Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 86

Chapter 86: What Are You Doing Here?

Brianna

I grabbed the paper bag, luckily the bread hadn't fallen on the ground so I just fixed it and the little tied box of dessert side by side. I quickly bent down and grabbed my keys, pulling my bag off my shoulder and shoving them in there. My hands were fumbling the whole time, while my heart beat out of my chest.

“Brianna,” he nodded at me when I finally stood still and looked at him again, I released a short heavy breath.

“What are you doing here?” I finally asked.

“Have you forgotten that you lived with my sister?” His voice came out in disinterest. His eyes had already drifted away from me like my presence didn't affect him at all. Well, his presence was affecting me a lot and I was not prepared for this.

“You are here to see Jane?” I stupidly asked.

“Why else would I be here?” He asked, returning his gaze to me.

I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. Slowly his eyes drifted down my body, checking me out the way he always seems to do when he was standing in front of me but I won't let him this time. He wanted to avoid me, so why the hell is he here? I can't fathom it, I couldn't stand his eye on me so I just nodded and rushed right past the kitchen into my room. I leaned against the door and placed my hand over my chest feeling how quickly it was beating. Callan Harold in London? Inside my apartment? I hid in my room for the next half hour until I heard our front door open and Jane's voice came through.

“Okay, I have all sorts of stuff for us to cook for dinner now.” She muttered. Just after that, came a knock at my door.

“Brianna, can I come in for a moment?” she asked and when I said yes, she quickly hurried through the door, shutting it behind her.

My eyes went wide and so did hers as we had this whole silent conversation without having to say a word.

“What the hell is he doing here? And why didn't you warn me about it?” I whisper-yelled at her.

We both held each other's forearms as we walked backwards to the end of my bed and sat down.

“I didn't know until he just randomly told me he would be coming to check in on me. I didn't know what he meant, like today and I was going to tell you when you get home from work and suddenly he was here. I thought you would be home until much later, I was going to text you.” She whisper-yelled back, I put my hands on either side of my face and just shook my head.

“He isn't staying here, is he?” I had to ask.

I have no idea, he literally just sprung this on me out of nowhere.

“He is my brother, I am not going to kick him out either.” She looked at me pointedly, I sighed and shook my head.

“No, of course not. It is fine.” I assured her. Was it fine though?

“I will try to make this as painless as possible, I will make him cook dinner and keep himself occupied. You won't even be here.” She reminded me.

“He is only staying that long?” I asked and she paused.

“I actually don't know,” she scratched her head.

I fell back on the bed and I would have groaned if it wouldn't be heard outside the bedroom. I just waved her to go back out there and I stayed in my room. Somehow, I am back to tip-toeing in my own living space and hiding in my room.

When the smell of food began wafting from under my closed door, I couldn't resist any longer and I came out. I was starving, the sight of him with his sleeve rolled up in a relaxed version of his suit without his jacket and with buttons undone was so sexy. Even sexier is when he is in your kitchen, chopping things on your counter and cooking a whole meal. I had no idea he could cook. As soon as I stepped out, his eyes came up to mine. I quickly diverted my gaze, walking over to the veranda to open it and get some fresh air in there. I couldn't breath when I looked at him, I stepped out and looked down at the locals, it was weird meshing my Port Harcourt life with my London life. I have been a different person here, I had different things going on and I wasn't expecting a piece of Port Harcourt to show up here, especially this piece. My thoughts were interrupted when my phone buzzed, it was from my boss and she was Facetiming me while she does something. Usually when she wants to show me something or I need to show her something like the ruined shoe and all that.

“Hey, Elizabeth.” I answered the call.

“So the shoe thing was settled?” She asked and I nodded.

“Yes, it was eventually handled. That woman screamed at me in native tongue for like twenty minutes.” I let her know.

“Yes, she is a real bitch.” She surprised me by saying that, I tipped my head back and laughed.

“Did I just see Callan?” She asked, I glanced over my shoulder and realized with him in the kitchen, it was a pretty direct view.

“Umm, yes, he came to visit his sister.” I cleared my throat.

“Oh that great, let me say hello.” 

I gritted my teeth and walked back to the kitchen where he came and stood right beside me for no good reason. I could have just faced her to him from the outside of the counter.

“Elizabeth, how are you?” He asked in his deep sexy voice that I hate right now.

“I am good, surprised to see you on a vacation.” She gave her infamous thin lipped smirke. It is the only smile you will get out of her.

“I wouldn't call it a vacation, I took a few days to come check on my sister's living situation and sort some things out.” He replied.

I tried handing him the phone so I could step away but he wouldn't grab it. I just had to endure feeling his shirt sleeve brush my arm and his body heat engulfed me. To be sure to remind me that he is here in the fresh after a month and a few weeks or radio silence.

“Well, Callan. If you are going to be here then listen up, I was just about to tell Brianna that a last minute event popped up for tomorrow night. Do you remember Alinco, he is having a party to show off some of his latest work and he sent over some dresses for the guests to try on. It is like a working fashion show idea he came up with last minute. You should come, he likes you.” She said to both of us simultaneously.

“Alinco, yes I remember him.” He nodded but didn't agree to attend. Thank goodness.

“Brianna, you have to come look at these dresses and pick one out. Callan the invitation stays open, we have suits here as well and you would look fantastic in its original.” She pushed on, I wanted to pinch the bridge of my nose and groan but I just stood silently beside the man that I am supposed to forget about.

“Alright, I suppose.” He agreed.

My head shot in his direction in total surprise, he didn't even glance my way after he agreed to this. He pretended I wasn't gaping at him.

“Perfect, come by the office when you have time.” She said, I just nodded okay because I was speechless.

When the call ended, Jane was giving me an apologetic expression, knowing I was not happy about this. I wanted to ask him why he would ever accept her offer, I wanted to call him out but I just couldn't. I just walked back to my room and locked the door.

****

Jane had come with us to pick out an outfit for this event that was thrown at us last minute. She was the buffer that helped assure I wouldn't have to acknowledge this man's presence and he was doing a fine job of ignoring me. I ended up choosing this black mermaid cut gown that clung to me in  such an elegant yet very flattering way to view my natural curves. Callan had a tux set up for him that I refused to pay attention to. Because of the event tonight, I didn't have work and it meant I would be around while he was here. Jane tried taking him out so I could have some space before the event. This Alinco lives on the very wealthy side of the town in a large home where this classy event would be held and we were the guests and the models.

Designers are always trying to switch things up, they do tactics like this all the time and I just didn't expect to be going with Callan as my plus one. Of course he just randomly knows some or the London designers.