| Shelby had to be creative to elude Brian in the days following the carnival. Her voice mail was full of messages from him and she almost ran into him a couple of times at the foundation offices. Luckily she was able to slip out a back stairwell or hide in an empty office. He was persistent; she had to give him that much. Their escapade in the lake had made it around the office and she had suffered innumerable jokes and questions about where he took her that night. Elise, along with everyone else, thought it was funny and was as eager to find out too, but she noticed how Shelby would stiffen at the innuendoes. Something had happened between them, something serious, and as much as she tried Shelby kept silent. Whatever had transpired between them, Shelby was not willing to talk about it. Elise wasn�t stupid. Brian liked Shelby it was obvious. The man burned the phone lines daily, hoping for a crumb. She just couldn�t figure out why Shelby was avoiding him. Only time would tell. The cat and mouse game was getting old and Brian was getting tired of the constant rejections. He pulled into the garage and was determined that today he would talk to her. AJ had no luck getting her home number or her address. So it was up to him and by God he was going to get her to listen to what he had to say. Brian realized he was wrong to take her back to his place on Saturday. He took advantage of the situation and acted so out of character. He got on the elevator and punched the third floor. He didn�t consider her a one-night stand and yet that�s the way it looked. Not that he didn�t want to make love to her again, but the next time it would be a mutual expression not just raw need to release tension. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened he couldn�t believe his good fortune. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shelby let out a sigh. It had been a full day. It was nearly four and there had been no sign of Brian all day. She hoped he had finally given up. As she waited at the bank of elevators she read over her notes again and looked up as the bell sounded for the elevator. She would have an hour to rework her ideas for the holiday campaign before calling it a day. She walked to the end car and waited for the doors to open. When she looked up her mouth dropped and instinctively she turned to retreat as quickly as possible. Brian reacted immediately and holding one hand on the doors he took hold of her arm not giving her a chance to escape. �No you don�t,� he said as he drew her into the car and pressed the button to close the door. �Now you can give me your undivided attention.� Shelby squirmed trying to get out of his grasp but Brian was relentless and held on. �Stop it, Shelby. I need to talk to you and you are going to listen to me.� �Look you don�t owe me anything. We�re adults and there is no need for explanations for Saturday night.� She twisted out of his hold and backed into the corner of the car. They started to ascend and Brian hit the stop button and the car jolted. �What are you doing?� �You are not getting away this time. And we�ll stay here as long as necessary until you listen to what I have to say.� Brian stood in front of the door. �I don�t expect an apology. I didn�t stop you, so just forget it.� She refused to look him in the eyes as she contemplated how she could get to the panel and restart the car and get out of there. �No you didn�t, but I feel I owe you an explanation.� He took a couple of steps in her direction and Shelby stiffened at his approach. He noticed how her arms were folded across her chest and her back straightened. He stopped in front of her. �What happened Saturday, well it�I shouldn�t have�� he stammered, as the words wouldn�t come out and Brian found himself looking like a blithering fool. He loved her, so just tell her the truth. But the look on Shelby�s face kept him from saying what was in his heart. A wall had gone up and she showed no emotion. �I�m not a child Brian. I was fully aware of what happened Saturday,� Shelby moved along the back of the car trying to get to the door. �Oh? What happened Shelby?� He was curious to hear what her take was on what had transpired between them. �We just got caught up in all the emotions and we slept together.� She shrugged her shoulders and hit the button for the third floor. The elevator started to move again and they were both jolted as the car began to ascend again. �It was one night, that�s all.� �That�s all?� Shelby kept her eyes ahead and Brian noticed how her body was still very rigid. �It was more than that and you know it,� he demanded and he turned her around and looked her in the eyes. �Shelby I talked with AJ. He told me everything.� Her face fell and as soon as the door open she hurriedly walked out and down the corridor. �Brian, just the person I need to see.� Ron said as he and couple of other members of the foundation stopped Brian from pursuing Shelby. He watched as she headed down the hall to her office. �Ron, good to see you.