Enchanter by Kristy Centeno Page B

see his bedroom? I must truly be
losing my marbles.
    A knock on the front door startled me enough to make me jump
slightly. That has to be the pizza guy!
    “Leah? Can you get that?” Brandon’s voice sounded from what
I assumed was his bedroom.
    “Yeah,” I shouted as I rummaged through my purse, looking
for my wallet. As soon as I located it, I hurried to the door and opened it. A
delivery boy was standing with a pizza box in one hand and a Coke in another.
    “Large pepperoni and two-liter?”
    “Yep.” I took the food from his hands, set it on the end
table next to the couch, and turned to hand him the full amount, plus a five
dollar tip for making it in less than twenty minutes.
    “Thanks,” he said before walking away.
    I shut the door, locked it, and hurried back to the coffee
table just as Brandon emerged from the bedroom. Instead of his normal, all
black ensemble, he came out wearing a cotton white tee and a pair of dark blue
shorts. Although the casual wear was far from sexy, the fact that I could now
see his arms was more than satisfying. His long, dark hair was still wet from
the recent washing and hung lose over his shoulders like a black veil.
    Seeing him standing there looking like a Hollywood superstar
forced all the air out of my lungs and made me feel as if I had been punched in
the gut.
    Good God, I’m in so much trouble.
    “I’ve got diner,” I said, unable to take my eyes away from
him. “I thought you might prefer something warm to eat before we got started.”
     “You didn’t have to do that.” He started toward the
kitchen. “I was going to fix myself a sandwich before we did anything.” He
opened a cabinet above the sink and removed two plates and two glasses. My eyes
automatically drifted to his muscled arms, appreciating the sight of them. Try
as I might, I could not stop staring.
    Dear Lord! It’s not like I’ve never seen a handsome guy
before. I’ve seen plenty. Hell, I’ve even dated a couple. So, why is my heart
racing just at the sight of him?
    With the plates and glasses in hand, Brandon walked back to
the living room.
    “Well, now you don’t have to make anything,” I said.
    When he smiled, I could literally feel my stomach knot and
twist. It was hard not to stare at him after that. He was so incredibly
handsome when he was not frowning.
    “Thank you.”
    I returned his smile. “Ah, it’s nothing.”
    “You can sit, Leah.” He gestured to the couch.
    “Is it okay if I sit on the floor? It’s just that I like to
sit there.”
    “Make yourself comfortable.” He smiled again, nearly
knocking me down with the force of it. “I don’t mind where you sit.”
    “Thanks.” I dropped down to the floor and resumed the same
position I was in before he had walked into the room moments later.
    “Do you mind if I sit next to you?” he asked, forcing me to
glance up at him.
    “No… go… ahead. I mean, this is your house. You can sit
wherever you want, so I don’t think you need my permission to sit wherever you
prefer.”
    Leah, you’re rambling.
    “I know, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he
said.
    Too late for that.
    “You don’t,” I lied through my teeth.
    He took a seat next to me on the floor and placed both the
plates and the glasses on the coffee table before turning to look at me.
    “Are you sure? Because you look like you’re just seconds
away from bolting out of here, screaming.”
    Despite the awkwardness of the situation, I laughed. “Am I
that obvious?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m okay, really.”
    “Well, let me see if this helps.” He opened the pizza box,
removed a couple of slices, and placed them on his plate before continuing, “I
don’t use drugs, nor do I drink. Despite all the dark clothing, I’m not into
any weird religion, nor do I worship the devil. Although I do listen to rock, I
also like pop music, and even some classics from the eighties. However, if you
tell anyone I told you that I’ll deny it to the