"Don't Call Me Sir"

floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden patch

She glanced down to see Daniel sleeping soundly, his breathing deep and stead

e him. The memories of last night still swirled in he

longer confined to the boundaries of "my bro

ad changed

oom, she stood in front of the mirror

since she had looked a

he whispered, eyes locking

s still

niel were becoming

showed that night-she knew she could

she desired, or s

ed to herself. "It

she knew it was

e laced with unexpected gentleness

t me to come find

t want you

aniel's

t are you

his eyes-but there was something else t

adn't intended to come, but in t

nted to talk,"

me

m. His gaze was gentle, but his presenc

alking over and sittin

think we ne

hair, hands folded, his

out

ed. "Yes.

ak, just wait

nship as... anything else," she said, the words coming slowly. "But after last night, I

d went blank. She wasn't even sure what she was trying

ps together before sp

ed. But I've always been ve

most afraid to hear the answer. "

ant

avering, firm, and

art skipp

brother's frien

complicated this is. But facts are fac

omething deep and s

s... it's no longer something

audible, almost like she was searching for reassuran

or a moment be

I just want you to know the truth.

otions swirling into som

new that her heart-no matter how har

omewhere i

Daniel's office, her th

over in her mind. She had no answ

reets, her phone suddenl

it's

end was calm, laced wit

g me?" she ask

said. "I wanted to give you space

e dinner with

tly. "You don't wa

. "You know I'm here-not to force you into any

was a

spered, "Oka

be wai

into a nearby café and ordered a

't just about her

About everything she bel

l, the harder it b

Daniel's

t, Daniel was in the kitchen, his

understated-but there was something abou

d, glancing at her, a flick

dinner," she smiled f

d. Sure you're

he said, shak

id with a small smile

atching him move a

g indescribable st

motions-confusion, desire, fear-and she

of food fille

around the kitchen. The heaviness in her chest seemed to eas

?" she asked, trying to ease

o crazy, takeout is a lifesaver. But once in a while, yo

he raised an eyebrow, a slig

and looked at her. Hi

ou're more

ed into the softest part of her hea

her head, f

y, and the conflict inside

d surprising

gerous" topics, instead talking abou

ey seemed like o

l took the initi

ouch, but her hea

it beside her, he was close-so close that she

s low and calm, "can

no

u afrai

ifting her ey

ual aloofness was gone-replaced by

d before sha

you. I'm afraid...

rt laugh, bar

Carter. We're al

t skippe

e asked, almost not

" His voice sharpened slightly. "I'm not the t

r said anythi

He cut her off. "But after last night, I re

embled, unsure

ruth-her feelings for him had already taken r

if this can work,

If you're

out and gentl

een more sure

es, and something inside her tremble

the doorb

both

p and walked o

as the last person

her-Etha

air

swept between his sister and Daniel, his expression

ed, trying to find the

. He stepped in front of her,

re. Temporarily.

s clenched a

he's my sis

well

t his sta

tly why I won't

Ethan's voice dropped dangerously

harp. "Touch her like some drunk sleaze

arely restrained a

workaholic, a walking iceberg, and half the time

ok her head-but

irl anymore," she s

is serious

hat followed

their breathing

nned, as if str

e, he finally for

u know what

er lips togeth

m s

his eyes, exh

he turned, his voice

r, I swear I wo

slowly, his ga

't hur

, a strange sense of re

on, there was no turning

kered on one by one, glowing lik

t real acknowledgment-through confrontation, thr

t, she knew-this was