| Jackie�s visit that night only caused Shelby more heartache. She found herself walking daily. The exercise and fresh air seemed to keep her head clear, but upon returning home all her insecurities would surface again. And then one morning she woke without her usual headache and somehow the heaviness in her chest was gone as well. She felt refreshed not only in body but in spirit too. She had vowed to get her life back and stop all this worry, but each day she had managed to find another reason why she and Brian shouldn�t be together. However this morning, something was different. The rain from the night before had left the air cool for the first time in days and even though it was late August, there was almost a hint of autumn in the air. Shelby took her coffee out onto the deck and her mind wandered to an apartment across the woods. At that precise moment Brian lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. He didn�t know how much more he could take. He hadn�t seen Shelby in nearly two weeks or spoken with her in half that long. He was trying to be understanding and give Shelby the time she needed to work through her reluctance, but enough was enough. Not one to exhibit force, he was seriously thinking of just barging over to her place and demanding that she see reason. But what would that prove? It probably would only make matters worse and the last thing Brian wanted was to distance her even further. He rolled out of bed and headed for the shower. Well maybe he would just call her today. He had to do something. Just waiting was killing him. Shelby showered and dressed for work. She would call him. Maybe they could meet for lunch and then� And then what? Just casually mention over chicken salad that you love him and you are willing to give it a go? It wasn�t very romantic. Well they could go to dinner? Was it too short of notice? Would he be willing and available? All the way to the office the questions abound, but once she reached the foundation, she had little time to think about anything as she bounced from meeting to meeting with barely time for her to eat a quick sandwich at lunch as she met with Ron. Brian tried her apartment but only got the machine. He hung up. Then he called again leaving a short message that they had to talk. His day was quite full but he managed to call her office only to have Elise tell him that she was pretty much unavailable all day. She happily took his message and later on he even left one on her voice mail but as the afternoon came to a close he never heard from her. He had dinner with his parents that night, even though he would have preferred to be alone. Jackie watched him as he tried to hide his feelings, but she knew that the separation was taking its toll on him and something would have to happen soon. He stayed long enough to be polite and once home checked his machine only to find nothing there. With a sigh he went back to his bedroom and flopped on the bed convinced that he just might have to let go of his feelings for Shelby. It was beginning to look like she was a dream that would never become a reality. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The storm began to ease up even though the lightning still flashed across the sky and thunder rolled loudly. The lights flickered again as Brian watched the rain dance on the pavement. The weather had been severe all week as the days topped out in the mid 90�s causing the heat to spur the storms rolling across the plains. He turned back to the television and taking the remote turned it off. He couldn�t concentrate and had spent the last hour surfing from one channel to another. He was restless. The TV held no interest but he wasn�t tired either. He turned off the lights in the front of the house and went up to his bedroom. He better get used to this because this was his life now. He laughed as he removed his shirt and shoes. He remembered reading how he had been referred to as �the rev� and �church boy� and that was when he was actually dating. If they could only see me now he thought. What would they call him now? All those years he had never given any serious thought to all the women in his life and then Shelby came along and all the others paled in comparison. And that whole fiasco with Laurie was just a smoke screen. What a fool he had been. Even now, being alone was better than being with Laurie. But was it? He had to let it go. He had tried but it just wasn�t meant to be. The thunder rolled in the distance as the sky continued to light up. It wasn�t Brian�s nature to just give up and as he prepared for bed a tiny voice in the back of his head kept prodding him. He tried to ignore it but somehow it got louder and louder. Go to her. Tell her again how you feel. Don�t let this chance slip by. Tell her. Tell her! He looked in the mirror and shook his head. But the voice just kept on. He slammed his hand against the wall and yelled out loud. He grabbed his shirt and shoes and headed down the stairs. The rain started up again and Brian muttered under his breath as he opened the door. Shelby stood on the steps shivering her clothes drenched. She was about to knock on the door when it flew open. �Shelby?� Brian gasped at the sight her standing on his front steps. Shelby�s shoulders were shaking and they just stood there staring at each other until Brian grabbed her and pulled her into the house. She was soaked to the skin and her whole body was trembling. She looked so vulnerable and she tried to speak but her teeth were chattering so much that the words couldn�t come out. Brian took the throw off the sofa and wrapped it around her. Her hair was matted against her face and he brushed it back. Tears fell on her cheeks as Shelby tried again to speak. �Bri�Bri�� She looked up and at that moment Brian didn�t want any words, all he wanted was her. He leaned down and touched her lips with his. He expected some resistance but as her body yielded to his and her mouth opened Brian pulled her closer and savored her soft body against his. When he broke the kiss her eyes were still closed. As she slowly opened them he smiled softly. �I love you,� Shelby said. �I�ve been a fool.� Brian put his fingers to her lips. �No. We both were. We let our pride and personal feelings and insecurities prevent us from saying what we truly felt. It�s all in the past, every bit of it. What matters is now.� She lowered her eyes and nodded. He lifted her chin. �You are all I want Shelby, now and forever.� This time his lips seared hers as he picked her up and carried her upstairs. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It was hours later. They lay secure in each other�s arms. Shelby leaned up and kissed Brian�s jaw. He shifted slightly and she could feel his desire for her. She smiled. He couldn�t possibly, not after� She felt her body flush and she moved closer to him. Brian looked down and grinned. �What are you doing woman?� Shelby let out a giggle as Brian pushed her onto her back and covered her body with his. �Pinch me,� she said as he looked into her eyes. �What?� �You heard me, pinch me.� She took one of his hands and placed it on her arm. Brian complied and squeezed her soft flesh between his fingers and she let out a yelp. �I�m sorry Shel, but you said to�� �I know.� She smiled at him and leaned up and kissed him. He had this confused look on his face. �Just making sure I�m really here with you.� Her hand caressed his cheek. �I love you Brian.� �Do you know how many times you have said that since I opened the door and found you standing on my front step?� �I don�t know, but I have a lot of catching up to do.� �Catching up?� She nodded. �Well I guess I do too then.� His mouth took hers and Shelby moaned. The End. |