"Hey," Christian said rubbing the back of his neck, "you started this. I wasn't the one who made you my cousin or the one who thought you should attend a wedding as my chaperone."

"What would you have me do. I had no idea who she was. For all I knew she really was your fiancé," Sheila said, her hands at her hips, ready to do battle. Taking another look at Christian however, Sheila's stance and tone softened considerably. 

She laughed. "As for being your chaperone, well look at you, it's obvious you need looking after." Sheila couldn't help smiling. Now, this was her rag a muffin.

Christian caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He looked like hell. His honey-colored hair was all disheveled, he had dark circles under his eyes and his robe was twisted out of shape. At least he had the chance to make a good first impression, because he didn't hold out much hope of impressing her now, with his haggard appearance and bed head hairdo.

He felt disgusted with himself. Not for the way he looked but because once again James is taking advantage of another sweet and innocent girl while he sat back and did nothing. Just as he had with Sheila.

Sheila stood in front of him. She was only an arm's length away. It would only take one swift movement to pull her into his arms but he didn't think he had the strength.

Sheila made up his mind for him and crossed the short distance between them. 

"You're a mess," she told him. Tiptoeing so that she could try and straighten out his hair.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her nimble fingers running through it.

"If only I could kiss him", Sheila thought as she felt his hot breath brush her cheek. It would be so easy with his eyes closed he'd never see it coming. It was only a fleeting thought but one that was so wonderfully tempting a small sigh escaped her lips. Suddenly, she found herself staring directly into gold-flecked hazel eyes.

She was so close, her face now inches from his, just like he remembered from his dream. Sheila leaned in closer the fabric of her tee shirt felt soft against his chest, his robe still gaping open. Christian closed his eyes again and breathed in her sent. Her perfume was light and calming but it was mixed with a scent that was all her own. His body ached to remove the last few inches of distance between them.

Sheila leaned a little further. She wanted him. Oh, how she wanted him. She wanted him to hold her, to kiss her and she was willing to see wherever that may take them. She only needed to tilt her head a little more and...and...

There was another knock on the door. Christian mumbled a curse under his breath. The spell was broken. He opened his eyes and just like his dream she had disappeared again.

Afraid that James had returned, Sheila was quick to break away from Christian and hide once again in his bedroom. Her heart was pounding against her chest, much like it had last night but the cause was entirely different.

From the moment she had taken in his rumpled appearance, how his muscled chest was bare, her mind immediately wandered and she knew she wanted very much to discover whether or not he was naked beneath that robe.

Once again, however. She had thrown them together and Christian seemed to hesitate. Even though Lanie was not his, that still didn't mean he was free to fool around. James had mentioned last night that Christian was in love. "To be loved by Christian must be one of the greatest feelings in the world," Sheila thought, "if only..."   

"Why does this keep happening to me?" Christian thought gloomily as he went to answer the door. She was about to kiss him. He could feel it. Her whole body tensed and he could feel her hardened nipples through her cotton tee shirt as she pressed herself against his chest.

Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror on his way to the door he realized she wasn't the only one to grow hard from the sexual tension that was building between them. He had to adjust himself and tried straightening his robe so that his arousal was less noticeable.

As he placed his hand on the doorknob, he took a deep breath and braced himself for what may be on the other side. If it were anything other than a few danishes and some strong coffee, God help that person. If it were James, Christian knew he was moody enough that he may be tempted to beat some sense into him, literally before sending him away.

Christian threw open the door causing the guy from F&B to jump back slightly. 

"Sorry," Christian said, "You can put the tray over there." Pointing to a spot close to the couch. He rolled the cart over to where Christian suggested and then waited expectantly for a tip. Christian tapped his side but remembering he was wearing only his robe, grumbled. His wallet was in his bedroom. 

Sheila picked this moment to reveal herself and it only took a brief glance at both men to deduce the dilemma. Pulling her wallet from her bag she handed the man a five-dollar bill and the man took it from her but not before giving her a once over look that made Christian want to flatten him where he stood before he left.

His embarrassment was unbearable. Never has a woman paid for a meal in his presence. He no longer was the frumpy college friend. He was successful, talented and not to mention rich. After college women were no longer a problem. Some even seeking him out. So why did it bother him so much? Why did he feel so insecure about the one that got away?

Sheila looked over at Christian. He looked miserable and she knew she must have overstayed her welcome. No man, especially one as kind and wonderful as Christian needed a woman throwing herself at him when he had someone he was trying to be faithful to. She had better just go.

"Sorry for all the confusion," Sheila said. She couldn't exactly leave because Christian was currently leaning against the door. He blinked slowly staring at her but didn't say a word or make a move to get out of her way.

"Look, you should just tell Lanie I had to work. That I wasn't able to break my other engagement, so I won't be attending her wedding."

