Hidden Flames..

Chapter 10

As the evening wore on, the conversation between Lily and Ethan became easier, the initial awkwardness fading away. They laughed about old memories, shared stories of the past few years, and for a while, it almost felt like things were back to the way they used to be. But underneath the surface, Ethan was battling with thoughts he hadn't anticipated.

Every time Lily smiled, every time she laughed, he found himself more drawn to her than he ever expected. It was disorienting—he had always seen her as Jake's little sister, someone he had to protect. But tonight, she was different. She wasn't the shy, little girl he remembered; she was confident, witty, and undeniably beautiful. And it was driving him crazy.

As they finished their meal and the waiter cleared their plates, Ethan found his eyes drifting to her lips, soft and inviting. The thought of leaning across the table and kissing her flashed through his mind, so vivid it took him by surprise. He could almost feel the warmth of her skin, the softness of her lips against his. He shook his head slightly, trying to push the thought away, but it was no use. The more he tried to suppress it, the more insistent it became.

Lily was saying something, but Ethan barely registered her words. His mind was too focused on the way her lips moved, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke. What the hell is wrong with me? he thought, trying to reign in the surge of desire that was threatening to overwhelm him.
The thought took him by surprise, and he quickly pushed it aside, reminding himself of who she was. This is Lily, Jake's little sister, he told himself, trying to ignore the way his heart raced at the mere idea of being close to her.

But the more they talked, the harder it became to ignore the growing attraction he felt. It didn't help that Lily seemed so at ease, so unaware of the effect she was having on him. He could see the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, the way she bit her lip when she was thinking, and it drove him crazy that he couldn't just reach out and touch her, couldn't close the distance between them.

At one point, Lily leaned forward, her fingers brushing against his as she reached for her glass. The touch was innocent, brief, but it sent a jolt through Ethan that he struggled to hide. He clenched his fist under the table, trying to suppress the urge to grab her hand, to pull her close.

Get it together, he mentally scolded himself. This is not the time, and she's not the person. But his resolve was weakening with every passing second.

Lily must have sensed his distraction because she tilted her head, looking at him curiously. "Ethan? You okay?"

Ethan blinked, snapping back to reality. He forced a smile, nodding quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got lost in thought for a second."

She smiled back, seemingly reassured, and took another sip of her drink. Ethan let out a quiet breath, grateful that she hadn't noticed the internal battle he was waging.

You can't do this, he reminded himself firmly. Jake would kill you, and besides, she deserves better than some impulsive move you'd probably regret. He had to keep things under control, had to remind himself that Lily still saw him as a brotherly figure—nothing more.

He knew he couldn't afford to act on those impulses, not if he wanted to keep things as they were.

As they walked out of the restaurant and into the cool night air, Ethan felt a mix of relief and frustration. He had managed to control himself, to keep the evening light and friendly, but he couldn't deny the lingering desire that had been sparked.

They reached the car, and Ethan opened the door for her, his gentlemanly instincts kicking in. Lily smiled her thanks and slipped inside, her dress brushing against him as she did. The brief contact sent another wave of heat through him, but he tamped it down, determined to keep his composure.

As he got into the driver's seat and started the engine, Ethan stole one last glance at Lily. She was looking out the window, her expression thoughtful and serene. He couldn't help but admire her, but he knew he had to keep his feelings in check.

Tonight wasn't the time, he told himself again, but as he drove them back home, he couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't be the last time he struggled with his growing feelings for Lily.