. Weird, isn¡¯t it?¡¯


    ¡®Kinda¡¯


    ¡®Well, weird can be good sometimes. Could be fun too if you let it. Goodnight, Elena. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning,¡¯This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡®Goodnight, Chandler¡¯


    Elenay buried under the covers, but sleep eluded her. He was right. It was definitely weird the way she felt, especially when she was around him. It was weird that she was lying awake in bed thinking about him when she ought to be sound asleep, and it was definitely weird that she wasn¡¯t only excited about tomorrow because she would be seeing the space that could turn out to be her bake shop, but she wasn¡¯t also excited because she was going to see him too.


    She could fight it, but she couldn¡¯t deny the fact that she was starting to develop a crush on Chandler Kendrick and she had to do something about that crush as soon as possible.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Chandler stood in front of the building, anticipation stirring in his chest as he waited for Elena to arrive. He was with Mr Harrington, the real estate agent, and he hoped Elena wasn¡¯t one of those women who waste to everything and never showed up on time.


    He adjusted the cor of his crisp white shirt, the soft fabric a stark contrast against the vibrant greens of the lush gardens. In the distance, the gentle hum of an engine grew louder, heralding her arrival. His heart quickened its pace as he caught sight of her car gliding along the winding driveway. The morning sun kissed the metallic surface, creating a mesmerizing dance of reflections.


    She emerged from the car, a vision that stole his breath away. Her ebony hair cascaded down her shoulders in gentle waves, catching the light and shimmering with an ethereal glow. She moved with effortless grace, a sway in her step that was both confident and captivating.


    Her choice of attire spoke volumes- a flowing, elegant dress that entuated every curve, the soft fabric teasingly caressing her skin. The color, a deep shade of sapphire,plemented herplexion, making her eyes sparkle like gems.


    Chandler couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away. He found himself captivated by the way she moved, the subtle sway of her hips, and the soft smile stered on her face. With each step closer, his attraction to her deepened, a maic pull he couldn¡¯t resist. There was an undeniable allure about her, an intoxicating blend of sophistication and allure that left him spellbound. As she drew nearer, he felt a rush of emotions swirl within him-admiration, desire, and an inexplicable longing to unravel the mystery that surrounded her.

 14

    Chandler knew in that moment that she was not just a passing enchantment; she was a force that would forever alter the rhythm of his heart. He wanted her, but she¡¯d told him that didn¡¯t want to be with anyone, and now he was confused about what to do with his feelings. As she approached, their eyes met, sparking a connection that transcended the mere physical realm and he was sure that she felt it too. He could tell because it was right there in her eyes, but of course she was fighting it, he thought as he watched her look away.


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m notte,¡± she said when she stood in front of them.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± said Chandler, shaking his head as if trying to shake away the spell she¡¯d cast on him, ¡°Matt, this is Elena Davis. Elena¡­. Mr Matt Harrington,¡±


    Elena and the man shook hands as he introduced himself to her. He was wearing a sky blue shirt tucked into ck pants. He wasn¡¯t as tall as Chandler, but he looked about the same age as him and also handsome.


    They went into the building, and Matt Harrington ushered Chandler and Elena into the airy space, sunlight streaming throughrge windows that bathed the room in a warm, golden glow. The walls were painted a soothing pastel hue, while elegant pendant lights hung from the ceiling, casting a gentle luminance over the open area.


    ¡°Wee, Miss Davis! Chandler tells me you need a bake shop and this space might just be perfect for you,¡± Matt Harrington eximed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he gestured towards theyout. ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s spacious, with ample natural light that¡¯s perfect for showcasing your exquisite cakes. The high ceilings offer a sense of openness, allowing for creativity in your disys and designs.¡±


    Elena¡¯s eyes twinkled with excitement as she scanned the area, envisioning her dream bakery taking shape within these walls. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she murmured, her voice filled with appreciation.


    Matt Harrington continued, pointing out various features. ¡°Theyout is versatile. You have a designated area here for a disy counter, which can exhibit your specialty cakes and pastries. The separate section over there can serve as your kitchen space, fully equipped to handle your baking needs. Plus, the proximity to the main street ensures good foot traffic and visibility for your business.¡±


    Elena nodded, her mind already visualizing the possibilities. ¡°It¡¯s everything I¡¯ve been looking for. The ambiance is perfect, and I can see how I could customize theyout to suit my baking requirements.¡±


    Matt Harrington smiled, knowing he had hit the mark. ¡°Absolutely! This space allows for both functionality and charm. It¡¯s in a bustling area, with nearby businesses thatplement yours, ensuring a steady stream of potential customers. And the lease terms are favorable for someone starting a new venture like yours.¡±


    Elena¡¯s excitement bubbled as she imagined her cake creations adorning the disy counter, the scent of vani and chocte permeating the air, and the delighted smiles of satisfied customers enjoying her confections. ¡°I love it,¡± she dered, a sense of determination in her voice. ¡°This is where I want to build my cake empire.¡±


    With Matt Harrington¡¯s guidance and assurances, they continued the tour, discussing potential modifications and how Elena could transform the space into the perfect haven for her burgeoning cake business. As they exchanged ideas, the space seemed toe alive with the promise of fulfilling Elena¡¯s sweetest dreams.


    By afternoon time, the ce was Elena¡¯s. Every paper was signed, the keys were handed to her and Chandler had been there with her the entire time. Not talking over her or anything. He let her do her thing. Ask the questions she needed to ask, chipped in his opinion when needed and was a perfect gentleman the entire time. His eyes remained fixated on Elena as she engaged in a lively conversation with Matt. Herughter rang melodiously through the room at some point, drawing his attention like a ma.


    When she went out to make a phone call, Matt leaned over and whispered to Chandler. ¡°So, who¡¯s the new chick and how did you meet her?¡± he asked.


    Chandler eyed the man suspiciously. He¡¯d noticed the way Matt¡¯s eyes lingered a bit too long on Elena when he introduced them, a hint of interest gleaming in his gaze. In all the time he¡¯d known Matt, he¡¯d never introduced anyone to him although they¡¯d hung out once or twice as friends, ¡°Why do you want to know? Is that something that concerns her getting the ce?¡±


    Matt Harrington shook his head andughed, but a look of determination shed in his eyes ¡°No, I¡¯m just asking. She¡¯s¡­. Very beautiful¡­. Stunning if you ask me.¡± He began, his tone somewhat hesitant, ¡°I was asking just to be sure. Are you two together or something, because if you are not¡­. I might just ask her out on a date sometime. What do you think?¡±


    Chandler¡¯s expression tightened imperceptibly, a surge of protectiveness surging within him. He regarded Matt, his voice calm but firm.¡± I don¡¯t think you should, ¡± he said,


    ¡°Why not? Are you two a thing?¡±..


    ¡°No¡­ But¡­ Look, Matt, Elena is someone I¡¯m interested in. I¡¯d appreciate it if you backed off on that front.¡±


    ¡°So you guys are not together?¡± Matt insisted,This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°No, but still, you should back off, Matt,¡±


    A tension lingered in the air, the flicker of a silent standoff between the two men. Chandler¡¯s words hung heavy with intent, his eyes conveying a warning that went beyond mere conversation. He cared deeply for Elena, and the thought of someone else vying for her attention stirred a possessive streak he hadn¡¯t realized was there.


    Matt hesitated for a moment, meeting Chandler¡¯s gaze before nodding in understanding. ¡°Sure, man. I get it. I¡¯ll respect that.¡±


    Chandler nodded in acknowledgement, a sense of relief washing over him. Thest thing he wanted was to get into an altercation with Matt because he liked the guy, but Elena was his, even if she didn¡¯t know it yet. He returned his gaze to the door just as Elena walked inside again, her smile illuminating the space. Chandler knew he had to make his intentions clear and not let anyonee between him and the chance to get closer to her, and he had to do that fast.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± she asked.

 15

    Both men nodded, and Matt even smiled broadly at her, ¡°Everything is great¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. Please call me if need to ask anything or if you need my service any other time and I¡¯ll be d to make myself avable.¡±


    After handing one of his cards to Elena, he shook hands with Chandler and left, leaving them standing in the middle of the space that now belonged to her.


    Elena faced him, ¡°Thank you so much, Chandler. You know you didn¡¯t have to wait for us to be done. I know you must have missed so much at the office,¡±


    Chandler shrugged, ¡°Believe me, there¡¯s no problem, Elena¡­I wanted to be here. You love it, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked, ¡°Judging by the big smile you have on your face,¡±


    Elenaughed, spinning 360 degrees as she looked around once again, ¡°Of course I am, Chandler,¡± she said excitedly, as they started to walk outside. ¡°I got exactly what I wanted, and it¡¯s all because of you. You have no idea how grateful I am and if there¡¯s anything¡­. anything at all I can do to show you how grateful I am for you help, you state it, and it¡¯s done,¡±


    Chandler said nothing until they were standing in front of car. ¡°Hmhmmm¡­ Anything¡­ you said that not me,¡± he said, as he tucked both hands in his pants pockets and grinned down at her.


    Elena¡¯s heart fluttered involuntarily as her eyes traced the contours of his face. She¡¯d seen Chandler in casual clothes and even then he¡¯d looked incredibly hot, but staring at him now, impably dressed in office attire, he exuded an aura of confidence and sophistication.


    The crisp, white shirt hugged his broad shoulders, perfectly tailored to entuate his toned physique. Each button strained subtly against the fabric, hinting at the strength beneath. The sleeves, which he¡¯d expertly rolled up at some point during the day, revealed just a glimpse of his well-defined tattooed forearms, adding a touch of casual elegance to the formal attire.


    Of course she¡¯d noticed all of this before, but now that Matt had gone and they were left alone, it was harder to ignore just how handsome this man was. She couldn¡¯t help but notice the small details that set him apart-the way his perfectlybed hair framed his chiseled jawline, the confident stance that exuded authority, and the subtle scent of a cologne that lingered in his wake, adding an intriguing allure to his already maic presence.


    And that grin on his face¡­. That boyish, mischievous grin told her exactly what he was thinking. Was it weird that she could tell what he was thinking even before he voiced it out? She shook her head, but the expression on his face told her that he wasn¡¯t going to let her take her words back.


    ¡°You said anything, love,¡± he stated again.


    ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Elena agreed, ¡°But that was because for a second, I forgot who I was talking to,¡±


    ¡°Too bad¡­. For you at least,¡±


    ¡°Chandler¡­.¡± She began, but he interrupted.


    ¡°One date, Elena. Just one¡± he told her, and before she could say anything else, he added, ¡°Thepany party I told you about¡­ I want you toe with me. You can think of it as a way towork as well. There are going to be investors, CEO¡¯s and business owners at this event and you can introduce yourself¡­ Give them your business card¡­ Stuff like that. It¡¯s like killing two birds with one stone. You get to advertise to potential customers and we get to have an amazing date too.¡±


    Elena rolled her lips between her teeth and nced beyond his shoulder as she thought. She did like the idea of using it as an opportunity to expand her business and if she was to tell herself the truth, a date with him didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. She was very attracted to him and she enjoyed hispany even if she didn¡¯t want to admit it. After an impossibly long moment, she finally shifted her attention back to him. ¡°One date?¡± she asked.


    Chandler nodded, ¡°Yes¡­. And I¡¯m sorry I had to resort to ckmail. I just¡­ I want to spend time with you,¡±


    She let out a dryugh, then rubbed at her forehead. ¡°Chandler,¡± her voice trailed off.


    What was it about her? Just saying his name like that had him wanting to drop to his knees in front of her and take whatever scraps she¡¯d give him.


    Apparently, his good girl fetish was marrow deep, and he didn¡¯t realize it until just now.


    ¡°We go as friends. No expectations.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He blinked, not expecting that. ¡°I don¡¯tpletely agree to that, but I¡¯m desperate so I¡¯ll try to go along with it.¡±


    Elena stifled a smile, but he already saw her mouth start to curve upwards and he grinned at her. She ignored him. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Chandler.¡±


    His smile was instantaneous. ¡°Noted.¡±


    She licked her lips. Her eyes were wide and nervous, and she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. ¡°And you can¡¯t kiss me.¡±


    Chandler tilted his head to the side and studied her. He hadn¡¯t even said anything about kissing her, but she¡¯d mentioned it, which meant that she was thinking about it, and something told him she didn¡¯t really mean what she said. Nevertheless, it was a promise he didn¡¯t want to make. The words literally would note out of his mouth.


    Pushing away from the car, he took a step closer to her. She held her ground, lifting her chin at his approach.


    ¡°What if you ask me to kiss you?¡± he said quietly. ¡°Then can I?¡±


    Elena exhaled shakily. ¡°I won¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Carefully, he touched his thumb to the curve of her chin. She shook her head, and his hand fell away. ¡°Maybe you won¡¯t,¡± he told her. ¡°But hear me right now, love, I¡¯d love it if you asked me for a kiss.¡±


    After a moment, Elena swallowed and stepped away from him. Chandler felt the step, the distance it put between them, like a punch to the balls.


    ¡°You¡¯ll let me know when?¡± she asked.


    Ahh, so that¡¯s how this would y out, he thought. Chandler dropped his chin to his chest and had to exhale out a hard puff of disappointment. ¡°Yeah.¡± He lifted his head. ¡°It should be this weekend, but I¡¯ll confirm and let you know.¡±

 16

    She started walking backward, but her eyes stayed steady on his. ¡°I¡¯ll see you this weekend then.¡±


    Chandler didn¡¯t move until she was inside the car, and he watched her drive off. He nced at his watch, then he grinned. Hopefully, she didn¡¯t kill him when she realized that they wouldn¡¯t be able toe home that same night, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. If this was going to be the most honest time he¡¯d get with her¡­ then he¡¯d be an idiot not to take it.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    For the seventeenth time that evening, Elena rolled her eyes as she nced at her reflection in the mirror.


    ¡°You don¡¯t happen to know his social, do you?¡± Beth asked her,


    She answered with the same level of patience that she had her previous sixteen questions about Chandler. ¡°No, Beth, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Whatever Beth saw on her phone screen made her bring it up closer to her face. Lexi peeked over her shoulder and hummed appreciatively while Emily red at her. ¡°E. That¡¯s your boyfriend¡¯s brother, Lexi,¡± she told her.


    Lexi shrugged, ¡°I know that. All I did was nod my head. I know I¡¯m dating his brother but I still have eyes. I¡¯m allowed to acknowledge that Chandler is a good looking man. No big deal,¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t make noises about men who are absconding with Elena to parties we know nothing about.¡± Emily added.


    ¡°Yeah, but look at him,¡± Beth murmured. ¡°I¡¯d let him abscond with me anytime.¡±


    Elena swallowed carefully as she said it because it was easy to imagine Beth with someone like Chandler. Of all of them in the room, Beth was the most athletic. ording to what she now knew about Beth, for the past four years, she¡¯d managed a kickboxing studio and gym, now she was doing personal training sessions for extra money, and she looked like the kind of woman who would date someone like Chandler. With her sense of humor, Beth would easily be able to keep up with Chandler.


    Carefully, without allowing herself a shred of curiosity at what they were staring at, Elena pushed a pack of wipes into her handbag. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a big deal. I told him we are going as friends,¡± she told them, then red at Lexi and Beth. ¡°You know what, why is it necessary for the both of you to be here again?¡±


    ¡°Moral support,¡± Lexi said.


    ¡°Are you kidding? I want to see Chandlere pick you up,¡± Beth interjected. ¡°You are lucky, you know? You get to go out with that hottie, you little punk.¡±


    ¡°Please stop saying that.¡± Elena said. When she closed the bag with a bit too much force, she hissed in a breath. ¡°It¡¯s one night, and all I¡¯m going to do is go to the party with him and use the opportunity to meet a lot of influential people.¡±


    ¡°And if that is all you do with Chandler Kendrick¡±-the emphasis Beth put on his name made Elena want to gouge her friend¡¯s eyes out ¨C ¡°this one night, I¡¯ll have you checked out for mental deficiency.¡±


    Emily cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m still right here.¡±


    Lexi rolled her eyes. ¡°Like we haven¡¯t talked about worse.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Emily said, ¡°but it¡¯s Elena. She¡¯s my sister and I don¡¯t want to see her get hurt,¡±


    Elena stared at her sister. They always had each other¡¯s back right from when they were kids and even though Emily was just minutes older, she always treated Elena as her baby sister. Always wanting to protect and defend her like an elder sister would.


    ¡°Elena,¡± Beth said. ¡°Earth to Elena.¡±


    Elena shook her head. She smoothed her face as well and turned. ¡°Sorry, what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should bring a jacket?¡± Beth asked.


    Elena blinked. ¡°Umm. No, why?¡±


    ¡°It might be cold outside.¡± Lexi told her.


    Rubbing a hand across her forehead. Elena said, ¡°I don¡¯t think it will be.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think?¡± Lexi asked. ¡°You should take one just in case.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sure I¡¯ll be fine, you guys.¡±


    Beth grinned. ¡°Chandler can keep her warm.¡±


    Speaking of warm, Elena¡¯s face was probably bright-ass red.


    Emily scoffed. ¡°He better not.¡±


    ¡°Ohe on, Chandler isn¡¯t bad,¡± Lexi said.


    Beth grinned at Elena. ¡°Pretty sure that¡¯s up to Elena, not you, Emily.¡±


    ¡°Elena does not go for guys like Chandler,¡± Emily argued. ¡°She likes her men sane and kind and polite and not liable to drunkenly cuss someone out.¡±


    Elena held up her hands. ¡°Okay, enough. Chandler isn¡¯t needed to keep me or any part of my body warm. I¡¯ve been keeping myself nice and toasty, all by myself and I will keep it that way, thank you very much.¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    Beth smirked. ¡°If you say so.¡± She tapped a finger against her chin. ¡°Now that we¡¯re talking about keeping things warm. I need a new foot warmer. Mine brokest week.¡±


    ¡°Good thing I have Elijah,¡± Lexi said around an unrepentant grin.


    ¡°Gross,¡± All of them replied in perfect unison.


    Elena pressed her hands to zing hot cheeks. ¡°Okay, he will be here any minute. Please ¡­ just ¡­ don¡¯t embarrass me, Beth.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Her eyes widened dramatically.


    ¡°There¡¯s no chance you¡¯d take Emily and leave before he gets here, is there?¡± Elena asked her.


    Emily wrapped an arm around Beth¡¯s shoulders. ¡°She does not have a chance in hell of dragging me from this apartment.¡±


    Beth nced sideways at her. ¡°I could still take you, you know.¡±


    Emily patted her head. ¡°No, you really couldn¡¯t.¡± She stared at Elena . ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so excited to go with him. It¡¯s just Chandler.¡±


    ¡°Because he¡¯s rich and hot,¡± Beth replied. ¡°Did you see that picture I showed Lexi?¡±


    Emily sighed. ¡°Nope. But that¡¯s still not a reason to let him warm Elena¡¯s¡­¡± Emily paused with a grimace, ¡°anything. We don¡¯t idolize money and looks in this family, remember? He¡¯s just a normal person-¡±


    ¡°Why do you dislike him so much, Emily?¡± Lexi cut in, ¡°He¡¯s Elijah¡¯s brother remember? And Elijah is your friend,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t dislike him¡­ Don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± Emily argued.


    Elena didn¡¯t want to listen to their discussion, so she tried to shut them out. When she nced at the clock, she let out a deep breath because he was a couple of minuteste. The buzzer at the door went off, and the four of them froze.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Elena said quietly.

 17

    Emily exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m going to hide in your room. I don¡¯t need to witness this crazy.¡±


    ¡°Oh please,¡± Beth whispered under her breath.


    As she walked out of the room, Emily narrowed her eyes dangerously in Beth¡¯s direction. Lexi gave Elena an encouraging smile. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t mind Emily.¡±


    Elena snatched her bag, mentally girding her loins for whatever circus show was about to unfold. For a moment, she felt bad for not preparing Chandler for the one-woman firing squad. That onlysted a second because the other ny-nine percent of her knew it would be awesome to see Emily knock him off bnce. He¡¯d sure as hell been knocking her off bnce since the moment he danced with her at that club.


    ¡°Come on up,¡± she said into the speaker.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even make sure it was him,¡± Emily hissed. Apparently she¡¯d changed her mind and returned to the living room. ¡°What if it¡¯s a sex trafficker?¡±


    ¡°Ringing the buzzer instead of breaking in?¡± Elena asked. ¡°And why the hell would a sex trafficker be after me?¡±


    She sniffed and Emily red at her, ¡°I thought you left the room. Wonder why you came back,¡±


    Lexi wasughing when Elena finally opened the door for Chandler. Then herughter stopped. Beth swore, and Elena¡¯s stomach tangled into forty-seven Knotts. She¡¯d officially got her taste of The Kendrick Butterflies, she thought, because Chandler in casual clothes was nice enough but not the real him. Now, she was seeing the real Chandler.


    The sleek lines of his midnight ck tuxedo hugged his frame perfectly, entuating his broad shoulders and trim waist. The crisp white shirt beneath contrasted sharply, highlighting his chiseled jawline. He didn¡¯t have a tie on, and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the tattooed skin underneath. On his feet were ck polished shoes that reflected the dim light around them.


    Her heart quickened as she took in his ensemble. The sight of him in such refined attire sent a rush of admiration through her. The confident elegance he exuded left her feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation, igniting a flutter of butterflies in her stomach.


    Chandler returned her gaze with equal scrutiny. Her presencemanded his attention, and he gave her all of it. The sight of her in that form-fitting crimson dress sent a surge of desire coursing through him. The dress draped perfectly over her curves and stopped at her knees, hinting at the allure beneath without revealing too much¡­Just the right amount of smooth skin and In those heels, her legs looked longer.


    The slight sway of her hips as she moved forward and the subtle, elegant neckline drew his gaze like a ma. Her hair, elegantly styled, framed her face, and delicate earrings glinted subtly against the soft curls. Chandler imagined the sensation of holding her close, wanting nothing more than to lean in and kiss her, and he would¡¯ve done so, if not for three pairs of eyes staring at him from the background.


    ¡°Good evening, love,¡± he said. His voice was gruff and grumbly, like he hadn¡¯t used it much since he woke up that morning.


    ¡°Elena,¡± Beth whispered in her ear, ¡°go get yourself a damn jacket or I will do it for you.¡±


    Elena motioned for her to back up. ¡°Come on in,¡± she told Chandler. ¡°Ignore them.¡±


    ¡°Seems highly impossible.¡± His grin was wide and charming, and damn those sexy ass dimples of his. Elena watched Beth melt like butter, and Emily shift right the frick into overprotective sister mode. ¡±


    Lexi gave him a huge smile. ¡°Hey Chandler.¡± She told him.


    ¡°Hi, Lexi,¡± He smiled right back at her and then turned to Beth. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again, Beth,¡± Beth shook his hand, and Elena stifled augh when she caught the gleam in Beth¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hey Emily, still hating me, I see.¡± He said with a grin.


    Emily nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good that you think that. That way, if you hurt a hair on her head, you¡¯ll know exactly who¡¯s going to send you to your painful, bloody demise.¡±


    Chandler froze. ¡°Right. That does make it easier.¡±


    Something about this entire exchange made Elena want to go hide in her room. Chandler was too charming. He was too big and tattooed and muscr and ¡­ too Chandler, for her to go anywhere with him that involved sharing the same roof. As he and Emily talked, he gave her a tiny wink, and her head and heart screamed at her not to leave this apartment with him. Instincts were ring like a tornado siren. Her hand tightened around the handle of her bag until her fingers started tingling from loss of blood flow. She couldn¡¯t do this, but she couldn¡¯t back down now either.


    ¡°You better bring her back safely,¡± Emily told Chandler.


    Chandler set a hand on his chest. ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°Do you mind if I quickly grab a picture of your driver¡¯s license?¡± Emily continued. ¡°Just ¡­ in case.¡±


    He tilted his head. ¡°Umm, yes?¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Why? Something to hide?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Elena interjected. ¡°Emily, I think he gets the picture.¡±


    ¡°Believe me,¡± Chandler said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m well aware of how precious my cargo is.¡±


    Elena rolled her eyes. Emily, however, looked pleased. ¡°You¡¯re damned right.¡± She said.


    Setting a hand on her sister¡¯s shoulder,  Elena squeezed in warning. ¡°Thank you very much, Emily.¡±


    She gave her a look. Emily gave her one right back. If they didn¡¯t leave soon, she¡¯d pull a shotgun out of thin air and start cleaning it in front of Chandler.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Elena asked Chandler.


    His wide grin held the slightest secret edge to it that was meant only for her.


    It made her heart race inexplicably. Her head was still screaming in warning.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, love. I¡¯ve been ready sincest week.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª-


    The drive from Elena¡¯s apartment to the venue of the party was roughly one hour, thirty minutes, and Elena learned a few things in that rtively short span of time.


    -The city was very beautiful at night. Despite the fact that it was 10pm, there were people everywhere. The lights made everything even better. If you actually knew how to do something like ¡­ paint or draw, you¡¯d spend that one hour and thirty minutes thinking about how you¡¯d paint or draw the city.

 18

    -Chandler was, regrettably, a very good singer. He favored ssic rock and alternative as his music of choice, and it took everything in Elena not to jam her fingers in her ears as he sang along. His voice was low and smooth without frills or fancy embellishments, but it made the hair on the back of her neck rise, and therefore, she didn¡¯t like it.


    -He was also freaking relentless in trying to engage her in conversation even though she was doing her very best at ignoring his existence until she had no other choice. It took until thest forty five minutes of their drive before she finally cracked and started to really talk to him.


    ¡°So, love, when did we start dating?¡±


    Ignoring the unsteady gallop of her heart, Elena had kept her voice even and emotionless every time he asked her something that she felt forced to answer. This time she didn¡¯t do so well.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked, as her eyes widened.


    Chandler grinned, but he wasn¡¯t looking at her. He¡¯d been thinking of something to say that would really get her attention, and now it seemed like he¡¯d finally gotten it.


    ¡°At the party,¡± he exined as if he was saying the most normal thing, ¡°people might want to know how we met¡­How we started dating,¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re not dating,¡± Elena told him.


    ¡°But what if we told them that we are¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡±


    ¡°Fine. We are not dating,¡± he shrugged.


    ¡°And we¡¯re not telling people that we are,¡± Elena added, giving him a serious look so he¡¯d know she wasn¡¯t kidding. He nodded, but he wasn¡¯t done with her yet.


    ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t tell people we¡¯re dating,¡± he said, and stroked his jawline with a finger, ¡°but if we were, I¡¯d imagine I¡¯d tell people that we met¡­ Ermmm¡­ Let¡¯s say¡­. six months ago.¡± Elena said nothing, and two songster-songs he knew the harmony to-he tried again. ¡°So back to my story¡­. ¡±


    Tearing her eyes away from the window, Elena begrudgingly let her gaze turn in his direction. Which was a mistake, because Chandler, in the tux, with that scenery and that dark hair along his jaw, was like something ripped out of Rugged Man Magazine, and she was not here for that. Not here for it.


    At all.


    He gestured back and forth between them when she didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°I mean our made up dating story. If we met six months ago, then how did we start dating¡±


    Elena¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. Does it matter? It¡¯s not even real.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s shrug was careless. ¡°Yeah, I know that, but I¡¯m trying to make small talk. If I¡¯m not with you in real life, it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t be with you in fantasynd. I¡¯m having fun with my fantasies, Elena, so maybe you can just go with the flow.¡±


    Elena studied him for a while, then she gave in. ¡°Fine,¡± she hedged, ¡°We¡¯re in your weird fantasynd, and we are dating. I guess maybe you and I just ¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ found ourselves in a rtionship after a while¡±


    Swallowing, he nodded. ¡°Right. But don¡¯t you think the story needs more¡­. Details? People don¡¯t just¡­ wake up one day and find themselves in rtionships. I mean, there must have been one moment,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe you were spending the night at my ce.¡±


    Elena closed her eyes. She didn¡¯t want to y this game with him. Didn¡¯t want to imagine whatever he had in his head because it was probably vivid. She shook her head, ¡°No.¡± She said,


    But Chandler went on, ¡°Fine¡­. Maybe I was spending the night at your ce instead.¡± He tapped his thumb on the wheel, and the lights glinted off the solid silver ring he was wearing. ¡°You couldn¡¯t sleep, so I found you in the kitchen, staring into the fridge.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Carefully, Elena tucked her knees  together and hugged her arms around her body. She didn¡¯t want to imagine this. Her safe choice of going along with his fantasy didn¡¯t feel so safe anymore.


    ¡°No one would believe this story even if it was real,¡± she said quietly.


    Chandler ignored her. ¡°Maybe you offered me a drink because you were going to have one. One turned to two. Just enough that you were willing to lower your defenses around me, love. First time you ever did that, I¡¯m thinking.¡±


    Elena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Taking advantage, are we?¡±she asked.


    ¡°Hell no. We were rxed. Not drunk. I don¡¯t sleep with drunk women because trust me, that¡¯s a whole different world of trouble when you wake up the next morning.¡±


    ¡°This story is leading to all sorts of romantic ces.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°In my mind, you grabbed me and nted that first kiss on my very unsuspecting lips. A hot kiss too.¡±


    Elena rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were ming. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s how it would work in your head.¡±


    Chandler licked his lower lip. ¡°You tasted like cherries. After that, I was all but whipped. I was yours tomand, and I¡¯ve never looked back.¡±


    Turning her face back to the window, Elena tried some deep breathing exercises. Her heart was racing terribly. ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing no one will be asking us such questions because your story is ridiculous.¡±


    Heughed. ¡°It¡¯s not ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°It sure sounds like it is,¡± she muttered under her breath.


    Oh, he heard her, and he thought that was hrious. ¡°You know, I like it when you¡¯re around me, Elena.¡±


    No, no she would not feel a flush of warm, gooey happiness at that statement. When you were a twin, particrly an identical twin, there was a strange emotional tangle that went along with it. Inevitably, you¡¯re linked with that person for the rest of your life. In a lot of people¡¯s eyes, youe as a package deal. Friends in high school and even early college when they lived in the dorms were shocked if only one of them showed up to an event.


    Elena and Emily.


    Emily and Elena.


    People taking a second to make sure they knew which twin they were talking to. Like they weren¡¯tpletely different underneath the surface of their skin. Half the time, she wasn¡¯t even sure they cared if they knew which one was which. She didn¡¯t have much problems with it until she met Elijah, and for the first time ever, she¡¯d wanted someone to see her, not Emily¡­ Not the both of them¡­. Just her.

 19

    ¡°You okay?¡± Chandler asked. ¡°You went scary quiet on me there.¡±


    It was perceptive of him, and it made her give him a curious nce. She had been quiet most of the trip, but even him, this man who didn¡¯t really know her, was able to tell the difference in her silence.


    Elena gave him a small smile. ¡°Just thinking about emotional trauma from years back, if you must know.¡±


    He groaned, leaning forward to turn the music up. ¡°Nope. Not going there, love. We haven¡¯t been fake dating long enough.¡±


    After almost an hour of him trying to engage her in conversation, that was the thing that did the trick. She turned in her seat to appraise his facial expression. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll share mine if you share yours.¡±


    He snorted. ¡°Yeah, right.¡±


    ¡°We are still on the road, surprisingly,¡± she said. ¡°What else should we talk about?¡±


    ¡°Literally anything.¡± He changednes after a quick nce at his blind spot.


    ¡°I¡¯d talk about politics. Religion. Women I¡¯ve slept with in the past because I¡¯ve never done the dating thing.. At least not in a long time. Let¡¯s hit one of those for fun.¡±


    Elena¡¯s head tilted. ¡°What exactly happened between you and your brother. When we were in school, all I knew was that you guys weren¡¯t close. Emily referred to you as the ck sheep of the family¡­. Knowing Emily, she must have been exaggerating, I don¡¯t know¡­ But what exactly was going on between you guys?¡±


    Chandler blew out a hard breath.¡±She wasn¡¯t exaggerating. But honestly, I don¡¯t think talking about that would be fun. Let¡¯s try this instead¡­. Do you know that one time when I was still in high school, I had a girlfriend who cheated on me¡­ With my best friend? Let¡¯s recap that in detail. I¡¯d dly talk about that instead¡±


    A smile twitched at the edges of Elena¡¯s mouth, but she tamped it down. Being charmed by his reticence to talk about his family would do her no good.


    ¡°You would make a great kid shrink, you know?¡± he said. ¡°Badgering poor children into sharing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very skilled at deflection, Chandler.¡±


    He sent her a crooked grin. ¡°I¡¯m skilled at a lot of things, trust me. Not talking about my family isn¡¯t even at the top of the list.¡±


    Rolling her eyes at the innuendo, she turned back to the window. Vacaville was beautiful, but as they drove farther, the views seemed to increase in grandeur. ¡°No wonder Emily loves it here,¡± she told him. ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡±


    Not that herment necessitated a response, but Chandler didn¡¯t say anything right away. Then he let out a slow exhale, the kind you¡¯d make after a good yoga stretch or when you slip into a bathtub full of hot water and it hits your skin for the first time. It was the kind of sigh that said her soul is at ease.


    ¡°What about you?¡± he asked, ¡°The night I met you, I asked you if you liked it here and you said you couldn¡¯t give your review. Are you ready to give it now?¡±


    She nodded,


    ¡°Well?¡± he probed when she didn¡¯t say anything else.


    ¡°I love it.¡± Elena told him, ¡°at least so far, nothing has happened to make me hate it here. It¡¯s been only one week since I got the space for by business and so far, there has been no major circumstances as I settle in, so I can¡¯tin,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m happy for you,¡± said Chandler. ¡°And I¡¯m d you like it. I have lived in Vacaville for about ten years now and I don¡¯t n to leave any time soon.¡±


    As he navigated the sleek, winding roads towards the destination, Elena gazed out of the car window, the passing city lights painting fleeting streaks across her mesmerized eyes. An hour and a half had slipped away, she thought, the chatter and soft music in the car creating afortable ambiance.


    They finally arrived at the venue, and Elena sighed and stared at her phone, noticing that it was already 11:30 pm. With a gentle clearing of her throat, she turned towards Chandler, her voiceced with concern. ¡°Chandler, it¡¯s gettingte and we only just arrived. I didn¡¯t know the ce was going to be so far from home. How are we nning to get back home after the party?¡±


    Chandler¡¯s eyes flickered to meet hers momentarily before returning his attention to the road as he parked the car. He stopped, but made no move to get out. He opened his mouth and hesitated, considering his response. ¡°Actually, Elena, I knew we wouldn¡¯t being home tonight so I arranged for us to stay here at the hotel where the party¡¯s being held. They¡¯ve reserved a room for us for the night.¡±


    Surprise and frustration knit together on Elena¡¯s features. ¡°What? You¡¯re telling me we¡¯re staying the night? Why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier?¡± Her tone held a mix of bewilderment and exasperation.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re sorry?¡± Elena repeated. Her heart raced at the idea of spending the night alone in a hotel room with him. Just what was he thinking when he did this? ¡°Was this your n all along?¡±


    Chandler faced her. He reached for her hand but she pulled it away from his reach, her eyes shooting daggers at him. He pulled back. ¡°I wanted to tell you at first,¡± he exined, ncing at her briefly, gauging her reaction. ¡°I was worried that if I told you, you¡¯d refuse toe with me and I¡­ I really wanted you to be here with me tonight. I wanted to take a flight at first, but I figured this way, we¡¯d have more time to talk before the party,¡±


    ¡°So you deceived me?¡±


    ¡°No.. I mean¡­ I¡­. Look, Elena, when you say it like that it sounds evil and diabolical and that¡¯s not the kind of man I want you to think I am.¡± He said, ¡°It was shitty of me to do it in the first ce but I thought it might be a nice way to extend the evening after the party, and not worry about the drive back in thete hours.¡±


    Elena¡¯s agitation was palpable as she folded her arms, the disappointment evident in her eyes. ¡°Chandler, you should have told me. I didn¡¯t n for an overnight stay and I really don¡¯t know how I feel about us spending the night in the same hotel room.¡±

 20

    Silence hung between them for a moment, tension crackling in the confined space of the car. Chandler sighed softly, his gaze softening. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elena. I didn¡¯t mean to catch you off guard. I guess I was just desperate. We can get another room if you would prefer and then I¡¯ll drive you back home in the morning.¡±


    Elena¡¯s frustration began to subside as she observed Chandler¡¯s earnest attempt to make amends. Despite her initial vexation, she recognized his thoughtful intentions, but she still didn¡¯t like that he¡¯d booked only one room. Softening her expression, she nodded slightly. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll figure it out. Just wish you¡¯d told me earlier.¡±


    Chandler nced at her apologetically, his eyes filled with sincerity. ¡°I know, and I¡¯m truly sorry. I just¡­ I wanted you to like me, but if after tonight, you still don¡¯t want to go out with me, then I¡¯ll back off¡±


    He said it flippantly, but there was an edge to his words. Elena stared at him for a moment. If she told him about the way she used to feel about his brother right now, he¡¯d shut down instantly. If she told him about the crush she had on his brother years ago, would he still feel this way about her? She was sure he wouldn¡¯t. If she told him that for years, she¡¯d looked at his brother like the perfect man, the prototype of everything she¡¯d wanted, but the men she¡¯d dated had alwayse up woefully short inparison.


    Not smart enough. Not sweet enough.


    Not kind enough. Not ¡­ Elijah enough.


    Here was a man who was the exact opposite of his brother in every single way she could possibly list, and there was something different about the way she reacted to him that waspletely different from the way she had ever felt about anyone else¡­. Not even Elijah. He made her feel edgy. Like there was a vibration starting somewhere deep inside her body, spreading further and further until she was sure he¡¯d be able to see it on the surface of her skin.


    After taking a deep breath, sheid her hand on top of where his was resting on the gear shift. Chandler¡¯s eyes snapped to Elena¡¯s, then down to their hands. His skin was warm and rough.


