Free Caribbean Crossroads by Connie E Sokol Page A

sun and stardom, or is there something you’re blaming for not moving forward? Or don’t want to face?”
    Stunned, Megan flushed with the reality of it and for a moment, couldn’t say anything. His words sounded too much like what she’d heard from Jillian. Had he been talking to her? Not likely. Awed and angered by his awareness, she wanted to scream—leave me alone!
    “What do you even know of me?” she shot back fiercely.
    “I’m guessing a lot more than you’ll let me.” He took her in—eyes, mouth, soul—making her feel wide open and shy at the same time. She rebelled at the connection between them, at the precise moment she yearned for it.
    No, thought Megan desperately. Fight! “Look, I’m not trying to be rude but—”
    “No need to try.” He wore a wry smile. “I asked for your opinion and you gave it.” Without breaking his steady gaze, he stepped into her. “Megan—”
    Her name—that warm liquid honey spread through her and she felt herself losing. “Don’t. Don’t say my name—like that.” She had to stop him, it was too close, too raw. This conversation was all over the place, moving too fast on too many levels. Megan scrambled to understand what was happening, feeling herself falling into something she promised herself not to. Any second now she would throw her arms around his neck and kiss him and hold him and tell him everything. What was wrong with her? FIGHT, Megan.
    “Bryant, I don’t—”
    The door opened. One of the cast girls entered then stopped. “Um, sorry. Am I bugging you guys here?”
    Suddenly Megan felt acutely aware of how close they stood together, breath rising and falling, energy intense and electric. How had she gotten here, standing with him, talking like this?
    Megan turned, her face hot. “No, I was just leaving.” She nodded at Bryant, who looked as if he wanted to say something then thought better of it.
    In the restroom, Megan splashed cool water on her burning face. What had just happened? Her heart continued to beat irregularly, and she drew a few calming breaths to settle herself down. Replaying the conversation in her mind, she couldn’t understand how quickly it had escalated. More than that, how close she felt to Bryant, how natural it felt to talk that way together, as if they’d known each other for years.
    Thoughts blazed in her mind of his intense face and solid body, pulsing and pulling her in, an astonishing electric current between them. That connection—how did he do that, his way of being with her, knowing her.
    Megan splashed more water on her face.
    Apology? Now she had bigger things to worry about.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    Bryant brought down the barbell to his chest, then pushed up again, hard and fast, holding for four counts before returning it to the rack above him. It felt good to work out the frustration, at least of the encounter with Megan. He still couldn’t ease the confusing thoughts.
    He had spent that afternoon performance between trying to forget their heated conversation and ignore feeling drawn to her. What was up with him? Why did he care? She didn’t even show interest. No, not even a lack of interest. An intense hostile dislike, she had said so herself.
    Until today.
    Standing in the Green Room, he could still see her flushed cheeks and serious brown eyes as she read him the riot act of Get on With Your Life. And she had been right. Actually, she had sounded and looked just like his sister. But different. He definitely did not view her as a sister.
    From the beginning he’d been drawn to her, but not in the typical way. Obviously, she was pretty—that was a given—but not in the Premier Performer style. In his mind he saw her straight chestnut hair, glossy in the sun, framing her face usually devoid of makeup. He liked it. It was fresh and real, not like what he was usually around. She had talent, yes, but not real star potential. And had a way about her that was soft, when she wasn’t aware he was watching.