The Space Between Us

CHAPTER 4

The days after their late-night conversation felt strange, charged in ways Lena couldn't quite place. There was a shift between her and James, subtle but undeniable, like the moment before a storm when the air grows thick with anticipation. They hadn't spoken about what had transpired—about the unspoken words they'd shared or the way their walls had momentarily crumbled. Instead, they fell back into their usual routines, but something had changed. They were more aware of each other now, more conscious of the space between them, the quiet hum of attraction that neither of them was willing to acknowledge.

Lena tried to bury herself in work. It was easy to do, especially with the office renovation project steadily moving forward. The space was beginning to take shape, and each new design element felt like a small victory, a distraction from the growing tension she felt every time she crossed paths with James.

But as the days passed, those paths seemed to cross more often. Whether it was a quick exchange in the hallway, a shared glance over a piece of paperwork, or a brief chat in the conference room, James had a way of being near her, always just within her orbit. And every time they interacted, the air between them seemed to thrum with a quiet energy that neither of them could ignore.

It was a Thursday afternoon when Lena first noticed how much it had escalated.

She was sitting at her desk, reviewing a set of architectural drawings, when the door to her office opened without warning. She glanced up, expecting one of her team members or perhaps a client. Instead, James stood in the doorway, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, as if he were carefully considering whether to speak or not. He was holding a folder of new revisions to the design, and for a brief second, the sight of him—standing in her office, just within arm's reach—sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.

"Ms. Matthews," he said, his voice smooth, his gaze lingering on her for just a beat longer than necessary. "I wanted to go over the latest changes with you. Make sure we're aligned."

Lena nodded, a smile tugging at her lips despite the way her pulse quickened. "Of course. Just leave them on the desk," she said, trying to sound composed, professional. She gestured to the corner of her desk, but James didn't move immediately. He remained in the doorway for a few more seconds, as if hesitating.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the silence grew thick, filled with unspoken words. Lena couldn't shake the feeling that James was studying her, his eyes flicking over her face with a quiet intensity that made her feel almost exposed. She wasn't sure if he was aware of the effect he had on her, but she couldn't deny the way her body responded to his presence, the way her muscles tensed, her breath coming just a little faster.

Finally, James stepped forward, slowly, deliberately, and placed the folder on the desk. His fingers brushed hers as he did, a fleeting touch that sent a spark of electricity through her.

"Sorry," he murmured, his voice low, almost apologetic, as if it had been an accident. But Lena saw the brief flash in his eyes, the way his lips tightened just slightly.

"It's fine," she replied quickly, pulling her hand back, though the feeling of his touch lingered in her fingers. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to focus on the folder in front of her. "Let's take a look at these changes."

But despite her attempt to dive into the work, she couldn't stop the awareness that kept creeping up on her. James's presence was still there, lingering in the room like a subtle hum.

They began to go over the revisions together, but the usual flow of their professional discussion seemed different somehow. The way their voices blended together, the way their eyes met over the papers—it was as if the space between them had shrunk, closing in with every passing second. There was no denying the tension, the unspoken awareness that lingered in the air like a tightly coiled spring, just waiting to snap.