    ¡°I like you just fine, Chandler,¡± she told him quietly. ¡°I just don¡¯t know you at all.¡±


    His eyebrows lowered over his eyes as he studied her suddenly serious demeanor. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we do something about it and get to know each other,¡± he said back, his face leaning closer to hers in the quiet confines of the car. His eyes fixed on her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re going to drive me insane before this is over, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    His statement snapped the tightening cord between them, and Elena sat back, ttening herself against the door of the car. What was she doing? She squeezed the small on herp and looked away, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, Chandler,¡± she said. ¡°I think we are alreadyte,¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The grand ballroom of the hotel was aglow with shimmering lights, casting an ethereal ambiance across the space. Elena and Chandler stepped inside, the buzz ofughter and conversation enveloping them in a symphony of social energy. Elena suspected that he¡¯d noticed how nervous she was, and just before they walked in, he slipped her hand into his. Elena had nced down at their hands, and then at him, but she didn¡¯t pull away. She needed it in fact. Chandler, in his tux, exuded confidence, guiding Elena by her hand as they mingled through the elegantly dressed crowd.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fidget,¡± he murmured close to her ear, and his warm breath tickled her, ¡°You look amazing,¡±


    Spotting a couple of familiar faces, Chandler led Elena towards them, a warm smile gracing his lips. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s Adam and Sarah. Let me introduce you,¡± he said softly, ncing at Elena to ensure herfort.


    Adam, a distinguished figure with a weing demeanor, greeted them warmly, extending his hand. ¡°Chandler, good to see you! And who might this lovelydy be?¡±


    Chandler beamed, gesturing towards Elena. ¡°Adam, Sarah, this is Elena. Elena, meet Adam and Sarah, colleagues from the marketing department.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Elena smiled graciously, feeling a touch of nerves as she exchanged pleasantries. ¡°Nice to meet you both.¡± She said,


    Adam¡¯s eyes crinkled with a friendly charm. ¡°Oh, it is indeed. Finally I get to meet Chandler¡¯s specialdy and I am not disappointed. You see, Chandler¡¯s always had a good eye for beautiful things. It¡¯s wonderful to meet you, Elena.¡±


    Elena felt very awkward at his statement and assumption, but she didn¡¯t correct him. This wasn¡¯t the time, so she kept quiet and smiled. Chandler on the other hand didn¡¯t look like he had any intention of correcting Adam either. In fact the way he looked at her when Adam made hisment didn¡¯t help one bit. He kept beaming at her and Elena was sure that to everyone who saw them, they looked like a new couple smitten by each other. She was seriously beginning to feel like this was part of his n all along.


    Sarah, an elegant woman with a kind demeanor, chimed in, ¡°Absolutely! Chandler never introduces us to anyone. Sometimes, I think I¡¯ve never met anyone so boring. We¡¯re d you could join us tonight.¡±


    Elena¡¯s cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and gratitude, touched by their warm wee. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m delighted to be here.¡±


    Chandler, sensing Elena¡¯s slight unease, ced a reassuring hand on her lower back, offering silent support. His touch was light, but she wasn¡¯t expecting it, and of course her body reacted, in a way that she liked and hated at the same time. It felt good and for a moment, she leaned into it and let her body rx. It felt good and assuring to have him there with her¡­ To have her back now that she was feeling nervous.


    The party went on and conversation flowed effortlessly, blending introductions with lighthearted banter, as Chandler adeptly guided Elena through the social maze. With each introduction, Elena felt more at ease, her initial nervousness gradually melting away in the warmth of the friendly atmosphere. Chandler¡¯s thoughtful introductions and the genuine reception from Adam and Sarah eased her into thepany party, transforming the once intimidating sea of faces into a gathering of potential connections and new friendships.

 21

    Despite the distractions, meeting new people, and Chandler who stood by her side the entire time, Elena didn¡¯t forget the reason why she¡¯d agreed toe in the first ce, and took every opportunity she got to introduce not only herself but her business to people. To some she even gave her card. If one of them contacted her to cater for one of their big events, she¡¯d call it a big win.


    When music began to y and Chandler extended his hand towards Elena, a warm smile adorning his lips, she knew what he was asking before he even said it and she shook her head. ¡°No, Chandler¡± she said, but she had a smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re not doing this to me again,¡±


    Chandler ignored her protest. ¡°Elena, would you like to dance with me?¡± his voice held a gentle invitation, his eyes fixed on her with an unwavering sincerity.


    Elena hesitated for a moment, ncing around at the swirling couples already on the dance floor, feeling a twinge of uncertainty. Yet, Chandler¡¯s reassuring gaze and the enchanting ambiance of the evening beckoned her. With a hesitant smile, she ced her hand in his, nodding softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not much of a dancer, Chandler.¡± Elena admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness. ¡°You know this already so I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯ve decided to torture me with it again,¡±


    His gaze darkened suddenly and he pulled her closer, so that her breasts ttened deliciously against his hard chest. The move was unexpected, and a gasp escaped Elena¡¯s lips, but she didn¡¯t pull away. She couldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t want to. He pressed his hand to the small of her back, so she curved into him. He felt wonderful, so hard and strong. Desire swirled through her, making her knees a little weak as she clung to him. Chandler didn¡¯t seem to mind as he¡¯d done it on purpose. It was an opportunity to hold her close and he¡¯d been wanting to do that all night. Maybe this wasn¡¯t as close as he actually wanted her, but it would do for now.


    ¡°I think you dance quite well, Elena,¡± he said gruffly. His voice was rough with desire even to his own ears. ¡°I think about that dance a lot¡­ All the time, and I wish it¡¯d ended differently, but it¡¯s okay. We still have time,¡±


    Her soft lips were tipped up to him. He wanted to im them. It was getting harder than ever to resist her and he felt starved for the feel of her flesh pressed to his. She put her hand on his chest, as though to ease his racing heart. It didn¡¯t help. His heart only raced faster. ¡°Chandler¡­¡± She began to protest, but it sounded like a plea instead.


    Chandler¡¯s grin widened, exuding confidence as he led her to the center of the dance floor without giving her a chance to say no again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll guide you through it just likest time. Follow my lead,¡± he reassured her, his voice deep and husky. His touch gentle yet firm as he ced his hand on her waist. The warm glow of the chandeliers cast a soft illumination around them as they began to sway to the melodious rhythm.


    Chandler¡¯s movements were graceful, guiding Elena with effortless ease. He held her hand securely in his, their bodies moving in synchrony to the soothing music. Elena felt a rush of warmth envelop her as she settled into the rhythm, guided by Chandler¡¯s confident steps. She focused on his steady gaze, allowing herself to rx in his embrace. Gradually, the initial nervousness melted away, reced by a sense offort and ease that she found herself thinking of all the touches she hadn¡¯t had for so long, all the inappropriate ways those strong, masculine hands could slide over her naked body¡­ inside her. Something inside her suddenly wanted to take a chance, to be a little outrageous. She wanted Chandler. He wanted her. They were both single and interested. It could be a wild, reckless night if they let it. Her fingertips quivered as they brushed against his suit jacket and she suspected her palms were damp.


    His touch was reassuring, his presence anchoring her amidst the whirlwind of emotions. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them lost in the intimate dance. His movements were deliberate yet gentle. As they twirled gracefully, their steps falling in sync, Chandler leaned in slightly, his voice soft against the backdrop of the melody.


    ¡°Are you enjoying the party, Elena?¡± he inquired, his eyes meeting hers with a gentle curiosity.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Elena, feeling the warmth of the moment, smiled in response. Clearly his touch had stunned her into silence, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s lovely I must admit. Thank you for inviting me,¡± she replied, her voice carrying a touch of appreciation and desire. The enchantment of the moment washed over her, feeling the connection deepen with each step, each subtle movement in harmony with Chandler¡¯s lead. She liked feeling him so close to her. It felt good. It felt safe and with each passing moment she found herself wanting to reach up and kiss him. Something deeper was blossoming between them. She could feel it¡­ It thrilled and scared her at the same time that she felt confused.


    Chandler¡¯s smile widened at her words, a flicker of satisfaction lighting up his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m d you came with me,¡± he confessed, his gaze warm and earnest. His voice was low, thick as he promised, ¡°Because I¡¯m looking forward to showing you just how amazing we could be together, Elena.¡±


    Her heart skipped a beat. Just one. Something about the way her name rode softly, smoothly, on his exhtion, thrilled her. But she managed to keep her own breaths even. ¡°Oh?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°There¡¯s nothing boring about what¡¯s going to happen between us if we let it.¡±


    But something was already happening between them. All he¡¯d ever done was touch her as they danced and she didn¡¯t even consider that boring. A shiver of excitement coursed through her. It  started with her lips, which quivered and parted, then moved down her entire body, which suddenly felt so much more¡­alert, somehow.  Her breasts tingled under the fabric of her gown, the sensation sensual against her tight nipples. Excitement had awakened every inch of her. It had been there, sparking right beneath the surface, for so long. Now the spark had caught and spread into a wildfire of interest and arousal.

 22

    He knew. He had to know. The very air seemed thick with her sudden certainty of just how much she wanted the man. That certainty must havemunicated itself to him with her shallow, audible breaths, the almost imperceptible way she leaned closer to him, irresistibly drawn to his heat. His size. His scent.  The big, strong hand on her waist molding her body firmly against his.


    He was going to kiss her. She was sure of it. She stared at his lips in anticipation as lowered his head, tilted her chin up with his other hand, then bent toward her. Their breaths mingled and an almost tangible sizzle of excitement preceded the initial meeting of their lips.


    Except they didn¡¯t meet, suddenly distracted by the sound of someone saying Chandler¡¯s name, they drew apart from each other.


    ¡°Mr Kendrick.¡± the voice said, ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to talk to you. Good to know you¡¯re still here,¡±


    Chandler swore under his breath as he let her go, and Elena moved away from him, not sure if she was mad about the interruption or grateful for it. A grey haired man stood behind them, smiling as Chandler turned to face him.¡± Mr Be, ¡°he said, stering a smile on his face, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have gone without speaking to you,¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯ll be in the restroom,¡± Elena said, and walked away before Chandler could ask her any questions or try to introduce her to the man. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was sure that they were red as hell too. She hurried out of the hall and into thedies bathroom. By the time she was staring at her reflection in the mirror, she could breathe properly again but she was still a bit shaken up.


    She¡¯d almost kissed him. She¡¯d almost kissed Chandler right there in the middle of the dance floor. What was happening to her? She wasn¡¯t that kind of girl. Yes, she¡¯d been in rtionships before, but not a one night stand, and she¡¯d never had sex with anyone she wasn¡¯t in a rtionship with. And even in those rtionships, she¡¯d gotten to know her partners before the topic of sex came up. But with Chandler it was different. He made her wild. Made her consider doing things she¡¯d never thought she wanted to do. If that man hadn¡¯t showed up, she was sure it wouldn¡¯t have stopped at that one kiss. It¡¯d have gone further and sure as hell knew that she wouldn¡¯t have been able to stop herself. Even now her body still craved his touch.


    The worst part was that there was no escape now. The party wasing to an end soon and she¡¯d have to go up to their room¡­.. With him. It could either be awkward¡­. Or they could continue from where they¡¯d stopped. Elena rubbed her forehead. She had to talk to someone. At first she thought about Emily. She and Emily always talked about things like this, but this time it was different for some reason especially since Emily wasn¡¯t a fan of Chandler at the moment.


    She pulled out her phone. Only to see that Emily had already left her some messages.


    Emily: How¡¯s the party going? Are you having fun or Is he a pain in the ass?


    Emily: Tell me when you and the bad boy are heading home. We already left your ce and you know I¡¯ll be worried if I don¡¯t know you are home.


    Emily: Better yet, let me track your location PLEASE. I¡¯ve only asked seventeen times, and I don¡¯t know why everyone thinks I¡¯m invading your privacy.


    Elena almostughed. Typical Emily, overthinking and overreacting was her thing. She didn¡¯t want her sister to worry, so she just shot her a text telling her that she was fine but she didn¡¯t go into details and didn¡¯t reply anymore. Not even when Emily texted back asking if she was home.


    To Beth, she texted:


    Elena: On a scale of 1-10, how stupid would it be to sleep with Chandler Kendrick when I¡¯m trapped alone in a hotel room with him?


    She pinched her eyes shut as she hit send. Her phone buzzed almost immediately.


    Beth: If you don¡¯t, I will emunicate you as my friend. Are you seriously questioning this???? That man looked at you like you were an entire meal that he wanted to devour, and I cannot fathom one reason you wouldn¡¯t.


    Elenaughed out this time, but before she could send a reply another text popped in.


    Beth: Wait. Unless you don¡¯t want to. If you don¡¯t actually want to, say no, and if he doesn¡¯t listen, I¡¯m strapping on my snow boots and I¡¯ll rip his balls off and run them through a meat grinder. I¡¯m sure Emily will do even worse so you better let him know.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Elena¡¯sughter was soft, and immediately, her eyes pricked with overwhelmed tears. It was a rare gift to be surrounded by women in her life who wouldmit such violent acts on  her behalf without thinking twice.


    Elena: No, no ripping and grinding necessary.


    Beth: Do you even realize how wide open you leave yourself for explicitments after texts like that?


    Elena: Ha. Sorry. You know what I meant. I like him. More than I thought I would.


    Beth: Listen, Elena, if you¡¯re looking for someone to give you permission to quit overthinking and just do the thing, then I¡¯m your girl. He¡¯s gorgeous, funny, and there¡¯s no denying he¡¯s into you. The better question is why wouldn¡¯t you? Don¡¯t think too hard about what happens when youe home.


    Okay? If today is what you have with him, then let him teach you all the wonderful things that he undoubtedly knows. And if that¡¯s impossible for you, then ask him out on a date when you and the roads have been plowed, because holy shit, women can do the asking and there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. He¡¯d probably friggin love it if you did.


    Elena chewed on her lip, trying to stop the smile at the way Beth¡¯s advice lifted the slight pressure on her chest. She was right. He did want this, and he¡¯d wanted it longer than she had. And no matter how badly they tried to ignore the way the bruises deep in their souls affected their rtionships, this was the perfect example.

 23

    She wanted him. He wanted her. But she was overthinking because she wanted to know that everything would turn out okay. They were products of their circumstances, but they didn¡¯t have to let those circumstances steer the wheel of every choice they made. A lot of people did, but standing there in the restroom, she didn¡¯t want to anymore.


    When the sun rose in the morning, there was no way she¡¯d look at Chandler with regret or disappointment. No, she couldn¡¯t guarantee how this would y out, but what she knew about him and how he was making her feel was enough.


    She touched up her makeup, then headed back to the party. Chandler wasn¡¯t where he was when she left  and so she stood at a ce, searching for him with her eyes when a familiar voice said her name,


    ¡°Hello, Miss Davis,¡±


    It took her a second to realize that it was Matt Harrington standing before her. A smile of recognition hit her face. ¡°Matt!¡± she said, and shook hands with him, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you again, and please, call me Elena,¡±


    Matt smiled broadly at her, ¡°You look beautiful, Elena. Trust you are enjoying your new ce?¡±


    Elena nodded, ¡°I am. Thank you. Wow, it really is nice to see a familiar face around here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Chandler sent me an invite. You know it¡¯s a good opportunity to do someworking and to meet people. I saw him around minutes ago and then I lost him. Have you seen him?¡±


    Elena looked around, ¡°Yes, I mean¡­ Not at the moment, but I¡¯m actually here with him. I just had to use thedies room,¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Matt remarked. Elena thought the way he said it was weird, but she said nothing, and her eyes scanned the room once more for Chandler. However, the cheerfulness in his expression quickly dissolved into an unexpected confession. You know, Elena,¡± Matt added, his voice tinged with an unusual seriousness, ¡°I finally understand why Chandler warned me off when I mentioned asking you out.¡±


    Elena¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion, her heart rate escting as she processed Matt¡¯s words. Anger red within her, her cheeks flushing crimson with indignation. ¡°What do you mean? Why would Chandler say something like that?¡±


    Matt¡¯s expression remained apologetic as he exined, ¡°He made it clear that you and he were, well, a thing¡­. Or at least that you were going to be. I didn¡¯t realize¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Elena. I didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡±


    The shock and anger within Elena boiled over, a surge of betrayal flooding her senses. ¡°A thing?¡± she repeated, her voice sharp with hurt. ¡°Chandler had no right to interfere in my personal life! And we are not even together!¡±


    Storming away from Matt, Elena¡¯s frustration and confusion mounted, the anger fueling her rapid steps toward the exit. Chandler saw her leave, and sensing the tension, followed swiftly, and he caught up to her just outside the grand ballroom.¡±Elena, wait,¡± he called out, his tone a mix of concern and urgency. ¡°What¡¯s going on,¡±


    Fury zed in Elena¡¯s eyes as she rounded on him, her voice cutting through the night air like a de. ¡°What did you say to Matt about us? You told him we were a couple? You told him to stay away from me?¡±


    Chandler understood immediately that she must have run into Matt and he got mad at Matt. How dare he tell Elena what he¡¯d said. He¡¯d deal with Mattter, but for now, he had to talk to that angry woman standing before him¡­ Who looked even hotter when she was mad, he observed, but he knew that telling her that in that moment would probably have one of her heeled shoesnding on his head, so he kept that thought to himself. ¡°Please let me exin, Elena.¡± He said.


    ¡°Exin what, Chandler? I¡¯ve just realized that you have been acting as if we¡¯re in a rtionship, dictating who I can or can¡¯t date. Who gave you that right? We¡¯re not even a couple!¡±


    Chandler¡¯s expression softened, his eyes pleading for understanding, but honestly he wasn¡¯t sorry that he¡¯d told Matt to back off. Maybe he was selfish, but the thought of her going out with another man made his blood boil. All he was sorry about was that he¡¯d managed to piss her off for the second time that night. ¡°I just wanted¡­. Look, Elena I care about you, and I thought-¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you were thinking. I don¡¯t need your thoughts or your interference in my life in any way!¡± Elena interrupted, her voice trembling with raw emotion. ¡°Stay out of my life, Chandler. I need some space.¡±


    The air crackled with tension as Elena turned and walked away, leaving Chandler standing there, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions and the undeniable ache of their heated argument. The fragile threads binding their connection seemed strained, hanging precariously in the wake of their impassioned sh. He only stood for a few seconds before he followed her out and into the parking lot.


    The frigid night air rushed past Elena as she stormed out of the party, her heels clicking angrily against the pavement. Frustration churned within her, fueling her swift strides toward the quiet solitude of the parking lot. Chandler hurried after her, his voice calling out desperately amidst the fading echoes of the music.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Elena, please, wait!¡± his plea hung in the air,ced with urgency and regret.


    Elena didn¡¯t stop, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt. She reached the parking lot, her breathsing in rapid session, the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows around her. With her back turned to him, she could feel Chandler¡¯s presence closing in as she got to his car.


    ¡°Please, just give me a chance to exin,¡± Chandler implored, his voice strained with emotion as he got to her.


    Elena turned abruptly, her eyes shing with a mix of indignation and hurt. ¡°Exin what, Chandler? You keep saying that but you have nothing to exin. What do you want to say? That you think you have the right to dictate who I can and cannot date?¡± The tremor in her voice betrayed a mix of anger and hurt, and Elena absolutely hated that he already could make her feel this way.


    Chandler¡¯s heart sank at the depth of her hurt, the weight of his actions dawning upon him.

 24

    He reached out tentatively, longing to bridge the growing chasm between them, but she pulled away from him, and Chandler let his hand drop.


    ¡°I thought there was something between us, something worth-¡±


    Elena¡¯s interruption cut through his words, her voice fraught with emotion.


    ¡°There is nothing between us, Chandler. You can¡¯t decide for me.¡±


    ¡°I never meant to overstep, Elena. I just¡­ I care about you.¡±


    ¡°You care about me.. Or yourself? Which is it?¡±


    Chandler¡¯s expression reflected both remorse and desperation. It was clear that she was too angry to listen to him at that moment, so he tried something else. ¡°I know I overstepped, Elena. I was wrong to interfere. But it¡¯ste now. Please, let¡¯s head back to the hotel. We can talk about this.¡±


    Elena shook her head vehemently, her frustration bubbling over. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this with you right now or ever. I need some space.¡±


    The air crackled with tension, the weight of their unspoken emotions lingering in the night. Chandler¡¯s pleading eyes searched hers, silently begging for forgiveness.¡±It¡¯s toote to head home now,¡± he continued softly, his voice tinged with concern. ¡°Please,e back with me to the hotel. We can sort things out in the morning.¡±


    Elena hesitated, torn between her anger and the practicality of the situation. She nced around the parking lot, her resolve wavering in the face of thete hour and the chilly night. He was right. They couldn¡¯t go home, and she sure as hell couldn¡¯t spend the night in the parking lot. Finally, with a heavy sigh and a hint of resignation, Elena relented. ¡°Fine, I¡¯lle back. But I¡¯m not ready to talk yet and I¡¯m not sharing a room with you anymore.¡±


    Chandler nodded, a mix of relief and remorse flooding his features. ¡°Thank you, Elena. I promise I won¡¯t push and I¡¯ll get another room booked for myself if that¡¯s what you¡¯d prefer. Let¡¯s just get back and rest.¡±


    Together, they walked back towards the hotel, a palpable tension lingering in the air, the unspoken words echoing between them. The night held an uneasy silence as they navigated the distance back, the weight of unresolved emotions hanging heavy over their shoulders, leaving their uncertain future shrouded in the shadows of the night


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    They returned back to the party but Chandler left after a while. He told her he had to go get another room for himself and Elena simply nodded. It was the best thing for the both of them at the moment because she sure as hell didn¡¯t want to be around him.


    He returnedter as the party ended and although Elena just wanted to be done with it, she stayed back to say goodbye to some of the few people she¡¯d met. She handed her business card to onedy and smiled as she urged, ¡°Please, feel free to reach out if you ever need catering for your events. I¡¯d love to be of service.¡±


    ¡°The room is on the top level,¡± he said evenly when she was ready to leave.


    He gestured toward the elevator and Elena strode in that direction. Chandler followed her into the empty elevator and she red at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked with a frown.


    ¡°Making sure you get to the room safely,¡± he replied without looking at her. ¡°You forget that you don¡¯t even know which one it is,¡±


    ¡°Oh¡± said Elena, realizing that he was right, but she wasn¡¯t going to ept defeat. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have toe with me. You can just tell me. I¡¯m perfectly capable of taking good care of myself and finding the room or is this another thing you feel the need to take care of for me?¡±


    Chandler ran his hand through his hair, messing it up, but for some reason the disheveled hair only seemed to make him look more attractive. Elena looked away. She didn¡¯t understand herself and her body at all. What the hell was wrong with her? How the hell was it possible to be so angry at him, but yet she couldn¡¯t stop herself from noticing him. She noticed his scent, his hair, his sharp jawline, shape of his lips and even the movements in his adams apple as he swallowed. She had to get far away from him as soon as possible.


    They rode up in silence, the tension so thick Elena felt like the entire elevator would explode before it stopped. It was all she could not to tap her foot in agitation as she waited for the doors to open. When they finally did, Elena stepped out, nced down the hall and then back at Chandler.


    ¡°My key,¡± she said pointedly. ¡°What room am I in?¡±


    Chandler sighed and pointed at the end. ¡°The suite at the end.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She reached forward and snatched the key card from his grasp. Then she spun on her heel and stalked down the hall. She jammed the card into the lock, listened for the snick and then shoved it open. She stepped inside and mmed the door in Chandler¡¯s face. Her feet were killing her, she was angry as hell and she was hungry. She kicked off her shoes and then sat on the edge of the couch next to the table with the hotel directory and a telephone. Surely they could get something for her to eat.


    The sound of the door opening had her on her feet again, and she red indignantly as Chandler walked in and shut the door behind him. He held up another key card in exnation. He looked tired and resigned.


    ¡°Look, Elena, I know you¡¯re angry.¡±


    She held up a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare patronize me. You have no idea how furious I am. Angry doesn¡¯t even begin to cover it.¡±


    He blew out his breath and ran a hand through his hair again. He took off his suit coat and tossed it onto the arm of the couch and began to unbutton his shirt, revealing his tattooed skin. Elena¡¯s eyes widened and she pointed to the door with a shaking finger. ¡°Out. I won¡¯t share a room with you. I don¡¯t care how sorry you im to be, ¡±


    ¡°I need a drink,¡± Chandler muttered. He finished with all the buttons and Elena almost gasped. Yeah she was mad at him, but damn he sure was making it hard for her to concentrate on just being mad. She had known he had a nice body, but the sight of his bare, tattoed chest did something to her insides. She wanted to trace the ink, especially those ones ones around his abdomen leading to his ¨C God, she had to stop thinking like this.

 25

    The man wouldn¡¯t even fight with her,


    and by God she wanted a fight.¡± Why are you even here? I thought you said you were going to get another room for yourself,¡±


    He stopped on his way over to the liquor cab and turned back around to stare at her. ¡°The hotel is filled up because of the party. They don¡¯t have any empty rooms left.¡± He told her.


    How convenient, Elena thought. She watched him turn and pour himself a drink, which he finished drinking before turning to face her again, ¡°Elena¡­.¡± He began as he walked towards her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t Elena me,¡± she whispered furiously.


    Chandler¡¯s hands closed over her shoulders. She tried to flinch away, but he held tight. There was honest regret in his eyes, but there was also determination. Stubborn determination.


    ¡°Sit down, Elena,¡± he ordered in a low voice.


    She gaped at him. ¡°What?¡±


    Fury darkened his eyes. ¡°I said sit down, Elena,¡± he said angrily and let her go, but he didn¡¯t move away. Elena stood her ground too, frowning up at him as she waited for him toplete what he was saying. If he thought she¡¯d let him order her around, then he was in for a big surprise. He reached out, his fingers going for her jaw, but she stepped aside, avoiding his touch. He frowned, ¡°I told Matt to back off because I wanted you to myself. Call it selfish or whatever, I don¡¯t care, but you act like I did such a bad thing when you¡¯re the one who shut me out simply because you thought another woman was hitting on me.¡±


    Her lips parted, but he didn¡¯t care anymore. He was too angry now.


    ¡°I want you, Elena,¡± He spat out the words, a muscle ticking in his jaw. ¡°I saw a man about to go after the woman I wanted, and I told him to back off. Maybe if he cared as much as I did, he¡¯d have tried to at least fight for you but he didn¡¯t. And damn it, stop staring at me like that. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a fucking hypocrite too?¡±


    Her gaze swung toward him sharply. ¡°Are you fucking serious?¡± she exploded, her heart thumping heavily.


    He cursed under his breath. ¡°Yes dammit,¡± he stared down at her. ¡°You are such a fucking hypocrite because you act like you feel nothing. You lie to yourself and you fight your feelings even when you know you feel the same way about me,¡±


    She gasped. ¡°That¡¯s not-¡±


    Chandler shook his head as he towered above her. ¡°You¡¯re a shitty liar, Elena. Maybe you¡¯re willing to hide the way you feel but I¡¯m not because I hate to y games. You care about me, and you want me just as much as I want you.¡± he leaned closer, so close that their lips almost touched, ¡°Hell, I¡¯d wager good money that if I kissed you right now you¡¯d kiss me right back. You¡¯re a goddamn grown woman, Elena, who isn¡¯t afraid to stand up to anyone, but you¡¯re terrified of yourself.¡±


    Anger shed through her, warring for first ce with the unease building. His words¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re a lot of things, Elena. You¡¯re beautiful and stubborn as hell. You¡¯re smart and determined. You¡¯re damn good at your job,¡± he said, holding her stare. ¡°But you¡¯re a coward. And you¡¯d better wake up before you miss out on the amazing things in life because you¡¯re too scared to take a chance,¡±


    Stunned by what he said, all she could do was stand there, and when she didn¡¯t say anything, Chandler cursed under his breath again. ¡°I told you that after tonight, if you still insisted that you didn¡¯t want me, I¡¯d leave you the hell alone and that¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do. I¡¯m not going to waste my time chasing after someone who can¡¯t see when the real deal is staring her in the face. And maybe you can be with Matt instead since you were so mad about losing him as a potential boyfriend,¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Then he spun, his long legs quickly eating up the distance between her and the door. And then¡­then he was gone, the door mming shut behind him.


    Chandler hurried down to the bar. He needed a drink, but he needed something stronger than the scotch in the room, and honestly he needed a break from her. He knew that he¡¯d been harsh and that he¡¯d hurt Elena with his words, but he was still angry and he didn¡¯t want to look at her face at the moment. He¡¯d noticed the way her eyes had softened immediately he started talking, and he¡¯d seen her expression go from anger to hurt.


    He¡¯d not meant to hurt her. That was not the reason why he¡¯d asked her out, but somehow he¡¯d managed to screw up his first real date in years. She wouldn¡¯t go out with him now that he¡¯d scared the shit out of her with his outburst and he had no one to me but himself. Maybe rtionships just weren¡¯t meant for him.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Elena stood frozen in the middle of the room after Chandler left. After what he¡¯d said, she¡¯d been unable to speak, because she knew that he was right. She¡¯d also never seen him get that¡­ emotional before. He always seemed in control and for the first time, she¡¯d seen him actually react. The fierce look she¡¯d seen in his eyes haunted her¡­ She could see that he was angry, but not In the way that scared her. She¡¯d actually thought of reaching out to him, but he¡¯d stormed out of the room. Maybe that was good. Maybe they could use some time away from each other.


    A warm bath would really help cool her nerves, so she went into the bathroom. It was quite spacious and Elena couldn¡¯t wait to take off her clothes and wash away the horrible events of the night. It¡¯d been going so well until somehow everything took a turn for the worst. Looking around, she was surprised to see a sexy ck nightwear folded close to the robe and towels. Apparently, Chandler had really wanted her to befortable for the night. The realization made her soften towards him even more.


    Elena took off her clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, trying to wash away not just the day¡¯s exhaustion but also the residual tension from her argument with Chandler. As shethered soap on her skin, her thoughts drifted back to their heated exchange.

 26

    She acknowledged a pang of guilt creeping in; perhaps Chandler had a point she didn¡¯t want to admit. She had overreacted, letting her emotions steer the conversation into a storm, and now regret settled in like an unwee visitor.


    As she dried herself off and slipped into the nightwear, she acknowledged the meticulous care he had taken to ensure herfort-a thoughtful touch that softened the edges of her frustration. But concern for him gnawed at her insides. It was well past the hour of reason, and he hadn¡¯t returned back to the room.


    Ignoring thete hour, Elena made a quick decision. She hurriedly dressed, the fabric of the nightwear swishing softly with her hurried movements. With a flutter of nervousness in her chest, she quietly stepped out into the deserted hallway, searching for any sign of Chandler. The hallway was eerily silent, amplifying the ticking of her racing heart. Her gaze flickered between the corridor and the closed doors, her footsteps echoing against the floor. She nced at her phone-3:30 am. Anxiety wed at her mind, painting scenarios of where Chandler could be.


    She moved cautiously down the hallway, a mix of worry and determination fuelling her steps. The hotel felt like a maze at this hour, with uncertainty lurking around each corner. Yet, she couldn¡¯t let Chandler wander in solitude, not after their disagreement. She had to find him, had to set things right.


    She took the elevator down, finally she found him in the bar, except he wasn¡¯t alone. Drink in hand, he stood, leaning against the wall. A woman stood in front of him, and Elena recognized her as one of the women she¡¯d seen Chandler talk to at the party. Her steps slowed for some reason, and finally she came to a halt when she saw the woman lean over and press her lips to his.


    Elena blinked. At that moment, this was thest ce she wanted to be, and yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to move an inch. She saw Chandler look up. He saw her too and she watched him move away from the woman, but Elena had seen enough. She whirled around, and almost ran into the elevator.


    Her heart was beating fast and blinked several times. Telling herself repeatedly not to cry or scream. She had absolutely no reason to. Chandler wasn¡¯t hers and it was none of her business if he kissed other women. She hurried into the room and shut the door behind her, then she climbed into bed and wished for daylight toe so she could leave and just forget about this awful night.


    ¡ª¡ª¨C


    Elenay on the bed, her eyes staring nkly at the ceiling, heart heavy with the image of Chandler¡¯s lips meeting someone else¡¯s. She had retreated to the confines of their hotel room after seeing them, seeking sce within its walls, yet finding none. Her mind reyed the scene again and again, the hurt digging deeper with each iteration.


    The click of the door disrupted her reverie, and she tensed as Chandler stepped inside. She could feel his eyes on her, his presence weighing heavily in the room. She didn¡¯t want to look at him, couldn¡¯t bear to see any attempt at exnation or justification. The silence between them was palpable, a thick fog enveloping the space.


    Chandler hesitated, attempting to breach the chasm of silence. ¡°Elena..,¡± he implored, his voiceced with regret.


    But Elena couldn¡¯t bring herself to engage. She turned her head away, her voice strained with hurt and betrayal. It hurt so much even if it wasn¡¯t supposed to, and she had no idea why, but all she knew was that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to face him or talk to him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk, Chandler, Please. Just¡­ just go to bed. I think we can both agree that nothing goodes from us having a conversation about anything. We¡¯ll go our separate ways tomorrow.¡±


    The air in the room grew heavier,den with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Chandler sighed, defeated. If anyone got an award for the worst date ever, it¡¯d be him. He¡¯d been a little drunk, and he wasn¡¯t expecting that Jennifer would kiss him. It¡¯de unexpectedly and he didn¡¯t even kiss her back, but being the unlucky person that he always was, Elena had seen them, and there was nothing he could say at the moment to make her understand. He¡¯d only make things worse if he tried. He reluctantly acquiesced, choosing the couch as a makeshift bed. The distant streetlights cast dim shadows across the room, amplifying the silence that loomed between them.


    Minutes ticked by, yet sleep eluded both of them. Elena¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of emotions-pain, confusion, and a tinge of anger. She turned on her side, facing away from Chandler, clutching the nkets tightly against her chest as if seekingfort from their soft embrace.


    Chandlery on the couch, his mind a tumultuous sea of remorse and regret. He couldn¡¯t shake off the ache of knowing he had caused Elena such distress. The sound of her shallow breaths from the bed seemed to echo in the room, a stark reminder of the rift that had formed between them.


    The night stretched on, the minutes feeling like hours in the heavy silence of the room. Each heartbeat seemed to resonate with the unspoken words, the pain of an unresolved conflict hanging thick in the air, preventing the sce of sleep from finding them.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    At some point she must have fallen into a troubled sleep, because she woke up three hourster. Waking up in that monstrosity of a bed was disorienting, to say the least. It was so, so dark in the room that it took her a solid thirty seconds to get her bearings.


    At some point, after he sprawled his big body on the little couch and she¡¯d fallen asleep, Chandler must¡¯ve woken to tug the heavy curtains shut. The tiniest sliver of light came through the separation of the two pieces of fabric, and the way it fell, it cut straight across the middle of the room. Almost like a line had been drawn between the bed where she was lying and where Chandlery. His long legs were dangling off the edge of the couch, and he had one muscr, inked arm slung over his face.

 27

    The nket covering his body was a dark color that she couldn¡¯t identify, but it was pulled up over his chest.


    Elena¡¯s heart was heavy, her mind still swirling with the image of Chandler kissing that woman at the hotel bar. It didn¡¯t matter how many times she told herself that they weren¡¯t a couple. It didn¡¯t matter how many times she told herself that she had no reason to care or any right to be upset. The pang of hurt lingered, and she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of betrayal.


    Desperate to avoid facing Chandler, she slipped out of bed quietly, her movements cautious to avoid waking him. Rushing into the bathroom, she closed the door softly, seeking sce in the confines of the tiled space. The hot water cascaded over her, offering a brief respite from the emotional turmoil. As she dressed hurriedly, her thoughts raced, tangled in a web of hurt and confusion. She wished she could erase the sight of Chandler¡¯s kiss from her mind, but it lingered, haunting her every thought.


    Finally, she emerged from the bathroom, her expression a blend of emotions  hurt, anger, and a hint of resignation. Chandler, already awake, stood in the middle of the room. His ck boxer briefs were the only thing covering him and Elena resisted the urge to p her hand over her eyes like a child. He turned to her, their eyes locking in an ufortable silence that spoke volumes.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Chandler greeted, attempting to break the heavy tension hanging in the air.


    Elena¡¯s response was barely a nod, her lips pressed into a tight line as she struggled to contain her emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a shower, then we can head back home together,¡± he offered, hoping to ease the palpable tension.


    But Elena shook her head, her voice surprisingly firm, ¡°It¡¯s okay, thank you, Chandler, but I¡¯ve already called a cab,¡± she said, her eyes avoiding his gaze.


    Chandler¡¯s expression shifted, a mixture of concern and regret etched on his face. He tried to insist, to mend the situation, ¡°Elena,e on. I brought you here and it¡¯s my responsibility to take you home. Please let me do that at least. Even if it¡¯s the only thing I¡¯m going to do right,¡± he said, but Elena remained resolute.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Chandler and you know it,¡±


    The ache in his chest mirrored the ache in hers, yet he respected her decision despite his desire for reconciliation. He was sorry. It didn¡¯t matter if he¡¯d been drunk. It didn¡¯t matter if he didn¡¯t kiss Jennifer back, all that mattered was that he¡¯d ruined his chance with her, and he had no idea how to get her to forgive him. Trying to talk to her at the moment wasn¡¯t an option as she was in no mood to listen. Reluctantly, Chandler relented, letting her leave, even though every fiber of his being wished for a chance to exin, to make amends.


    With a heavy heart and unresolved emotions, Elena grabbed her bag , casting onest nce at Chandler before walking out the door, leaving the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    In a cozy corner of Elena¡¯s bakery, the scent of freshly baked cupcakes wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of vani and cocoa. Elena, with her sleeves rolled up, stood at the counter meticulously decorating the delicate treats. Her skilled hands moved swiftly, coaxing swirls of buttercream into artful designs atop each cupcake.


    As she focused on her task, the soft jingle of the bell announced a familiar guest. Beth stepped into the bakery with a beaming smile. She sidled up to the counter, eyes alight with curiosity, taking in the array of colorful frostings, sprinkles, and edible decorations.