� Brian tried to look open for discussion but his heart and mind were with the woman who had fled the elevator seconds before. �Look, I would love to chat with you, but now is not a good time. Let me call you later.� Brian shook hands with Ron and entered the foundation offices. �Elise?� Brian asked as he continued down the hall. �She said something about calling it a day.� When he got to Shelby�s office it was empty. He came back to the front desk. �She�s gone.� �Back staircase.� She nodded her head towards the end of the hall. Shelby had a head start and he had no address. �Okay Elise, I need your help now. What�s her address?� The girl fiddled with papers on her desk trying not to look at him. �Elise,� he took hold of her arm, �please.� This was none of her business, but damn how could she say no to him. He looked so desperate. And, my God, what was wrong with Shelby? Elise wrote the address down and handed him the slip of paper. She would suffer Shelby�s wrath, but it would be worth it. Brian took it and kissed Elise on the cheek. She sank down in the chair and just stared at him. �Thank you.� She nodded and watched as he raced out the door. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Brian hadn�t been prepared for AJ�s revelation. It came as an earth-shattering blow leaving him speechless. All this time they had both been harboring feelings for each other. Yet her coolness had been mistaken for disinterest and he meanwhile had taken up with Laurie to try and forget. Neither one of them doing a very good job. All this went through Brian�s head as he raced down the stairs and got in his car. He sped from the parking garage, tires screeching as he emerged into the street and into a torrential thunderstorm. He wound his way through the city slowly as the rain hindered him from moving too fast and as he turned onto the boulevard he glanced at the address again. It wasn�t possible? He turned into the entrance of the complex and let out a laugh. There ahead was Shelby, veering to the right of the fork in the road. They were living in the same community. It had to be a sign. She pulled up in front of her building and Brian parked right next to her. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed across the sky. Brian sat and waited for Shelby to make her move. The rain came down in sheets. Shelby gathered up her briefcase and weighed her options. Should she sit it out or make run for it? The thunder and lightning continued to roll and flash and then when it looked like there might be a lull, she dashed quickly to the stairs. Brian followed her and reached her as she began to climb the stairs. They were both soaked to the skin. Shelby�s blouse clung to her outlining the soft contours of her body and she jumped as she felt a hand grab hold of her arm. She turned to see Brian, water dripping off his face. In that moment Shelby wanted to throw caution to the wind and let her body and mind be taken over by feelings so long repressed. Brian slowly moved up the steps and came and stood next to her. Shelby�s heart began to pound, instinct saying she should get away but she was riveted to the step. The rain continued and the thunder rolled and then Brian�s lips rested on hers lightly. They were wet and cool and Shelby felt her insides begin to crumble and her legs grow weak. Brian took hold of her. �I love you Shelby.� His words were barely audible above the noise of the storm and she shook her head no and broke free. She headed towards her door and Brian followed her. �Shelby,� she ignored him but Brian jammed his hand on the door preventing her from closing it. �No, Brian, no!� She backed away as he closed her apartment door behind him. �Yes, Shelby. I love you. I have for a long time.� She shook her head and could feel tears begin to well. �You can�t run from this,� he took her in his arms. Shelby pushed back against him. �I saw the look on your face just now,� he brushed her cheek. �I felt your lips yield to mine,� his fingers tangled in her hair, �and your body responded in perfect rhythm to mine the other night.� Shelby felt his breath on her neck as his mouth sucked gently at the base of her throat. �You can�t deny your feelings Shelby. Just like I can�t.� he looked into her eyes, tears ready to spill down her cheeks. His lips found hers, a soft moan catching in the back of her throat. He pushed further sucking on her bottom lip and then raising the stakes even more as his warm tongue sought out every corner of her mouth, tasting and demanding. Shelby clutched his damp shirt as he swept her up and passion took over tossing aside all the sanity that had held her bound. He had unlocked her, letting her pour forth. His hands and mouth made love to her as they discarded her blouse and his shirt. And as quickly as the passion flared, it cooled and Shelby stepped back. Her chest heaving as her breath trembled from her body. �Brian, wait,� she panted as they stood inches apart, desire still running through her. |