Little Flame

CHAPTER ONE : BRIANNA

The bell above the door chimed as it always did when someone entered, but there was something different about the man who walked in. The sound of his footsteps didn't just echo through the boutique; they seemed to press against the walls, demanding attention with each step. I kept my head down, pretending to concentrate on the scarf I was folding, though I could feel his presence settling around me like a thick fog.

I didn't look up. Not yet. I had enough practice ignoring distractions, and I had no interest in the typical crowd that wandered in here-mostly tourists or locals who didn't really get the whole concept of vintage elegance. But then he spoke.

"Nice place you have here."

His voice was smooth, low, like velvet wrapping around a razor blade, and it cut through the air in a way that made me pause, just for a second. I hadn't expected it to sound like that-so confident, like he was too used to people listening to him. But still, I didn't look up. Instead, I continued folding, trying to keep my routine, my distance. I wasn't interested in whatever this man was selling-literally or figuratively.

When I didn't respond right away, I heard him shift closer, the sound of his boots against the polished wood floor now more pronounced. "Are you lost?" I asked, my tone light and casual, even though my insides were starting to stir with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite identify.

There was a long pause. Just long enough for me to finally glance up. He stood there, a few steps away, watching me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. And his eyes God, his eyes. A shade of icy gray, clear and piercing, yet somehow layered with a storm of emotions you'll never quite decipher.

He's Tall-well over six feet-and built like a man who's accustomed to power. He's muscular, but not bulky. His frame is strong, purposeful, every movement fluid and precise, like a predator always in control of his surroundings.

But it's his face that lingers in your mind. His features are striking, almost unfairly so-sharp cheekbones, a perfectly straight nose, and a jawline that could have been chiseled from marble. There's a certain beauty to it, but not the kind that feels fragile or safe. No, his face is a mask of elegance tempered by danger.

He's beautiful, in a way that makes you forget to breathe. And terrifying, in a way that makes you remember why you should.

His lips twitched into a smile, as though he were amused by my question. "Lost?" he repeated, as if the word was foreign to him. "I don't get lost."

I raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback. He was a strange one, no doubt about it. But there was something oddly charming about him too. He wasn't like the other men who came in here, full of themselves and desperate to buy my attention. No, this one was... different. Not arrogant in the way they were, but there was still that sense of confidence-almost cockiness-that made him stand out.

I was still staring at him when he took a slow step forward. The space between us shrank, and I felt an odd shiver run down my spine. I was used to people invading my personal space, but this felt... different. He wasn't invading it so much as pulling me into it.

"So," he began, his voice dipping lower, "what's a place like this doing in a neighborhood like this?"

I frowned slightly. His tone wasn't rude-just curious, almost like he was speaking to a stranger on the street. But there was something in the way he asked it that made me feel like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out.

"This place," I said, taking my time as I folded the scarf again, not allowing myself to be thrown off by him, "is exactly where it's meant to be."

He didn't respond immediately, and for a moment, I thought he might just turn and leave-most men did when they realized I wasn't going to give them the time of day. But he didn't leave. Instead, he stepped a little closer.

"You're not exactly what I expected," he said, his voice almost teasing, and for some reason, I found myself curious about why he'd say that.

"Really?" I asked, finally looking up at him fully. "And what did you expect?"

He didn't answer right away. His eyes flicked over my face, almost like he was still weighing me, trying to decide something. I felt a blush creeping up my neck, but I fought it back. I wasn't about to let him know how much he was affecting me.

Finally, he smiled, but it wasn't the cocky grin of a man used to getting his way. No, it was something more disarming, more... genuine? "I don't know," he said slowly. "I guess I thought you'd be more... intimidating."

I laughed-quietly, but it was real. The idea of me being intimidating was too absurd. I was just a woman running a little boutique, nothing more, nothing less. I couldn't even imagine being scary. "Intimidating?" I repeated, shaking my head. "I think you've got the wrong impression."

He grinned, clearly amused by my reaction. "Maybe," he said. "But I think I'm starting to like the surprise."

I felt a strange warmth bloom in my chest. He wasn't like the others. There was something... oddly cute about him, even though he wasn't the type of man I would usually describe that way. Maybe it was the way he looked at me-like he genuinely found me interesting, rather than just another conquest. Or maybe it was the strange way his words made me feel like I was the one being read, rather than the other way around.

"So," I said, crossing my arms, feeling the shift in the atmosphere between us, "what brings you to my little shop?"

He stepped a little closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "I heard this place had the finest things," he said, his voice dropping just slightly. "And I came to see for myself."

I wasn't sure why, but the way he said it made me feel like he wasn't talking about the shop at all. He wasn't here for the scarves or the jewelry, and I realized then that he was talking about me. The thought made my heart race, but I tried to push it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Well," I said, my voice suddenly more playful, "I hope I don't disappoint."

He smiled again, the kind of smile that seemed to reach his eyes this time, lighting them up with something that almost looked like... warmth? "I think you're going to be exactly what I'm looking for."

I didn't know what to make of that, but somehow, the words didn't send me running for the door. Instead, I stood there, caught in this strange web of conversation, not quite knowing what was happening, but somehow feeling like it was exactly where I needed to be.

Author's note:

I hope you're liking the story so far I promise to make it better.

Thank you
Happy reading ....

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