    ¡°Elena!¡± Beth eximed, her voice carrying an infectious enthusiasm. ¡°These look amazing!¡±


    Elena turned, a warm smile gracing her face. ¡°Hey, Beth! Thanks for stopping by. I¡¯ve been busy all day and bored out of my mind.¡±


    Beth peered closer, watching Elena¡¯s deft movements with fascination. ¡°Can I help? I want to be a part of this cupcake magic!¡±


    Elena chuckled, happy for thepany. ¡°Of course! I¡¯d love your help.¡± She reached for an extra apron and tied it around Beth¡¯s waist.


    The two friends chatted away, catching up on some story that urred in Beth¡¯s office while Beth eagerly offered her assistance. Elena handed her a piping bag filled with creamy frosting, ready for decorating, but Beth¡¯s attempts mirrored more abstract art than delicate confectionery.


    Elenaughed good-naturedly as she watched Beth¡¯s frosting attempts. ¡°Okay, maybe decorating isn¡¯t your forte, but you¡¯ve got a talent for filling these bags!¡±


    Grinning, Beth agreed, ¡°Yeah, I think I¡¯ll stick to the filling part!


    With teamwork, they swiftly finished filling the remaining piping bags, sharingughter and creating a fewically decorated cupcakes in the process. As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, the joyous banter and the scent of sweet treats filled the bakery, leaving behind the warm glow of friendship and the anticipation of a sessful cupcake delivery the next day.


    After the cupcakes had been packaged, they meticulously began wiping down the counters and neatly storing away utensils when Beth paused mid-sweep, looking at Elena with a yful glint in her eye. ¡°So, are you going to spill the beans now, Elena. Or are you just waiting for me to ask first?¡±


    Elena shed an innocent grin, feigning ignorance for a moment, but she knew exactly what Beth was probing for. ¡°I have no idea what you are asking,¡± she said.


    Beth rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine, since you want us to go that way. What¡¯s the deal with you and Chandler? You¡¯ve been keeping this under wraps for days now and I¡¯m about to die of curiosity!¡±


    Now it was Elena¡¯s time to roll her eyes. ¡°We both know that¡¯s not possible,¡±


    ¡°Come on, Elena,¡± Beth pleaded, her curiosity bubbling over. ¡°Stop teasing me! How was your date? Did you guys stare into each other¡¯s eyes? Did the entire room disappear when he looked at you? Did you guys kiss? How was it? Oh my God¡­ did you guys go through with it? Did you sleep with him?¡±


    Elena gasped, and faced Beth with a bewildered look on her face, ¡°No. None of that happened, okay. I didn¡¯t sleep with him and take it easy with the questions, okay?¡±


    Bethughed, ¡°Well then, say something.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

 28

    Sighing theatrically, Elena relented, her expression turning serious. ¡°Alright. At first, it started off fine, you know? We had a good time, the party was great, sparks were flying and the conversation flowed smoothly. I met a lot of nice people too.¡±


    Beth leaned in, hanging onto Elena¡¯s every word.


    ¡°But then,¡± Elena continued, her voice tinged with frustration, ¡°I ran into this guy, Matt. Chandler introduced me to him weeks ago. We started talking and then he told me he wanted to ask me out when we met, but Chandler had apparently told him to back off.¡±


    Beth¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, anticipating the twist in the story.


    Elena¡¯s face clouded with conflicting emotions. ¡°I got really upset with Chandler because I didn¡¯t like the fact that he was already trying to control who I went out with. We argued about it, and then he stormed out of the hotel room. After a while I felt guilty because I thought maybe I overreacted. Do you think I overreacted?¡±


    Beth¡¯s expression mirrored the rollercoaster of emotions Elena was describing, but she nodded. ¡± Ermmm¡­. I


    ¡°guess it depends. You had every right to be mad at him, but honestly when you try to see things from his perspective, he was just being¡­Territorial, I guess. Men do that sometimes when they like a girl,¡±


    ¡°Okay maybe I screwed up there,¡± Elena continued, her voice tinged with hurt, ¡°Butter that night, I went out to look for him because he hadn¡¯t returned and I was getting worried. Anyways, I found  him at the hotel bar¡­ kissing another woman.¡±


    Beth gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. ¡°What? No fucking way!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Elena replied with a mix of disappointment and disbelief. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it either. I thought we¡­ I.. I don¡¯t even know what I thought was going on between us. I was even going to sleep with him, Beth. I guess I was just being silly but now I¡¯m just d I didn¡¯t go through with it.¡±


    The silence between them was palpable, punctuated only by the distant hum of the bakery¡¯s cooling ovens. Beth reached out tofort her friend, understanding the weight of Elena¡¯s disappointment.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Elena. That¡¯s just¡­ awful,¡± Beth finally managed, her voice filled with sympathy. ¡°Are you sure you are alright?¡±


    Elena shrugged, trying to brush it off. She¡¯d known somehow that he¡¯d hurt her eventually, but it still hurt. ¡°Yeah, well, I guess it¡¯s better to know now thanter, right?¡±


    ¡°So what did Emily say about all this? I¡¯m sure she¡¯s currently nning his funeral as we speak,¡±


    Elena chuckled. That was an exaggeration, but it wasn¡¯t too far from the truth. Emily would be mad as hell¡­ Especially after she¡¯d been so skeptical about Chandler, ¡°I haven¡¯t told her yet,¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, Beth, I have no fucking idea,¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    The gym was alive with the rhythmic clinks of weights and the hum of treadmills. Chandler Kendrick, was amidst the tter, lifting weights with a fervor that matched the turbulence within him. Beside him, his brother, Elijah, stood mirroring his movements and trying to match Chandler¡¯s pace.


    Chandler¡¯s focus was fractured, his mind clouded by thoughts of Elena, the woman who had captured his heart but had slipped through his fingers after that disastrous date. The weight of that failure bore down on him, evident in his clenched jaw and furrowed brow. It¡¯d gone horribly wrong in a way that he had not been expecting at all. Somehow, their date had unraveled into a tangle of misunderstandings and missteps, leaving him riddled with an ache that lingered long after. He wanted to see her¡­ Wanted to talk to her, but everytime he picked up his phone to dial her number he couldn¡¯t go through with it. How would she react if he did, would she let him exin, or would she tell him to fuck off. He had a feeling the second option would be the result, and honestly, he deserved it. .


    Chandler maneuvered through his workout routine, pushing himself hard as if punishing himself. The metallic clinks of the dumbbells punctuated the silence between them, until Elijah finally snapped.


    ¡°Okay, damn it,¡± he began, as he dropped the dumbbells and sat on a bench to catch his breath, ¡°You¡¯ve been salty all week, man, and it¡¯s obvious that you are upset about something. Why don¡¯t you share instead of working yourself silly? What¡¯s up, brother? Talk to me.¡±


    Chandler lifted the weights two more times before he dropped it, then gulped down the water in his bottle before he faced his brother. ¡°First of all, no one talks like that, and Secondly, mind your business, Golden boy,¡±


    Elijah waved his hand at Chandler like he was a lost cause. He shook his head but didn¡¯t say anything. Which was good, because for days, Chandler had been one hair shy of snapping at anyone who came too close. The truth was that while Chandler did love his brother, for years, they weren¡¯t on very good terms. After Chandler¡¯s mother died, his father, Grayson Kendrick had remarried Elijah¡¯s mother, Laura, and she and Chandler never really got along. Chandler didn¡¯t care for a recement mother either, and it wasn¡¯t until Elijah came along that things got tougher.


    Chandler cared for his brother, but as Elijah grew, their parents favored Elijah more. He was the good son who never did anything wrong¡­the straight A student the family was proud of, and Chandler was simply the rebel. The ck sheep of the family who eventually left home at a young age. As they grew up, resentment grew between the two brothers. The treatment from their parents earned Elijah the name ¡®Golden boy¡¯ from Chandler. They argued a lot and sometimes it even got physical. It wasn¡¯t until after Elijah graduated from the university before Chandler reached out to him, and they began to mend their rtionship again.


    But at this moment Chandler didn¡¯t want to talk about Elena with Elijah¡­ Or anyone for that matter. Eventually, he¡¯d be able to get the thought of her out of his head. Eventually, he¡¯d be able to drink enough that he wouldn¡¯t dream of her. Eventually, he¡¯d work himself hard enough that all the blood in his veins would be focused on keeping his heart working instead of screaming at him that he was the biggest fucking idiot in the entire world for how he¡¯d acted. But it wasn¡¯t happening yet.

 29

    Elijah grinned mischievously. ¡°Emily told me you asked her sister out on a date. How did that go?¡± he asked.


    Chandler tossed the now empty bottle into the bin before he faced his brother again, ¡°What the hell do you think? And I¡¯m not talking to you about it.¡±


    Elijah hooted. ¡°Oh man, she already did a number on you, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    Chandler snarled and pointed a finger at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say that I didn¡¯t want to talk about it?¡±


    ¡°Tough shit, Bro.¡± Elijah replied and held up his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone else lining up to help you with your problems.¡±.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any problems, except for my busy body brother not knowing when the hell to shut the fuck up,¡± he dabbed his face with a towel, then tossed it on his shoulder. Facing Elijah again, he said, ¡°What else did Emily tell you?¡±


    Elijah burst intoughter, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to talk about it. I knew it! You¡¯re indeed smitten with Emily¡¯s twin. Well, good luck to you¡­. Emily is going to fry your ass,¡±


    Chandler rolled his eyes, ¡°Just answer the damn question. Did she say anything about¡­ Elena¡­ I mean¡­ The date?¡±


    ¡°No she didn¡¯t. All she told me was that you guys went out. What exactly happened between you guys,¡±


    ¡°I kissed someone else,¡±


    Elijah¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You did what?¡±


    ¡°Stop yelling, okay. I know I¡¯m the worst human on earth¡­ You don¡¯t have to remind me,¡± he sighed, ¡°She kissed me actually, but it doesn¡¯t matter because Elena saw us and clearly she didn¡¯t take it well. Trust me, it was the worst date ever in the history of dates so if she doesn¡¯t want to talk to me anymore, I can¡¯t me her,¡±


    Elijah nodded, ¡°Well, have you reached out to her¡±


    ¡°No,¡±


    There was a pause, ¡°You know you¡¯re just making her angrier if you don¡¯t call, right?¡± Elijah asked while Chandler stared nkly at him, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s obvious that you haven¡¯t been in a serious rtionship for a long time¡­ It¡¯s like you know nothing about women. Also, the angrier she gets, the higher the chances of her sister killing you and I know Emily¡­ She will.¡±


    Chandler narrowed his eyes at him, ¡°What? Now you¡¯re going to teach me about women? What makes you think you¡¯re qualified?¡±


    Elijah scratched his neck and leaned closer with a smile on his face, ¡°Well, brother, I know this is not really the best time to bring it up, but as someone who is getting married soon, I think I¡¯m pretty qualified,¡±


    Chandler frowned, confused at first, then understanding lit up in his eyes, ¡°Seriously?¡± he asked.


    Elijah nodded, pride and happiness written all over his face, ¡°Seriously¡­. I¡¯m going to ask Lexi to marry me,¡±


    Surprise and joy spread across Chandler¡¯s face, a silent understanding blossoming between them. ¡°Wow, Elijah, that¡¯s huge! I¡¯m happy for you, man.¡± He pped a hand onto his brother¡¯s shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze.


    Elijah¡¯s grin widened, relief and tion evident in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already got the ring. I¡¯m nning to pop the question tomorrow.¡±


    Chandler chuckled, feeling the rush of brotherly pride. ¡°That¡¯s incredible! She¡¯s going to say yes, no doubt about it.¡±


    A blend of nervous energy and eagerness danced in Elijah¡¯s movements. ¡°I hope so. I just¡­ I can¡¯t wait to start this new chapter with her.¡±


    A surge of camaraderie passed between them, their bond stronger than ever in this moment of shared anticipation. Chandler pulled Elijah into a brief but firm hug, expressing his support wordlessly. Chandler¡¯s voice held a note of assurance. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, brother. Tomorrow¡¯s going to be unforgettable. Lexi loves you¡­ I know that for sure, and I know that the both of you are going to be very happy together,¡±


    Later that afternoon after Elijah had gone, Chandler drove back to his home and wondered what it¡¯d be like to have a family. To drive home knowing that he had someone¡­A lovely woman, And maybe kids waiting for him. People he loved and who loved him back. It¡¯d be amazing to have that no doubt, but how could he have that when he couldn¡¯t go on a date with a woman without screwing things up.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    In the heart of Lexi¡¯s chic apartment, soft golden light cascaded through sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The faint aroma of scented candles mingled with freshly baked cookies, creating an atmosphere that felt like a cozy haven.


    Lexi, Elena, Emily, Beth and Charlotte sat in the living room, smiling andughing as they sipped wine and discussed different topics. The chatter among the friends danced like musical notes, filling the air with anecdotes andughter. Lexi, fidgeting with excitement, couldn¡¯t contain the news any longer. With a radiant smile, she interrupted the conversation, ¡°Okay guys, The truth is that I didn¡¯t just ask you toe over for drinks. I have something absolutely amazing to share with you!¡±


    All eyes turned to Lexi, curiosity sparking in their gazes. Lexi¡¯s fingers trembled with anticipation as she pulled up the sleeves of the sweater she was wearing and held her hand out to them. On her finger was a shimmering ring, and she grinned, presenting it a cherished treasure. The diamond sparkled, catching the light in a breathtaking disy of elegance.


    Gasps and delighted squeals filled the room as the ring caught the light, reflecting its dazzling brilliance. Beth sped her hands to her chest, eximing, ¡°Oh my goodness, Lexi! It¡¯s stunning!¡±


    Charlotte leaned in closer, admiring the intricate design while Elena gushed, ¡°Congrattions, Lexi! I¡¯m so happy for you!¡±


    Emily, with tears welling up in her eyes, wrapped Lexi in a tight hug, beaming with joy. ¡°I¡¯m beyond thrilled for you and Elijah, Lexi. You¡¯re going to be the most beautiful bride,¡± she eximed, her voice filled with genuine happiness.


    The room buzzed with chatter as the friends surrounded Lexi, each expressing their heartfelt congrattions. sses of sparkling cider were raised in a toast, the clinking sound filled the air, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Lexi¡¯s life andughter echoed through the apartment, intertwining with the sweet melodies of their friendship, creating a moment so rich and vibrant that time seemed to stand still¡­


    At least it did for a while, until Charlotte said; ¡°You¡¯re so lucky Lexi. You got yourself a good man¡­. Unlike me¡­ I cannot remember thest time I went out with a man and actually liked him,¡±

 30

    Beth nodded in agreement, ¡°The dating pool is such a mess right now,¡± she said.


    ¡°Emilyughed, ¡°Well at least someone went on a date recently¡­ With the other Kendrick brother,¡±  she looked at Elena, ¡°And hasn¡¯t said anything about it.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Elena shut her eyes, and in that moment she hoped the floor would open up and swallow her up, but her wish wasn¡¯t granted. Instead, she opened her eyes to find four pairs of eyes staring back at her, waiting for her reply.


    ¡°You went out with Chandler Kendrick?¡± Charlotte asked with a raised brow, ¡°Didn¡¯t know you liked him¡­ Didn¡¯t know he was dating either because he said he wasn¡¯t,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­like him¡± Elena cut in. No one looked like they believed her, so she added, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, okay? It didn¡¯t work out and I won¡¯t be going out with him again,¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Emily.


    Elena frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve noticed that you don¡¯t want to talk about anythingtely. If you are upset with me just say it,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not upset with you Emily¡±


    ¡°Then why are you being so secretivetely? What happened when you went out with Chandler?¡±


    ¡°He kissed someone else, okay?¡± Lexi blurted out. Beth hissed and covered her face with her palms, Charlotte looked surprised and a little bit entertained, while Elena and Emily just stared at each other, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elena. Elijah told me about it and I just wanted the both of you to stop arguing about it,¡± Lexi added.


    But at the moment Elena was too numb to be upset, ¡°Well, now you know, Emily,¡± she told her sister as she rose, ¡°I hope you can sleep well tonight. I need to leave,¡±


    Beth tried to stop her, ¡°Elena,e on, you don¡¯t have to,¡±


    Emily stood up too, ¡°Elena, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡±


    But Elena was already heading out. ¡°You wanted to know so badly and now you do. Congrattions,¡± she said as she shut the door behind her.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    When Sarah called Elena and ced an order for a birthday cake for her husband, Elena was very happy. Sarah¡¯s husband was a CEO at hispany and they were throwing a party for him. Elena had eagerly taken the order. Lately her business had been going fine, and at least, something good hade from her date with Chandler. He¡¯d kept his distance and so had she, but she still thought about him more frequently than she cared to admit.


    The bakery hummed with the sweet scent of vani and freshly baked delights as Elena meticulously worked on the birthday cake. Each stroke of her frosting spat was deliberate, striving for perfection in every swirl and flourish. She understood the significance of this order, seeing it as a gateway to potential future sess for her business.


    Midway through her creative process, the familiar jingle of the shop¡¯s door signaled the arrival of visitors. Looking up, Elena¡¯s heart skipped a beat as Emily and Lexi entered the bakery. Though she maintained focus on the cake, a subtle tension lingered in the air.


    ¡°Hey, Elena,¡± Emily greeted, her voice filled with a hint of remorse, acknowledging the evident unease between them.


    Elena nodded curtly, acknowledging their presence without breaking her concentration on the intricate cake design.


    ¡°Look, Elena, I know I messed up. I¡¯m really sorry about the other day,¡± Emily began, her tone earnest and apologetic. ¡°Are you really not going to speak to me anymore? I miss you,¡± She stepped closer, a plea in her eyes, hoping to bridge the gap that had formed between them.


    Elena remained silent.


    Lexi interjected, her voice gentle yet encouraging, ¡°Elena, Emily feels terrible about what happened. She¡¯s truly sorry. Please, consider forgiving her¡­ And remember that it was my fault too. I shouldn¡¯t have blurted out what Elijah told me in front of everyone like that. It was really uncalled for and I¡¯m sorry too. Just¡­ Just don¡¯t take it all out on Emily. She¡¯s still your sister and I share some of the me too,¡±


    Elena paused, her gaze flickering from the cake to her sister. With a conflicted expression, she sighed softly. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, Emily.¡± Her voice was tinged with lingering hurt, a testament to the weight of their recent disagreement. ¡°If you want to know something, why can¡¯t you just wait until I¡¯m ready to talk to you about it? I just expected better from you because I would have told you eventually but I was¡­ Ashamed I guess because you warned me not to go out with Chandler and I did anyways,¡±


    Emily¡¯s eyes glistened with regret as she continued, ¡°I understand if it¡¯ll take time, but I miss our bond. I miss us, Elena, and I promise I won¡¯t push you that way again.¡±


    Elena¡¯s heart softened at her sister¡¯s sincerity, her resolve wavering in the face of Emily¡¯s heartfelt plea. Taking a moment topose herself, she set down her tools, turning to face her sister and Lexi. ¡°I missed you too,¡± she murmured, her tone softened, but a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes. ¡°And you were right about Chandler. I shouldn¡¯t have gone out with him,¡±


    ¡°Oh baby,¡± said Emily, ¡°I want to hug you right now but you¡¯re working and you have ¡®cake stuff¡¯ all over you¡­Look, believe me, this is one of those times when I hate being right, and I swear I¡¯m going to kill Chandler.¡±


    Elenaughed, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, okay? Nothing really serious happened between us and I actually got to meet a lot of nice people. This cake actually belongs to a woman I met at that party so I consider it a silver lining. As long as he stays the hell away from me from now on, I think I¡¯ll be good .¡±


    As the air lightened between Elena and Emily, Lexi, observing the moment, took a step forward, a warm smile gracing her face. ¡°Now that this issue has been resolved. Elena, I have something to ask too.¡±


    Elena nced up from her work, curiosity evident in her eyes. ¡°Sure, Lexi. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Lexi¡¯s smile widened as she sped her hands together, her eyes shimmering with excitement. ¡°I know we just had sort of a serious moment, but I wanted to share some joy too. I¡¯d love for you to make my wedding cake!¡±


    Elena¡¯s heart swelled with happiness, and a wide grin spread across her face. She blinked, momentarily speechless before finding her voice, filled with gratitude and joy. ¡°Seriously?¡±

 31

    Lexi nodded and Elena¡¯s smile grew wider, ¡°Lexi, of course! I¡¯d be honored to make your wedding cake. Thank you so much for choosing me.¡±


    Emily, too, beamed with delight, feeling the warmth of the moment. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Lexi! Elena¡¯s cakes are absolutely incredible. Trust me when I say this, your wedding cake will be stunning!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The date for Elijah and Lexi¡¯s wedding drew closer, and although Chandler was genuinely happy for his brother, he dreaded that day. Elijah and Lexi had somehow agreed to listen to his step mother, who imed that she had the perfect church for them to get married in and they¡¯d agreed. That meant not only would he be going back to the home he hated visiting, but he¡¯d also be seeing his father and step mother again. Elijah¡¯s wedding was going to be one more thing they¡¯d use topare the both of them, and even if he and Elijah had fixed their issues and were very close now, he wasn¡¯t looking forward to seeing their family. He wasn¡¯t going to enjoy the wedding either, he knew that¡­ But he had to be there for his brother.


    Elena wasing too¡­Everyone wasing in fact, but he didn¡¯t care about the other names Elijah had mentioned after he said her name. Apparently she was going to be one of Lexi¡¯s bridesmaids. He missed her, but he was trying to give her the space he knew she needed even if it was killing him. The silver lining was that she was going to attend the wedding, and this could be an opportunity to be around her again. Even the thought brought a mix of longing and anticipation so he guessed he could look forward to that at least.


    They were leaving for the family house the next day, so tomorrow was officially the day he made amends with her¡­ Or maybe it was the day she¡¯d kick him in the balls in front of everyone and tell him to fuck off. It was going to be a road trip, but he could barely sleep so he grabbed a bottle of vodka from the kitchen and headed to his living room. His house wasrge and he never really cared about it, but for some reason today he felt lonely. Perhaps a ss or two wouldn¡¯t be bad, he told himself, but three hourster, he¡¯d finished half the bottle. He fell asleep on the couch and woke up by 7am in the morning to the sound of his phone ringing loudly¡­.


    Who the fuck was calling so damn early in the morning, he thought angrily as he snatched the phone.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Hello,¡± he said grumpily.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still asleep,¡± Elijah¡¯s voice said, bringing Chandler back to reality, ¡°Hello?? We¡¯re supposed to be meeting each other at my ce by 8. Get up and get ready,¡±


    Chandler groaned and hung up, then he headed to the bathroom for a shower. Thankfully his stuff was already packed¡­ imagine if he¡¯s nned to pack it that morning¡­then he¡¯d have been superte and dyed everyone.


    The travel crew must have been really excited about the trip because they were already at Elijah¡¯s ce when he arrived. There was Elijah, Lexi, Daniel, Emily, Charlotte, Beth and of course Elena. His gaze lingered on her as he drove into theplex.


    She was wearing a pink sundress and a pair of white, average high heeled shoes. She stood slightly apart from the group, the soft breeze teasing her long, dark curled hair that cascaded over her shoulders. The morning sunlight yed with the delicate folds of her pink sundress, painting a gentle glow on her sun-kissed skin. Her almond-shaped eyes, usually warm and inviting, held a hint of reserved detachment as she nced in his direction before quickly averting her gaze.


    Chandler¡¯s heart raced as he stepped out of the car, feeling the weight of their unresolved tension hanging in the air. He wanted nothing more than to bridge the distance that had grown between them, but he knew it would take more than mere words to mend the fractures in their connection.


    ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± Elijah said, but there was a grin on his face.


    Chandler returned it with a grin of his own, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry¡­. I overslept,¡±


    ¡°Of course you did,¡±


    Everyone said hello to him, well, except Elena and Emily. While Elena simply avoided his gaze, Emily red at him as if she wanted to murder him. He guessed she knew about the kiss from hell now. He stole nces at Elena, noticing the subtle tension in her shoulders, the faint quiver of her lips as she engaged in conversations, and the way her gaze continued to purposefully avoid meeting his.


    ¡°Hello, Elena,¡± he managed to say. She turned towards him briefly, a sh of vulnerability crossing her features before she redirected her attention elsewhere. Chandler¡¯s heart sank at her deliberate avoidance, ¡°Still not talking to me, I see,¡± he added.


    ¡°Damn right she¡¯s not talking to you,¡± Emily cut in angrily, ¡°You know Chandler you¡¯ve really got a lot of nerve¡­.¡±


    ¡°Emily please¡­.¡± Elena begged, dreading any sort of drama,


    Emily rolled her eyes, ¡°He deserves everything and anything I say him,¡±


    Daniel grabbed her waist, ¡°Easy love,¡± he told her, ¡°Trust me you won¡¯t enjoy the journey if you¡¯re pissed,¡±


    Lexi raised both hands and slid in the midst of the three of them, ¡°Okay, listen everyone,¡± she began, ¡°I know there is¡­ Tension between some of us here, and while everyone¡¯s opinion and feelings are valid, I need you guys to understand that this isn¡¯t the time for it. We are here for my wedding¡­. Mine and Elijah¡¯s¡­ And you guys are not going to make it about you,¡±


    Elijah nodded in agreement, pride and love visible on his face as Lexi spoke. Everyone else remained silent. Beth giggled, and the sound earned her a scolding look from Elena. She shut her mouth quickly, but there was stillughter in her eyes. Charlotte on the other hand just looked like she was enjoying the drama.


    ¡°Now,¡± Lexi continued, ¡°Whatever is going on between Chandler and Elena must be fixed before we get to our destination and this is how it¡¯s going work. We have three cars avable for this journey. Elijah and I will be riding together, Emily and Daniel will be together, while Chandler and Elena will be riding in Chandler¡¯s car. Beth can join Emily and Daniel and Charlotte will ride with Elijah and I,¡±

 32

    Elena shook her head. There was no way she was going to let herself be stuck with him in his car for two hours. Not again. While she was mad at him and desperately wanted to punch him, her body still reacted to his presence like a fucking ma. She still noticed him and the way he kept staring at her¡­. Oh God. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to be possible, Lexi,¡± she said,


    ¡°Yeah, no way,¡± Emily added,


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that Chandler and I will be able to act civil for your wedding. We are adults and we can handle ourselves without having to make up or ride together in his car,¡±


    Lexi shook her head, ¡°My wedding, my rules,¡± she said, ¡°You guys are riding together and I want you to be friends again by the time we arrive, got it? Even if you don¡¯t want to be friends, find amon ground,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that,¡± said Chandler, much to Elena¡¯s difort and Emily¡¯s irritation.


    Emily poked a finger in his direction, ¡°I don¡¯t care if she forgives you, Chandler,¡± she said, ¡°You do not deserve her,¡±


    Chandler nodded. He deserved that.


    Daniel wrapped an arm around Emily¡¯s waist and squeezed lovingly, ¡°Elena can take care of herself honey,¡± he whispered in her ear,


    Charlotte groaned, ¡°Urghh¡­ Are we going to start this journey or not?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°We sure are,¡± said Elijah, ¡°Let¡¯s get in,¡±


    Everyone began to load their luggage into the car boot, but Elena stood still, hating this decision with all her heart. Soon, everyone else were in their various cars as assigned by Lexi and only Chandler and Elena remained standing outside. Elena stood with her hand tightly holding on to her luggage, and she even gripped it tighter as Chandler approached her. It was quite funny, because there was no way a sessful business owner like Chandler was going to steal her possessions¡­ Or maybe she was just trying to stop herself from smacking him in the head.


    Chandler stopped in front of her, ¡°Elena¡­¡± He began softly,


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting in your car with you¡­ Not now¡­. Not ever again,¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Okay¡­. So what are you going to do? Not attend the wedding?¡±


    Elena gave his question some thought, ¡°No¡­. There are other modes of transport¡­ That I could use,¡± she replied, but she didn¡¯t sound very sure of herself and the expression on her face almost made himugh. He held back as this wasn¡¯t the right time, but she already saw the smirk on his face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, is there something funny?¡±


    Chandler shook his head, ¡°Hell no,¡± he reached out for her before she could pull away and took her hand in his. She tried to struggle but he wouldn¡¯t let her so she gave up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Elena,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to say this to you for a while now¡­. I¡¯m sorry. When I asked you out, thest time thing I wanted to do was hurt you. You gave me a chance, and somehow I managed to screw it up and I¡¯ll always regret it,¡±


    Elena stared at him and fought the tears that threatened to fall, ¡°It¡¯s been like three weeks, Chandler,¡± she told him, ¡°It took you that long to say this?¡±


    Chandler opened his mouth to say something but Elijah pressed his car horn and his head shot out from the window, ¡°Hey¡­. Come on you two. We don¡¯t have all day!¡±


    Chandler ignored him. His attention and eyes remained glued on Elena. Her hands remained in his, and he looked down at it. It looked even smaller wrapped in his¡­ Soft¡­ tender¡­ It looked like it belonged there¡­ And even in their messed up situation, he could still feel his body drawn to hers. He wanted to hug her. Wanted to protect her from getting hurt again, but this wasn¡¯t the time, ¡°I¡¯d do anything to go back in time and do everything differently,¡± he told her, ¡°and I wanted to reach out these past weeks, but I was worried that you wouldn¡¯t want to talk to me. I was scared-¡±


    She looked up at him now, her eyes searching his face as if trying to read it¡­. To see if he was telling her the truth, and he didn¡¯t try to hide his feelings. He left himself bare, hoping she¡¯d see right through him and believe him, so he pressed and dared to move an inch closer to her. Thankfully she didn¡¯t move away or try to fight him this time,


    ¡°I thought about you all the time,¡± he said, almost in a whisper, ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about you because I missed you¡­. Even when I was at work, or alone at home, I wished everything had yed out differently because if it had, then maybe you¡¯d be home with me.¡± He breathed deeply, ¡°But I screwed up and if you don¡¯t give me another chance, I will understand, but for now, please get into the car, Elena¡­. Please,¡±


    Elena wanted to resist. Oh how badly she wanted to fight him, but he was ruining everything she¡¯d nned to say to him with his words, the damn look in his eyes and she suspected that he¡¯d moved so damn close to her on purpose. His perfume and scent of his after shave were clearly messing with her judgement, because despite everything, she found herself nodding, ¡°Fine,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with-¡± she poked a finger in his chest and regretted the move immediately, because once she had her hand on him, all she wanted to do was tten her palm and feel the muscle underneath¡­ Maybe go a little higher¡­


    It was insane the way her thoughts had drifted so suddenly, and he didn¡¯t even have to make much effort. Clearly it didn¡¯t matter how angry she was at him. She still wanted him, and the anger seemed to fuel that want even more. She dropped her hands suddenly as if he were made of hot coal, but he¡¯d seen her hesitate and judging by the way his eyes suddenly darkened, she knew he knew exactly what she¡¯d been thinking.


    ¡°-But I haven¡¯t forgiven you, Chandler Kendrick,¡± she concluded her sentence with some effort,


    He raised both hands, ¡°Understood,¡± he said. He did not expect her to forgive him easily, but he didn¡¯t n to stop trying either. It meant he was going to have to chase her, and as messed up as it sounded, he did enjoy the chase.

 33

    Needing to put some distance between them, Elena took a step backwards, ¡°Everyone is waiting for us,¡± she told him, ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡±


    Then she left him standing there and walked towards his car. Chandler noticed she¡¯d also left her luggage for him and he grabbed it, dly in fact, because just watching her walk away was worth it in his books. She might not have forgiven him, but they were a step closer to that if he yed his cards right.


    And God bless Lexi for her decision to make her ride in his car. One more point for his future sister inw.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    The silence in the car was deafening¡­. so quiet you could hear a pin drop if not for the soft purring from the car. It wasn¡¯t an awkward silence either, more like they didn¡¯t know how to begin to say what needed to be said. Elena sat facing the window with her arms wrapped around her body. Her legs remained stiff against each other, and she looked like she¡¯d rather be anywhere else but there with him. Her short sundress looked even shorter now, revealing the soft, smooth skin of herps and Chandler looked away, mentally letting his dick know that this wasn¡¯t the right time.


    Something had to be said, he thought. It¡¯d be torture if they went the entire journey this way, so he cleared his throat and said, ¡°So Elena, how have you been¡­,¡± then he thought better of his question and added, ¡°I mean¡­ How has work been?¡±


    Elena turned away from the window to look at him and his handsome face. He was wearing a simple ck, short sleeved shirt, showing off hot muscles and tatted skin. Bad idea¡­ She looked away again, ¡°So far it¡¯s been going fine,¡± she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been getting more customers everyday and Sarah even called to ce an order for her husband¡¯s birthday,¡±


    Chandler nodded, ¡°That sounds great. Lexi told me you¡¯ll be handing the wedding cake too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah I am,¡± Elena replied, and smiled excitedly.


    ¡°So how¡¯s that going to work?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    He looked around, ¡°Is there another car bringing the cake?,¡±


    Elena smiled this time, much to his satisfaction, ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll do that when we arrive. We¡¯ll be shopping for everything I¡¯ll need,¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ll be pretty busy.¡±


    Elena tried to ignore the disappointment she thought she heard in his voice. She had to stop imagining things, ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ll still have to have some fun.¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°I¡¯d like to see the ce you grew up in too. When was thest time you went home? Are you excited about seeing your parents?¡±


    Chandler responded by exhaling loudly and dragging a hand across his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing the answer is no then,¡± said Elena.


    ¡°Yeah I¡¯m not excited about it,¡± Chandler finally agreed, ¡°And it¡¯s been years since I went home¡­. Look, Elena, my family is¡­ Not your regr kind of family¡­ At least from my perspective. My dad and I aren¡¯t really close and my step mother and I didn¡¯t really get along,¡±


    Elena turned to look at him, ¡°Step mother?¡± she repeated, ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­.¡±


    Chandler avoided her gaze. He didn¡¯t like the way she was looking at him now. It looked somewhat like pity and that was not the emotion he wanted her to feel for him, so he shrugged like it meant nothing, ¡°I lost my mom when I was very young and my dad remarried not too long after my mother passed away. She had Elijah and I guess I resented them for the way they treated him. They¡­Compared us¡­ Not minding the fact that we¡¯re different people¡­It wasn¡¯t easy without my mom and it affected our rtionship for a while,¡±


    ¡°Oh¡± she said, finally realizing why he and Elijah hadn¡¯t been on speaking terms when they were in school. She¡¯d been curious then, but her crush on Elijah then had made it very hard for her to speak to him about it and she¡¯d dreaded asking Emily much about Elijah either because she¡¯d been worried that her sister would see through her and find out about her crush on her best friend.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really like to talk about my family and I¡¯m sure you can see why. Can we talk about something else, please?¡±


    Elena nodded. She thought about what else they could talk about, then she said, ¡°Who was she?¡± The question was out of her mouth before she even realized it was still bothering her.


    That sparked something behind his eyes. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Thedy you kissed at the hotel,¡±


    Chandler cocked his head. There was silence for a moment, then he answered. ¡°Her name¡¯s Jennifer. We worked together like two years ago and we have kept in touch since then. She never made a pass at me or in any way gave me the impression that she wanted something between us until that night,¡±


    Elena remained quiet. Yeah, she¡¯d asked him the question, but somehow the reminder of that night seemed to hurt her all over again,


    ¡°I¡¯d been drinking Elena,¡± Chandler continued, ¡°I was mad at myself because I¡¯d ruined our night, so I took a couple drinks at the bar. I know that¡¯s not an excuse, but you should know that I never kissed or wanted to kiss her. She kissed me and you just happened to see it. I¡¯m sorry that I hurt you Elena. I really am,¡±


    Elena remained silent. She¡¯d returned her gaze to the window and Chandler was beginning to think that they¡¯d returned to that awkward phase when she said, ¡°I came down to look for you because I wanted to tell you that I was sorry for overreacting about what Matt had told me. I wasing over to apologize¡­ because I realized what you said in the room before you left¡­¡± She swallowed hard, as if bracing herself for what she was about to say. Her voice got lower and then it was almost a whisper. ¡°¡­ You were right¡­ about me having feelings for you. I still do¡­¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Chandler¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel at her admission. He¡¯d known she felt something, but after he¡¯d screwed up so bad, he¡¯d been worried that she¡¯d feel differently about him. Her words made him happy, and if he wasn¡¯t driving, he¡¯d have thrown caution to the wind and hugged her tightly. Maybe even kiss her¡­. If she¡¯d let him.

 34

    ¡°You have no idea what hearing you say that means to me,¡± he said huskily and Elena almost grinned at the emotion in his voice, ¡°Do you think we should give the date another try? I promise I won¡¯t screw it up this time,¡±


    Elena smiled, ¡°Maybe, but not yet. I¡¯m not letting you off easy. Besides, It¡¯s Elijah and Lexi¡¯s wedding¡­ I don¡¯t want us to take the attention away from them,¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    Chandler nodded, but the desire in his eyes as he stared at her told a different story. It seemed to burn away her clothes and Elena shifted in her seat, unable to deny the fact that she wanted the same thing and felt the same way.


    ¡°Fine,¡± said Chandler finally, ¡°We¡¯ll let them have their wedding, and then I¡¯m all yours.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Grayson Kendrick was a handsome man, Elena observed when they finally arrived at their destination. His head was filled with mostly white hair and so was his beard, but he was still strong and good looking. He was tall with broad shoulders, a strong nose, and a wide smile. Apparently, the Kendrick family had good genes. Even if there was no striking resemnce between Chandler and Elijah, she couldn¡¯t say the same for their father because Chandlerpletely took after him. Eyes, nose, lips and even their facial structure were the same.


    Elijah clearly took after his mother, Laura Grayson and Elena could see now why he and Chandler looked so different. Laura was incredibly happy to see her son and would not stop hugging and kissing him. She smiled broadly at Lexi and weed her into the family with open arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see again, my dear,¡± Laura said to Lexi, ¡°I knew you and my son were meant to be together the first time I saw you,¡±


    Lexi simply smiled shyly and thanked her, ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again, Mrs Kendrick,¡±


    ¡°Please call me Laura. I¡¯ve told you that before,¡±


    Elena observed the exchange and the wee Chandler received too. She watched him hug his father, and watched Grayson pat his first son on his back and asked him how he¡¯d been, to which Chandler replied that he was fine. Laura Grayson didn¡¯t share the same sentiment as her husband. She did smile at Chandler though. They exchanged greetings, and that was it.


