Shadows of Regret

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Vincent POV

Vincent stood at Amara’s doorstep, his hand hovering over the doorbell, debating whether or not to actually press it.

He was never the type to hesitate, but here he was, frozen in place like some lovesick teenager.

He cursed under his breath. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t the guy who waited around for a woman, who second-guessed himself, or who felt his heart race at the idea of seeing someone again.

But ever since that dinner at Ryujin’s, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Amara.

She had been sitting across from him, and while everyone else at the table was deep in conversation, all he could focus on was her.

The way her dark skin glowed under the warm lighting, the way her goddess braids were perfectly styled, and those lips—pink, soft, tempting. It was everything about her.

The confidence she exuded without even trying, the way she moved, the way she looked right through him with those eyes.

He hadn’t been able to sleep that night. He kept seeing her in his mind—how she laughed, how she glanced at him when she thought no one was looking.

The next morning, he’d woken up with one thing on his mind: Amara. Without thinking twice, he’d called his private investigator and gotten her address.

And now he was here, standing outside her door like some kind of fool.

What the hell am I doing?

He ran a hand through his hair, ready to turn around and leave. Maybe this was a bad idea.

Maybe she wasn’t even home, or worse—maybe she didn’t want to see him. He could walk away, pretend like this never happened, and save himself the embarrassment.

But just as he turned to leave, the door creaked open.

His breath caught in his throat as Amara stood there, framed in the doorway.

She was even more stunning up close, if that were possible.

Her goddess braids were down this time, cascading over her shoulders, and she wore a cropped top that showed off her toned stomach and a pair of blue jeans shorts that hugged her curves perfectly.

Her long, dark legs glistened under the sun, and Vincent felt a surge of protectiveness rise in him—something he wasn’t used to.

It was strange, this sudden need to cover her up, to shield her from the world.

She looked just as surprised to see him as he was to be standing there. “Vincent?” Her voice was laced with confusion and curiosity. “What are you doing here?”

For a second, he forgot how to speak. His mind blanked as he took her in, his eyes tracing every curve, every inch of her skin.

He wasn’t even trying to hide how much he was staring, but there was nothing creepy about it—it was admiration, pure and simple.

She raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing over her chest as she leaned against the doorframe.

“You planning on answering me, or just standing there all day?”

Vincent smirked at her boldness. She wasn’t the kind of woman to play coy, and he loved that.

“I’m here to take you out,” he finally said, his voice smooth.

Amara blinked, her surprise turning into amusement. “Out? You just… show up at my place to take me out? No heads up, no nothing?”

He shrugged, leaning casually against the doorframe as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

“I like to keep things interesting.”

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

“You’ve got some nerve, Vincent.”

He grinned, not missing the way her eyes sparkled with a hint of intrigue. “Yeah? You like it though.”

“Who says I like it?” she teased, biting her lip slightly as she gave him a once-over. “I barely know you.”

“But you’re not telling me to leave,” Vincent countered, stepping just a little closer.

She gave him a playful look, tilting her head. “Maybe I’m just being polite.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t strike me as the polite type when you don’t want to be.”

Amara laughed softly, her eyes meeting his in a way that made Vincent’s pulse quicken. She was bold, fearless, and he liked that.

Hell, he loved it. “Alright, you’ve got me there,” she admitted with a small grin. “So what’s this? You just showed up at my doorstep because… what? You couldn’t wait to see me?”

He met her gaze, not backing down. “Exactly. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Her lips parted in surprise at his blunt honesty, but the surprise quickly shifted into something else—something more playful. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when I see something I want,” he replied, his voice low, his eyes never leaving hers.

Amara shook her head, but she was smiling now, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “Okay, let’s say I agree. What makes you think I’m free right now?”

Vincent smirked, stepping even closer so that he was standing just inches from her. “Because if you weren’t, you would’ve shut the door by now.”

She stared up at him, her eyes narrowing slightly, but the challenge was clear in her gaze.

After a long pause, she let out a small, resigned sigh, though the smile never left her face.

“Fine,” she said, her voice laced with sass. “I’ll let you take me out—but you better impress me, Vincent.”

He grinned, triumphant. “Trust me, I will.”

Amara rolled her eyes, but there was amusement in her expression as she stepped back into the house to grab her things.

As she came back out, locking the door behind her, Vincent felt that same sense of protectiveness flare up inside him again.

It wasn’t just about the chase anymore. There was something about her—something real. Something he was determined to figure out.

As they walked to his car, the air between them was electric, charged with the promise of whatever the night held in store.

♤♤♤

Ouuuu! Looks like things are getting juicy between Amara and Vincent.  What do you guys think would happen between them?