"You mean James' wedding?" Christian said folding his arms over his chest. Sheila felt confused by the edge in Christian's voice. 

"Okay..., James' wedding. Lanie's wedding. What difference does it make?" Sheila asked wondering why he wasn't allowing her to leave.

"The difference is this, if it were Lanie's wedding she would be marrying a man that was in love with her, that deserves her but instead she has a man who's delusional and believes he is in love with you?"

Christain's look of utter contempt both shocked and unnerved Sheila. Taking a step back from him she said, "Look, I hope you're not blaming me for this. It wasn't my idea to dance for him and maybe if your friend wasn't such a jerk he'd realize how blessed he is to have someone like Lanie. Someone who is good and kind and loves him despite all his faults." Sheila could not hide the hurt and anger in her voice.

Christian thought it odd that she didn't even seem surprised by his announcement, but maybe that was what she was hoping all along. Revenge would be sweet, but maybe she wanted a total victory winning James for herself. 

"We are still talking about Lanie, right?" Christian asked as his jaw clenched and he looked as if a barely controlled temper was lying just beneath the surface.

His words stung. She knew she was a fool to follow James around all those years ago, but she thought Christian understood. That he was her friend, but obviously he thought she was a fool too. Tears were beginning to burn her eyes but she was no petite little blonde and she'd be damned before one of them were shed.

It was too late Christian had already seen the hurt in her eyes and he hated himself even more. "Damn it!" Christian said pounding his fists against the door before pushing himself away from it. He knew he was indirectly responsible for her pain. He covered for James all four years, feeding Sheila lies so that she wouldn't feel bad about herself only he wasn't doing her any favors.

James was never interested in her. If he had just been straight with her and told her that maybe the pain of that rejection wouldn't still have the ability to harm her after nine years. Now when he's found her again, he's starting the cycle all over. Only now it was Lanie in Sheila's position and Sheila was the sorority girl that James was lusting for.

Put to the test, he failed them all. He should have allowed James to crash and burn. Maybe it wasn't too late to set the record straight. If he told Lanie, she should be able to find some else in no time, she was a beautiful woman and with Lanie out of the way if Sheila and James really were meant to be together they'd have their chance. It couldn't all be a coincidence, the three of them meeting this way, after all this time.

Sheila flinched at Christian's reaction. She didn't understand what had made him so angry but she could sense he was hurting and she wanted to help. "What is it, Christian?" Sheila asked, "Why are you so angry?"

"You still want him?" Christian asked unable to bear looking at her at this moment. It took a second for Sheila to comprehend who Christian was referring to. His words sounding more like an answer to her question than a question itself. Her brows drew together and she shook her head in confusion. 

"James?" she asked her voice barely above a whisper.

Christian grabbed Sheila by the shoulders. "James. Yes, James. Do you still want him, Shelly?" Christian asked gripping her arms tightly, calling her by her nickname she went by in college. "Because if you want him, he's yours, you understand that don't you?"

Sheila believed she understood very little since she walked into Christian's suite this morning. She frowned at him and shook her head. "No, no I don't want him. I don't want James," Sheila said wincing slightly at the pain caused by Christian's fingers. 

His hazel eyes burnt a hole right through her as he searched her face for the truth of her words. His breathing was ragged and his body was tired. He knew he shouldn't be dealing with such an important matter on so little sleep. Still, he pressed on.

"What do you want then?" he said sounding lost, letting his grip on her go.

It took only a second for Sheila to make that decision. She reached up and cupped Christian's head in her hands and pulled him to her lips for a kiss that held all her hurt and pain but also all her longing for something more.

Her searching kiss lit a fire in them both that burned so strongly it was an unstoppable, unrelenting blaze that threatened to consume them both. Sheila quickly deepens the kiss, mingling her tongue with his.

Sheila may have been the aggressor but she had no idea the flood gates she opened. Pulling her into his arms Christian matched her passion with his own. Kissing her thoroughly and wanting nothing more than to take her to his bed and make love to her for the rest of the afternoon.

Sheila pulled back, both of them out of breath. She stared at Christian with unshed tears. "I want you, Christian," she said running the back of her fingers against his roughened cheek. "God help me but I want you," she stammered staring up into his eyes. Christian's look of shock, brought Sheila crashing back to reality.

He wasn't hers to have.

Bringing her hand to her lips, her fingertips trembled against them. "Oh, God. What have I done? I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Christian." Sheila made a mad dash from the room. 

"Shelly! Shelly wait!" Christian yelled at her as she ran out the door. He tried to pursue but she didn't wait for the elevator and took the stairs. He swung open the door to the stairwell and stepped inside but she was already gone. Looking down at his state of undress. Christian swore.

He had to go find her but that will have to wait until he puts on clothes. He knew where she worked, he would just have to go there and talk to her. He couldn't believe her words, but his heart desperately wanted to.