    Chandler and Elijah clearly came from money, judging by the beautiful sight before them. Elena couldn¡¯t stop looking around as they took the grand cobblestone pathway leading to the Kendrick family estate. Towering oak trees stood sentinel along the winding drive, their lush leaves rustling in the gentle breeze that carried the scent of freshly cut grass. As they approached the main entrance, Elena¡¯s eyes widened in awe at the sprawling mansion nestled amidst meticulouslyndscaped gardens


    The exterior of the Kendrick estate exuded timeless elegance. A housekeeper swung open the ornate double doors, and the foyer greeted them with an air of opulence. Sunlight streamed through the stained ss windows, casting vibrant patterns on the polished marble floors. A sweeping staircase adorned with an intricately carved banister curved elegantly upward, leading to the upper levels of the house.


    The interior was a blend of modernfort and old-world charm. The spacious living areas were adorned with antique furniture, plush rugs, and intricately detailed chandeliers that bathed the rooms in a warm, inviting glow. A grand piano sat in one corner, inviting music to fill the air, while a crackling firece offered a cozy respite from the world outside.


    ¡°Wee,¡± Laura Kendrick said cheerfully when they were all inside. Clearly she was very proud of her home and took pleasure in showing it off, Elena continued to observe. She sneaked a peek in Chandler¡¯s direction, and noticed that he didn¡¯t look very impressed with the show his step mother was putting up.


    Grayson Kendrick on the other hand had one of his hands around Elijah¡¯s shoulder, and Elena could see that they were very close. Chandler and his father were not on bad terms, but she could see that their father¡¯s bond with Elijah was stronger, and she understood a bit why Chandler felt out of ce. She felt like reaching out to him, to hold his hand, so she did without giving herself the opportunity to think about it. Keeping her eyes glued on Laura who was still speaking, she slid her palm gently into Chandler¡¯s.


    Chandler stiffened for a second when he felt her touch him, he wasn¡¯t expecting it, but he didn¡¯t pull away. He liked the gesture a lot, so he sped her hand even tighter. Feeling the warmth and silent assurance and he was d that she was there with him.


    The housekeeper showed them to their rooms. Lexi and Elijah had Elijah¡¯s room, Emily and Daniel took another. Chandler had his already, and Elena was d when she realized that she, Beth and Charlotte didn¡¯t have to share a room. She loved Beth and had no problems sharing a room with her, and although she and Charlotte had never had any issues, she didn¡¯t feel quitefortable with her, especially since she knew how Charlotte felt about Chandler. Sharing a room with her would have been quite ufortable.


    Emily settled in quickly, but when she looked out her window and saw the beautiful garden, she knew she had to take a tour of this beautiful house she found herself in, so she decided to take a stroll.


    She wandered downstairs and found herself in a hallway. On the walls were family photos and Elena took some time staring at each of them. She recognized Chandler easily in most of the pictures because apart from the tattoos and muscles, his facial looks didn¡¯t really change much. As she stared at them she tried to imagine what it must have been like for Chandler, growing up without his mother and having to deal with a step mother who didn¡¯t really care much for him. Amidst the family photos there were also somerge ck and white photos disyed artfully. They weren¡¯t family photos, but paintings and photographs by an artist.


    Elena¡¯s steps slowed as she reached the second photograph, and she froze. It was beautiful and sad. Strangely appropriate for what she¡¯d just been thinking about.

 35

    A small boy sat on a broken curb, looking down at a dirty, smudged ball in his hands. It was worn from y, clearly overused. His hair was dark and messy, hisshes long against the pale skin of his cheeks. You couldn¡¯t see his eyes, but in the background, two other kids yed together. They were out of focus, not meant to be the focus of the shot. Staring at his shoes, also dirty and worn from use, Elena found her eyes welling up unexpectedly.


    ¡°Goodness, that¡¯s a bit depressing, isn¡¯t it?¡± a deep voice came from next to her.


    Elena nced over her shoulder. Grayson Kendrick was staring at the photo, his head tilted to the side as he frowned at the image.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mean to startle you,¡± he told her.


    Elena shook her head, ¡°Oh you didn¡¯t startle me, sir. It¡¯s fine,¡± She sped her hands in front of her body and returned her gaze to the photograph. ¡°It¡¯s moving, I think.¡± Grayson hummed, tucking his hands into his pockets. The disbelieving sound made her smile. ¡°You disagree?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m shit with figuring out art, youngdy.¡±


    That made Elenaugh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not that bad.¡± She said, ¡°Besides, why do you have it in your house if you feel that way about it,¡±


    Heughed then, ¡°I guess I kept it because people liked looking at it, so I guess it¡¯s here mostly because of the guests¡­ Like you. And judging by how captivated you were by it, I¡¯m guessing I made the right choice.¡±N?velDrama.Org content.


    He was the kind of man who was hard to gauge how old he was, Elena thought as she watched him. His face was gently lined, like heughed a lot. ¡°What do you like about it then?¡± she asked him.


    He grimaced, staring again at the image. ¡°Not much. Honestly, It makes me ufortable.¡±


    That made her give his face a second look, a longer, assessing one. ¡°Strong reactions aren¡¯t bad, though. The point of good artwork is to make you feel something.¡±


    The smile he gave her was lopsided. ¡°Fair enough. What do you feel when you look at it then?¡±


    Staring at the little boy¡¯s face, Elena answered without thinking. ¡°The role of perceived maternal favoritism in sibling rtionships in midlife,¡± She felt her cheeks flush hot when he gave her a curious look. ¡°Sorry, that was terribly specific.¡±


    His gaze sharpened. ¡°And I¡¯m terribly interested in why.¡±


    ¡°I tend to read a little too much into everything,¡± she told him. ¡°I hate that I do it but I can¡¯t help myself.


    He nodded, a gentle nudge to continue. Elena thought she kinda liked him. There was no expectation to be someone else or talk like someone else. Just a genuine interest in what she had to say, and that made the wordse easily.


    ¡°There¡¯s something very lonely about him,¡± She said. ¡°There are people-other kids-right behind him, yet he¡¯s separate. That ball, his shoes, he¡¯s obviously very active. Loves sports. But he¡¯s sitting in stillness for some reason. It makes me wonder what his family life is like. How he¡¯s loved, if he feels separate when he goes back in that house too. Or if being outside,¡± she paused, and Chandler¡¯s face shed in front of her, ¡°if finding something he¡¯s good at, something physical and tangible and independent, gives him the affirmations he¡¯s craving.¡±


    In the silence that followed, she felt a slow flush of embarrassment crawl up her skin. She might as well scream Beware of Psych Major for everyone in the house to hear. When she grimaced, he stepped closer to the photo, assessing it carefully.


    ¡°No wonder you looked like you were about to burst into tears,¡± he mused.


    Under her breath, Elenaughed and felt her embarrassment wash away. ¡°Like I said, I can¡¯t help it,¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± He grinned and looked younger when he did. Elena ducked her head, unsure what to say. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t be embarrassed. It¡¯s a wonderful thing, that you can look at that child and see all of that.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡±


    He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been a genuine pleasure to meet you, youngdy. Miss Elena, Emily¡¯s sister, is that right? Elijah has mentioned your sister a couple of times.¡±


    Elena opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted when another voice joined them, just as a big hand slid around her waist, settling easily as if it belonged there.


    ¡°There you are,¡± Chandler said. He grinned widely when Elena slowly lifted an eyebrow. ¡°I was looking around for you. Thought you got lost.¡±


    Greyson Kendrick moved his eyes between them. ¡°It¡¯s my fault entirely, son.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯ve been monopolizing her. She¡¯s quite intriguing.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s eyes touched briefly on her lips when he answered. ¡°That¡¯s one word I¡¯d use.¡±


    Elena felt her mouth open slightly. What was he doing? They were standing in front of his father and he was staring at her lips-like he wanted to devour them in one bite. Hand still firmly in ce along her back, Chandler smiled. Elena blinked at the sight of it. It was wide and bright and happy, and his father didn¡¯t miss it either.


    ¡°She had some really interesting things to say about that painting,¡± Grayson continued, and turned to Elena again. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯d like also like a tour of the house when you have fully rested,¡±


    Elena nodded, ¡°Yes, that would be great, sir. You have a lovely home,¡± she replied, and felt Chandler¡¯s arm stiffen around her.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll take it from here, dad,¡± he cut in, ¡°I¡¯ll be happy to give her that tour when she¡¯s ready,¡±


    Grayson nodded, ¡°Alright, then. Wee once again, Elena,¡± He nced back and forth between them. ¡°Keep hold of this one, Chandler. She¡¯s a keeper.¡±


    Neither of them answered, for entirely different reasons, but as his father walked away, she took a cautious step away from Chandler. His hand slid off her back as she realized they were alone again.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Chandler did not look pleased after his father left. He turned to Elena immediately, ¡°What the hell were you discussing with him,¡±


    Elena tilted her head to one side, but there wasughter in her voice. ¡°Chandler, are you upset that I¡¯m getting along with your father? A lot of people would be happy about that sort of thing, you know? Normal people¡­ But I guess you¡¯re just far from normal. You don¡¯t have to do that with me and your dad, you know?¡±

 36

    If Chandler was a hunter, pulling back on his bow, then Elena was the deer about to bolt into the safety of the trees.


    Before she could move a single muscle to do exactly that, ¡°Do what?¡± he asked with a frown.


    Elena grinned because she clearly thought he was an idiot, Chandler thought. ¡°Mark your territory,¡± she replied, ¡°Or whatever the fuck it¡¯s called when you men do things like this. It¡¯s not necessary, besides, he¡¯s your dad,¡±


    He tucked his hands into his pants pockets. Maybe it would make him appear non-threatening or some bullshit. ¡°I know that¡­ Which is why I don¡¯t want you getting close to him¡­. Before he finds a way to¡­. I don¡¯t know¡­ Turn you against me, I guess,¡±


    She blinked rapidly, ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± she answered slowly.


    Under the lights of the hallway, her hair gleamed. Her cheeks were pink, and she needed to touch up her lipstick, but damn if he didn¡¯t want to mess it up just a little bit more.


    ¡°What¡¯d you two talk about, love?¡±


    Vaguely, Elena gestured to the photograph next to her, one of many lining the hallway. The one in front of them was really depressing, if you asked him, and he¡¯d never paid any attention to it, but they¡¯d certainly been staring at it like it was a freaking Van Gogh.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± he asked.


    Elena chewed on her lip as she studied the image again. Ahh. She was nervous to answer. Everything about this was strange, and inside the safety of his tux pockets, Chandler found his thumb drumming a rapid beat against his thigh as he tried to figure this woman out. Every woman, from the age of four to ny-four, was a puzzle. Some were easier to put together, with better guides of what went where, and some were a bit tougher to assess. Honestly, he loved that about women. The beautiful variety of each one came in the pieces that you clicked into ce. And Elena, with her pink dress and dark hair and brown eyes, was as intriguing of a puzzle as he¡¯d seen in a long, long time.


    ¡°That¡¯s it Chandler,¡± she told him, ¡°I kinda like your dad though,¡± She noticed that the skin around his mouth had tightened a bit, and his eyes had lost some of the spark. This was hard on him,


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good for the both of you then,¡± he said, although his tone suggested that he wasn¡¯t really fine with the development.


    Her head tilted. ¡°How old were you when your dad married Laura?¡±


    Chandler looked away, ¡°Seven¡­ Eight¡­ What does it matter? Look, Elena, it¡¯s annoying enough being back here and I don¡¯t want to make it worse by talking about stuff like this. Do you still want the tour of the damn house or do you want to stand here talking about shit that doesn¡¯t matter?¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t want to upset him further, so she nodded, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s have that tour, but I¡¯ll ask any questions I want and you have to answer them with out being a grumpy, old man.


    Sheughed at his expression at being called a grumpy old man and started to walk away, clearly expecting him to join her, and he looked away so that she didn¡¯t catch him checking out her ass, bute on, he was already struggling to keep his hands off her. Her peals ofughter were so damn adorable, he¡¯d probably let her throw a concrete block at his head if he could hear them all night.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered as he followed her. He was in trouble with this one, and he knew exactly why. His lifestyle didn¡¯t lend itself to being around women like Elena. He knew a lot of chicks who were beautiful, strong and badass, and he counted plenty of them as friends but Elena  was different. Smart, sweet, no-nonsense, and way, way too good for him. She checked every box on the hypothetical list that he never paid too much attention to in his head-the Keeper list.


    His father was right, she was a keeper alright. He knew that already, which was why he didn¡¯t want her getting close to his family. He wasn¡¯t inpetition with his brother, not anymore, but she was one of the few things in his life that he didn¡¯t have to share with his brother, the Golden Boy, and he liked it that way. The earlier they were done with this wedding, the sooner they could leave.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you grew up in such a beautiful house,¡± Elena said when they got to the garden.


    Chandler nodded. Yeah, it was beautiful, but he could remember wanting to be nowhere near the house when he was younger and the relief he felt when he finally moved out. When you were constantlypared to your sibling andbeled the bad son, a house like this tends to lose its beauty in your eyes. He watched Elena move around amongst the flowers, staring and sniffing with a smile on her face and he couldn¡¯t help but think that the garden looked more beautiful simply because she was in it. She looked like something out of a Disney movie and the urge to reach for her grew stronger.


    ¡°What?¡± her voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°Huh?¡± he asked, almost absent mindedly.


    She was walking up to him now. ¡°You were staring¡­. And the look in your eyes were kinda weird,¡±


    ¡°It was?¡± He was responding like a crazy person, and he knew it, but for some reason his brain couldn¡¯te up with anything reasonable to say, so he went with the truth instead. ¡°I was just thinking¡­ That you look really beautiful,¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She grinned at him then, ¡°You¡¯re such a closet sweetheart, Chandler.¡±


    ¡°I am no such thing,¡± he replied,pletely affronted. ¡°No one has ever called me such a terrible name.¡±


    She giggled, and it made his sudden rush of defensiveness worth it.


    ¡°Why does that bother you so much?¡±


    It was on the tip of his tongue to say that just because he thought she was the most beautiful woman he¡¯d ever met didn¡¯t mean he was a sweetheart. He was a badass, thank you very much. He was an inked, pierced, sessful business owner badass who¡¯d never had a woman giggle because she called him a sweetheart, and she could have that etched on his tombstone because that was how much he believed it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me; it¡¯s just not true. Ask my dad and step mother.¡±

 37

    She nodded slowly, tilting her head ever-so-slightly as she studied him. ¡°Okay. Maybe I will,¡± she said,


    He pointed a finger at her. ¡°Nope. We¡¯re not going back to that topic. None of that. No psychoanalyzing. I don¡¯t care how beautiful you look. That¡¯s not allowed.¡±


    Elena smiled slowly. ¡°You were the one who brought it up again,¡±


    ¡°Stop it.¡±


    The smile spread even further, wide enough that her white, even teeth showed behind her pink lips. Clearly she was really enjoying teasing him. He huffed. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Her agreement was too quiet, too pleased with herself, and that made him swear. ¡°Be careful while you move. Some of those flowers have thorns?¡±


    Elena¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°Thank you for caring. That¡¯s incredibly¡­ sweet ¡­ of you.¡±


    ¡°Fine. You know what? Do whatever you want. Get scratched by one of them, see if I care.¡± He leaned toward her, ¡°And don¡¯te to me for help when you get bruised because you didn¡¯t take me up on my practical, logical suggestion to stay safe, princess.¡±


    It was a lie because if she came to him, he¡¯d forget about everything to take care of her¡­. Everything. He¡¯d get an excuse to touch her too and that was a bonus because he wanted to do that very badly. His thoughts must have been betrayed on his face because the blush spread slowly across her cheekbones.


    Elena moved closer to him without breaking eye contact. She knew what she was about to do could be risky if things went bad, and they already did before, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself until she was standing right in front of him. Her eyes lifted to his, which were trained on her face was such focused intensity that her face flushed instantly. She wanted him to kiss her, but she knew that he wouldn¡¯t do it unless she made the first move.


    His breath was uneven, ¡°Elena¡­¡± he carefully grasped her waist, ¡°What are you doing?¡± he continued in a rough voice, slowly tightening his grip, which tugged her hips closer to his.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Elena whispered back, but she was lying and he knew it. She knew exactly what she was doing.


    Chandler searched her gaze deeply, then moved from her eyes to her lips. He knew that she was lying too. ¡°Be sure, Elena.¡± He said.


    She blinked slowly at his roughmand. No, notmand. It was a plea. Since the day he¡¯d asked her out, he¡¯d beenpletely honest with her that this was what he wanted. That was how certain he was. Exhaling slowly, she broke the gaze and felt the slim tips of butterfly wings as they fluttered through her whole body. Was she ready to leap? Maybe not just yet. But she also wasn¡¯t sure what she was waiting for.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just ask?¡± Chandler asked her with a little frustration in his voice. He was still staring at her lips, open and inviting and incredible. ¡°Because you can¡¯t lie to me anymore and pretend this isn¡¯t something you want just as badly as I do.¡±


    Elena exhaled shakily. ¡°You¡¯re right, I can¡¯t.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He dropped his chin to his chest and swore. ¡°What are you so afraid of?¡±


    Elena¡¯s inhale wasrge, not shaky, but the kind of big, deep breath you took when you were trying to fortify yourself before a giant leap off the edge of a mountain.


    ¡°Will you look at me, Chandler?¡±


    Pinching his eyes shut for a moment before he did, he desperately searched for every shred of self-control that he had. When he felt steadier, he faced her, eyes zeroed in on hers.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you,¡± she insisted. Her hands carefully, slowly, softly slid around his hips, up his waist and onto his back, where she curled her fingers into his shirt.


    Chandler blew out a slow breath and allowed his hands to coast up her arms until his palms cupped the sides of her neck, his thumbs brushing the edge of her jaw. Inside him, something snarled dangerously, and he barely kept it at bay. But he was able to because of the way she was looking up at him.


    ¡°But this,¡± she continued, her fingers increasing the hold she had on him, like she was afraid he would be going fucking anywhere right now, ¡°this is the most terrifyingly unexpected thing I¡¯ve ever wanted.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s smile came easily. ¡°Baby, you have no idea,¡± he murmured, lowering his head over hers.


    Just before their lips touched, he paused, and she let out the most insanely erotic whimper, something hoarse with longing.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t asked me,¡± he told her, lifting his chin just enough so his bottom lip brushed against her mouth.


    Now he felt the edges of her fingernails in his back. He grinned.


    ¡°Chandler, you stubborn pain in my ass,¡± she whispered. ¡°Pretty, pretty please with sugar on top, will you kiss-¡±


    His mouth took hers before she could finish her sentence, and he knew, unequivocally, how wrecked he was.


    Chandler kissed like he was put on this earth for that one singr purpose alone. Elena¡¯s bones melted like slowly heating metal, and he wrapped his strong arms around her body to keep her firmly against him. His lips were sure and firm, and he sucked on her bottom lip like it was candy, growling when she licked into his mouth. He was strong and hard and warm, and her arms went up around his neck as he tasted her deep, deep, deeper. This was no typical first kiss where he danced around her, or she danced around him, and neither of them cared that they were outside in the freaking garden where anyone could see them. They were lost in their own world, and Elena wanted to remain there.


    They moved together perfectly, slick and sweet, as he took her lips again. And again. His hands were tight against her, fitting along the curve of her rib cage and down, down until he filled his palms with her ass. Elena rolled closer to him, inhaling through her nose when she couldn¡¯t even dream of pulling her mouth away from his to get a breath. Her fingers curled around the back of his head as she held him to her, and he smiled against her lips.


    ¡°So good,¡± he murmured. ¡°So sweet.¡±

 38

    Chandler ran the edge of his nose along hers, and she tried not to whimper pitifully that they weren¡¯t kissing because why, why weren¡¯t they kissing? She wanted this feeling tost forever. It was the closest she¡¯d evere to skydiving, to bungee jumping, free-falling through the air, and her blood sang violently in her veins at how heady it all was.


    He went back in with a growl, tilting his head so he could sweep his tongue against hers. They were wound so tightly around each other; her leg curled around him when he used his hand, gripping possessively around her thigh to hitch it higher.


    The way that he fit her hips to his,  Elena broke away from the kiss with a gasp. Shooting, sparking little fires erupted when he rolled against her, pressing her back against the wall. It was wild and crazy because anyone could see them, and yet Elena had the indistinct, hazy thought that with one press of his hand, one movement of his body between her legs, she¡¯d explode like a lit bomb.


    His mouth trailed down her neck, sucking kisses that would surely leave a mark, and she hissed her pleasure. Her fingers found their way up underneath the soft cotton of his shirt, and she purred at how hot and smooth his back was, how unbelievably strong those shifting muscles felt underneath her hands. He licked up the side of her neck, stopping to drop a gentle bite against the line of her jaw, which made her smile. ¡°Since the moment I came into the bar,¡± he murmured in a dark, rough voice, ¡°and saw you in that dress, I¡¯ve wanted this. And shit, Elena, it¡¯s so much better than I thought.¡±


    Elena blinked, so caught up in the maelstrom of what he was making her feel, of how everything that had happened since they met that had led to this inevitable moment that she¡¯d forgotten about why she was here in the first ce.


    For years, she¡¯d imagined what it would be like to kiss Elijah. But never once had her imagination conjured something like this. And she didn¡¯t feel guilt, not precisely. Because she was nothing to Elijah, and Elijah meant nothing to her now, and the man holding her like he could hardly keep himself in check, he was touching her and tasting her and looking at her like she was everything.


    This man, who was the opposite of anything she¡¯d ever imagined. Chandler paused and pulled his head back, clearly sensing the way her errant thoughts ushered tension into my body.


    It just ¡­ wasn¡¯t the kind of tension he probably worried about, when he¡¯d cautioned her to be sure. Kissing him, it made Elena more sure. More certain. This ¡­ him, that was what she wanted.


    But she saw the moment he read something on her face he didn¡¯t like.


    ¡°No, Chandler,¡± she begged, sliding her hands from his back and up the rigid lines of his abs. ¡°I¡¯m not stopping.¡±


    Gently, he tapped her forehead. ¡°Something happened here.¡±


    Elena nced down because she wouldn¡¯t lie. ¡°I know, but ¡­ I¡¯m still here. I¡¯m so here with you.¡± Going up on tiptoe, she sipped on his lush bottom lip, trying to draw him back into that decadent moment with her. His eyes fell shut, and he allowed it.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°So good,¡± she told him. ¡°It¡¯s so, so good.¡± Her hands curled up behind his neck, and she pulled his head back down, sucking at the tip of his tongue when it dipped into her mouth. His chest reverberated with a hungry sound that had the hair on my arms lifting.


    Chandler slowed the kiss and rolled his forehead against hers. ¡°Elena¡­ Baby, I would love nothing more than to keep kissing you. And if we weren¡¯t in this damn house, I would take you up to my room and rip off every single article of clothing between us.¡±


    Elena¡¯s mouth fell open because yes, please. His eyes bored into hers, and she knew what he was saying to her was important.


    ¡°And if you regretted it tomorrow because you got caught up in the moment, I¡¯d never forgive myself if I felt like I pushed you into this.¡±


    Elenaughed under her breath, but his face stayed in that serious mask. Her palm cupped the side of his face, and she relished the way his dark facial hair felt under her skin. ¡°Chandler, you¡¯ve done nothing but tell me how much you want this,¡± she said.


    ¡°I do.¡± He turned and pressed a kiss into her palm. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m past a hundred percent even though it drives me insane when people say things like one thousand percent because it¡¯s mathematically impossible.¡±


    Elena¡¯s loudughter took them both by surprise, but it broke his face into a small grin. ¡°Why are you so sure I¡¯d regret this?¡± she asked him.


    He used the tip of his finger to trace a line across her forehead and down along the edge of her cheekbone. Her eyelids fluttered shut at the gentle caress, so different than how he¡¯d been kissing her. ¡°Because of how your face looked about two minutes ago. Something stopped you. Something you can¡¯t mute¡±-he tapped her forehead again-¡°in here.¡±


    How had she not noticed how observant he was? Her mouth fell open slightly at how quickly he¡¯d picked up on the unraveling of her thoughts. The inability to get out of her own head was usually her downfall anyway. To think and think and think about something until she knew exactly what she felt about that thing. Until her head and her heart were on the same page. Right now, with Chandler, was the first time that she could remember when she just let herself feel without needing to know how everything might work out, and how this might look when they returned home after the wedding. When he pulled away, his hands falling from her body, she instantly felt cold even though the sun was out.


    ¡°Chandler,¡± she said quietly.


    He paused, and she saw the desire there in the tight line of his jaw, the way he held his hands so carefully at his sides. His big body, so much stronger than hers, was all but vibrating. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said slowly. ¡°I¡¯m not mad. I just ¡­ I can¡¯t handle it if you wake up and look at me with disappointment in those eyes, love.¡±

 39

    Elena¡¯s heart broke for him. No matter what else he¡¯d revealed, what snippets of his past he¡¯d given her , this was the first time she felt just how deeply he¡¯d learned how to protect himself. Him pulling away was so much more about him than it was about her. ¡°And do you normally give speeches like this to the women you kiss or sleep with?¡± She asked. But she asked it tentatively, with a gentle voice free of censure. ¡°Make sure they won¡¯t regret a night with you?¡±


    Chandler swallowed hard. His eyes searched her face. ¡°They know what they¡¯re getting into. They¡¯re not thinking past one night, trust me.¡±


    ¡°But you think I am?¡±


    The tip of his finger tilted her chin up, and his thumb brushed her bottom lip.


    ¡°I think you look at me differently than they do, Elena. You look at me differently than anyone does. And if you can¡¯t quiet those things holding you back, I don¡¯t want to be the man they all think I am. Not with you. The one who¡¯ll push where you let me, who¡¯ll convince you with my lips¡±-he dropped his thumb but still stared steadily at her mouth-¡± and my hands until you convince yourself.¡±


    Elena¡¯s mouth opened to argue with him, but no words woulde. Chandler had convinced himself that he was only capable of casual transactional rtionships, maybe for a hundred different reasons that had nothing to do with his upbringing. Reinforced beliefs were hard to break down, and she wasn¡¯t expecting this from him. Not once they kissed. A kiss like that, especially.


    He was trying to do what he thought was right, what was honorable. The man who tried so hard to pretend he didn¡¯t care what people thought of him was cing her own reservations so far ahead of his needs that she couldn¡¯t think of a single intelligent response.


    Which was why she let him back up and walk out of the garden. The sound he made before he left was so rife with unspent tension that her lips curved into a sad smile.


    What a predicament she¡¯d found herself in. Elena left the garden and walked up the stairs to the room she¡¯d been given slowly, not because she was tired or ready for a nap-it was still early, and it wasn¡¯t even time for a meal-but because she just needed a little space to think.


    Just what had she been expecting too? That they¡¯d go up to his room together? What if someone saw them? What would they say? What if Emily saw them? It was settled¡­. When it came to Chandler, her brain was a total mess.


    As she perched on the edge of the bed, she touched her fingers to her lips. What a fine time for Chandler to allow his chivalrous side to surface, she thought ruefully. After that kiss.


    Twenty-six years suddenly felt like an impossibly long time to go without experiencing a kiss like that. Sure, she had some experience, but it was a sad state of affairs that even when she had fantasized about kissing someone important to her, her brain had never conjured that kind of furious, fierce hunger. An unrepentant want seizing both of them until we couldn¡¯t touch enough, taste enough, or push their bodies closely enough.


    She didn¡¯t want Chandler to hold back. She didn¡¯t want him to worry that she was overthinking or would regret her time with him. But she was overthinking. And it needed to stop.


    Normally, she¡¯d ask Emily what she should do, but she grimaced when she thought about how patently unhappy this would make her. She¡¯d hate it.


    No, for this one.


    Shey down on her bed and not too long after she did, there was a knock on her door and she heard Beth¡¯s voice call her name. She sat up immediately. If there was another person who would give her honesty and pragmatism alongside blunt delivery, it was Beth, so she asked her toe in.


    Beth popped her head into the room first and nced around like she was looking for something¡­ Or someone¡­ Then she came inside. She shut the door behind her and when she turned around, Elena could see that there was a mischievous smile on her face. Knowing Beth, Elena immediately knew that there was something Beth knew that she didn¡¯t and she was going to find out what it was.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with you,¡± Elena asked. ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with your face?¡±


    Beth held her hands together behind her back and smiled even harder. Then she moved forward and crawled into the bed with Elena, ¡°I can¡¯t stop smiling,¡± she said.


    Elena frowned, ¡°Yes, Beth, I can see that. You look like you slept with a hanger in your mouth,¡±


    Beth threw her head back andughed, ¡°You¡¯re one to talk about people having things in their mouths,¡± she teased,


    Elena waspletely confused now and couldn¡¯t hide the expression on her face. So Beth decided to make things easy for her, ¡°Next time, when you decide to make out with Chandler Kendrick, don¡¯t do it in the freaking garden where anyone can see the both of you,¡±


    Elena gasped and her eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Oh my God! You saw us,¡±


    Beth rolled her eyes, ¡°Duh¡­ Yes,¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Did anyone else see?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think so,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You were in the garden the entire time,¡±


    ¡°No, but my room is right above the garden. You can pretty much see everything that happens down there from the window,¡±


    Filled with embarrassment, Elena buried her face In her palms and let herself fall onto the bed. Beth watched her reaction andughed, ¡°You were listening to our conversation?¡± she asked, her voice muffled by the duvet.


    ¡°No. Believe me, I don¡¯t think you can hear anyone from up there unless they are yelling. And I only happened to look out the window when you were already kissing. If there was a conversation, I know nothing about it. I was just surprised to see you guys that¡­ Well¡­ All over each other, seeing that this morning you were ready to rip his head off¡­ don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not judging or anything like that, ¡±


    Elena lifted her head. ¡°Urghh¡­I¡¯m so embarrassed, Beth,¡±


    ¡°Why? There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about. I mean, honestly speaking, I do like the both of you together. You two seem very¡­Compatible,¡±

 40

    Elena did not look convinced, ¡°You really think that?¡± she asked, ¡°Because I feel very confused about what to do with him. My feelings are all over the ce¡­ My head tells me to do the safe thing and stay away from him¡­. But I feel like my body and heart says something else. I¡¯d be very stupid to ignore what my head says, right?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. You¡¯ll never know¡­ But if you don¡¯t try, you¡¯ll spend a lot of time wondering what could have been and in my opinion, that could be very annoying,¡±


    ¡°My sister doesn¡¯t like him very much,¡±


    Beth shrugged, ¡°That¡¯s her business.¡± She leaned closer, ¡°But between the both of us, I don¡¯t think Emily hates him as much as she¡¯d like everyone to believe, but don¡¯t tell her I told you that because¡­ you know your sister¡­ And I like my head glued to my body,¡±


    It was Elena¡¯s turn tough now, but there was sadness in her eyes again after a few seconds, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve been avoiding talking to her about him. I miss talking to Emily about things like this,¡±


    ¡°Then talk to her. I¡¯m sure she misses it too,¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    It was finally time for dinner. Elena sat at the innocuous table with food in front of her and a massive floral disy almost blocking her view of the person directly across from her. Elena knew enough to know that it wouldn¡¯t be the kind of family dinner she was used to, but as she sat there, she could see that what was in front of her was ying out apletely different type of family, and Chandler was the outsider.


    What she didn¡¯t know, and what she couldn¡¯t stop trying to uncover as she watched his parents to her right, and him to her left, was whether Chandler had chosen that role, or if it had been chosen for him.


    ¡°This chicken is bullshit,¡± he said as he leaned toward her. Elena caught a whiff of his scent, spicy and clean and male, and it reminded her of the hot kiss earlier that afternoon in the garden. The bite she was currently working on, and had been for a while, lodged in her throat when she choked. She saw Emily watching her with a puzzled expression on her face, and she avoided her sister¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Chandler.¡± His dad sighed.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Chandler shrugged. ¡°It is.¡± He insisted.


    Elena tried to keep the smile off her face at the exchange. She was fascinated at the kind of family this was, and wondered if the family a person was brought up in determined the kind of person a child grew up to be. How much was biology? A coding in genes that couldn¡¯t be fought? And how much was the environment a child was raised in? The words spoken to them, the rules they were given, the praise they received, or didn¡¯t as was sometimes the case.


    Next to her was a grown man. He was tall and strong, unashamed in who he was as a person. But in front of the people who raised him, she watched the flip in his personality like someone had changed the channel on a television. It was impossible for her not to imagine what it had been like for Chandler as a kid because two things were abundantly clear as she chewed on the chicken that tasted like cardboard.


    His brother, Elijah, was so beloved by his parents. They were proud of his educational prowess, and the field of medicine he was in. They raved about what kind of man he was turning into, his uing wedding, his beautiful fiance, and all the things she¡¯d known before walking into the dinner. That he was intelligent and kind, with a huge heart for serving others.


    And Chandler was their other son.


    There was a clipped way that Laura spoke to him. A quickness in her nces, like she was put out by having to engage with him for too long. But she was also clearly bothered by the attention he received from others. There was a woman on Chandler¡¯s left, who Elena came to know was a family friend. Older than Chandler, and she was far more interested in him than Laura, judging by the way she stared at his biceps straining his shirt, the width of his shoulders under the material, and the hard line of his jaw under all the scruff covering it.


    ¡°You look well,¡± she purred, leaning toward him until her cleavage practically fell out of her red dress. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you. You should visit home more,¡±


    Chandler gave her a dry look. ¡°Yeah I guess so,¡± he replied absent mindedly.


    ¡°You must work out a lot.¡±


    ¡°As much as I can,¡± he answered seriously.


    Elena¡¯s lips rolled tight over her teeth, and she focused very hard on taking a sip of the sweet white wine that was in front of her. Laura scoffed quietly under her breath, and Elena fought against a re of annoyance. She stole a nce at their friends, and wondered if they were enjoying their meal, or if they could also notice everything. Maybe she was paying too much attention.


    ¡°I hope you like the meal honey, honey,¡± Laura whispered conspiratorially. ¡°And sorry you got stuck with Chandler as a seatmate for the evening,¡± she said it like a joke, but there was something in her eyes that told Elena that it really wasn¡¯t.


    Elena rolled her eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve survived worse.¡±


    Lauraughed in delight.


    Being in on that joke with her felt slimy because no, he wasn¡¯t Elijah, but he was still a person. Her stepson. It was the delight that pushed her just enough over the edge to say something. ¡°But he¡¯s not that bad, you know. I could do a lot worse for a seatmate than a sessful business man.¡±


    Elena thought she spoke quietly enough, but Chandler went still beside her. Laura blinked at her gentle reprimand but waved a hand. ¡°Of course, of course. He¡¯s just not used to hanging out with his family like this¡­ At least not for a long time. Not his crowd,¡± she said delicately. ¡°Elijah was practically born to impress people.¡±


    Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t wrong. Elijah was impressive. He was well-spoken and intelligent. He listened so well to what people were saying and what they didn¡¯t. But one thing had nothing to do with the other, and if she thought about Chandler and what that kind of constantparison could do to a child, it made a part of her light with a righteous fire.

 41

    ¡°Can you guys not do this?¡± Elijah asked with a frown, ¡°This is supposed to be a nice family dinner,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Elijah. Don¡¯t we all know it, Laura,¡± Chandler interjected. ¡°Trust me, we all do¡­I¡¯m sure Elijah does too because he practically hears it everyday.¡± As he said it, clearly taunting her with his tone, he stretched his arm along the back of Elena¡¯s chair. His thumb dipped dangerously, and Elena felt it brush the edge of her spine. She held very, very still.


    Laura¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, so Elena cleared her throat. ¡°He likes to mess with people too, I¡¯ve noticed. Just ignore him.¡±


    Chandler withdrew his hand with a low chuckle that made the hair lift on her arms. Normally, it was the kind of thing that would make her want to twist his balls up in a knot-but it was so obvious that he was baiting Laura, trying to garner any sort of reaction from this woman, even if it was her contempt. Contempt, when you¡¯ve been ignored and overlooked, was a preferable alternative, sometimes.


    ¡°So,¡± Elena continued, trying to change the topic, ¡°as you already know I¡¯ll be handing the wedding cake. Trust you¡¯ll be showing me the right ce to get everything I¡¯ll need to get started¡±


    Laura perked up. This Elena couldn¡¯t understand about her, and why it pained her to see her treat her stepson the way she was. She was so attentive and motherly when it came to anything that had to do with Elijah.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± she said, ¡°We¡¯ll go shopping tomorrow, and I¡¯d be d to show you around the the city too if you¡¯d like,¡±


    Elena thought she couldn¡¯t think of anything more depressing than hanging out with Laura, but instead of saying that, she stered a smile on her face and hoped it didn¡¯t look fake at all. Apparently, she didn¡¯t do a very great job of it, because Chandler leaned in again, and she gave him a sideways look.


    His voice was low, meant to be intimate and secretive. ¡°Now why did that make you look so sad, love?¡±


    Elena cleared her face instantly. ¡°I¡¯m not sad,¡± she disagreed. ¡°Just wish it was time for dessert so I could forget this chicken ever existed.¡±


    His eyes searched her face. ¡°Mm-hmm. I get it.¡±


    What did he see that made him look at her like that? Elena¡¯s heart thumped once, twice. Hard. When Chandler was looking at her like that, she didn¡¯t feel alone. She felt exposed. She found herself pushing her chair back. ¡°Excuse me. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± She said


    Everyone nced up at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be gone long, honey.¡± Chandler said with a grin. The ¡®honey¡¯ he called her was surprising to everyone at the table, and Elena fought the urge tough at the look on Laura¡¯s face. Chandler sure knew how to mess with her and clearly he enjoyed every bit of her difort.


    She hurried out to the bathroom and when she returned, the conversation at the table had changed to something else, much to her relief. She understood Chandler better now, if her family was this way, she certainly wouldn¡¯t be thrilled abouting home either.


    Dinner came to an end, and before Elena could go up to her room, Emily grabbed her arm and pulled her into a corner of the living room so no one else could hear them, ¡°What the hell is going on between you and Chandler?¡± she asked.


