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?"

walking toward the wall with the photos. "You still look a lot like you did when

our family photos. I was. wearing a red scarf, with my parents on either side of me, smiling warmly. But now, looking at their smiling faces only made my

Brandon glanced at my certificates again. My certificates

student.

I responded without

looked at me. "You are." He paused for a

for me to meet his eyes. This man was too straightforward, both in his eyes and

further entanglement, said, "Thank you for your hard work today. Let me

went from reluctant to proactive

need to

face and clothes

area, there

"Give me a

to say something else, but I met his unyielding gaze. Reluctantly, I walked to the bathroom, grabbed my towel, and handed it to him. "Use this, I don't have any new ones. He nodded, then turned on the tap to wash

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

he looked up, he saw me

I felt embarrassed, feeling like I'd been