Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 86

I was breathing rapidly, frozen in place.

Brandon didn't move or say anything, but his gaze was glued to me.

To be precise, he was looking right into my eyes.

We stood there, staring at each other, neither stepping forward nor backing away:

I could even feel both our heartbeats quickening.

Until my neighbor, an elderly lady's voice sounded from outside, "The new tenant's boyfriend is kind. Look how clean he made the stairs."

That snapped me back to reality. I gave Brandon a push and quickly escaped to the living room.

But for a moment I didn't know what to do, feeling dazed and confused.

Brandon walked out, breaking the awkward silence. "Is this the house where your parents used to live?"

I saw him walking toward the wall with the photos.

with my parents on either side of me, smiling warmly. But now, looking at their smiling faces

again. My

student.

I

me. "You are." He paused for a moment,

This man was too straightforward, both in his eyes and his

for your hard work today. Let me treat you to a meal, and then I'll help you find a

from reluctant to proactive because I owed him a

refuse but added, "I need to wash my face. Do you

and clothes were dirty. "Wait

in a remote area, there was

need," Brandon declined. "Give me a towel.

and handed it to

reason, I didn't leave. I watched him wash his face in a rugged, masculine way. He splashed water on his face and even ran his hands through his hair with water. Though it wasn't cold, the water was. I was about to remind him, but he had already started drying his face and

he looked up, he saw me standing behind him

embarrassed, feeling like I'd