    Elena lifted an eyebrow, giving her a puzzled look, but she was starting to wonder if Emily knew about the kiss too. Did she see them in the garden? Or did Beth tell her?


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Urmmm¡­. Defending him at the table¡­. And him calling you honey in front of everyone. Duh¡­ Have you forgotten what he did when you went out with him? And so fast? All it took for you to forgive him was a ride in his car for a few hours? Look, I¡¯m not trying to judge, but I don¡¯t seem to understand anymore since you moved here, and it all started immediately you met him,¡±


    Elena sighed and pulled her arm out of Emily¡¯s grip,¡±You say you don¡¯t want to judge, but you are judging, Emily,¡± she said, ¡°Youined that I wasn¡¯t talking to you about stuff anymore, and it¡¯s because of the way you act. You might not agree to everything I do or want to do, but as my sister, why can¡¯t you try to be supportive,¡±


    Emily shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m only looking out for you. Chandler is bad for you. Why can¡¯t you see that?¡±


    Elena rubbed her forehead in frustration, ¡°Maybe he is. Maybe he¡¯s not. I honestly don¡¯t know what to think anymore, but I can¡¯t deny what I feel for him. You¡¯re with Daniel so you should understand. When you guys met, you told me how you felt around him¡­ How  you were drawn to him and that you couldn¡¯t help yourself. Well, I feel that way about Chandler. I know you hate him, but it¡¯s the truth and I need you, Emily, my sister to be supportive and not judgemental.¡±


    Emily lowered her eyes, ¡°Hate is a strong word,¡± she said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t hate him¡­ I¡¯m just¡­. Wary of him, that¡¯s all,¡± There was some silence as the two sisters stared at each other, then Emily added, ¡°So you say you like him that much, huh?¡±


    Elena nodded shyly, ¡°Yes, I do,¡± she replied, ¡°And I know it might be hard for you to believe, but he¡¯s really sweet when he wants to be. He puts up this show to everyone so they think he¡¯s a big, bad, scary guy with tattoos but he¡¯s really not. He makes meugh, and I¡¯m happy when I¡¯m around him. I can¡¯t seem to stop thinking about him and when he kissed me¡­ I¡­ ¡±


    She stopped speaking because Emily¡¯s eyes had doubled in size, ¡°You guys kissed? When?¡±


    ¡°This afternoon¡­ Some hours ago¡­Outside¡­ in the garden,¡± Elena replied,


    Emily looked shocked for a moment, then she burst intoughter, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Stopughing so fucking loudly,¡± Elena scolded,


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emily took a deep breath, ¡°Wow¡­You ermmm¡­ You¡¯re really serious about this¡­. About him,¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 42

    Elena nodded, ¡°Yes, I am. And I¡¯m not going to force you to like him or anything like that, but I just need you to be a supportive sister. I want you to have my back whether it works out or not, because that¡¯s what we¡¯ve always done. Look out for each other.¡±


    Emily nodded, ¡°Fine,¡± she said ¡°Believe it or not, Sis, I am happy for you,¡±


    Elena smiled, ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°Yeah I am. You seem so bubbly when you talk about him and I know what that feels like, but please, don¡¯t fall too hard just yet. Enjoy what you have with him, and see how serious he wants to get, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay. Thank you, Emily,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Now, how thrilled are you about going shopping with Laura Kendrick?¡±


    Elena narrowed her eyes and they exchanged looks, then they both burst intoughter.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Shopping with Laura Kendrick didn¡¯t turn out to be so bad, but Elena knew it was also because she¡¯d literally forced Beth and Emily toe with her. Charlotte was barely around except for the time they went dress shopping. She¡¯d hooked up with some guy Elenater found out to be one of Elijah¡¯s childhood friends, and now she was hanging out with him all the time. Elena admired the way Charlotte had taken the opportunity to turn the wedding trip to a mini vacation.


    Preparations for the wedding were ongoing, and she barely saw Chandler during the day. Every time she saw him, she was busy¡­ Or he was busy or with someone else, so all they¡¯d given each other were awkward hellos, quick sneaky nces and on one asion she¡¯d caught him staring at her quite intensely. She was with Beth at the time, walking into the house, and Chandler had been standing outside talking on the phone. The way he¡¯d looked at her both ttered and embarrassed her at the same time. If  nothing else, Chandler Kendrick was damn good for her ego. He looked at her as if she were the only woman in the world-no, as if she were the only woman in the world he wanted. That want was apparent in his eyes, which had grown darker than their usual brown color. It reminded her of the kiss they¡¯d shared and she just knew he was thinking about the same thing. Even Beth noticed and she had teased her about it.


    ¡°He wants you,¡± Beth had told her after they went inside and she was sure no one could hear them.


    ¡°What?¡± Elena had swallowed hard before turning to her friend, so distracted due to her thoughts that she had not heard what Beth said. This didn¡¯t help her case because Bethughed even harder now.


    ¡°Could you want him more?¡± she¡¯d asked Elena, who frowned and shrugged like she had no idea what Beth was talking about. ¡°I don¡¯t me you. If a man that hot stared at me like that, I¡¯d be dazed too,¡±


    Elena had said nothing, but her cheeks turned bright pink. She missed Chandler¡­ At least she could admit that to herself now. They hadn¡¯t even had the chance to talk about the kiss, or what the fuck they were doing with each other. Yes, they both knew that they had feelings for each other, and that fireworks exploded in their heads when they kissed, but were they going to be a couple? Friends with benefits? Or were they going to pretend that nothing had happened. Elena tried to focus on the task at hand. She wasn¡¯t going to ruin Lexi¡¯s and Elijah¡¯s wedding cake because she kept thinking about the best man, but he kept popping into her head and wouldn¡¯t go away. He was like a newly found addiction. Her body craved for him, and her heart wouldn¡¯t stop fluttering ridiculously every time he was around.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    She was probably just horny, she told herself over and over again. It had been a while since she¡¯d had sex¡­ That had to be it, and that mind blowing kiss had blown that horniness out of proportion. Even if she threw caution into the air and asked Chandler for it, he still wouldn¡¯t because he was worried that she¡¯d regret it. Silly man, she thought. Men could be annoying sometimes. They acted like they knew everything, and Chandler had no idea how she was feeling.


    She spent the next day baking the wedding cake and when she was finally done, she took a moment to stare in awe at the magic she¡¯d created. It was indeed a very beautiful cake and she knew that Lexi would love it. The masterpiece stood on the kitchen counter, and a sweet aroma of vani and buttercream wafted through the air. Each tier boasted a velvety texture, inviting anyone whoid eyes upon it to indulge in its splendor.


    Adorned with intricate details, the cake was a sight to behold. The bottom tier was wrapped in soft, pastel-colored fondant, delicately etched with elegant floral patterns that intertwined like a lover¡¯s embrace. Tiny edible pearls were meticulously ced at the center of each bloom, adding a touch of whimsy and refinement.


    Ascending to the second tier, a cascade of sugarcrafted roses in various shades of pink, crimson, and ivory graced the surface, their petals appearing almost lifelike in their beauty. Glistening sugar dew adorned the edges of the petals, giving the illusion of morning dew clinging to nature¡¯s delicate creation.


    The top tier held a miniature replica of a swing, expertly carved out of fondant and suspended by a delicate edible sugar rope from a gossamer sugar tree. Two fondant figurines sat on the swing, portraying Lexi and Elijah, frozen in a sweet embrace, their smiles capturing the essence of joy and love.


    The wedding would be taking ce the next day and after the day she had had, Elena was exhausted. She wondered what everyone was doing. Probably having fun in anticipation for the big day tomorrow. She would have loved to join them, but she was exhausted and she needed her sleep as she was also going to be one of the bridesmaids, so she headed upstairs to her room.


    Inside, she got undressed quickly and rushed into the bathroom where she took a warm, rxing shower. She let the water cascade down her body for a while before she finally turned off the water and dried her body up. Walking back into the room she exchanged her towel for a red, silk robe she¡¯d brought with her, and then she jumped into the bed.

 43

    Her whole body felt stiff, and she stretched before pulling the duvet over her body. This was nothing a good sleep wouldn¡¯t fix. She was about to close her eyes when someone knocked at the door. Elena almost groaned. Who could it be? Probably Emily or Beth wanting to check up on her. The person knocked again and she threw off the covers and headed for the door to unlock it.


    She threw it open, her hand rubbing her forehead, she began, ¡°Look, I¡¯m really tired and I¡­.¡± She froze, and her other hand tightened on her robe. ¡°Oh¡­.¡±


    Chandler stood in front of her, wearing a white shirt and ck shorts, he looked handsome as usual, and she stood there, in her short silk robe with nothing underneath, and suddenly she felt¡­ Exposed.


    ¡°Hi,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I bothered you¡­ I urmmm¡­.. I checked the kitchen and you weren¡¯t there¡­ And I ermm¡­. We have barely seen each other since¡­. We¡­. Since the day before yesterday, I mean¡­ And I just wanted to check up on you. Make sure you are okay,¡±


    Elena couldn¡¯t find her tongue for a second, so she nodded instead and dropped her hand from her forehead. Chandler stood there, satisfied to just stare at her. Her hair was still a bit wet, so he assumed she had just showered. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was her soap or shampoo, but she smelled like roses and he loved it. His gaze drifted down her body and he didn¡¯t even try to hide the fact that he was checking her out. Her silk robe stopped right above her knees, showing off smooth, beautiful legs. Her bare feet rubbed against each other, and he noticed the ck nail polish on her toes. Sexy, he thought. He¡¯d never known that he¡¯d ever find nail polish sexy¡­ Until now. His gaze moved upward, and he didn¡¯t want to stare, but her nipples looked hardened and were strained against her robe. He wanted to touch them. He wanted to rub his thumb against them over and over again until they were harder and then he wanted to rece his thumb with tongue until she begged him to stop.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    When he forced himself to look away and meet her eyes again, he knew that she¡¯d seen the stark hunger in his eyes and he didn¡¯t mind at all. He wanted her to know how much he wanted her. He wasn¡¯t hiding it, and judging by look in her eyes, she wanted him too.


    ¡°That was very nice of you,¡± she said finally, her voice was almost in a whisper and he leaned closer without even realizing that he was doing it. ¡°I was just retiring for bed. It¡¯s been a very busy day and I feel stiff all over.¡±


    Chandler nodded, but he made no effort to go away, and Elena didn¡¯t want him to.


    ¡°Would you like toe in?¡± she asked before she¡¯d lose her nerve and added quickly when his brow lifted, ¡°I mean¡­ For a while¡­ I could use thepany¡­ If you want to, of course,¡±


    How could he say no? He¡¯d be the biggest fool on the if he said no, Chandler thought, so he nodded, ¡°Yeah¡­. Yeah I¡¯d love toe in,¡± he replied.


    He stepped into the room that smelled like her, and he tried not to sniff loudly. Now that he was inside, he had no idea what to do, so he stood in the middle of the room and looked around, ¡°I see you¡¯ve made yourself at home,¡± he said,


    Elena chuckled, and sat on the edge of the bed, ¡°I guess. I¡¯m trying not to get attached since we¡¯ll be leaving the day after the wedding. I¡¯m not going to lie, I kinda like it here,¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Chandler asked with a smile, then he joined her at the edge of the bed, ¡°Tell me what you like about being here?¡±


    They weren¡¯t touching at all, but she could still feel his body heat, Elena thought, and the room seemed to be smaller now with him in it. She liked his scent too. A manly scent mixed with tequ, so she guessed he must have been drinking. She could use a drink at the moment. He was still waiting for her reply so she said, ¡°First of all. Your house is beautiful,¡±


    ¡°Point of correction. My dads house but continue,¡±


    Elena fought the smile threatening to break out on her face and failed, ¡°It¡¯s veryfortable and big too. I love the garden, and the pool. It¡¯s nice to be in the ce where you grew up.¡± She paused for a while, then dared to add, ¡°Your dad too¡­ He¡¯s pretty nice,¡±


    Chandler said nothing, but he nodded.


    ¡°Have you had time to¡­. Talk to him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We spent some time alone today. Did some¡­ bonding¡­ I guess¡­ It was nice,¡± He turned to look at Elena, and noticed her smile, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied, ¡°I¡¯m just happy for you. I¡¯m happy that you got to spend some time with him. You know Chandler, I think it¡¯s time you both fixed your rtionship. I think your dad wants that too, but he has some pride and doesn¡¯t know how to tell you that he knows he messed up. Your opening up to him is good,¡±


    Heughed, ¡°Wow. I see you already got everyone in the family figured out, huh?¡±


    Elena looked quite proud of herself, ¡°Yeah. You wanna know what I think about you?¡±


    ¡°This is going to be fun. Do tell, Oh mighty, observant one,¡± he teased,


    Elena ignored him, ¡°I think you want everyone to see you as a viin. They treated you that way for a while so you kinda just¡­. epted it, but you¡¯re not. I think you¡¯re gentle and sweet. I think you should open up and let people in because you deserve to be loved, and I think¡­. You¡¯ll  make a good father someday,¡±


    Chandler was quiet. He just stared¡­. Inplete awe of this woman who he¡¯d met unexpectedly not too long ago and now he never wanted her out of his life. She understood him. She saw through him and she heard him even when he said nothing. She knew the right things to say and he was in love with her. Elijah was right¡­ She really had done a number on him and he was d that she had.


    ¡°You really think I¡¯ll be a good father?¡± he asked, as if seeking her assurance, because at the moment it mattered so much to him.

 44

    She nodded, ¡°Yes,¡± she replied without hesitation.


    He wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but he held back and swallowed hard, ¡°You have no idea how much that means to me, Elena. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee¡± Elena replied, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. The conversation has suddenly taken a serious turn and while she didn¡¯t regret telling him that, she still felt awkward about it. She stood up and feeling the stiffness all over her body, she stretched, involuntarily making a soft, feminine sound that sent the blood rushing to his dick.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Chandler asked her, trying to ignore his semi hard cock. ¡°Looked like that hurt,¡±


    ¡°It did a little. My body feels so stiff all over,¡±


    There was a pause, ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯ve been working all day. Can I help?¡±


    Elena was silent for a few seconds, and she wondered if he meant what she thought he did.


    ¡°I could help you with a massage,¡± he told her, confirming her thoughts. ¡°All you need is a little adjustment and you¡¯ll feel better,¡±


    Okay, so he did mean what she thought. The thought of him putting his hands on her and massaging sent a thrill down her spine and caused a small pool between her legs, reminding her that she waspletely naked underneath the silk robe. She didn¡¯t want to say no. It did sound like a good idea and she needed it, so she nodded, unable to speak as her throat was suddenly dry.


    Chandler stood then, towering above her. She didn¡¯t move¡­ She couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Get on the bed,¡± he said.


    It was an innocent statement, but it sounded a lot like something else. ¡°Huh?¡± she asked stupidly.


    He chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to give you that massage if you¡¯re standing, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡±


    Realizing just how silly she must have looked, Elena slowly climbed into the bed and watched in silence as he followed.


    ¡°You have to lie facing the bed,¡± he instructed, not taking his eyes off her. ¡°So I can work on you back,¡±


    Elena said nothing, but she did as he asked. Weirdly, him giving her instructions like these turned her on. It was weird because she¡¯d never known that she was into things like that. She shut her eyes and when she felt him cross his legs over her body as he knelt on the bed, she knew she was a goner.


    Chandler knew he¡¯d made a mistake by offering her that massage as soon as he got on the bed. The fact that she had agreed to a massage didn¡¯t mean that she¡¯d agreed to anything else, but he couldn¡¯t help the direction his thoughts were headed. Well, he¡¯d offered and he was going to go through with it.


    Her body was slender and yet she had all the right curves in the right ces. Delicate shoulders, soft skin, curvy waist and best looking ass he¡¯d ever seen. He was also damn sure she was wearing nothing underneath that robe. The position she was in had moved the robe upwards, and now it stopped just a few inches below her curvy little ass. Showing off the smooth, silky skin on ap. She¡¯d probably punch him in the throat if he cupped an ass cheek in his palm, so he tried to focus on doing what he¡¯d offered her.


    Elena tried not to gasp when he touched her. He began at her shoulders and then slowly he made his way to her back. Strong, manly hands massaged her, and she marveled at the way his touch was firm and yet gentle so he wasn¡¯t hurting her. When he moved to her lower back, her breathing got a little faster and heavier. Anticipation grew inside her and she involuntarily arched her back upwards, silently urging him to touch her where she needed him to touch her. Well, not where she needed his touch exactly, but that would do for a while.


    The movement brought her butt upward and she rubbed against him. Maybe it was her imagination, but she could have sworn that she¡¯d felt something¡­ she¡¯d felt¡­ Him. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized that her wriggling had aroused him. She gulped and tried to stay still and reminded herself he couldn¡¯t see her blush. This was too strange and wonderful. It was¡­ like all her forbidden fantasies somehow came to life: the two of them, alone in a room, on a bed, so close to each other. Yes, she felt a bit embarrassed at the thick, hard ridge of him pressing low against her butt. But she also felt¡­ excited by it. d. To have such basic, undeniable proof that he desired her, that he wanted her. That he wasn¡¯t indifferent to her even if he¡¯d walked away from her in the garden. It was a petty sort of triumph and she knew that, but she couldn¡¯t help herself.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She ordered herself to stop being smug. The man couldn¡¯t help his biological response, what with her pressing up against his private parts like this. His physical arousal proved nothing-except that he was a man and she was a woman.


    His hands finally moved to her waist and unable to help herself, she moaned softly as massaged and stroked her body. She was very wet between her legs now. More turned on than she¡¯d ever been in her life before that she was both shocked and excited. When he finally stopped touching her, she almost protested that he continued, but instead she slowly turned around to face him. The massage was over, but he remained above her, both legs on either side of her, and he was staring at her like he wanted to feast on her. His eyes had darkened, and he seemed to be breathing harder than usual.


    ¡°Is that better?¡± he asked in a husky, much deeper voice., ¡°I mean your back. Does it feel better?¡±


    ¡°Yes it does, thank you.¡± She managed to reply, ¡°I feel much better,¡± He was so close she could inhale his scent, and the warmth of his breath made her skin prickle with awareness.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he said, but he made no effort to move even if he was practically on top of her. One hand remained on her waist and the other moved so he could brush the strands of hair off her face. Elena bit her lower lip, and that did it for him.

 45

    ¡°Elena¡­¡± he began, unable to decide how to voice out what he wanted.


    ¡°Kiss me,¡± she blurted out, making it easier for him.


    He was stunned for a second, so he remained still,


    ¡°I want you to kiss me, Chandler,¡± she repeated.


    That did it for him, and he threw caution to the wind. A smile curved the corners of his incredibly sensual lips as his hand tightened on her waist, the hard muscles beneath his shirt pressing against her sensitive breasts as he loomed over her. She glimpsed the intent in his heavy-lidded dark eyes a second before he lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue slid effortlessly between her parted lips and she forgot about everything else except him.


    It was how Elena imagined being swept up in a tornado must feel. The heat, the sensations like a primitive force of nature battering her, spiraling around her, sweeping her higher and higher until she was flung back in time, lost in the splendor of their passionate embrace.


    The persuasive movement of his tongue, skilfully exploring the moist interior of her mouth, and the warmth of his hand, sliding up her body to tangle in her hair and deepen the kiss, were unleashing emotions she was helpless to control. Sensual longing raced like wildfire along Elena¡¯s veins, melting away every thought and her body quivered in eager response. The movement of his other hand slipping to cup her bottom and urge her into the powerful strength of his thighs was so familiar and, oh, so right¡­ He crushed her to him, his mouth never leaving hers. Her mind went nk to everything except him. It was as if all the power of her sexuality that she had kept suppressed for so long now surged into vibrant life. Of their own ord her hands on his chest swept up to sp his broad shoulders, and she surrendered hungrily to the sensual delight of his kiss and kissed him back with equal fervor.


    She whimpered as he drew his mouth back a little, then moaned as his teeth bit lightly on her swollen lower lip, wanting more.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how hard it¡¯s been not to kiss you all these time, Elena? Everyday since I met you?


    At your house? When we were alone at your store? It¡¯s like fucking torture to see you, and touch you and not pull you into my arms and kiss you senseless.¡± His voice sounded tormented.


    ¡°It¡¯s been hard for me, too.¡± The confession tumbled out of her without a second thought, and Chandler¡¯s mouth slowly descended until she could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips.


    ¡°Not nearly as hard as it¡¯s been for me,¡± he groaned, right before his mouth crushed over hers again.


    Then, she couldn¡¯t say another word, even if I wanted to speak. All she could do was feel. The longing was much sharper this time, and Elena tightened her arms around his neck and let the raw hunger throbbing through her body try to find satisfaction by just surrendering to the fierce embrace. She moaned against his mouth as he devoured hers and If anything, this kiss was more intense than the one before it. Hotter. More sensual. More overwhelming.


    ¡°Chandler,¡± she whispered when he finally pulled back to nibble on her bottom lip. She needed more. So much more. The liquid heat flooding between her thighs scorched her, and every part of her was taut with an unsatisfied craving that was pulling her apart, piece by piece.


    ¡°Rx, sweetheart,¡± he crooned beside her ear right before his mouth skimmed over the tender skin of her neck.


    Rx? Oh, hell, no. That wasn¡¯t going to happen. Elena moaned as his heated breath wafted over her ear, leaving her shaking with desperation.


    She melted. She sighed. She moved into every single touch. Maybe she was terrified by the unchecked passion flowing between the two of them, but not enough to make her want to stop it.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to make this kind of pleasuree to an end too soon. She could feel Chandler¡¯s chest heaving as his forehead rested on hers.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Bloody hell, Elena!¡± he rasped. ¡°I can¡¯t do this without wanting to get you naked.¡±


    She panted for a second before she answered. ¡°I guess I¡¯m finding out that I can¡¯t, either.¡±


    Her heart was racing, and her body was forcefully protesting the fact that Chandler had mellowed his sensual assault. As her rational mind started to function, she realized that she had her hands fisted in his hair; she¡¯d been holding on for dear life.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she mumbled as she rxed her hands. ¡°Did that hurt?¡±


    ¡°Oh, fuck, no,¡± he said huskily. ¡°You could yank every hair from my head, and I wouldn¡¯tin as long as I could touch you. The way your body responds to me is hotter than hell, Elena. I can¡¯t kiss you without wanting to fuck you. It¡¯s just not possible.¡±


    ¡°I lose control when you kiss me,¡± she said, her voice slightly wary now that she was more coherent.


    He stered their bodies together like he couldn¡¯t bear to let her go. ¡°I want you to lose control, Elena. I want you to trust that I¡¯ll be there to take care of you when youe apart.¡±


    She buried her face in his shoulder as her body quaked with unsatisfied desire. ¡°I need-¡± she began.


    He interrupted. ¡°I know what you need, Elena. Let me give it to you.¡±


    She trembled as his long leg eased between hers and his strong hand exerted the slightest pressure on her hip to guide her heat towards his erection. The position sent the split in her robe apart and now she could feel his dick more, even though his shorts still separated them.


    ¡°You are so fucking hot,¡± Chandler whispered, and lightly brushed her lips with his own, before trailing a line of kisses down her throat.


    Elena sighed. She felt his palms cup her breasts, his fingers squeezing her straining nipples over the fabric of her robe, and, pliant, she curved against him. She was drowning in a stormy sea of exquisite sensations, and didn¡¯t notice when his hands deftly untied her robe.


    When he raised his dark head her thickshes slowly fluttered upwards to see him looking down at her, molten desire swirling in the depths of his night-ck eyes. She reached for him.

 46

    ¡°No-first let me look,¡± he husked, and slowly unfolded her robe to bare her naked body to his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡±


    All Elena could do was look up at him with glowing eyes, every atom in her body crying out for his possession. It had been so long since she had felt the touch, savored the scent of a man¡­ and at this moment, the wait was worth it. His hand reached for her, his fingers stroking over the soft curve of her breast and cupping its swelling fullness. Elena moaned, but he didn¡¯t stop, just kept caressing and coaxing her nipples into diamond-hard points.


    ¡°Fuck, I need to taste you.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± A moan of pleasure sighed out of her and her head fell backwards. Her hands grabbed the headrest of the bed behind her. Her arms were locked straight, stabilizing her body as she thrust her breasts towards him. His tongue flicked over one erect nipple and she trembled in response, willing him to continue. Then he sucked the whole aching peak of her breast into his mouth and worked it with his tongue. The impact was immediate and she suddenly found herself rocking her pelvis, startled by the wildfire he had ignited in an entirely different part of her body.


    She heard him groan, and then he was suckling her breasts with a teasing, torturous pleasure that made her arch against him. A hand stroked up her thigh to cup between her legs and she shuddered.


    ¡°You really are so hot. So sexy,¡± he rasped.


    His dark head lifted and Elena¡¯s wildly dted brown eyes met his. She saw the passion, the desire in his hard, handsome face, saw him lean back a little, his eyes flicking lower to the rigid peaks of her naked breasts. She felt a slight cool breeze against her overheated skin. She wanted to touch him, but he still clothed and she reached for him.


    Her hand moved south, but he caught it before she grabbed his cock through his pants. If she touched him, he¡¯d go off like a teenager. Besides, he wanted this to be about her.


    ¡°I want you, Elena-very badly. But now is not the time. Right now, I just want to pleasure you. Give you a release you¡¯re not going to forget anytime soon,¡±


    He yed with her nipples until they were hard and beaded. Then he let one hand slide down her belly, and she undted against him.


    ¡°Yes. Please, Chandler.¡± Her eyes opened.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Elena.¡± Every part of her was beautiful.


    He let his hand go lower and dip between her thighs. He toyed with the strip of curls he found.


    ¡°Oh, God.¡± She mped a hand on his wrist.


    ¡°You feel so soft. I bet you¡¯re sweet. I want to taste you.¡±


    Elena made a hungry, inarticte sound. She rubbed against his hand.


    ¡°What do you need, baby?¡±


    ¡°You.¡± She moaned. ¡°Please. Touch me.¡±


    He parted her folds and slid a finger inside her. She cried out. Damn, she was tight. He stroked her, loving her wild, abandoned moves. Soon she was riding his hand. His thumb found her clit and her husky cries filled his ears.


    Need was a wild sensation riding him hard. He needed to taste her. Was desperate for it. He withdrew his hand and she cried out in protest.


    Chandler couldn¡¯t help but grin at her reaction, then he leaned over her and swallowed her gasp with his mouth. ¡°Rx, love. I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡±


    He got off the bed, then pulled her towards him, so just the lower parts of her legs hung over the edge.


    ¡°Chandler?¡±


    When she tried to sit up, he pushed her back down and knelt by the edge of the bed. He pushed her thighs apart and she quivered.


    ¡°There¡¯s that sexy, little shiver. Drives me crazy.¡± He stroked her thighs, dropping gentle kisses on herps. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be pretty.¡±


    Then he slid his hands under her curvy ass and lifted her to his mouth. Her cry filled the room. Chandler used his lips, tongue, and teeth, reading every little move and moan she made to find what she liked best. She tasted like spicy honey, and he licked harder, pulling the taste of her in.


    ¡°Chandler.¡± A moan. ¡°That feels so.. Good¡­¡±


    Her body tensed, twisting in his hold. He plunged his tongue into her, tightening his grip to hold her in ce. Then he moved his tongue back to her clit.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Oh¡­ Chandler!¡± Her back arched, thrusting her into his hold. The intensity of the sensation buzzing through her quivering body made her cry out. She grabbed onto the bedsheets, trying instinctively to anchor herself, but his mouth continued to work its magic, sending her up and up, further and further out of her body. Time ceased to exist and there was nothing she could do but surrender to the incredible waves of pleasure rolling through her. Then just when she didn¡¯t know if she could bear the intensity any longer, the moment exploded into a starburst of euphoric bliss.


    Shey panting on the bed, unable to move a muscle, feelingpletely and utterly satisfied. Then the next thing she knew she was back in Chandler¡¯s arms. He pulled her into the middle of the bed andy beside her. She gazed up at himnguidly, limp with the after-effects of her intense orgasm. But then, as he moved to kiss her forehead, a reawakened st of sexual excitement tore through her body.


    She was still panting, little aftershocks made her twitch. She smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better now. Much more rxed.¡± Her gaze skimmed down his body. ¡°Are you-?¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He slid his hands up her thighs. ¡°I¡¯m not going to fuck you, Elena.¡±


    Her face fell. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she asked.


    He shook his head. ¡°Hell no. You¡¯re perfect, baby. Nothing is wrong, but just¡­ Not now.¡± He kissed her. ¡°Not here.. Maybe when we¡¯re alone¡­ When we won¡¯t be worried about anyone bothering us,¡±


    Elena smiled. He was right. At some point at the beginning, she¡¯d been worried that someone would knock at the door, but that was before he¡¯d kissed her and obliterated every rational thought from her mind.


    She ran her fingers down his chest,¡± So does that mean you¡¯re not worried about us crossing that line anymore?¡± she asked.


    He caught her wandering hand and kissed it, ¡°I still am¡­ A little bit¡­ Because I seem to find a way to ruin every good thing in my life, but I¡¯m going to do everything in my power to get it right with you, Elena,¡±

 47

    Lexi Rogers, soon to be Lexi Kendrick, made an absolutely stunning bride. Her mane of vibrant red hair was twisted up, and soft curls fell in every direction. Pearls adorned the style, matching the beading in her gown. Wispy tendrils surrounded her face that was flushing with excitement. Tears burned the backs of Elena¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d never seen someone more in love or happier.


    Well, that wasn¡¯t correct.


    When Elena looked in the mirror that morning, she saw the same zed eyes and soft, distracted smile, and it  scared her. How absolutely annoyingly stupid she had been. She¡¯d slept off in Chandler¡¯s arms after he¡¯d given her a second orgasm the previous night, and when she woke up that morning, he wasn¡¯t in bed with her. She assumed he¡¯d snuck outter in the middle of the night, and she didn¡¯t know if she should be mad about it, or grateful because Emily had barged into the room minutes after she woke up. If Chandler had been there, they¡¯d have had some serious exining to do, and Elena was in no mood for that.


    But she didn¡¯t regret it either. Chandler had been wonderful. An amazing, generous lover. He¡¯d made sure he brought her satisfaction both times and after the second time, she could barely move. She flushed. Thinking about sex in a church was super inappropriate.


    And she loved it.


    Lexi turned, her smile nervous and excited. With the cinched waist and heart-shaped bodice, her hourss figure was perfect for the dress. ¡°How do I look?¡± she asked, fingering the single pearl ne around her neck. ¡°Is it too much?¡±


    Emily shook her head. ¡°Too much? Since when do you worry about anything being too much?¡±


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Elena said. ¡°And the shoes? Perfect.¡±


    Charlotte nodded in agreement and Lexi hitched up her dress, revealing a gnarly shade of pink tform heels.


    ¡°You like?¡± Lexi asked Emily.


    Emilyughed, approaching Lexi like one would creep upon a nest of vipers. ¡°Do you really want me to answer that?¡±


    ¡°Pink is not your color?¡± Lexi teased, letting her dress slip down.


    Elena shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t mind Emily. Everything is perfect.¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I know right,¡± Lexi agreed, and they chatted for a while as the stylist touched up Lexi¡¯s make up and dress.


    Minutester, Elena stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, you guys,¡± she said, ¡°Let me go use the bathroom and get some air outside,¡±


    She went out of the room and began to walk down the hall, she made it to the end of the hall when a door to the left opened suddenly. An arm snaked around her waist, pulling her inside the mostly empty room. Her back was pressed against a rock-hard chest and stomach. Soft hair teased her cheeks as she felt warm, firm lips press a kiss to her throat.


    ¡°You look damn sexy.¡± Chandler¡¯s deep voice rumbled through her body. ¡°Love the dress.¡±


    Said dress was a soft lc, with sleeves and ending at the knees. It was nothing special, just a in thing and definitely not that sexy, but it only took seconds for her to realize why he found it so alluring.


    Chandler slid a hand up under her dress, along her bare thigh. Easy ess. Her body flushed and grew hot as her toes curled in her heels. She leaned into him, tipping her head back against his chest. He made a deep sound in his throat as he moved his hand up over her hip, his fingers toying with the delicate string of her panties.


    Grabbing his arm, her fingers sank into the crisp material of his groomsman¡¯s tux. ¡°Thank you. I haven¡¯t gotten to see you in your suit yet.¡± She said,


    ¡°I look awesome.¡±


    Elenaughed. ¡°Modesty is an attractive trait.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you toe out.¡± His hot breath blew across her cheek, and she shuddered. A wicked thrill ran through her, tightened her nipples until they pushed against thece and the soft material of her dress.


    ¡°Chandler, seriously¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you.¡± He kissed her neck again.


    She bit back a sigh that would only further provoke him. ¡°I think only hours have passed since we werest together.¡± She remembered the previous night again and shivered.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He slipped his hand up, cupping her breast through her dress. His nimble fingers found the tip of her breast, teasing her mercilessly.


    Her pulse quickened. ¡°Chandler, we are in a church, for crying out loud.¡±


    ¡°So? Inappropriate is naughty¡­ And naughty turns me on?¡± he replied, moving his hand to her other breast.


    Her body tensed, like a coil spiraling. ¡°But it¡¯s a church.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s like the height of inappropriate, isn¡¯t it?¡± He shifted behind her and she felt his arousal against her buttocks. He easily twisted her panties to the side as he bunched up her skirt. ¡°Just think, what will we have left after this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯lle up with tons of other inappropriate things.¡± Like anal beads, butt plugs, the Cadic of vibrators, and the good Lord only knew what else Chandler would bring into sexual y.


    Her resistance to him was never anything to brag about. It was practically non-existent, especially when his tongue followed the path of his kisses along her neck. Elena focused on the wall, thankful it didn¡¯t have a cross or a picture of Jesus on it, because that would¡¯ve been super awkward. ¡°The wedding is about to start, you perv.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This will be a quickie. I know you want toe.¡± His hand dipped between her thighs and she gasped.


    It was true. She wanted him, and she wanted him to make her cum. Badly. ¡°We¡¯re going to hell for this.¡±


    ¡°But what a fun way to go, right?¡±


    nting her hands on the walls, she kicked back her head as he found her clit. He gripped her hips as he began to rub, his pace frenzied and at the same timenguid, as if they both had all the time in the world. Tension built deep inside, stoked tighter with every steady touch of his fingers against her clit. Her back arched against him as she ground back against his hips and rode his hand. He grunted and pressed a hot kiss below her ear.

 48

    ¡°You are incredibly sexy, Elena,¡± he said, his pace picking up.


    Her body started to convulse at those words and her mouth opened. Sensing she was about to let out an ear-piercing scream, he mped his other hand down on her mouth, silencing her. Bliss washed over her as she came, her body pulsing around his. Their bodies were reluctant to calm down and part. Her heart was pounding and Chandler


    was still moving his hand slowly, causing little aftershocks to zip through her.


    There was a knock on the door and then one of the groomsmen¡¯s voice booming through the walls. ¡°Five minutes until the wedding starts, Chandler. Time to put the cock away.¡±


    Elena¡¯s face flooded with heat. ¡°Oh my God¡­¡±


    Chandler chuckled. ¡°Ignore him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to die of embarrassment.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± He kissed her cheek again and then moved his hand once more, causing her to catch her breath. ¡°Damn,¡± he groaned after several moments passed. He eased his hand out of her panties, kissing her cheek. ¡°Now I need a nap.¡±


    ¡°You and me both.¡± She rearranged her panties and dress. Then she faced him. ¡°I look like I just had sex, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Chandlerughed as her eyes widened. He smoothed his fingers through her hair, draping the long, dark locks over her shoulders. ¡°No. You look well-loved.¡±


    ¡°Well-loved?¡± There was that swelling in her chest again, and she wanted to float away right with it. ¡°I like the sound of that.¡±


    ¡°I bet you do.¡± He kissed her, his lips lingering. ¡°I need to go.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± She stretched up on the tips of her toes, bringing their mouths together.


    He shuddered. ¡°I really like it when you do that.¡± He said.


    She smiled as she forced herself away. ¡°I¡¯ll be looking for you out there.¡±


    Chandler offered her his hand, and together they left the room. Luckily the hall was empty, and they parted ways when they came upon the rest of the men.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    It was time to go home, and everyone was already out and ready to leave. Lexi and Elijah would be going on their honeymoon the next day, but they wanted to get home first. Elena walked up to Chandler¡¯s car and heard him mutter a curse under his breath.


    ¡°Paul, I have a passenger with me, and she will not like this.¡± He paused.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    Elena tugged on her shirt and walked closer, giving him a questioning look.


    He scratched the side of his jaw. ¡°I know, Paul, but I¡¯m sure she¡¯s okay.¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°Yeah, I heard it could be bad, bute on, you have lived by those mountains for how long? You¡¯ve been there a hundred years. Don¡¯t tell me they don¡¯t always exagger-¡±


    Whatever Paul said on the other end of the phone had Chandler letting out a slow exhale. ¡°Does she have food?¡±


    Elena¡¯s hands lowered slowly where she had started putting her luggage into the boot. Oh geez, was someone stranded? Lost? Her mind started racing, her heart hurting for whoever might be in trouble.


    ¡°She¡¯s tough, okay? I¡¯m sure Agnes will be fine. Besides, I¡¯m thest person she¡¯d want to have check on her. She hates me.¡±


    Elena would have smiled, if the name Agnes hadn¡¯t conjured mental images of a sweet, little olddy, and now she wasn¡¯t even sure if she had food.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°We can check on her,¡± she heard herself say.


    Chandler¡¯s face dropped in shock. He blinked. ¡°Yeah, Paul, that¡¯s her. But-¡±


    ¡°Tell him we¡¯ll check on Agnes,¡± Elena said, more firmly this time. She lifted her chin for good measure. For some reason, that made Chandler grin widely. ¡°We can bring supplies¡­we¡¯ll make sure she has food.¡±


    The person he was talking to said something that made Chandler chuckle. ¡°Yes, she is definitely a better person than me. Though she may regret this when she meets Agnes.¡±


    Elena¡¯s mouth fell open. Everything nice she said about Chandler, she took it back. He was horrible. And rude. And mean to little olddies without food stuck in the middle of nowhere before a blizzard.


