Inside the car, Harvey leaned back against the leather seat, his eyes flitting between his older brother Rowan and the entrance of the restaurant where Amara had disappeared into nearly two hours ago. The sleek black sedan they sat in was inconspicuous amidst the busy city street, yet the tension inside was palpable.
Rowan had always been the more stoic of the two, his emotions often hidden behind a mask of calm and control. Today, however, Harvey could see a crack in that facade. They had been en route to an important business meeting when Rowan suddenly diverted from their path. It had taken Harvey by surprise when his brother abruptly changed lanes and began following a nondescript sedan. At first, he couldn’t understand what had caught Rowan’s attention. They had been driving in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound, when Rowan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the car ahead.
It wasn’t until they reached the restaurant and Amara stepped out of the car that everything clicked into place. Harvey watched as Rowan’s usually composed demeanor shifted subtly; his eyes followed her every movement with an intensity that was both protective and yearning. Amara walked into the restaurant, completely unaware of the two men watching her from across the street.
Rowan had parked the car in a spot that gave them a clear view of the restaurant entrance, but he made no move to get out. Instead, he sat there, his gaze fixed on the door through which Amara had disappeared. Harvey, growing increasingly restless, glanced at the dashboard clock. Nearly two hours had passed, and his brother hadn’t said a word.
“Big Brother,” Harvey finally broke the silence, his voice cautious. “What are we doing here? We had a meeting, remember?”
Rowan didn’t respond immediately. His eyes remained on the restaurant, as if he could will Amara to reappear just by staring hard enough. Harvey sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He understood that Rowan had a complicated feelings for Amara, but sitting in a parked car for hours without any explanation was beyond him.
“Brother,” Harvey tried again, more insistently this time. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”
Rowan blinked, finally tearing his gaze away from the restaurant to look at his brother. There was a turmoil in his eyes that Harvey rarely saw. “I didn’t plan for this,” Rowan said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. “I just… saw her. And I just wanted to see her more.”
Harvey frowned, leaning forward. “So why aren’t you going in to talk to her? It’s been hours. We can’t just sit here forever.”
Rowan shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”
Just as he said that, they heard a knock on the window. Both Harvey and Rowan looked out and saw Amara standing there, her expression a mixture of surprise and anger. Rowan rolled down the car window.
Amara’s eyes flashed with irritation. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Before she could say anything else, Harvey casually interjected, “Hi Amara, hope you’re doing good.”
Hearing his voice, Amara glanced at the other person sitting inside the car. “Oh, Harvey, you’re here too?”
“Yeah,” Harvey replied with a calm smile.
Rowan leaned closer to the window, his voice soft but firm. “I wanted to see you.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed, her anger clear. “See me? Rowan, you followed me. This is stalking!”
Rowan held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I know it seems that way, but it’s not what you think.”
Amara folded her arms across her chest, glaring at him. “Really? Because it looks exactly like you sitting outside the restaurant I was in, watching me for who knows how long.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed, her anger undiminished. “So, what? You just decided to stalk me instead of minding your own business?”
Rowan took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. “It’s not stalking. I… I was curious. We haven’t seen each other in a while, and I wanted to know how you were doing.”
Amara scoffed, shaking her head, “This is not the way you make sure someone is okay or not.”
Harvey, sensing the tension escalating, tried to interject. “Amara, I think what Rowan is trying to say is that he was taken by surprise. We were on our way to a meeting, and seeing you caught him off guard.”
Amara shot Harvey a sharp look. “I appreciate your attempt to mediate, Harvey, but this is between me and Rowan.”
Harvey raised his hands in surrender, leaning back in his seat. “Fair enough. Just trying to help.”
Rowan couldn’t tear his eyes away from Amara. Even in her anger, she looked stunning. Her eyes, though sharp with annoyance, sparkled with an intensity that he found captivating. The way her hair framed her face, slightly tousled from the summer breeze, added to her allure. She had always been beautiful, but there was something about seeing her now, in the heat of the moment, that made his heart race.
As he watched her, he couldn’t help but admire the strength and determination in her stance. She was fierce, unyielding, and utterly breathtaking. The way she held herself, the fire in her eyes, it all made him realize just how much he had missed her, even if they had never been close. His feelings had been there since the first time he saw her, simmering beneath the surface, and now they were bubbling up, impossible to ignore.
He knew he was treading on thin ice by liking the daughter of his enemy, but he couldn’t resist the urge to break the tension with a bit of charm. “You know, Amara,” he said, his voice softening, “you look even more beautiful when you’re angry.”
Amara paused, glancing back at him with a raised eyebrow. “Flirting isn’t going to help your case, Rowan.”
Rowan chuckled, his smile genuine. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
Amara shook her head, a hint of a smile playing at her lips despite herself. “Just don’t mess with me.”
Rowan nodded, his expression serious. “I won’t. I promise.”