Legends

Crossing A Line

Allie's POV

For the last two weeks, Brantley and I had tiptoed around each other. I bit my lip afraid of what he would pull next. I didn't like that feeling but I didn't know what else to expect. He'd been busy with interviews and a couple of writing sessions that Brian had flown in for so we'd had little interaction with each other than in passing. Hell, he'd held the door open for me at Waffle House the other night. I'd almost expected him to let it hit me in the face. The boys had been running interference between us since that night. I was looking forward to the next few weeks. We had a string of shows in Canada and I always came back with amazing pictures when I went there. I was currently sitting on the bus waiting on it to pull into the next venue editing some shots I had gotten last night. Brantley was in the back catching a nap. I stood up stretching my stiff neck and shoulders rubbing my temples against the pounding headache I had.

Yawning widely, I walked over to the cabinets to find some chocolate to perk myself up. I knew there had to be some in there. The damn man had always had a sweet tooth. I opened the cabinet door peering up to see what my options where. Spotting a package of chocolate mint cookies, I stood on my tip toes trying to reach them my fingers barely brushing them. I let out a whine getting angry with my height when I felt a hard chest brush along my back then a big hand slide over the top of mine gripping the cookies. I inhaled his cologne being this close and stopped breathing.

"Sorry Allie," he said near my ear making an involuntary shiver ghost down my spine as he lowered his hand brushing his arm against me. "I should have put them lower."

"It's okay," I said softly picking up the chocolatey goodness and turning my head to look at him. "Thank you."

"Your welcome," Brantley said looking deep in my eyes like he was searching for something. I let out a quiet gasp as he hesitantly lifted a big hand to tuck a strand of loose hair behind my ear. I felt goosebumps break out across my skin with the feeling of him being so close. I bit my lip then heard him groan softly before gliding his thumb over to pull it away from my teeth. I lost my breath when he lowered his head and I felt myself lifting up on my toes. His lips were a whisper away from mine when my phone rang in my pocket. I dropped back down on my feet feeling guilty when I heard the ringtone knowing exactly who it was. I looked up at Brantley as I reached back to pull my phone out of my back pocket. I saw the FaceTime request.

"I have to take this," I said quietly as Brantley nodded motioning for me to answer it. He watched me intently as I stepped away hitting the answer button. As the person came on the screen I heard a squeal and grinned.
"Well hello to you too Princess Pearl!" I chuckled.

"I miss you Allie!" she said giving me a big smile. "Daddy doesn't do tea parties as good as you!"

"Well I thought we had showed him how," I said shaking my head with a laugh. I could see Brantley narrowing his eyes at me from his recliner. I wished he would go on. I didn't have the patience to deal with this today. Especially after he had almost kissed me. I leaned against the counter smiling as Pearl filled me in on what had been going on with her. She and I had a date to talk once a week when I was on the road like this. Times like this I briefly wished there was more between her dad and I, but he wanted more than I did. She gave me a sweet smile before blowing me a kiss.

"Miss you Allie!" Pearl said in a sing song voice. "Come home soon! Here's Daddy!"

I saw Brantley look up from his phone puzzlement his green eyes at me. Oh fuck. I was about to head to the back so he wouldn't hear who I was talking to, but I was too late when I heard him speak.

"Hey Al!" Jake said giving me a warm smile. I smiled in return feeling a hard stare at the voice. "I agree with Pearl, I miss you too. How's the run this week so far?"