    His eyes were glued to her face, full of mischief and fire. ¡°Okay, Paul.


    We¡¯ll leave now, but all I can do is check on her, make sure she¡¯s inside with some food, and then turn right back around. I have a precious package to deliver safely back home.¡±


    ¡°Oh geez,¡± she mumbled, ignoring his unwavering gaze as she closed the boot a bit harder than necessary. ¡°Laying it on a little thick, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Chandler said goodbye to whoever he was talking to, probably Agnes¡¯s husband or son or grandson who was worried sick about her, and then watched her quietly. She fidgeted with her handbag until she could fidget no longer.


    ¡°Who¡¯s Paul, and why does Agnes hate you?¡± she asked.


    He smiled slowly. ¡°Paul is a friend. He should have been here for the wedding but he couldn¡¯t make it because something came up. He hase through a lot for me and I¡¯m very grateful to him, and he damn well knows it, which is why he calls me for this horrific task of checking on Agnes. Which I probably would¡¯ve said no to, if you hadn¡¯t piped up and given the poor dude hope.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Elena wailed. ¡°You¡¯d leave her out there,pletely defenseless?¡±


    Chandler tilted his head to the side. ¡°Yes. Because she¡¯ll be just fine. She always is.¡±


    ¡°Chandler, whatever your middle name is Kendrick, you should be ashamed of yourself.¡± She propped her hands on her hips. ¡°She¡¯s a little olddy, and she needs supplies. I know you act tough, bute on, even you are not so coldhearted.¡±


    ¡°I almost don¡¯t want to warn you,¡± he said cryptically and leaned forward.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°Because you are the most frustrating, adorable, mystifying woman I¡¯ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and that¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m going to tell you what you just signed us up for.¡±


    It was impossible not to want to reach her hands up and cover her face. She¡¯d never been called any of those things. Okay, frustrating maybe, by her sister.


    But she was an open book. Literally. She¡¯d spent her life in open books, trying to absorb everything she found there. But for some reason, this man looked at her and saw a version of herself that she never knew existed.


    Something about her drew him in.


    ¡°What did I sign us up for?¡±

 49

    Chandler sauntered toward her, and he stopped just out of arm¡¯s reach. ¡°Agnes is a cat.¡±


    Elena blinked up to his face. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Agnes is Paul¡¯s horrible, evil, mean-tempered cat that hates every human being except him. And he can¡¯t remember how much food he put in her automatic feeder, so he¡¯s afraid she¡¯s going to starve to death before he can get home.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Elena said weakly.


    Chandler smiled. ¡°Yeah, baby, oh indeed,¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯re ¡­ driving out into a snowstorm to check on a cat who lives out in the middle of nowhere.¡±


    His nod was slow. ¡°It looks like it.¡±


    Elena looked around. Snow was already sticking to the ground. Tree branches were coated white, lending a magical air to the already stunning vista. Like a winter wondend. Except not wonderful, not anymore since they were not going straight home. ¡°He lives about an hour away?¡± she asked weakly. An hour wasn¡¯t so bad. No reason to freak out.


    ¡°Yeah. We better hit the road if we want to get back home on time.¡±


    Elena pinched her eyes shut. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is ¡­¡± She paused. ¡°I should¡¯ve waited until you were off the phone.¡±


    His handsnded on her shoulders, and he gently spun her to face him. He didn¡¯t speak until she pried open her eyelids. ¡°Baby, it¡¯s fine. I still think this storm will blow past like a sweet little kitten, unlike Agnes, who is an awful, awful bitch of an animal.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Elena¡¯s smile came quickly, and he hummed deep in his chest at the sight of it. ¡°Killin¡¯ me,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    He squeezed her shoulders. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. You just can¡¯t help it.¡±


    ¡°I have to tell Emily,¡±


    Chandler nodded, ¡°Okay, love, but I¡¯ll stay here and wait because if I go with you, your sister might punch me in the face. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s over the whole¡­Hating me¡­ Thing,¡±


    Elena shot him a look, ¡°Trust me, Emily doesn¡¯t hate you. In fact, I think she¡¯s starting to like you. She likes to act scary but she¡¯s really not,¡± Chandler scoffed and sheughed. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡±


    Elena walked up to Emily, who was standing with Beth and Daniel, ready to begin the journey back home. ¡°Long story,¡± she began, ¡°but we have to detour north a bit to check on something for Chandler¡¯s friend. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Emily didn¡¯t look very thrilled about the news, ¡°Oh my goodness, Elena. Don¡¯t let him talk you into something insane. Like he cares about a freaking blizzard.¡±


    Elena almostughed at the look on her sister¡¯s face, ¡°He¡¯s not making me do anything, Emily. It was my idea to go with him,¡±


    Emily wasn¡¯t listening, ¡°This is why I should be able to track your ass. I¡¯m making Daniel teach me how to hack your phone.¡±


    Beth on the other hand seemed to be enjoying the drama. She even gave Elena a fist bump, ¡°Have fun, dear. Don¡¯t do anything I wouldn¡¯t do.¡±


    Emily scowled, ¡°That¡¯s the worst advice ever because I know what you¡¯d do and they¡¯re not really good things I¡¯d like my sister to emte,¡±


    Elena and Beth exchanged nces and then they burst intoughter.


    ¡°So am I safe now?¡± Chandler¡¯s voice said behind them as he approached them,


    Emily red at him, ¡°You better keep my sister safe or I¡¯ll kill you,¡± she said,


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare bring her back with a scratch,¡± replied Chandler.


    ¡°Good for you,¡± Emily retorted.


    Everyone got in their various cars, and fifteen minutester, they were bundled into Chandler¡¯s car as big, fat snowkes hit the windshield in soft little pats of sound.


    ¡°You told Emily this wasn¡¯t my idea, right?¡± he asked, watching her tap out a message to her sister to assure her that she was alright so she wouldn¡¯t be too worried, ¡°Because she looked very serious when she threatened my life.¡±


    ¡°She was serious.¡± Elena teased with a smile.


    ¡°Helpful,¡± he said dryly. He cranked the engine to life and sat back in his seat.


    Elena sighed at the immediate barrage, tucking her phone away into her handbag. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s never actually killed anyone.¡±


    Chandler shook his head, pulling the gear shift into reverse. ¡°You Davis women, you shoulde with a warningbel, Love.¡±


    As they pulled out of the driveway and headed into the ominous looking storm, Elena couldn¡¯t believe it, but she wasughing.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C


    Someday, Chandler thought, he might build a shrine to Agnes,memorating the fact that Elena thought she was a sweet old woman stuck in a snowstorm as opposed to the devil cat she actually was, thereby granting him more time with the beautiful Miss Davis.


    But today would not be that day because when the drive to Paul¡¯s cabin took almost three times longer than  he expected, due to thebination of zero visibility, slick, icy roads, and blustering wind that even had him white-knuckling the steering wheel, he just wanted to get to their destination safely.


    April.


    It was fucking April, and he was not okay with the storm of the century hitting while he had to be out on the roads with a woman he liked way too much for his own good, checking on a cat that he hated to the depths of his soul for a man who meant a lot to him. Elena was quiet in the passenger seat, and this time, he didn¡¯t push her.


    He¡¯d hit the irrational stage of driving about an hour earlier, where you turn down the volume on the music just in case it helped you magically see the roads better.


    When he caught sight of the red mailbox signaling the turnoff to Paul¡¯s ce, he breathed out a huge sigh of relief.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he told her.


    She jumped a little at the sound of his voice. ¡°Oh, good.¡±


    Chandler nced in the rearview mirror, and the swirling nket of white that obscured his vision. It had been years since he¡¯d driven in something like that, and it urred to him, with Paul¡¯s ce close, that they¡¯d probably be hunkered down for at least one night.


    ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± he asked her. If he was stressed ¡­ He couldn¡¯t even imagine what she must be feeling.


    Elena was quiet for a second, and then she exhaled shakily. ¡°I don¡¯t think I breathed properly for a solid hour.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± he promised.


    She nodded.

 50

    Chandler smiled. ¡°You can say it now.¡±


    Elena looked over at him. Her face was pale and drawn. ¡°Say what?¡±


    Lifting his eyebrows, he waved a hand at the windshield.


    ¡°Ahh.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll save the I told you so for when we¡¯re safely inside his ce.¡±


    The back end of the car fishtailed when he turned down the long driveway.


    Knowing not to overcorrect, because thest thing he wanted was to end up sliding off the drive and down the slight ditch that he knew lined the first fifty feet or so, he lessened the pressure of his hands on the wheel until the vehicle righted itself. Now that they were protected slightly by the trees that crowded Paul¡¯s property, the visibility increased to something more manageable than it had been on the roads leading them here.


    ¡°You gonna miss anything important tomorrow?¡± Chandler asked her.


    Elena rubbed her forehead. ¡°Not really. I don¡¯t have any orders booked.¡± She groaned. ¡°Emily will probably be freaking out though.¡±


    Visions of her sister bearing down on him had him shivering. But staying at Paul¡¯s ce and risking her wrath for one night was preferable to attempting any stupid-ass drive back home too soon.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe how fast this hit,¡± he said. The peak of the A-frame cabin came into view, and the band of tension around his chest rxed even further. All he had to do was navigate the long, slight curve to his driveway where there were no tracks to follow. Using the bend in the trees as his guide, Chandler pushed them forward through the snow, easily six to seven inches deep given that it was untouched.


    When the tires, without snow chains, spun at his eleration, he cursed. Mightily.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re so afraid to drive in the snow,¡± she teased unexpectedly.


    Amazing how it loosened their tongues to have shelter in sight, even if they¡¯d be stuck with freaking Agnes, who¡¯d probably w their eyes out the second they walked in.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid to drive in the snow.¡± Chandler gave her a look as he pulled up as close to the cabin as the drifting snow would allow him. ¡°But I didn¡¯t exactly want to slide off the road when I have you to think about.¡±


    ¡°Like I told you before¡­ You¡¯re a closet sweetheart, Chandler.¡±


    ¡°And I already told you that I am no such thing,¡± he replied.


    He finally stopped the car and noticed that Elena was smiling.


    ¡°Stop it.¡±


    It spread even further, wide enough that her white, even teeth showed behind her pink lips. And against the blinding white of the snow, with her dark hair and deep brown eyes, she looked like Snow White.


    He huffed. ¡°Let¡¯s just go inside, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°The snow will be deep. Do you want me to carry you in so you don¡¯t get your shoes wet?¡±


    Elena smiled again. ¡°How sweet,¡±


    ¡°Fine. Get your shoes wet, get your pants wet, get hypothermia, see if I care.¡± He leaned toward her. ¡°Don¡¯te to me in the middle of the night and beg me to warm you up when your body temperature drops because you are doing that thing where you ignore my practical, logical offer, princess.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll risk it,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But thank you for being so practical and logical and not sweet.¡±


    Chandler rolled his eyes. ¡°Overkill but you¡¯re wee. You wait here. I¡¯ll make sure the key works first.¡±


    After trudging his way through the snow and up onto the equally snowy deck, he peered inside the dark cabin to make sure Agnes wasn¡¯t sitting in waiting, ws unsheathed and fangs bared.


    Underneath the overhang of the A-frame, there was arge stack of firewood, which made him breathe a bit more easily. At least they would stay warm overnight until they could head home the next day. To the right of the wood was a heavy-duty shovel.


    ¡°God bless you, Paul,¡± he murmured.


    Quickly, he shoveled the area by the door clear so snow wouldn¡¯t fall into the cabin as soon as he opened it. The key worked easily, despite the metal of the lock being cold as shit. Knowing they could get in, he turned and shoveled a single strip so she¡¯d have a clear path once she got on the deck.


    And he wasn¡¯t doing it to be sweet, but he just didn¡¯t want her to have soaked socks when she got in. He turned and waved her in. While she grabbed her backpack and pulled the hood of her sweatshirt up over her hair, Chandler thought about why it bothered him so damn much that she¡¯d said that.


    Maybe because he didn¡¯t want Elena to look at him like he was a sweetheart.


    People called Elijah sweet all the time, and if that wasn¡¯t the kiss of death to gettingid, he didn¡¯t know what was.


    He¡¯d been reminded his entire life that Elijah was the superior specimen in every way that mattered to their parents, and even though he¡¯d moved on from being bothered by it, he didn¡¯t want to be lumped into his category either.


    As Elena hopped onto the deck and made her way along the path he¡¯d shoveled for her, he knew that being stuck with her in this cabin would undeniably be worse than that being in his family house. There, they had to worry about other people, but now they were going to bepletely alone. She could be herself. He could be himself.


    And they had nowhere to go while she sat there categorizing him as a harmless, fluffy teddy bear.


    ¡°Brrrr,¡± she said as she huddled next to him. ¡°That wind is frigid.¡±


    Chandler shoved the door open and motioned her in. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll get a fire going.¡±


    She preceded him into the dark cabin, lit only by a smallmp along the small stretch of kitchen counter. Of course, Paul left a light on for that damn cat.


    When he shut the door, Elena blew out a hard breath. ¡°This is ¡­¡±


    ¡°Tiny?¡± he supplied.


    She exhaled augh. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Paul¡¯s cabin was one room, kitchen counter stretching along the back, a bathroom tucked next to it without much more than a serviceable shower, toilet, and sink crammed into the small room. Separating the sitting area was a tiny, beat-up table with two chairs tucked against it.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.

 51

    Chandler had had his fair share of meals at that table. The couch and chair-basic and brown leather-faced a small TV on an equally small console table because when Paul was home, he was outdoors.


    His property was probably more than five acres of heavily wooded forests, and the entire square footage of his cabin couldn¡¯t have been more than five hundred. The soaring ceilings of the main room is what made it feel bigger than it was. The old-fashioned wood-burning stove set into the back corner gave it a warm, inviting feeling, which would get even better once he had it lit.


    ¡°Bedroom upstairs?¡± she asked.


    Chandler nodded. ¡°The loft.¡±


    Elena eyed the staircase warily.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he told her. ¡°I have a long history crashing on that couch, and I¡¯ve had much worse nights of sleep than that.¡±


    Elena turned and faced the part of the cabin that was all windows. It was Paul¡¯s, and Chandler¡¯s, favorite part of the cabin. Yeah, it was small, but one whole side showed the beauty of this ce they lived. Right now, it looked cold and a little savage with nothing to block it from their view.


    She shivered. ¡°I feel like we¡¯re being swallowed whole by that storm.¡±


    He tilted his head. ¡°You okay, Love?¡±


    She was quiet, slowly rubbing her hands up and down along her upper arms. ¡°I think, in my head, I imagined that the drive would be the worst part. But there is something terribly disconcerting about being stuck inside a stranger¡¯s home for who knows how long and just praying we don¡¯t, I don¡¯t know, freeze to death or something.¡±


    Approaching her carefully, Chandler set his hands on her shoulders, ¡°We won¡¯t freeze to death. Even if his propane runs out, there¡¯s plenty of firewood for the stove, and it gets pretty toasty in here.¡±


    Her eyes were so big and trusting. Trusting that he could help them through this. Instead of making him feel panicked or trapped, like he might normally, his chest warmed at how quickly she believed him. His hands gently tightened, and he felt the muscles rx under his palms.


    Elena nodded. ¡°Okay, so we won¡¯t freeze, but is there food?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± He squeezed her shoulders again and went to investigate the kitchen. ¡°One thing I know about Paul is that his freezer is always full of terrible bachelor meals.¡± He pulled the small door open and wasn¡¯t disappointed. ¡°See?¡± he told her, pulling one ck and red carton out. ¡°We might hit a week¡¯s worth of sodium in one meal, but we have plenty to eat. And that pantry will be good and stocked too. He doesn¡¯t run to the store much, so we won¡¯t have much in the way of fresh food.¡±


    She sighed in relief, and Chandler felt here up behind him, close enough that her body heat warmed his back. ¡°He likes chicken pot pies, I see.¡± She said,


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± he nced at her over his shoulder. ¡°Hopefully you do too because that¡¯s what you get for dinner if I¡¯m cooking.¡±


    Elena smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll check the pantry for other options. Maybe I can whip something else together.¡±


    A sh of movement caught his eye, and Chandler turned, hands propped on his hips. ¡°There¡¯s the little asshole herself.¡±


    Elena clucked her tongue. ¡°She can¡¯t be that bad.¡±


    Agnes poked her head out from behind the couch, bared her fangs, and hissed at him. ¡°Look at those green eyes,¡± he murmured. ¡°So much violence hidden in those depths.¡±


    Elenaughed, then crouched down and held her hand out. ¡°Hey, pretty girl.¡±


    Agnes gave her a disdainful look and disappeared back behind the couch. Chandler shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m telling you. She¡¯s awful.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t talk about her like that. Pets understand your tone, even if you don¡¯t think they do.¡±


    Heughed. ¡°Oh, she understands all right. All evil things can understand the mayhem they leave in their wake.¡±


    Elena straightened. ¡°Where does Paul keep her food? I can make sure she¡¯s got enough.¡±


    After exining to her what Paul had said on the phone, he ducked back out to the car and got their bags along with the small pillow Elena had left in the back seat. Did he tuck it close to his face so he could smell her shampoo on the walk back into the cabin? Too fucking right, he did. If he had to be trapped in a small space with a woman he really, really wanted to sleep with, then he would take the moments where he could get them. Including random pillow sniffing to catch just a little whiff of whatever fruity concoction she used.


    More lights were on when he got back inside, and Elena wasing down the narrow staircase that led up to the loft, tucking her phone into the waistband of her leggings. ¡°He doesn¡¯t go crazy living in such a small space?¡± she asked,C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Chandler shook his head before he tugged his jacket off and hung it on the coat tree next to the door. ¡°He¡¯s a simple guy. Give him outdoors to explore and a mountain to descend at a rapid pace on a small piece of fiberss, and he¡¯s happy.¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Does that describe you too?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± He shrugged. ¡°But I do like some simple things too,¡±


    Elena stopped and stared at the wall next to the stairs. A small framed picture hung crookedly of Chandler and Paul. He was almost a foot shorter than Chandler, tufts of hair sticking out from underneath his lucky ck hat, but his grin was so big, so proud, it was almost hard to look at now. His arm was around Chandler¡¯s shoulders, and Chandler had a giant-ass grin on his face and goggle marks lining his wind-whipped cheeks.


    ¡°You love him,¡± Elena observed.


    Chandler found himself answering honestly. ¡°He¡¯s my best friend. The only person who¡¯s ever ¡­ believed I could make something of my life.¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t look at him, just kept her eyes on the photo. He wanted to do something, anything, to shock her. Because for some reason, all of this felt too intimate, and she felt too intriguing, too fascinating for him to even contemte.


    ¡°One time we got arrested because we¡¯d wrecked the hell out of the side of someone¡¯s garage.¡± He kept his voice even as her shoulders tensed visibly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard for the cops to find me because the blue spray paint we¡¯d used on the side of the house was on my hands. I got caught and implicated the both of us,¡±

 52

    She inhaled. ¡°Why¡¯d you guys do that?¡±


    ¡°Who knows?¡± he admitted. ¡°We were seventeen and bored, and our friends probably thought we¡¯d be too chicken shit to do it.¡±


    Elena was a loud thinker, he wasing to realize. Especially when she was trying to figure something out. And right now, she was trying to figure him out. She stared at that picture so hard, he was surprised it didn¡¯t jump off the wall.


    ¡°No wonder,¡± she murmured.


    He stepped closer behind her and took a slow inhale. It was stronger than it had been on the pillow, that incredible scent. He had to fight not to bury his nose in her hair, wrap his arms around her from behind, and glory in how warm and soft she¡¯d be tucked into his body.


    It was so clear she wanted to put him together like a puzzle that no one had sorted. But eventually, she¡¯d see that it wasn¡¯t asplicated as all that. He was what his family thought. A screwup and a disappointment. He was what Paul thought too. A hothead who didn¡¯t think things through.


    ¡°No wonder what?¡± his voice sounded rusty.


    She turned and faced him, and he refused to budge even a single inch. But then again, Elena didn¡¯t move either. He inhaled deeply, and his chest almost brushed hers, that¡¯s how close they stood. He wanted to kiss her. For a lot of reasons. Because of how she looked. Because of how she made him feel. Because she was trying to find something inside him that didn¡¯t exist, something good and sweet and thoughtful that meant his parents hadn¡¯tpletely jacked him up.


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯d do anything for him. I think¡­ that despite everything, you turned out to be a good man, Chandler Kendrick¡± she said quietly.


    The breath caught in his throat. She gentlyid her hand over his heart, and he slid his palm up her arm to anchor it there. Her skin ¡­ it was so, so soft.


    ¡°I¡¯m d they didn¡¯t ruin you, Chandler.¡±


    Elena tugged her hand out from under his and brushed past him, stopping to fiddle with the radio on the kitchen counter. He braced a hand on the wall, pinched his eyes shut, and tried to figure out what was happening inside his chest after just a few words from her. Because that simply, that quickly, she¡¯dpletely ripped the rug out from underneath him.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The station she turned on was news, and she turned a few knobs to lessen the static. ¡°Well, everyone,¡± the disembodied voice said. ¡°This is shaping up to smash the previous record snowfall for April, and it won¡¯t be stopping for the next twenty to twenty four hours. So stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the snow.¡±


    Chandler turned his head to stare at Elena. Looks like he had some time to figure out the answer to his own puzzle-what the hell to do with Elena Davis.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap,¡± she said, and headed upstairs.


    ___________


    Six hours¡­ And an entire snow familyter, Chandler did something he¡¯d never done before. He took a cold-ass shower after being outside in the snow.


    Eventually, he¡¯d have to start calling this strange reaction to Elena Davis The Princess Effect because holy hell, the woman was killing him slowly with one look, one touch at a time. In that tiny bathroom, he¡¯d almost lost the shaky grasp on his control. Because while she might not have asked him to kiss her or touch her again, she wanted him to. Everything he saw in her big brown eyes was almost certainly reflected in his.


    Maybe he knew what held him back because he wasn¡¯t a guy who forced himself on a woman, no matter how she was looking at him, but for the life of him, he couldn¡¯t figure out what the hell was holding her back, especially after that amazing time they had that evening at his parents house, and at Elijah¡¯s wedding.


    For hours, they yed in the steadily falling snow, using ridiculous props to make a four-person snow family, and for hours, she avoided prolonged eye contact or idental touching of any kind. Not that he would¡¯ve felt anything good,yered up like they were. And as the frigid water beat down on him, he had tough at himself that he still needed a cold shower. Because no matter how little eye contact or how little touching, he wanted Elena so badly he felt like he could¡¯ve melted every inch of snow coating the forest outside of that cabin.


    Goosebumps popped on his skin, but still, he braced his hands against the shower wall and took a few deep breaths. His reaction to her defied anymon sense unless it was just the fact that she seemed so unattainable. That she evaded him just enough that he wanted to reach out and snatch her to him, hold her close, and feel everything about her that he wanted to feel again. Taste her lips again. Grip her skin and see which parts of her body felt the best under his impatient hands. They¡¯d been in a hurry the two times he¡¯d touched her and now he wanted to take his time to explore. Not the thoughts to be having when she was less than fifteen feet away from him, cuddled up under a nket on the couch, which was where he¡¯d left her when he ducked into the shower.


    With a violent shove, he turned the water off and shivered. A threadbare towel was hanging along the back of the door, and he scrubbed himself dry as quickly as possible. By the time he¡¯d tugged on his clothes, he felt a bit less crazed and a hell of a lot colder. Thanks to the fire he¡¯d started again after their time outdoors, he opened the bathroom door to a wave of warm air.


    Fragrant, warm air.


    ¡°What is that smell?¡± he groaned happily.


    No longer cuddled on the couch, Elena was in the kitchen, stirring something in arge cast-iron pan over the small stovetop. She smiled at him. ¡°I raided the pantry, and he had some pasta and just enough to make a decent tomato sauce. So ¡­ Italian it is. I hope that¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°More than okay.¡± Chandler came up behind her, keeping a few inches between her back and his chest. Her hair was pulled up off her neck, wisps of dark brown hair trailing down the length of her neck. ¡°You cook too.¡± He said,

 53

    Over her shoulder, Elena gave him a chiding look. ¡°I guess you¡¯ve forgotten that I bake too.¡±


    Chandler held up his hands with augh. ¡°Touche, Princess, touche.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Of course I can cook and I¡¯m good at it.¡±


    Tugging a chair out from the table with his foot, Chandler took a seat and shamelessly watched her navigate around the small kitchen area.


    ¡°Howe you and Emily do everything together and yet you and Elijah are not as close as the both of them are?¡±


    Her smile was barely visible as she stirred the sauce. ¡°Emily and I don¡¯t do everything together¡­ At least not anymore,¡±


    Chandler thought about the picture of her and her sister from her apartment. ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    She snorted. ¡°Not exactly. We were ¡­ oh,¡± she sighed, ¡°how do I put this?


    I guess after college, living in different states kinda separated us too much¡­More than we cared to admit,¡±


    Watching as Elena tasted the sauce, then added some salt, he nodded. He could understand that. Carefully, she set the salt down and turned to face him, one hip hitched on the counter. ¡°I¡¯ll make you deal, Chandler.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°A question for a question.¡± One eyebrow raised slowly in challenge. ¡°You deflect every single time I ask about your past or your family, so if you want to know about mine, then I¡¯ll make it an even trade.¡±


    He crossed his arms over his chest and held her stare. ¡°Some people feel morefortable than others talking about their childhood. Mine wasn¡¯t traumatic or anything, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to spill my guts over spaghetti and candlelight.¡±


    At his answer, which was meant to be flippant and casual, Elena¡¯s face shed with disappointment, and a small seed was nted behind his ribs.


    Something ufortable and unwanted. But it found somece to stick, dig itself beneath the surface of whatever armor he¡¯d erected around the parts of himself that still felt like he needed to prove how unhurt he was by his dad and Laura¡¯s treatment.


    ¡°Truth or dare,¡± he amended. His version of a peace offering. ¡°I¡¯ll y, but I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll answer everything.¡±


    Elena weighed that for a long moment, face thoughtful, bodynguage rxed. ¡°Deal.¡±


    While she finished dinner, he set the table with two dark blue tes he found in the pantry and added some wood to the fire. Outside, the wind picked up, whipping through the trees until they swayed side to side. Still, Elena hadn¡¯t said I told you so for the fact that they were stuck there. Because into this ridiculous storm, they were poised to get over thirteen inches. The umting snow wasn¡¯t even what kept them stuck until it died down. Right now, it was the fact that they were so focused on clearing main roads that ces like Paul¡¯s were way down on the totem pole.


    Elena drained the pasta, releasing a cloud of steam into the air. He got up to find them something to drink. He crouched in front of the pantry, watching Agnes warily as she slinked across the wall in my direction. ¡°Do you know if he has any alcohol hidden in this ce?¡± he asked the cat.


    She sat on her haunches and started licking a paw. But she didn¡¯t hiss at him, so he shrugged. He gave it onest look but decided Paul must hate himself since there wasn¡¯t so much as a single bottle of anything in the entire ce. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find anything fun to drink,¡± he told Elena as she set the bowl of pasta in the middle of the small table. ¡°So water it is.¡±


    ¡°I find proper hydration fun.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°As do I.¡± Chandler took a seat opposite her and gave her a smile. ¡°Thank you for making dinner.¡±


    Her cheeks flushed pink. ¡°No problem.¡±


    The food was delicious, and he groaned happily at his first bite of the sauce-covered noodles. ¡°This is incredible.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ever go home to your family?¡± she asked without any preamble. ¡°Try to fix things with your dad,¡±


    The noodles lodged in his throat when he coughed in surprise. After a hefty drink of water, he was able to swallow. When he was finally able to speak, his voice was rough. You know, from almost choking to death. ¡°Jumped right in, eh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡± She replied with a smile.


    He sat back in his chair and studied her. ¡°Because that ce isn¡¯t my home anymore. It hasn¡¯t been for a long time. I moved when I was twenty and never looked back.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Laura get along? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Oooh, no dice, you don¡¯t get two questions in a row.¡±


    Elena tilted her head. ¡°Come on, answer the question,¡±


    Bracing his elbows on the table, he leaned forward and held her gaze. ¡°Why does it bother you so much to figure me out, Elena?¡±


    Elena didn¡¯t brush off his question like he expected her to. She just searched his face. ¡°I think sometimes I¡¯m just as curious about the people who inflict the damage on children as the children themselves. So, while I don¡¯t know Laura very well, I¡¯d never have pegged her as someone to hold the sins of another woman onto an innocent child.¡±


    ¡°I was never innocent,¡± Chandler answered easily. ¡°I did some boundary pushing of my own when she and my dad got married, not to mention my absolute hellion years in high school. So don¡¯t think I made it easy on Laura to walk into our family.¡±


    She pointed her fork at me. ¡°And now you defend her. See? This is fascinating to me.¡±


    He exhaled heavily. ¡°Can we move to a dare yet?¡±


    ¡°She was obviously rude to you at the dinner, despite the fact that your father¡¯s opinion of her is incredibly valuable to her. I don¡¯t understand how an adult can act like that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve met me, love,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°Everything about me bugs Laura and has since day one. Maybe someone else would¡¯ve tried to gain her approval or love, but thest thing I wanted to do was sit in the shit and dwell on it all the time.¡±


    Reading between the lines of his forced casual reply was easy enough for someone as smart as Elena. And wisely, she dropped it.

 54

    They ate quietly for a few minutes until Chandler felt like aplete asshole. It wasn¡¯t her fault, not really. Elena didn¡¯t have to try to understand why he and his stepmother had the rtionship they did, and how that bled into his rtionships with his father and brother. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Elena spoke first.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like thinking too hard about things that upset me too, so I understand.¡± She told him,


    This didn¡¯t feel like the time to say anything, so he held her gaze across the table and waited. Elena twirled some pasta on her fork and took another bite. When she was done chewing, she set the fork down. ¡°I¡¯m not angry with you, and I don¡¯t know exactly why I want to figure you out as you put it. I guess I just¡­ I want to know you¡­ And understand you¡­ That¡¯s all.¡±


    Even though her words touched him, her face was so calm when she said it that heughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s funny?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Not really,¡± he admitted, then he added even though she had not asked again. ¡°I don¡¯t get angry with Laura. I just have a million other things I could be doing with my time, so why would I choose to dwell on that bullshit?¡± That was an answer she could understand, judging by the look on her face in the muted light of the cabin. He lifted his chin in her direction. ¡°Truth or dare.¡±


    ¡°Truth, I guess,¡± she sighed.


    Like she was trying not to be seen, he watched as Agnes wound her way around the edge of the kitchen and found a dark corner to sit in to watch them. He decided to go easy.


    ¡°Why is there a stuffed cat on your couch?¡±


    She blushed. ¡°I told Emily I wanted a cat once, and since we were still in the dorms at the time, she got me that instead¡­. I kept it since then because I love it,¡±


    ¡°I bet Agnes would go home with you,¡± Chandler mumbled.


    Elenaughed. ¡°I would never do that to Paul. But if I did get a cat,¡± she sighed, ¡°I¡¯d want her to look just like this little angel.¡±


    Chandler rolled his eyes, much to Elena¡¯s delight. She stood and grabbed her te to wash it while Chandler took another bite of the spaghetti and watched her jerky movements as she


    washed off her te and set it on a towel to dry. When she whirled around, he smiled slightly. ¡°I think it¡¯s my turn again,¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she argued, ¡°It¡¯s not,¡±


    ¡°It is. You asked me two questions. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice. And I don¡¯t think you want me to give you a dare,¡± he told her.


    They both damn well knew what he¡¯d dare her to do. She rolled her lips between her teeth and tried to stem her growing smile. Pushing back from the table, Chandler ignored her when she tried to take his dish. Instead, he nudged her aside with a bump of his hip, and she stayed by the counter but didn¡¯t leave. As he rinsed and washed his dish, the fact that they still had an entire nightid out in front of them, and probably at least a good chunk of the next day, stretched ahead of him like one painful exercise in frustration. Like sitting at the bottom of a mountain of fresh white powder but not having a board to ride down it.


    ¡°Maybe I do.¡± She said softly. So softly that he wondered if he¡¯d imagined her saying the words.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Chandler¡¯s hands froze in the soapy water at her quiet words. It felt very much like the thing he wanted most was being dangled just out of reach. He could see it and smell it, maybe even brush it with his fingers if I tried hard enough. He finished rinsing the dish carefully and nudged into her again so that he could set it down by hers. Elena didn¡¯t move this time, her head angled in his direction. His hands were gripping the edge of the counter tightly, and he looked at her in the same way.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked, as he stared at her lips, open and inviting and incredible.


    Elena exhaled shakily. ¡°You know exactly what I want, Chandler, and you are the one who held back thest time¡­ not me.¡±


    He dropped his chin to his chest and swore. Her inhale wasrge, not shaky, but the kind of big, deep breath you took when you were trying to fortify yourself before a giant leap off the edge of a mountain. Then she took a step back, and did something that blew every rational thought right off his head. With both hands, she reached for the hem of her shirt and tugged it up over her head.


    Chandler stood still, and watched as she let the shirt drop to the floor, his jaw tightening, eyes burning furiously over the skin she¡¯d just exposed. Left in her leggings and simple bralette, she took a step forward and pushed him back onto his chair. It wasn¡¯t a hard shove, but Chandler didn¡¯t trust his legs either so he went with it. Elena swung one leg over his hip so she could settle onto hisp.


    His hands slid up her back, and he dropped his head into the crook of her shoulder while he seemed to try to get his breathing under control. Underneath her, he was big. Hard. Ready.


    Her hands wandered up his shoulders and over the back of his head. She kissed his temple, then licked along the edge of his ear, insanely gratified when his fingers tightened painfully on her back. They moved then, started to tug down the strap of her bralette. His mouth trailed along the skin on her chest, small sucking kisses that he soothed with his tongue. When he reached the tops of her breast, he used the edge of his thumb to work her into a rolling mass of want. Still, they hadn¡¯t kissed. Still, they hadn¡¯t spoken a single word.


    His head came back, eyes almost ck in the dying firelight, and he searched her expression carefully. Elena gripped the sides of his face firmly, so he wouldn¡¯t-couldn¡¯t-look away.


    ¡°I want you,¡± she told him. ¡°I want this, with you.¡±

 55

    Chandler surged forward and took her mouth. Oh, he took it deep and sweet and hot and hungry. Endless, wonderful kisses that had them panting and sighing and moaning as her hands ripped at his shirt. He took pity, breaking away to tear it off. Her hands slid over his skin, wonderful and gorgeous and stacked with muscles.


    Using his hands underneath her ass, he picked her up and stood, then moved to the couch in the sitting room area. He turned them so that she was underneath him on the couch. Once she was settled, those hands moved onto the waistband of her leggings as he peeled them off. Theynded in a heap on the floor. Her underwear came next, his tongueing out to lick along his bottom lip in a way that had her writhing helplessly while he stood and shucked off his pants and boxer briefs.


    Before he came back between her legs, Chandler snagged his wallet from the side table and pulled out a condom.


    She widened her legs so that he could settle his hips between them, and their hands greedily swept over all the ces now bared to their eyes. After only a few minutes, she cried out because the twist of his hand that felt so dirty when she was fully clothed, had her damp with sweat and her toes curling against the couch.


    ¡°You¡¯re so perfect,¡± he murmured against her chest, kissing down along her ribs.


    Elena¡¯s hand found him, and he hissed loudly in pleasure from the pressure of her fingers and palm.


    ¡°Chandler, please,¡± she begged, arching her hips up.


    ¡°Soon, love,¡± he growled, pushing himself into her hand again. ¡°I have one condom and no intention of rushing through a second of this.¡±


    ¡°Please, please,¡± she whispered against his mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t handle this anymore.¡±


    He sat up, and she raked her fingernails down his abs as he ripped open the condom.


    ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to get creative once I get you upstairs, eh?¡±


    Elena grinned, sitting up to drop a kiss on the edge of his hip bone. ¡°I guess.¡±


    Chandler came down over her again, hands bracketing her head on the couch. She pulled her leg up, her knee braced against his chest while the other wrapped around his hips. Slowly, he moved forward. So slowly, she thought she might die, in wordless, helpless, incredible agony. Her mouth was open, her neck arched back, a moan of pleasure trapped somewhere in her throat when he cursed so hoarsely that she found herself smiling.


    For a moment, he wrapped her up in his arms and stayed like that. Just ¡­


    unmoving and frozen on a precipice that felt dangerous in how big it was. Like neither of them felt like they were ready for what might unfold when he finally started moving.


    He lifted his head, and for a moment, she saw the bewilderment of what she was feeling mirrored on his face. This is different. This is big. Gently, he kissed her. And then, oh, and then, it wasn¡¯t so gentle. It was perfect, full of rough hands and rough hips and seeking kisses and nips of her teeth along his shoulder.


    Her body fell apart, a blinding, shattering, explosion at the exact moment that Chandler shouted her name. He slumped against her, his back sweaty, his arms tight and shaking around her overwhelmed body as  she clung to him. When he finally lifted his head, his dopey grin had herughing out loud.


    Chandler shook his head slowly. ¡°We¡¯re about to get very, very creative upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Are we?¡± she could hardly form the words around her beaming grin.


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± He kissed her. ¡°Or we will, when I can move my legs.¡±


    She kissed him back. ¡°I hope you know you¡¯ll be carrying me up those stairs, big guy.¡±


    His eyes were so happy, so satisfied, that her heart burned bright and warm like a coal. ¡°I think right now, I¡¯d give you just about anything you asked for.¡±


    ¡°A bed and you,¡± Elena said simply.


    He hummed against her lips. ¡°That I can do, princess. Hold on tight.¡±


    _____________


    Something out of the ordinary woke Chandler up the next morning. It wasn¡¯t the sun streaming brightly through the wall of windows, and it wasn¡¯t Elena¡¯s delicious body draped over his chest. It wasn¡¯t that he needed coffee, or even that Agnes was sitting up on the dresser staring at him with her creepy green eyes. Yeah, that cat probably saw thingsst night that she¡¯d never seen before.


    He grinned as he thought about all of them. They¡¯d gotten creative all right.


    There were so many things the human body was capable of that didn¡¯t end in sex. And for hours, they¡¯d explored all those things until she was limp and sweaty and begging him to keep his hands off her.


    His back was sore. His thighs were sore. And if he pulled back the covers, he¡¯d bet good money that Elena had beard-burn over half of her body from the things he¡¯d done to her after they¡¯d moved upstairs. Honestly, it wouldn¡¯t surprise him if, on his death bed, he remembered the sounds she made when he feasted on her entire body until she was cursing at him, wing at him, begging without an ounce of pride to pull her over the edge.


    And turnabout was fair y because once her mouth and hands turned the tables on him, he was just as shameless in the things he¡¯d begged of her. But no, none of that was what pulled him out of exhaustion fueled slumberte the next morning. The sound happened again, and he felt his brow pull down in a grimace when he ced it.


    Thump. Scrape. Thump. Scrape.


    Elena inhaled slowly as she woke, rolling over onto her back, arms stretching over her head. Chandler turned to his side and grinned at the picture she made. All her dark hair was tangled beyond hope, there were marks all over her chest and neck from my mouth, and theck of sleep from the night before showed in the dark circles under her eyes. She was perfection.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    He¡¯d never felt this way after spending the night with someone. Not even by half. Somehow, he wanted her even more. Even as his errant thoughts tried to break through, take root, and convince him that there was no way she¡¯d want more with him.

 56

    ¡°Morning,¡± she mumbled, giving him a sleepy grin that had his heart twisting painfully in his chest.


    ¡°Morning.¡± He leaned down to give her a kiss.


    Elena scrunched her face adorably. ¡°I bet my morning breath is lovely.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit,¡± Chandler told her. With his thumb, he traced along her bottom lip. ¡°These are worth it.¡±


    In the bright morning light, it was a delightful discovery that Elena was unashamed of her nudity because she didn¡¯t even attempt to cover her equally delightful breasts using the sheet draped around her waist.


    ¡°I hope Paul has Advil downstairs,¡± she said.


    Chandler hummed. ¡°You sore today, princess?¡±


    ¡°Wipe that smug ass grin off your face.¡±


    Hisughter had her smiling. The smile was the best thing he could have woken to. Not only was Elena not ducking out of bed, avoiding eye contact or exining to him why it could never happen again. Exining why she hadn¡¯t been thinking when she¡¯d let him do all sorts of filthy things to her incredible body.


    Thump. Scrape.


    Elena frowned, looking up over his shoulder. Her mouth fell open inprehension. His  palm slid up her arm and cupped the back of her neck. His fingers tangled into that hair and she finally looked at him with a sigh.


    ¡°The plows are out,¡± he said.


    ¡°So I hear.¡±


    Which meant they¡¯d have no problem getting back home. They both fell quiet, and her eyelids closed when the sound happened again. If he thought his heart pinched when she smiled at him, it was doing a veritable fist-pump at the disappointment on her face.


    ¡°Pancakes for breakfast?¡± Chandler asked her, smoothing a hand down the sleek line of her back.


    Elena¡¯s fingers traced the clock face inked on his chest. ¡°Why a clock?¡± she asked,


    Her evasion made him smile. ¡°Time eventually runs out for everyone. Better make the most of it while it¡¯s on your side.¡±


    That lifted her head, and she stared at him so intensely that he fought the urge to fidget ufortably. Whatever she had turning around and around in that brain of hers, which, in truth, intrigued him just as much as all the other parts of her, had the power to ruin this little pocket of paradise they¡¯d found themselves in. He found himself holding his breath at what she¡¯d say next.


    ¡°What plows?¡± she said.


    His brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything out there,¡± she continued. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m pretty sure they won¡¯t being until tomorrow morning.¡±


    A slow smile curled his lips, and he not-so-gently gripped her hips and pulled her over him. Elena settled on hisp, the sheet pooling around her waist as she straddled him like a freaking dream he¡¯d conjured.


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    She bit her lip and nodded. The picture she made was so tempting, he could only shake his head in disbelief. No woman, not a single one, had made him think about the future. About dates and anniversaries and popping out babies and rings and Lace. But after just one night with her, something had him cycling through every single one of those. It made zero sense, but damn if he would waste his opportunity while time was on his side.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear a thing either, baby.¡±


    The smile that spread over her face was victorious, and he sat up to take a taste of it with his lips. She kissed him deeply, tugging his hair with her hands.


    They turned over, and he yanked the sheets back up over their heads, blocking out the world just for a little while longer. If she was going to give him this day, he¡¯d take it without an ounce of guilt. And he knew, buried underneath whatever physical pleasure she was giving him, he¡¯d give Elena a hell of a lot more than that if she wanted it.


    __________


    Elena and Chandler sat in the car and stared at Paul¡¯s cabin. The snow had started melting,ing off the sharp edge of the A-line roof in a steady stream of water. There was no hiding anymore, no ignoring reality, no more excuses to stay. Plus, they¡¯d just about cleaned Paul out of food. So, unless they wanted to start eating Agnes¡¯s really expensive cat food, it was time to face the music anyway.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said quietly and nced in her direction. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    The lump in Elena¡¯s throat was about the size of an Ind when she tried to answer, so she just nodded instead. He slid a hand across her thigh, fingers wrappingfortably over the top of her leg so he could squeeze.


    I¡¯m right here.


    It was so clear in her head that she could almost hear his voice. ¡°Why is it so hard to leave this ce?¡± she said. She¡¯d hardly even made the decision to speak the thought out loud, but there it was.


    Chandler sighed, removed his hand, and put the car in reverse, navigating through the plowed area that the truck had provided him to back up. ¡°Because it¡¯s nice to hide away every once in a while.¡± He paused again before he pulled out of the driveway, and she caught the way his eyes lingered on the cabin in the rearview mirror. ¡°Forget about all the other bullshit we have to deal with.¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    For some reason, his answer saddened her even further. He¡¯d woken her up with kisses all over her naked back and hands roaming until she¡¯d been panting his name, begging him to take pity on her. He had, hands clutching hers, his body hot and hard behind her as she found release again, her sounds muffled into the mattress.


    Breakfast and packing up their stuff had kept the same tone, slow and sweet, lingering kisses and caresses, until they couldn¡¯t prolong the inevitable anymore. It was time to go back. Her phone had been left unattended that entirest day, and when Elena plugged it in while she packed, she had to close her eyes when the notifications started rolling in.


    Between Emily and Beth, her phone was blowing up with texts about when she¡¯d be home. But still, she turned it over so she didn¡¯t have to see. Not until she buckled herself into the car and one from Emily had her caving.


    ¡®I swear, Elena, if you don¡¯t answer me soon, I¡¯m calling every police officer I know, and dispatching them.


    Elena knew that she had to text back now.

 57

    ¡®I¡¯m fine! Sorry. Sorry. Spotty service, haven¡¯t been checking my phone.¡¯


    ¡®Not amused, Sis, not amused. I swear I¡¯m ready to castrate Chandler for kidnapping you.¡¯


    ¡®Chandler is hardly at fault for the snowstorm and he didn¡¯t kidnap me. I¡¯m fine, and I¡¯m on my way home now, so calm down, please.¡¯


    ¡°Emily¡¯s freaking, huh?¡± Chandler asked after he finally pulled the car onto the road.


    Her phone and all their belligerent texts were safely tucked into her bag where he wouldn¡¯t identally see them. Thest thing Chandler needed was to know that Emily was ready to sic federal agents on him.


    ¡°They¡¯re ¡­ fine.¡± She tucked her leg up against her chest and stared happily at his profile. ¡°But they¡¯re on to you, bud. They know the roads were cleared yesterday.¡±


    ¡°On to me?¡± Chandler nced at her.


    ¡°Should I tell them who seduced who into staying for one more day? Because only one of us was topless and begging. With straddling involved, I might add.¡±


    Elena held up her hand. ¡°Okay, okay. I get it. No, they don¡¯t need to know that.¡± His grin was wicked and wonderful, and she wanted to eat him alive. Chandler Kendrick had turned her into a certifiable addict. ¡°But,¡± she said, ¡°be prepared. If you thought Emily¡¯s grilling was bad before¡­¡± She whistled.


    Chandler hooked a wrist over the steering wheel and draped his free hand over her thigh again. Immediately, she wove their fingers together. ¡°She didn¡¯t act like that with the other guys you¡¯ve dated?¡± he asked.


    Elenaughed. Knowing he was fishing for information. ¡°Not like ¡­ anyone serious.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, right.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t!¡±


    He peered over the edge of his sunsses. ¡°I call bullshit.¡±


    ¡°Call whatever, it won¡¯t make it less true.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I went on a few dates in high school, so sure, they¡¯ve met guys who picked me up, but they never turned into anything serious. And in college ¡­ I don¡¯t know ¡­ my sses were always a higher priority than dating, so I never had anyone serious or even semi-casual who¡¯d want toe home for family dinner.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s head reared back. ¡°Huh.¡±


    ¡°Not all of us are rich business owners who probably have women throwing themselves naked in their offices¡±


    Did she sound like a jealous harpy? Yup. Sure did. Did she sound insecure that she¡¯d been ate bloomer and didn¡¯t feel the need to date her way through high school and college? Yup. That also.


    ¡°Naked in offices indeed. ¡± He gave her a sideways nce. ¡°And entirely irrational, since it¡¯s not even true.¡±


    Withdrawing her hand from his, Elena smacked him on the chest. Hisughter boomed through the car, and she found herself smiling. ¡°Ass.¡±


    Chandler snatched her hand and kissed the palm. ¡°Listen, I won¡¯t lie, there are women who chase, but it can¡¯t be that different from what other guys have to deal with.¡±


    ¡°No, I know. And there are so many guys who don¡¯t chase that life.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have implied that you did.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t an angel. But most of that, it stayed behind me in my early twenties. It¡¯s not as fun once you start creeping closer to thirty.¡± His cheeks were slightly pink.


    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ve had a dry spelltely, Chandler?¡± I teased.


    His shrug was small. ¡°A little. Isn¡¯t this ¡­ isn¡¯t this weird for you to talk about?¡±


    ¡°Is it weird if I told you about guys I dated?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the same.¡±


    Her head tilted. ¡°Why not?¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Well ¡­ you¡¯re like ¡­ girlfriend material, you know? Every parent in the world would be thrilled if a guy brought you home.¡±


    Ahh. ¡°And you¡¯re not boyfriend material?¡±


    Chandler licked his lips before he answered. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, well, let¡¯s see.¡± Regarding him with a thoughtful expression, Elena waited until she saw his expression soften a bit. ¡°You¡¯re not terrible to look at.¡± He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, so she kept going. ¡°You are an excellent dancer.¡± Her fingers trailed along the top of his hand. ¡°You open doors and make pancakes. You shovel pathways in the snow.¡± She picked up that hand and pressed a kiss into his palm. ¡°You wake me up in the sweetest, sexiest ways. And you make me feel beautiful.¡±


    Chandler looked over at her, and what she saw in his eyes yed herpletely. ¡°You are beautiful,¡± he said roughly.


    ¡°You make me feel amazing just by being you, Chandler.¡± She kept her voice even, despite the way her stomach fluttered nervously. ¡°If that¡¯s not boyfriend material, I don¡¯t know what is.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    The man next to her stayed quiet, but she saw the strong column of his throat move on a slow swallow.


    ¡°Everyone has a past, Chandler. It doesn¡¯t define who we are moving forward.¡± She gave a small shrug of her own. ¡°So I won¡¯t hold your past against you if you can promise to do the same for me.¡±


    He tangled their fingers together again. ¡°So I won¡¯t imagine some ripped book nerd in your sociology ss mooning over you because you guys dated for five years. Because that would probably do the same cute pouty thing to my face as yours just did when you talked about snow bunnies when we were at Paul¡¯s cabin.¡±


    Elenaughed. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re such an ass.¡±


    As he grinned, she felt her stomach flip weightlessly again. Some ripped book nerd. No, she hadn¡¯t dated one of those for five years, but in her head ¡­ one had taken up residence for even longer. If she and Chandler stayed together, and oh, her heart wanted that so badly, she¡¯d eventually have to admit her harmless crush on Elijah and how that yed a role, but she knew this wasn¡¯t the time.


    The feeling of suspended reality that they¡¯d enjoyed at the cabin still lingered in the car. They drove through a winter wondend so beautiful it didn¡¯t seem real. She was with a man who gave her the kind of butterflies she didn¡¯t know existed -like sex-crazed, I want to stay in a bed with you for a week and pluck every deep thought out of your head because your head is just as fascinating as your body kind of butterflies-and she wasn¡¯t ready to pop that bubble just yet.

 58

    Her gut screamed at her over whatever logic her head told her to just ¡­ keep her mouth shut about Elijah. Elijah didn¡¯t even know about her crush on him. No one did, so there wasn¡¯t even really a secret to be brought out into the open. It was just something she used to feel. Something she¡¯d gotten over.


    ¡°What¡¯s waiting for you when you get back home?¡± Chandler asked.


    Elena smiled, happy for the change in subject. ¡°Dinner at Emily and Daniel¡¯s. But that¡¯s after Elijah and Lexie back from their honeymoon. They¡¯re going to be back early because of work, and knowing Emily, It¡¯s going to be loud and crazy and ¡­ perfect. Wannae¡±


    ¡°Ermmm¡­ I¡¯m not really looking forward to Emily bashing my head in with a pestle when I show up at her house,¡±


    Turning slightly in her seat, Elena took a moment to gauge his facial expression. Because his eyes were covered, she couldn¡¯t get a true read on him, not really, but the rest of him looked rxed and happy. Interested.


    This was the both of them outside of the cabin. Him getting to know the other parts of her life, and her, hopefully being able to do the same.


    ¡°Nothing of the sort is going to happen,¡± she started. ¡°And besides, we could use the opportunity to let her see that there¡¯s nothing to be worried about when ites to us.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Okay. I like your other friend. What¡¯s her name again¡­.¡±-he snapped his finger-¡°Beth, right? The only one who didn¡¯t try to re me out of your apartment, which makes me prone to like her the best.¡±


    Elenaughed. ¡°Yes, Beth is really sweet. She¡¯s nice and yful and sees the best in everyone. She likes you too.¡±


    ¡°Nice.¡± He nodded appreciatively. ¡°One point for me,¡±


    Elena¡¯s face felt warm and flushed and happy at how he was trying to get to get along with her family and friends. He was trying at least. She licked her bottom lip, watching his face carefully. ¡°You and Emily will be fine. Stop worrying about it,¡±


    His grin hooked up on one side. ¡°You know, I think we might be.¡± He squeezed her hand. ¡°Even if she hates me now, your friend Beth is on my side. She can talk me up.¡±


    ¡°Emily knows you,¡± she pointed out.


    ¡°Emily has spent more than ten years as best friends with the younger brother who¡¯s gone his whole life hearing what a horrible influence I¡¯d be on him. Trust me, I understand why your sister won¡¯t be a fan of¡±-he nced meaningfully at her-¡°this.¡±


    Elena frowned. ¡°She¡¯s still my twin, though, and my best friend. When she sees ¡­¡± her voice trailed off. It felt like a strange ce to say something big and meaningful like when she sees how important you are to me. When she sees how insanely happy you make me, When she sees how wonderful you really are. When she sees that I¡¯m falling in love with you.


    Chandler heard something in the pause and pulled his eyes from the road.


    ¡°When she sees ¡­?¡±


    ¡°Us,¡± Elena finishedmely. ¡°I think if she¡¯s able to see us¡­ ToTogether she stammered slightly over her words, ¡°you know, hanging out or whatever. She¡¯ll be okay with it.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He didn¡¯t exactly look convinced. ¡°If you say so.¡±


    ¡°Emily is protective of me, just as I am of her,¡± She didn¡¯t want to feel defensive about the way he was immediately writing off Emily¡¯s ability to see that she was happy or give him a second chance, but she did. ¡°And yeah, maybe she doesn¡¯t know you as well as I do, but she¡¯ll get to know you. And she¡¯ll see that you¡¯re more than what Laura¡¯s written you off to be.¡±


    Sensing her difort, Chandler lifted her hand and kissed it. ¡°Okay. You know her better than I do. I¡¯ve only seen her as Elijah¡¯s best friend. She¡¯s protective of him too.¡±


    Elena sighed. He wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°Emily is ¡­¡± She searched for the right words. ¡°She¡¯s like ¡­ bottled energy inside a body that can hardly hold it. It¡¯s one of the biggest ways we¡¯re different. She was always the ringleader when we were young because her brain never stops moving. She¡¯s stubborn, and she¡¯s strong-willed.¡± Despite her words, she was smiling. ¡°And she¡¯s my other half. Because she loves me,¡± she finished quietly. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay with you.¡±


    Chandler took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t ¡­ I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to have that.¡± His smile was rueful, but Elena still saw the sadness clinging to the edges. ¡°So I¡¯m sorry if it sounded like I was questioning your sister. You¡¯ve got a pretty big leg up on this whole family deal.¡±


    In answer, she squeezed his hand, and she saw the way his chest and shoulders rxed. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± At his skeptical look, sheughed. ¡°You will.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d you have so much faith in me, love.¡± His tone was wry, but she heard what was buried beneath it. ¡°Don¡¯t know that I¡¯ve earned it, but it¡¯s appreciated.¡±


    Her finger traced small circles over the rough knuckles on his big, warm hand. ¡°Will youe with me to the dinner then?¡±


    A sweeter, softer kind of butterfly took off inside of her body the moment she asked. It wasn¡¯t about sex. It wasn¡¯t about how he made her feel when he looked at her with want and desire.


    This was about having him sitting next to her at a dinner table and knowing she could reach for his hand. It was letting him know that his presence mattered to her. That she¡¯d crave the normal, in-between things when he wasn¡¯t around her.


    Chandler took a moment to answer, but when he did, his voice was a little rough, a little low. ¡°Yeah, love. I can give it a shot.¡±


    The rest of their drive was music and easy conversation, and the closer they got to Vacaville, she felt a slow tension creeping in-between her shoulder des. The scenery was so familiar to her that she couldn¡¯t use it as a suitable distraction over what may or may not wait for them at Emily¡¯s dinner.

 59

    She hadn¡¯t prepared anyone that she was bringing this guy who¡¯d just consumed the past few weeks of her life. Chandler took the exit for her apartment as she tried-really, really hard-not to let her brain freak out over the fact that she felt this way about him so fast. Her  heart thought it was freaking romantic. Her gut was all arrows, pointing straight at Chandler. Her fingers tightened around his hand before she realized what she was doing.


    ¡°You okay?¡±


    Elena nodded furiously. ¡°Fine. Just ¡­ still trying to mentally prepare to be back.¡±


    ¡°I miss that cabin too, baby.¡±


    Smiling, she thought about something he¡¯d said right before they left. ¡°You gonna warn Paul that you¡¯re shipping him a new mattress?¡±


    ¡°I better.¡± He grimaced. ¡°If I were him, I¡¯d want to sleep on the couch until something shows up that wasn¡¯t defiled the way we defiled that mattress.¡±


    She was stillughing when they pulled up in front of her apartment building, and Chandler whistled as he pulled the car into a parking spot. Elena reached out to open the door, almost scared that she¡¯d tell him to turn around and take her somewhere¡­ His ce¡­ Anywhere¡­ As long as they were together and alone, but Chandler stopped her, then he leaned  in to give her a soft kiss on the lips.


    ¡°Let me help you get your stuff inside,¡± he said.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Elena nodded, then got out and watched as he got her bag out of the boot and they headed upstairs together. Inside, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you,¡± he said softly.


    Elena nodded, unable to find her voice, ¡°Bye, Chandler,¡± she replied.


    _________


    Three weekster, Elena could only describe her rtionship with Chandler as the best she¡¯d ever been in. They spent so much time together that Elena couldn¡¯t imagine him not being a part of her life anymore. They went on dates¡­ So many dates. Chandler seemed to be doing everything to make up for his screw up on their first date. They spent at least four nights every week together. Sometimes they spent the night at his ce and sometimes at Elena¡¯s. They were happy, and even Emily wasing to terms with it.


    Elijah and Lexi were back from their honeymoon, and the awaited dinner at Emily¡¯s finally arrived. Chandler kept his promise and showed up with Elena and surprisingly, he and Emily did get along, although he suspected that Elena had something to do with how calmly Emily received him. It was a bit awkward at first, but eventually they got over the awkward part and conversation flowed smoothly.


    They told childhood stories, and Chandler was eager to hear about Elena¡¯s family just as she was eager to hear about his. Not once, had he had a woman look at him with such expectation in her eyes. And now, she came with a family, who wanted to know everything about him. What he did, how he made a living, because that affected Elena too, or might someday. He did his best to answer the questions and even asked some of his own.


    After dinner, he stood, ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said to them and disentangled his hand from Elena¡¯s so he could head to the bathroom he saw off the kitchen. Once the door was closed, he braced his hands on the sink and stared at his reflection for a few seconds. Cranking the water on, he cupped his hands under the faucet and sshed his face a few times. When he felt like his heart rate slowed and he could breathe normally again, he walked out. Emily was in theundry room adjacent to the bathroom, finishing a phone call.


    ¡°Yeah, thank you, I¡¯m thrilled.¡± She held up a finger for him, but because she looked happy, he didn¡¯t feel like she was baiting him. ¡°I¡¯ll call you tomorrow and let you know for sure. Thanks.¡±


    Chandler tucked his hands in his pants pockets and let out a slow breath. She did the same. Before she started talking, he could tell she was trying. Maybe she was repeating the same mantra he¡¯d had in his head all day. That for Elena, she would try.


    ¡°I promised my sister I¡¯d give you a chance,¡± Emily said. ¡°Because she¡¯s never ¡­¡± she shook her head. ¡°This is new, for Elena. Being in a rtionship like this.¡±


    Her candor eased an admission from his lips. ¡°For me too.¡±


    Emily smiled. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    When he lifted an eyebrow, she held up her hands. ¡°Sorry. I have years of thinking about you a certain way, and your brother lectured me about that. That you and Elena have nothing to do with whatever it is between you and your parents.¡±


    The idea that Golden Boy was defending him at all had Chandler rocking back on his heels slightly. ¡°Did he?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Elijah isn¡¯t like his mom, you know. He doesn¡¯t hold any of that against you. The distance between you and them.¡±


    Chandler nodded slowly. ¡°Elijah is a more forgiving person than I am. I guess I should be grateful for that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you owe me and him pretty big, if you think about it.¡± Emily joked.


    ¡°I suppose I do,¡± he conceded with a smile of his own.


    ¡°They¡¯re too much alike, you know. Elijah and Elena. That¡¯s probably why I never worried about it.¡± Emily nced into the kitchen. ¡°She probably doesn¡¯t even realize I knew she liked him.¡±


    Following the line of her gaze was impossible to resist, and even though it should have been a tiny thing, to realize that Elena had liked Elijah, it suddenly felt really, really big. Standing on the edge of the mountain big. If he¡¯d felt like a lost cause before what Emily had said, it was nothing inparison to how he felt now. If she¡¯d dropped the proverbial anvil on his head, it would have had less of an effect.


    Of course, Elena had had a thing for Elijah. Everyone, including the woman  he was trying so hard for, would¡¯ve preferred him. The nice brother. The smart brother. The one who wouldn¡¯t embarrass her or himself.


    ¡°But you wanted to make sure I knew,¡±  Chandler said in a quiet, dangerous tone.


    Emily¡¯s eyes jerked back to his, wide and shocked in her face. ¡°Umm, given the giant heart-eyed,dy boner you¡¯ve turned my sister into, I assumed she told you about it, considering you guys had nothing but time to talk for days.¡±

 60

    Chandler folded his arms over his chest and tried to stop looking at Elijah standing next to Elena in the kitchen. He was pouring her a ss of wine,ughing in a friendly way at something she said.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Emily grabbed his arm, and he pried his gaze away from the scene in the kitchen.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me.¡± He said.


    Her eyes widened even further. ¡°Chandler, I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t ¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°This is not a big deal, I swear.¡±


    His harsh, lowughter had her tightening her grip on his arm.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m serious. The reason this is not a big deal is because I knew Elena would meet someone who was a better fit for her than Elijah. They¡¯re basically the same person, and she needs someone who will push her when she needs to be pushed.¡± Her fingers tightened. ¡°Her crush was harmless, okay? Elijah has never looked at her like that.¡±


    His silence was starting to freak her out, but his teeth were clenched too tightly for him to try to say anything.


    He chose a hell of a way to dive into the dating pool, didn¡¯t he? With a woman, who was already too good for him, but now he had toe to terms with the fact that he¡¯d only gotten his shot because she¡¯d been pining for his


    little brother for years. His eyes drifted back to them, a golden couple, with dark hair and big brains and kind hearts.


    ¡°Chandler,¡± Emily snapped. ¡°Look at me.¡±


    He did, and she immediately started shaking her head at what she saw.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t you shut down on her because of this. I will tell her this is my fault, and she will forgive me.¡± Her voice got wobbly. ¡°She¡¯s my twin, and that¡¯s how I knew, because sometimes we know things about each other that we don¡¯t even want to know, but simply because we feel it, okay? But please, please don¡¯t break her heart right now because of whatever weird dynamic you have with Elijah. Please.¡±


    It was the wobble in her voice that had him pausing. My inner skeptic was roaring that Emily did this on purpose, but he didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be able to fake the panic stamped over her face or the emotion in her voice.


    ¡°You have five minutes to tell her before I pull her aside,¡± he told Emily.¡±Because there¡¯s no way I can sit there, staring at them, and pretend I¡¯m okay with what you just told me.¡±


    ¡°What are you two doing back here?¡± Elena asked. She was approaching them with a smile, but he could see the cautious curiosity.


    Emily shared a panicked, begging look with him. ¡°I¡¯m just running my mouth, and Chandler is ¡­¡±


    Elena¡¯s face started falling, and as her  eyes studied him, Chandler saw her shoulders tense up. ¡°Chandler is what?¡±


    ¡°I told her I¡¯d give you five minutes,¡± he said tly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. I can¡¯t go in there right now.¡±


    ¡°Chandler, wait,¡± Elena begged, reaching out to grab his arm. He stopped because yeah, his mind was racing, and there was no way in hell  he could fake anything in front of her, but if he ripped his arm out her grasp right now ¡­ So he paused but closed his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re freaking me out,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Just ¡­ talk to your sister for five minutes, okay?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s eyes popped open at her firm tone. Emily said her sister¡¯s name.


    Elena¡¯s gaze never wavered from his. ¡°I want to talk to you. Emily, can you please give us some privacy?¡±


    ¡°Elena, it¡¯s my fault, I swear,¡± Emily said in a rush. ¡°Please, let me-¡±


    Elena held up her hand. ¡°I never ask you to leave me alone, but Emily, this is a moment when I need you to go away so I can talk to Chandler.¡±


    Emily¡¯s eyes widened, and even Chandler was surprised at Elena¡¯s reaction. But Emily respected her twin, nodding her head slowly.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t do this in here.¡±


    Elena let out a long exhale. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Talk to me.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s chin dropped to his chest. He was going to fuck this up, he could already tell. He wished he¡¯d nevere out of that bathroom. He wished he¡¯d not agreed toe to dinner with her. And  he wished that he knew how to do bullshit like this with a woman who already meant entirely too much to him. So much that the thought of her wanting his brother made him want to pound his stupid face in, right after he wed his heart to try to temper this ¡­ feeling.


    Staring at her, trying to figure out what he wanted to say and how and where, all he could imagine was her in that dress the day they met. She¡¯d just moved to Vacaville, and he was sure that she¡¯d probablye to see Elijah again. Elijah had been with Lexi, so she¡¯d probably settled for him. Which was why as he turned and walked out the door, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure he wanted her to follow him.


    ____________


    The wide expanse of Chandler¡¯s back had never looked ominous to Elena. Strong. Capable. Sexy. But never ominous.


    As she gaped at it, at the sight of him walking away from her, out the door that led to the garage, it was the most terrifying thing she¡¯d ever seen. Mainly because she was so confused, sopletely and utterly lost, she didn¡¯t know what the hell was going on. Noise exploded behind her when he exited the house, and she refused to give Emily and Daniel a backward nce because it wasn¡¯t like she could exin anything. She jogged out of the house and yelled his name when she saw him pace between the parked cars.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± she begged. ¡°You were gone for three minutes, and all of a sudden, you¡¯re walking out on me?¡±


    Chandler stopped pacing, his hands propped on his hips, as he stared up into the cloudless sky. Maybe it was a strange thing to notice, that the canopy above them was clear and bright, but it made her wish they were back at that cabin. There they had nkets of white and clouds and wind to shelter their little space. Suddenly, she wanted that sense of security back.

 61

    ¡°What did Emily say to you?¡± Elena asked quietly. It was taking everything in her not to march up to him and shake the answer out of him.


    ¡°I can see it.¡± Chandler said,


    Elena¡¯s head tilted at his strange answer. She felt like a fish that had been plopped unceremoniously out of its bowl. It was hard to breathe because she had no concept of how to navigate this. ¡°See what?¡±


    He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. ¡°You and Elijah.¡±


    Her stomach was now the thing giving her all the ominous feels because it turned dangerously. What the hell did her sister say to him? ¡°Elijah and I,¡± she repeated quietly. ¡°Chandler¡­ I-¡± Denial trapped in her throat. Nothing else came up. Because she couldn¡¯t lie.


    And he saw that on her face.


    He nodded. ¡°You¡¯d look great together. And it¡¯s probably really fucking stupid on my end that I never even considered that you were into him.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want Elijah,¡± she argued. Carefully, she approached him with her hands held up. Don¡¯t spook him, Elena, because he walked out of that house and had his mind halfway made up already. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Emily said to you, or what she thinks she knows, but if she inferred anything that makes you think I don¡¯t want to be with you, she¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at her.¡±


    Ugh, her skin recoiled at his casual tone. The way he tucked his hands in his pockets as if this was no big deal, just any other conversation they might have had, standing under a cloudless sky. ¡°She¡¯s just speaking the truth.¡±


    ¡°How would I know? You haven¡¯t told me what she said.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he conceded. Chandler braced a shoulder on the side of his car and studied her face. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have shown up at that bar the day we met if you knew he was with Lexi. Because the only reason you did was because you wanted a shot with the Golden Boy.¡±


    Normally, Elena prided herself on being a levelheaded person. Seeing both sides. Understanding differing opinions.


    But now, she saw red. ¡°And you stormed out of the house because I might have made a different decision if I knew he was with someone else, when I¡¯d never even met you before that night?¡± her tone gradually increased in volume, in pitch, in absolute mind-blown anger. ¡°Is this a joke?¡±


    His face slowly hardened into a mask. ¡°I sure as hell don¡¯t think it¡¯s funny.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I, Chandler.¡± She stared him down. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you.¡±


    ¡°No, but you sure as hell knew him.¡± He tipped his head back and let out a dryugh. ¡°Everything you said in the car ¡­ so understanding about my past. You were covering your ass.¡±


    ¡°I was doing no such thing,¡± Elena protested. But hadn¡¯t she been? Just a little. Difort ratcheted her anger up another notch.


    ¡°I have a pretty good bullshit meter, Elena , so be careful.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t protecting myself, Chandler. I was trying to get to know you, talk to you about normal rtionship things. You asked if I¡¯d ever had a serious boyfriend, and I haven¡¯t. Just you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Because the guy you wanted was here for every damn dinner and every asion.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re punishing me because I had a stupid, silly crush on him, one that I managed to ignore for a long time. I cannot change what I felt before I knew you.¡± No surprise, but the mask didn¡¯t move, and not one word came out of the hard line of his mouth. Elena rubbed at her temples. ¡°Chandler,e on, you are smart enough to know that it¡¯s grossly unfair to hold that against me. I didn¡¯t know you.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s jaw clenched, and his brows lowered a fraction. He didn¡¯t want her to be right, but she saw it in his eyes-theplete and utter inability to argue with her.


    ¡°Are you going to just stand there?¡± she snapped.


    That finally cracked the mask. ¡°What the fuck do you want me to say, Elena?¡± He spread his arms out. ¡°That right now, it¡¯s impossible for me to look at you right now, without seeing you with him. That it¡¯s impossible to think about you wanting him-even if it was before me-without wanting to go wreck his pretty-boy face? Would that make you feel better?¡± he yelled.


    Elena swallowed, tucking her arms around her waist. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I have one member of my family who doesn¡¯t treat me like aplete asshole, and that¡¯s him, and now I want to break his fucking nose.¡±


    Her eyes pinched shut.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not fair. But if I walk in there and say to him¡­. do to him what this makes me want to do, I will sever any and all rtionship with my family. Not to mention what your sister¡­ or your family will think of me.¡±


    ¡°Is that a joke?¡± she pointed back at the house. ¡°Have you met Emily? She¡¯d w anyone¡¯s eyes out if she thought they were making a y for me. I¡¯ve seen her cuss out football groupies so badly that my ears almost bled.¡±


    Chandler slicked his tongue over his teeth. ¡°Groupies are not the same as my brother.¡±


    ¡°Your brother was a harmless crush and nothing more,¡± she said fiercely. ¡°He never looked twice at me. And now? I¡¯m d he didn¡¯t. Because I got you.¡±


    He clenched his teeth again, watched her warily as she approached. But his eyes took on a warning glint when she moved to touch him. That was why she stopped. It was like stepping up to a bear about to charge.


    They were standing closely enough that she could¡¯ve lifted one hand and it wouldnd on his chest. She¡¯d be able to know if his heart was pounding and thrashing the way hers was. A thought came into her head quickly, that maybe this was all she and Chandler were destined to be. Something bright and hot and fast. Nothing that could sustain because of the way they started. It was too intense, and they burned out whatever heat had lit between them, simply by the nature of how their rtionship had begun. Locked in a pressure cooker. It was a quick way to get started, but as soon as that lid was opened, everything dissipated into smoke.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never allow yourself to overlook this, will you?¡± she said quietly. As soon as she said it, her anger drained immediately to sadness.

 62

    Chandler dropped his chin and breathed deeply. ¡°Could you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hold your past against you. Because it¡¯s irrational and unfair, and you know it.¡± She said,


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± He lifted his head, held her gaze, and the resolve Elena saw there chilled her to her core. ¡°Could you overlook it if I told you that I showed up that night to take a shot with Emily?¡±


    Words were gone. Her mouth was sand-dry at what that did to her.


    He kept talking, quiet, dangerous words that did horrible things to her heart.


    ¡°If I told you that I thought about being with her, touching her, kissing her, and for even one moment, I was disappointed that I got you instead.¡±


    She sucked in a startled breath.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said slowly, softly. ¡°You couldn¡¯t overlook it either. Because that look in your pretty brown eyes, baby. It feels like I just punched you in the gut, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Her eyes filled with tears, and she hated them. She hated that he was right. And for just a moment, one fleeting, fast one, she hated her sister for whatever she¡¯d said, She hated Elijah for being inside the house, and she hated herself for not saying something when she¡¯d had the chance.


    Because Chandler was right. The thought that he might have had feelings for Emily, oh, it hurt. Even the idea of it made her bones freeze over, crack dangerously when she tried to breathe too deeply, like she might shatter from the inside out.


    Point proven with stunning uracy, Chandler exhaled slowly. ¡°It¡¯s good, though, you know?¡±


    ¡°What is?¡± she whispered. Her throat hurt from holding in tears.


    ¡°That she said something.¡± He looked behind her at the house. ¡°I don¡¯t fit here any more than I fit in my own home. This isn¡¯t my scene, and I don¡¯t know why I thought it would be.¡±


    The pain Elena felt was staggering, and it threatened to buckle her knees, if she¡¯d let it. ¡°Don¡¯t do this,¡± she whispered. ¡°I see exactly what you¡¯re trying to do, and I don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth whether you want to believe it or not.¡± Chandler could hardly look her in the eye now. ¡°We had a great time baby, and it¡¯s probably best that that¡¯s where we leave it.¡±


    Her eyes dried, and her heart curled in on itself while a roaring, angry beast took over her head. ¡°You are the biggest coward I¡¯ve ever met.¡± She blurted out.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Oh, he didn¡¯t like that. But if Chandler got to fling little darts at her, let them find purchase in her skin over and over, but she would not be the only one bleeding by the time they were done with this awful, insane conversation.


    ¡°Feel better calling me names?¡± he asked her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met children with more emotional maturity than you, Chandler Kendrick,¡± she told him.


    He started nodding, pulling his keys out of his front pocket. ¡°Good, get pissed at me, baby. It¡¯ll make it easier for me to leave.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not a baby. I¡¯m not some untouchable, pristine thing, and I will get pissed because I see an intelligent man who means a lot to me throwing away the possibility for something amazing because he¡¯s too chicken shit to work past his problems.¡± She marched the final steps between them and grabbed his face with her hands. His jaw was granite hard beneath her fingers, that was how tightly he was clenching his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make it easy for you to leave, Chandler, because I know that¡¯s not what you really want to do. You felt exactly what I felt. You still do, and you are running scared at the first avable chance.¡±


    His eyes were zeroed in on hers, and for a moment, she thought he¡¯d relent. He curled his hands around her wrists and carefully tugged until she had no choice but to release his face. Her  hands fell when he let go, and quite strangely, she felt nothing the moment they did.


    No anger. No fear. No pain. Inside her was a strange quiet, a sudden stillness that could only be self-protective rity.


    ¡°I was a fool to trust you with any piece of me,¡± she told him. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I?¡±


    He conceded that with a slow nod, and her hand itched to p that cid mask off his face.


    ¡°Elijah is the trustworthy brother. Too bad he¡¯s taken.¡± He smiled, and it looked cruel and cold, and she hated it. ¡°I¡¯m the one youe to for a good time, and I think you got that in spades.¡±


    The ice in her bones hardened to steel, and she lifted her chin as she took a step back from him. ¡°You should be gone by the time I walk inside that house because the second I do, I can¡¯t be held ountable for what happens to you.¡±


    Heughed under his breath, twirling his keys around one finger. ¡°Not a problem, Miss Davis. Your wish is mymand.¡±


    This time, it was her showing him her back, and she hoped to hell that he didn¡¯t see the tear that slid down her face when she did. The m of his car door sounded like a gunshot, and she kept her pace even as she walked into the dark garage. Her heart uncurled painfully as she opened the door, and she found herself wrapped into Emily¡¯s waiting arms.


    She never heard the car leave because she couldn¡¯t hear a thing over the breaking of her heart.


    __________


    ¡°You can¡¯t ignore me forever .¡± Emily¡¯s voice said.


    Elena¡¯s nose stayed glued in her phone. She even refused to look up when Emily opened the door and walked inside her bedroom even though she hadn¡¯t invited her inside.


    Forty-eight hours after they¡¯d driven home from Emily¡¯s house-Elena in stony silence, Emily begging her to talk to her. At this point, Elena felt like she could in fact, ignore her sister forever. She¡¯d never gone this long without a word to Emily.


    But she was pissed. At her. At Chandler. At herself. And unfortunately for Emily, as she refused to leave, she became the most convenient scapegoat for that anger.


    ¡°Elena,e on,¡± she begged. ¡°I don¡¯t know how else to apologize, okay?


    I¡¯m sorry. You know I run my mouth sometimes, and I shouldn¡¯t have said anything to him, but I swear, I thought he knew. I thought ¡­ I thought you knew that I knew.¡±

 63

    Elena froze, and she had to clench her teeth tightly to keep from screaming at her that there was no conceivable way  she could have known that when they¡¯d never freaking talked about it.


    Emily, like a rabid dog, saw the pause in her motion and pounced on it. ¡°I thought you guys talked about it, okay?  And I just ¡­ I was trying to make conversation because seriously, I was trying to be nice to him. I wanted to get closer to him because I thought it¡¯d make you happy, and honestly, I was starting to like him. I just wanted to have a conversation.¡±


    By telling him I had a crush on his brother!  Elena wanted to scream. Her eyes pinched shut. This was killing her.


    Because no matter how pissed she was, she could feel it seeping through her skin, how miserable Emily was.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    She was sad. She was frustrated. She was scared.


    Between the two of them, Elena was always the one who caved first. Who tried to keep the peace. Who let things slide. And she didn¡¯t want to let this slide because she was miserable too.


    She missed Chandler. She wanted to punch him in the balls for acting like he had. Yet she understood. He was a man with zero rtionship experience, and not just that, but he wasn¡¯t raised in a way where he saw a healthy one modeled for him. She and Emily were lucky enough to have parents who cared deeply about each, and they knew how it was supposed to look.


    They were raised in a home where they saw-day in and day out-love and respect,munication, and structure in the way that kids needed it. Their father was the foundation, the strong timbers that kept the house standing in ce. And their mother, she was the walls, the roof, the windows. The thing thatpleted they family and made it safe.


    ¡°I messed up, Elena,¡± Emily whispered.


    Elena had heard her say it a thousand times in thest day. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry. I love you.¡±


    Her nose burned, and her hand started shaking. Elena felt her stand. The stubbornness she was feeling was so deep-rooted, she wasn¡¯t even sure where it came from. To be honest, she wasn¡¯t even entirely sure what she wanted from Emily. For her to rewind time, maybe? From the corner of her eye, she saw Emily pause before she left the room.


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know how important he was to you. It took me by surprise. And,¡± Emily sniffed noisily, ¡°this is killing me, Elena. You can¡¯t shut me outpletely. Yell at me, throw something at me, p me, something! I deserve it.¡±


    All of a sudden, she was on her knees in front of Elena, and she had no choice but to look at her. Her face was wet. So was Elena¡¯s.


    ¡°I know how much this is killing you too,¡± she whispered in a thick voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re my best friend, and I can feel how awful it all is for you, and don¡¯t you think that¡¯s punishment enough for me? I know how much your heart is breaking because I can feel it.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­¡± Elena paused. ¡°I¡¯m still so hurt, Emily. Because it feels like you said something on purpose to mess it up for me.¡±


    Her face copsed. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I know you keep saying that,¡± Elena cried. She shoved her phone aside. ¡°But this is the first time I¡¯ve had something that was just mine, and yes, I should¡¯ve told him, and I would¡¯ve eventually, but it was mine to tell him. Not yours.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± She sniffed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Elena stood from the bed and paced the room. ¡°And it¡¯s embarrassing, okay? I can¡¯t believe you knew I had a crush on Elijah that whole time and you never said anything. Why didn¡¯t you tell me you knew?¡±


    She shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Because ¡­ I don¡¯t know! I know the two of you so well, Elena. You¡¯re ¡­ you¡¯re the same person. I love Elijah, I do, and I love you more than anything in the entire world ¡­¡±


    ¡°But?¡± Elena crossed her arms tightly over her chest and waited her out. She didn¡¯t want to say whatever she¡¯d been about to say.


    Emily shifted from the floor onto the bed. She licked her lips, and Elena noticed for the first time that she had matching dark circles under her eyes. Looked like neither of them had slept the night before.


    ¡°But you would¡¯ve been the most boring couple ever.¡±


    Elena¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°That¡¯s so freaking rude,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°No, I mean ¡­¡± She rubbed her forehead. ¡°Okay, I just mean there wouldn¡¯t have been any spark. No fire. You probably would have been perfectly happy, and sweet and h h h, but Elijah is the boy version of you.¡± Her eyes pleaded with Elena. ¡°Why do you think I get along with him so well? He¡¯s just like you.¡±


    Slowly, Elena sank into the chair in front of her desk and processed what her sister was saying. And Emily wasn¡¯t wrong. Elijah and Elena had so much inmon. It was weird, though, now, to try to think about him in a romantic sense. Not just because he was married now or because of what Emily said, but because of what she¡¯d experienced with Chandler-oh hell, would her heart ever not hurt thinking of his name?-which was in an entirely different universe.


    He was her opposite. Elijah¡¯s opposite too. And as pissed as she still was that he¡¯d stormed out the way he did,  she couldn¡¯t help but look at her sister and try to put herself in Chandler¡¯s shoes. Like he said, the thought of him wanting anything with Emily that night, hoping he might cross some invisible boundary, it hurt. Oh, how it hurt.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have ignored you,¡± Elena whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry too.¡±


    Emily sagged in relief. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay that you were upset. You had every right to be.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I was channeling my inner Emily.¡± Elena smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know where that stubborn streak came from.¡±


    Her sister swiped at her face andughed. ¡°I know, right?¡±


    Elena let out a sigh that came from so far down in her soul that Emilyughed again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m supposed to do with all these,¡± she motioned to her chest, ¡°feelings.¡±

 64

    Emily braced her arms on her thighs and leaned toward her. ¡°Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything. I mean, maybe not like, sex details. But ¡­ what happened while you were gone?¡±


    Then she patted the bed. Elena¡¯s entire being settled back into ce as she and Emily braced their backs against the wall. She curled her hand around hers with their legs stretched out straight onto the bed, and Elena unloaded for the next thirty minutes.


    After a bit, Emily leaned her head on her shoulder, and Elena set her head on hers, and they fell quiet before she got to the scene in the driveway. She didn¡¯t even attempt to wipe the tearsing down her face during that part.


    ¡°I¡¯m so mad at him for leaving,¡± Elena said, voice hoarse from talking. ¡°But I get it. I don¡¯t want to, but I do.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    Elena nudged her. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to vilify him.¡±


    Emilyughed under her breath. After the driveway showdown, dinner was a shitshow. Elena cried in the balcony  while Elijah, Daniel Emily and Lexi yelled over each other about what happened. Emily kept trying to talk to her, and after a while Elijah was strangely quiet. Elena was even too embarrassed to look at Lexi.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to vilify, per se.¡± Emily nudged back. ¡°I mean, sure, it couldn¡¯t be easy to hear that about Elijah, but literally, nothing ever happened between you two. Not even a single loaded nce. I think if he¡¯d given his hothead temper five seconds to calm down, he would¡¯ve thought that through and seen that you were still the badass that rocked his freaking world off its axis up in that cabin, and he¡¯d eventually get over it.¡±


    ¡°Here too,¡± Elena heard herself say.


    ¡°What here too?¡± Emily asked.


    She nced down at her bed with a sheepish grin.


    ¡°Oh my gosh,¡± Emily groaned. ¡°Seriously? Don¡¯t tell me stuff like that. It¡¯s Chandler. I¡¯m stilling around to this whole thing.¡±


    That made her heart do the weird achy thing again. She missed him. It had been days, and she missed him. ¡°Nothing toe around to.¡± She sighed. ¡°He made it clear I wasn¡¯t worth the trouble of dealing with that kind of emotional baggage to him.¡±


    ¡°Elena, be serious, you know that man was crazy about you, right? Like¡­stupid, head over heels in love with you.¡±


    ¡°If he was,¡± Elena said carefully, ¡°he has a strange way of showing it.¡±


    ¡°Chandler has the emotional IQ of a six-year-old, Elena. You know that.¡±


    ¡°No, most six-year-olds couldmunicate better than he did in that driveway. He has the emotional IQ of a stunted twenty-six-year-old who has no freaking clue how to be in a rtionship. Combine that with his stupid face and stupid muscles and stupid money, and that makes him the most dangerous creature alive.¡± She banged her head against the wall. ¡°And stupid me, I thought ¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I thought he¡¯d be willing to figure it out for me. Because of what we had together.¡± Sheughed. ¡°And look where that got me. Brokenhearted, being irrationally stubborn to my twin sister who really didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and missing him like he sawed off a part of my body and took it with him.¡±


    ¡°Graphic but okay, I¡¯m tracking.¡± Emily nced at her. ¡°Why are you being so hard on yourself about this?¡±


    ¡°Cause and effect, I guess. Knowing how childhood trauma can y out into adulthood. It¡¯s like I saw Chandler and every single ¡®I can fix him¡¯ impulse was screaming at me. Except the multiple orgasms just made me dumber.¡±


    ¡°Number one,¡± Emily said. ¡°Stop banging your head against the wall.


    Concussions help no one. And number two, Laura did a number on him. So freaking what? There are people who went through things like this, and you know why they are not emotionally stunted?¡±


    Elena turned her head to look at her sister. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Someone who never gave up on them. A group of someones. Look at us too. We¡¯d probably be that way if we didn¡¯t have mom and dad. We had each other, and we had them.¡± She groaned. ¡°And I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to say this, but Chandler has never had anyone refuse to give up on him.¡±


    A faded picture on a wall of a cabin came into Elena¡¯s head. ¡°He¡¯s had one person. But I get what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    Emily¡¯s fingers tightened around hers. ¡°If this man is as important to you as I think he is, then show him what it feels like. Refuse to give up on him if he feels what I think he does. He never would¡¯ve gotten so upset if you hadn¡¯t dug your cute little ws into his emotionally stunted heart.¡±


    Elena sighed. ¡°So just ¡­ ignore the bullshit he spouted and tell him I¡¯m not going anywhere? That sounds healthy.¡±


    ¡°Noooo way. If he knows what¡¯s good for him, there will be copious groveling. But you don¡¯t have to decide anything right now, okay?¡±


    Curling into her sister, Elena let her hug her. It felt like she could sleep for a week after that one conversation. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°I know what will cheer you up,¡± Emily said.


    ¡°Alcohol and a week at the beach?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Sheughed. ¡°I think you should go somewhere with me next weekend.¡±


    Elena sat up with a sigh. ¡°Where?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Emily was quiet for a second. ¡°Daniel and I are having a small hangout or celebration party next weekend, and I think ¡­ I think you shoulde.¡±


    Elena found herself grimacing. ¡°Something is up,¡± she said ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It is supposed to be a surprise,¡± Emily replied, ¡°But I guess it¡¯s not really a big deal now because Elijah knows already. That big head figured it out all by himself and I couldn¡¯te up with a good lie,¡±


    Elena looked away. ¡°Oh¡­ Elijah.. I¡¯d feel better if I could apologize to him.¡±


    ¡°Not that you really have anything to apologize for,¡± Emily pointed out.


    Unwilling to hash that out, Elena let her think whatever she wanted. ¡°What would I have to wear? Because if it requires a fancy dress, I¡¯m out.¡±


    ¡°Cute casual will be fine. It¡¯s a hang out, we¡¯re not going to a ballroom.¡±


    ¡°Fine. You still haven¡¯t told me what the celebration is about,¡±


    Emily was quiet, and Elena looked at her face.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Nothing. What?¡± she said too quickly.

 65

    ¡°Emily,¡± Elena warned. ¡°You paused. Why did you pause?¡±


    She scrunched up her face. ¡°Did I?¡±


    Elena sat forward. ¡°Oh my gosh, what is it? Are you moving out of town? Are you leaving? Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°Slow your roll, crazy,¡± Emily said on augh. ¡°I¡¯m not sick, good grief.¡±


    Her heart settled back into a normal rhythm. ¡°Well, it¡¯s something.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say anything with all the feelings and everything that¡¯s been going on.¡± Emily gestured to Elena. ¡°But¡­. I¡¯m pregnant,¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Elena shrieked excitedly, and hugged her sister tightly. ¡°Congrattions. You should have told me since,¡±


    ¡°Well, I was going to¡­ But then I screwed up so I had to fix things first,¡±


    Elena beamed at her, ¡°You and Daniel are going to be so happy, and I¡¯m going to be the best Aunt ever,¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯reing right?¡±


    ¡°Do you really have to ask? Of course I aming.¡± She hesitated for a while, then added, ¡°Will Chandler be there?¡± she asked carefully. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯d ¡­ I don¡¯t know, avoid going if he was, but I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the ce I want to see him for the first time.¡±


    Emily gave her a squeeze, and her heart gave a weird hup thinking about Chandler doing the same thing. ¡°I¡¯ll check with Elijah. I¡¯d honestly like him toe. If you don¡¯t mind, but if you do, then I can easily uninvite him,¡±


    Elena shook her head and grabbed her hands. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Emily. It¡¯s your party and you can invite him. Whether he shows up or not shouldn¡¯t be my business.¡±


    Emily wrapped Elena up in a tight hug. ¡°Nothing we need to worry about right now. Let¡¯s get some of that alcohol that will make you feel better, okay?¡±


    _________


    ¡°Well, that was stupid.¡±


    Chandler rolled his eyes at Paul¡¯s tone, wincing as he poured hydrogen peroxide down the road burn on his calf. It hissed and bubbled, and Paul leaned in to look at the damage.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t stupid,¡± he told Paul . ¡°I¡¯ve biked that trail many times.¡±


    Paul¡¯s eyebrows, bushy and out of control, rose incrementally on his forehead. ¡°A few days after a monster snowstorm just melted down, and they¡¯re covered in mud?¡±


    Chandler straightened his leg, satisfied when the muscles stretched without further pain.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky you didn¡¯t break a bone, you moron.¡±


    ¡°Who invited you here again?¡± he muttered.


    Paul walked out of the kitchen, waving his hand at Chandler like he was a lost cause, only stopping when he saw the empty bottle of Jack Daniel¡¯s sitting on the floor next to the trash can. He shook his head but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Which was good, because for six days, he¡¯d been one hair shy of snapping at anyone who came too close. He felt like Agnes.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Thanks for checking on my cat while I was gone,¡± he said as he sank into the leather chair next to the loveseat. He always took Chandler¡¯s chair. He really needed to stop inviting him over.


    ¡°Oh, it was my pleasure.¡± His tone was caustic, and he couldn¡¯t stop it. For six days, long and endless and horrible, he¡¯d done his very best to ignore everything that had preceded it.


    Eventually, he¡¯d be able to get the thought of Elena out of his head. Eventually, he would be able to drink enough that he wouldn¡¯t dream of her. Eventually, he would work himself hard enough that all the blood in his veins would be focused on keeping his heart working instead of screaming at him that he was the biggest fucking idiot in the entire world for how he¡¯d acted.


    But it wasn¡¯t happening yet.


    He¡¯d been in this situation before over her, and although his n to get over her had not worked, this time it had to. It had to because he¡¯d blown it for real this time.


    When he ignored Elijah¡¯s calls all week, he hadn¡¯t felt the slightest shred of guilt.


    When Paul¡¯s went unanswered too, he showed up at his doorstep, and now guilt was all he felt.


    ¡°You¡¯re a peach today,¡± Paul said. From the end table next to him, he picked up a dirty te and grimaced at what was left on the surface. ¡°What happened while I was gone?¡±


    Chandler mmed the kitchen cupboard closed once the peroxide was back on the shelf. ¡°Nope. Not talking about it.¡±


    He hooted. ¡°Oh man, whoever she was, she did a number on you, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    Coming around the corner, he pointed a finger at him. ¡°Look here man, did I just say I didn¡¯t want to talk to you or anyone about it?¡±


    ¡°Tough shit, bro.¡± He held up his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone else lining up to help you with your problems.¡±


    ¡°You sound so much like Elijah, and I don¡¯t have any problems, except that I left half my leg on the road.¡±


    Whistling under his breath, Paul folded his arms and gave him that stare that he hated so much. It was a stare he reserved for moments when he thought Chandler was being unnecessarily stubborn, when he wouldn¡¯t work on a project that he thought he was ready for. When he wouldn¡¯t push himself as hard as he knew he could be pushed. Normally, it took a while, but he¡¯d begrudgingly admit that he was right.


    But this time, Chandler met his stare with his own. He knew this man as well as he knew anyone, and when he saw the disappointment in his eyes, he was the first to look away. The screen on his phone lit up on the coffee table, and Paul leaned forward to squint at the screen.


    ¡°Golden Boy,¡± he read. His eyes lifted to Chandler¡¯s. ¡°Says four missed calls.¡±


    Chandler leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s been a real pain in my ass this week. Not the only one, I might add.¡±


    ¡°Oh geez, people are worried about you. How rough you have it.¡±


    Opening his eyes, he pointed at the phone. ¡°He¡¯s not worried about me. He is trying to cover his ass because if it weren¡¯t for him, I¡¯d actually be ¡­¡±  He stopped himself before he blurted it out. If it weren¡¯t for him, he¡¯d actually be happy right now. He¡¯d be with Elena. He could¡¯ve spent the past six days with Elena, getting to know her, talking to her on the phone, seeing her in his bed.

 66

    Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chandler willed his mind to stop cycling around those thoughts because it didn¡¯t matter. It was like two months of his life, and that was it.


    He¡¯d get over it. He¡¯d get over her.


    His phone lit up again, and he sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what he could possibly want to say to me.¡±


    The recliner squeaked as Paul leaned forward. ¡°I¡¯m curious too. Hello?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he yelled. ¡°Give me that phone.¡±


    When he tried to swipe for it, Paul flipped him off. ¡°Elijah? Yeah, this is Paul. I am with the grumpy asshole.¡±


    Even though his leg screamed in protest, Chandler stood from the couch and towered over Paul, holding out his hand and giving him his most forbidding re.


    Paul ignored him. ¡°Hmm. Sure, yeah. Makes sense.¡± He continued.


    ¡°Give me the phone, Paul.¡±


    ¡°Great idea, Elijah. Yeah. I like it.¡±


    When he handed Chandler the phone, he exhaled heavily. Then he saw the call was already disconnected. Chandler blinked. ¡°He hung up?¡±


    ¡°Guess so.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    His eyebrows lifted slowly. ¡°What did he say?¡±


    Paul leaned back in the recliner and let his hands rest on his stomach. ¡°Gosh, I can hardly remember since I¡¯m such an asshole.¡±


    Muttering curses under his breath, Chandler hobbled back into the kitchen and yanked open the fridge. If he wanted to have a beer with his lunch, even Paul wouldn¡¯t stop him.


    ¡°Tell me about her.¡± Paul said.


    Chandler pinched his eyes shut as the first swallow of beer went down like a brick. The way sheughed slid like fog through his unwilling brain. The way she smiled. How she felt under his hands and lips. What she did to his heart, that horrible waste of an organ that refused to stop thinking about her just yet.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he managed.


    Paul got out of the chair, and he braced himself for the interrogation to continue.


    But it didn¡¯t. He walked past the kitchen to the front door.


    ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Chandler asked.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Shaking his head, Chandler took another swig of beer. ¡°You and that crazy-ass cat deserve each other.¡±


    Paul opened the door, and when Chandler walked out of the kitchen, he almost spit out his beer when Golden Boy walked in.¡±What the hell are you doing here?¡± he roared.


    The two assholes in his apartmentpletely ignored him, shaking hands and introducing themselves like they weren¡¯tpletely intruding on his privacy. Elijah didn¡¯t visit him much. ¡°Nice redecoration,¡± he said, looking around the house.


    Neither of them flinched when Chandler mmed the beer bottle down on the counter. ¡°You need to go.¡±


    ¡°Not until I talk to you.¡± His brother lifted his chin, and Chandler felt a begrudging pang of admiration that he was willing to drive up here and face him. And he hated, hated that he heard Elena¡¯s voice in his head, urging him to give him a chance. Hear what he had to say. Elijah had no choice in who their parents were either. And if he ignored the fact that he still wanted to nt his fist in his face for having years with Elena right in front of him for years, he had to admit that Elijah had never treated him with the reserve that his mother did.


    He spread my arms out. ¡°Then say it. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    Elijah sighed. ¡°Can we sit?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Paul agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s sit.¡±


    ¡°You think you get to be a part of this conversation?¡± Chandler asked him incredulously.


    ¡°Hell yeah, I do.¡± He patted Elijah on the back and led him toward the living room. ¡°You owe me, kid. If it weren¡¯t for Agnes, you never would¡¯ve gotten stuck with her in the first ce.¡±


    The string of expletives that Chandler hurled at him made his boomingughter fill every corner of the room.


    ¡°What¡¯d you do to your leg?¡± Elijah asked when he yanked a stool from the kitchen counter and sat on it.


    ¡°Mountain biking,¡± Chandler told him. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    He exhaled augh. ¡°Geez. You¡¯re in as bad a mood as Elena is this week.¡±


    The sound of her name on his lips lit Chandler¡¯s skin with suppressed rage, feelings that he¡¯d tried to smother all damn week about her. ¡°If you want to escape this impromptu visit without a ck eye, how about you not tell me things like that.¡±


    Elijah cocked his head. ¡°I only know what Emily told me since I and Lexi returned,¡± he exined. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her.¡±


    His shoulders rxed, and he red at Paul when he badly smothered a pleased smile at his reaction.


    Knowing his brother hadn¡¯t seen her soothed that immediate caveman reaction that he¡¯d never experienced before her. And wasn¡¯t that insane? He was the one who walked away from her. He was the one who said things that he still hadn¡¯t forgiven himself for. And one single mention of how she was doing had every proprietary instinct roaring to life inside him. They were both eyeing him.


    ¡°I just want her out of my head, okay?¡±


    Elijah raised an eyebrow. Paul covered his mouth with his hand.


    ¡°What? I do. If dicks like you would stop constantly reminding me about ¡­


    Elena,¡± his voice stumbled over her name, ¡°then I¡¯d be able to forget her.¡±


    So why did his whole body seize up with panic at the very idea of that?


    Elijah took a deep breath. ¡°Chandler, I¡¯ve been a crappy brother in a lot of ways, okay? And you haven¡¯t been much better,¡± he pointed out carefully. ¡°But I wanted you to hear from me, that even if Elena had some ¡­ crush on me for a while, I didn¡¯t notice and I¡¯ve never, ever looked at her that way.¡±


    Breath was sawing violently in and out of Chandler¡¯s chest, but he kept all his boiling thoughts inside. Apparently, he deemed it safe to keep talking because he nodded slowly.


    ¡°She¡¯s Emily¡¯s twin. And Emily is ¡­ my best friend. It¡¯s like, trying to imagine me and Emily together and it just ¡­¡± His voice trailed off. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense in my head.¡±


    ¡°You get why it makes me crazy, though, right?¡± Chandler asked.


    ¡°For about a day, sure.¡± He shrugged. ¡°But I think what you¡¯re doing now?


    This has nothing to do with me, or whatever she felt before she met you.¡±

 67

    Chandler hooted withughter. ¡°Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you¡¯d have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It¡¯s scary, and you¡¯ve never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you¡¯ll hold on to it like it¡¯s a life raft.¡±


    Chandler red mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a re too.


    Elijah leaned forward. ¡°What if she had been the one to show at your door?¡±


    The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.


    Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.


    Wanted her.


    ¡°What if you had the chance, right now, to redo that day?¡± Elijah continued.


    ¡°You can¡¯t erase the past,¡± Chandler interrupted. He stood from the stool and paced the room. ¡°No matter how I¡¯d feel if she showed up, or if I could back up time, I can¡¯t take back what happened. What she said. What I said. It¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t have to be over,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re such a stubborn jackass, Chandler. She¡¯s crazy about you, and look at you! You¡¯re a mess because you reacted badly and had a shitty argument. So what? People argue, and they say stupid things, and sometimes we have to be able to forgive them for those things because we know it¡¯s more important to move forward.¡±


    Chandler¡¯s hands speared helplessly into his hair, and he shook his head. The feelings taking over his body were almost more than he could handle because they were loud and overwhelming and terrifying. Not once had he felt like this. Nothing had evere close to what he felt like was at stake when he thought about the possibility of fixing things with Elena.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know ¡­ I don¡¯t know how to make this better,¡± he admitted quietly.


    Finally, he looked his brother full in the face. ¡°What I said to her-¡±


    ¡°Oh, I heard, trust me,¡± he answered with a wry smile.


    ¡°You heard?¡±


    He held up his hands. ¡°I was not the one to crack the window, but yes, I heard.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Chandler groaned. Just what he wanted to hear.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have work to do.¡±


    ¡°Her and her sister will toss me out on my ass with two broken legs if I tried to show up again.¡±


    ¡°No, they wouldn¡¯t.¡± He sounded so sure.


    With a lift of his eyebrow, he tried to wait the truth out of him.


    Elijah held up his hands. ¡°They won¡¯t. Because if you mean to Elena what I think you do, they¡¯ll get over it. It won¡¯t take them long, and all you have to do is just ¡­ prove that you mean what you say.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± he asked dryly.


    ¡°Yeah. Once you do that, they¡¯ll be in your corner as much as they¡¯re in hers.¡±


    It was almost too much to bear, the kindling of hope that sprang up. He wanted to squash it with two hands and grind it out with his boot because he¡¯d tried so hard to ignore how horrible he¡¯d felt all week, how much he missed her, and the sad truth that he was so rtionship-slow at his age that he had screwed up his first real shot at happiness. The kind of happiness that made him think about forever. But maybe, just maybe, he hadn¡¯t screwed it up beyond repair.


    Elijah watched him carefully, as did Paul.


    Chandler shrugged. ¡°So I, what? Show up and apologize and hope she doesn¡¯t m the door in my face?¡±


    Elijah exhaled slowly. ¡°I have a better idea, if you¡¯re willing toe somewhere with me next weekend.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±.


    ¡°You won¡¯t want to go at first.¡±


    Chandler eyed him because he could only think of a few ces he¡¯d refuse to go with his little brother who was weirdly, inexplicably, trying to help him with this. ¡°But she¡¯ll be there?¡± he asked.


    Elijah nodded. ¡°She will.¡±


    He held Elijah¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯ve got yourself a deal.¡±


    ____________


    Emily and Daniel were happy. Elena could see it on their faces as everyone congratted them. They clearly couldn¡¯t wait to tell the world their good news and Elena couldn¡¯t me them. Emily and Daniel had been trying for a baby for a while now, and they had every reason to celebrate.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Elena was happy for her sister too, and she was trying to get her life together again. It seemed liketely all she was trying to do was start over, but somehow she kept failing. The week got better when she started speaking to Emily again, but there was no lying to her heart that things were fixed. All week, she¡¯d turned her head around and around and around what to do about Chandler.


    Chandler, who was haunting her dreams now. Who hadn¡¯t texted or called. And who was still the first person she thought about when she woke up. Thest person she thought about before she went to sleep. She wanted to stop thinking about him so badly but she couldn¡¯t help herself. Even now, at the party with her loved ones, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him even though he wasn¡¯t there. Emily said she¡¯d told Elijah to invite him, but he was absent so she guessed he probably didn¡¯t show up because he didn¡¯t want to see her.


    Beth came to stand beside her, drink in hand, ¡°Penny for your thoughts,¡± she said,


    Elena managed a smile, but Beth could see through her. Was she that obvious? Guess so.


    ¡°Stop looking so downcast,¡± Beth said, ¡°You¡¯re at a party for God¡¯s sake,¡±


    Elena shrugged, ¡°I know¡­ And I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t stop thinking about Chandler. I feel like I¡¯m going to cry,¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± Beth said, ¡°Especially since¡­..¡± her voice trailed off.


    Elena followed her gaze and turned. Chandler stood at the door, looking around like he was searching for something. He hadn¡¯t seen her yet, and her heart clenched painfully when she saw him reach up and tug nervously on the tie he was wearing. He was clearlying from the office¡­ That exined histe arrival. Her heart soared even further to a ce she wasn¡¯t even sure had a name. That was how far it was beyond any definition she could think of.

 68

    The only thing that could¡¯ve tugged Elena¡¯s attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. ¡°I know you might not want to, but talk to him,¡± Emily told her.


    Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she¡¯d gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was¡­ Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a rtionship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they¡¯d only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their rtionship was meant to be a short one.


    Chandler¡¯s gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he¡¯d shaved. The white shirt covering his chest was starched and neat, the tie a color of blue that matched his outfit perfectly.


    Oh¡­. How she loved him, Elena thought.


    Chandler strode into the room and Elena noticed that clutched in his other hand was a basket with a long handle. He headed straight for her and his eyes never left hers. When he got to her, he handed the basket to Emily, ¡°Congrattions¡± he said in that voice that Elena had been dying to hear for weeks, ¡°This is for you¡­ And thank you for the invite¡­. Hello, Beth,¡± he greeted.


    Emily and Beth smiled at him, ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± said Emily, epting his gift, ¡°As for the invite, Elijah had a lot to do with it too,¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Chandler nodded with a smile of his own, ¡°I see¡­. I guess I¡¯ll thank him too as soon as I get the chance,¡±


    Beth giggled as Emily grabbed her arm and pulled her away, ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.


    Left alone with Chandler, Elena dragged her eyes away. He looked good¡­ Too good and Elena was sure she didn¡¯t really look her best at the moment,¡±


    ¡°Hi¡­. Elena,¡± he said softly, dragging her name as if savoring it.


    ¡°Hello Chandler,¡± she greeted back.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡±


    Was he seriously asking her that? What the hell did he think? But instead of saying that, she said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. How are you doing?¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond for a while, ¡°Horrible,¡± he said finally, ¡°Can we¡­. Can we please talk?¡±


    Elena stared at him. She knew what he wanted to talk about, but as much as she¡¯d missed him, she was also scared of what she felt. Scared and confused.


    ¡°I¡­. I¡­¡± she stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Chandler,¡±


    He reached for her hand, but she moved it out of his reach. His hand dropped to his side. In his eyes, she could see hurt and pain¡­ And she recognized it because that was the way she felt too,¡±


    ¡°Elena¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you, Chandler,¡± she told him, ¡°But I¡­ I think that maybe¡­Maybe we should leave things as it is,¡±


    He looked like he¡¯d seen an alien, ¡°I can¡¯t do that Elena,¡± he said with passion, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to live without you¡­. I love you¡­¡±


    Those three words were almost her undoing and Elena shut her eyes to stop the tears from falling. ¡°I can¡¯t do this¡­ Not right now¡­. Please Chandler¡­ This is Emily¡¯s party and it should be about her¡­. Not us,¡±


    He nodded, but he said nothing¡­ Just stared and watched her walk away from him.


    _________


    Elena left the party after saying goodbye to everyone. It had been lovely to spend the evening with her loved ones and she¡¯d enjoyed the party even if Chandler¡¯s presence distracted the shit out of her.


    She almost wept when she got back home. Her house suddenly didn¡¯t feel like home anymore. It felt empty and her heart was heavy. Seeing Chandler again had opened up wounds she thought was beginning to heal and all she wanted at the moment was to be in his arms. To have him kiss her forehead and tell her that everything was going to be fine.


    She had just taken off her shoes and was heading into the bathroom for a face wash when someone knocked at her front door. Elena froze. She had no idea who it was, but something about it kept her feet rooted to the floor. The person knocked again, and Elena slowly made her way to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it and her breath caught in her throat.


    There stood the person who had upied her thoughts for weeks. Chandler Kendrick, still dressed as he was from the party, apparently he¡¯d driven straight to her ce instead of his home, and Elena noticed that he held another basket. Kinda like the one he¡¯d given to Emily at her party.


    It was like a dreame true. Like she¡¯d made him appear just by thinking about him and boy, was she d that he¡¯d showed up despite what she had said at Emily¡¯s party. She was so happy that she had to fight the urge to wrap her arms around him, but she held back. First they needed to talk, and Elena opened her mouth, but no words came out. They stood for seconds, just staring at each other, before she finally spoke.


    ¡°Hi,¡± she said quietly, but for a moment,  Chandler remained quiet, just drinking her in. His hand came up slowly, and he slid his thumb along her cheekbone.


    ¡°I¡¯m the biggest idiot in the entire world.¡± He said.


    That wasn¡¯t what she expected him to say at all, and sheughed, unable to stop herself. Chandler smiled as she nuzzled her face into his palm.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she argued.


    ¡°Can I pleasee in?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± she replied and stepped out of the way so he coulde in and shut the door behind him.


    There was a pause, and then he spoke, ¡°I screwed everything up,¡± he began, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said the things that I said and I shouldn¡¯t have walked away from you¡­ From us,¡±

 69

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me.¡± Elena told him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me off the hook, love.¡± He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for what I said to you, and I n on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He smiled. ¡°Just okay?¡±


    Elena¡¯s hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skining through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ¡­ I just need you to know that I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I¡¯m in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we¡¯ll always find our way back to each other. That¡¯s all I want.¡±


    Chandler plucked her hand off his chest and pressed a fervent kiss into her palm. She wrapped her other arm around his waist, he slid his arm around her back and tugged her into his waiting embrace. Everything settled into ce, blissful warmth filling all those cold ces that she¡¯d not known existed until him. Whatever happened to bring this, him, into her life, she was so thankful, she could hardly think of a way to process it.


    ¡°I¡¯m so in love with you, Elena,¡± he whispered into her ear.


    Elena squeezed him even more tightly, her forehead resting against the side of his neck as she breathed him in. ¡°I love you too.¡±


    Chandler pulled back, his face split in a massive smile. ¡°You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. Do you really think we can do this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see who could stop us.¡±


    His chest rumbled with pleasedughter, and he lowered his head and brushed his mouth once, twice over hers. The sound he emitted-from those two small kisses- gave her goosebumps. It was a hum of contentment, a growl of satisfaction, and she wanted to record it so that she could listen to it on a loop for the rest of her life.


    Exerting pressure on the back of his head, she deepened the kiss, letting her tongue brush against his just once. She sighed into his mouth happily, which made him smile into the kiss.


    ¡°Do you want to get outta here?¡± she murmured against his lips. ¡°Go out?¡±


    Chandler pulled back and shook his head. ¡°Wow. Look at you, ready to run off into the sunset with me. I¡¯m a lucky man.¡±


    ¡°Not run off,¡± she exined with a smile, ¡°maybe just ¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ Go out¡­ Somewhere¡­ Have some fun,¡±


    Chandler smiled. ¡°Before you open your present?¡±


    In his free hand, he was still clutching the small basket. She smiled. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The reason I waste to Emily¡¯s party,¡± he told me. ¡°I thought it would be easier to find.¡±


    Brow furrowed, Elena released his waist to take the basket. It was small, with a small eye hook keeping the lid closed. Something moved inside, and she gave him a quick look. He was grinning widely. That was when she heard the teeniest, tiniest meow she¡¯d ever heard in her life.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± she breathed.


    She couldn¡¯t open the basket fast enough. In her haste to get thetch undone, she almost dropped it. He took pity on her with augh and braced the bottom with one hand. Carefully, Elena lifted the lid, and the small patchwork face that popped out had her gasping in delight. It had bright green eyes and brown ears, long white whiskers, and orange patches on its face. The kitten mewed pitifully as she lifted it out of the basket and cradled it to her chest. ¡°Oh, my goodness,¡± she whispered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the most beautiful baby I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°You once said you wanted one that looked just like Agnes and you and Agnes got along really well,¡± Chandler said. He smoothed a big hand over the top of its head. ¡°But I had to make sure this one didn¡¯t hate me first.¡±


    ¡°You got me a kitten,¡± Elena said.


    He shrugged, looking shy for the first time since he set eyes on her . ¡°I¡¯d give you anything you want, baby. Anything to make you smile like you are right now.¡±


    The cat pushed his head against her chin, and sheughed, so full of love, it didn¡¯t even seem fair.


    ¡°Just you,¡± she told him. ¡°That¡¯s all I need,¡±


    ¡°So, I can keep the cat with me then?¡±


    She kissed its little head. ¡°No.¡±


    Heughed loudly. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have to name her.¡±


    ¡°Ahh ¡­¡± Elena nced down at the little green-eyed face and grinned. ¡°A girl, are you?¡±


    Chandler scratched under her chin, and she meowed again.


    ¡°Belle,¡± she said.


    His answering smile was massive. ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± Belle licked her chin with her sandpaper tongue, and sheughed.


    ¡°My number one favorite Disney princess.¡± His eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°Why do you think I started calling you that?¡±


    She smiled and he took her mouth in a slow sweet kiss. When they pulled back, she felt so happy she thought she¡¯d burst into tears. ¡°You are an amazing man, Chandler Kendrick,¡± she said. ¡°And I love you,¡±


    His cheeks were endearingly pink from her praise. ¡°But it¡¯s still not the best part.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more?¡±


    He shook his head, eyes tracing every feature on my face. ¡°There¡¯s you.


    That¡¯ll always be the best part of me and my day.¡±


    ¡°Total boyfriend material,¡± Elena whispered through her face-splitting grin.  They kissed again, and when they finally had Belle settled and headed out of the house together,  she grabbed his hand, curled her fingers through his, and squeezed.


    ______


    THE END


    ______


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!