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Chapter 6
She was perfect in every way. Brian gazed at her with a yearning sensation beginning in his stomach and pulsing up to his head.
She had the body of a supermodel, long tanned legs that shone with tanning oil (she must have been on her way to the beach), a slim waist that he longed to wrap his arms around. Her hair was long, to her waist, and he was struck with a sudden sense of déjà vu. The brown strands were slightly damp, barely noticeable, and they too shone under the sunlight. It looked soft and smooth and touchable, and he wanted to reach out and run his fingers through it. But, oh, when his eyes fell on her face, he was blown away. She had the most delicate, angelic, the most perfect features he had ever laid eyes on. He moaned inwardly. Her lips were full, and luscious (totally kissable), in a soft 'O'. Her nose was perfect, and matched her cheekbones with ideality. But her eyes were what made his breath catch in his throat. They were a deep chocolate brown, big, and outlined wonderfully by means of her perfectly separated eyelashes, which lowered considerably for a reason he was unaware of. His eyes traveled down her body, and his mouth watered. She was adorned in Hawaiian shorts, the kind with the clear sheeting over them so anyone could see the design of flowers and garlands decorating them. She wore open toe white sandals, showing off her baby blue painted toenails. His gaze traveled back up, and he couldn't help but stare. She wore nothing but a dark blue bikini top, the color of her shorts, which displayed her well-toned stomach. Around her neck (oh, what a neck it was) was a string of naturally light blue tiny seashells, with a small clasp. She looked as if she belonged on Maui. But she looked to him like she belonged in his life, forever.
And what was this feeling he was experiencing? A strange sense of familiar ness that made his head swim.
But when he looked closer, he noticed she was shaking. Here he had been standing her gaping at her, and she was shaking so terribly that he was afraid she would collapse.
"Uh…come on in, quick," he said. "You look as though you should sit down."
He held out his hand and guided her through his condo to the living room, and he kept his hand on the small of her back. It just made the poor thing shake harder.
He fluffed some pillows on the leather couch and gestured for her to sit down. She did so thankfully, staring at him as she lowered herself slowly onto the sofa. He stared back at her, trying to figure out where he knew her.
"Um…I'm Brian," he offered helplessly. "Do you need a drink or something?
You look worn out."
"T-that'd be nice," she managed, studying her fingernails. "I'm really sorry…I just came to give you your extra key, and when I saw…who you were, I guess I just lost all poise I had when I left this morning."
He had gotten up and moved into the adjacent kitchen, and he stopped with his back to her when he heard her voice. He closed his eyes, letting it wash over him. Then he opened his eyes, knowing she expected a response.
"Don't worry," he said. "We get it a lot." He laughed, hoping to ease his heart rate. Why was it beating so hard, and his pulse racing?
"I can't imagine," she called, laughing. Inhale, exhale. Repeat. Inhale, exhale…
She seemed to have calmed down considerably; now it was his turn.
"I never caught your name," he called, giving her the honor of having a mini umbrella on the edge of her glass of iced tea.
"It's Faith," she replied. He froze. Faith? As in, Grace and Faith? And Destiny and Faith? And her cousin Hope?
"Are you okay?" she asked. He took a deep breath.
"Yeah," he said, coming back into the room and sitting beside her. Was it just his imagination, or did she just then breath more rapidly?
"So, do you live in Maui?" he asked carefully. This was it. She told him no, there was a high chance it was his Faith. If she said yes, then he was out.
"No, I don't," she said, shaking her head. Her hair swished back and forth, and it mesmerized him. He was entranced by her beauty. "I'm visiting my uncle."
Her uncle! It had to be her. If it wasn't, it was too entirely a coincidence to be ignored.
"Oh, is your family with you?" he asked, hoping to get more information out of her.
"Some of them," she answered shyly. "My sister, my cousin, and my two other best friends."
"Interesting," he answered, realizing he sounded like a nut. "Well, if your sister looks anything like you, then you both have boyfriends, right?"
"She's my twin actually," she said, blushing. "And no, we don't have boyfriends."
It was Faith. He had found her. Without even trying. He cheered inwardly.
Then he grew solemn, because a face flashed into his mind. A face with long blond hair…blue eyes…
"Um…can I ask you a question?" he faltered.
"You haven't hesitated before," she pointed out.
"You're right," he agreed. "But…hang on."
He stood up, leaving her considerably confused when he dashed out of the room and returned quickly after with a piece of paper.
"What's that?" she asked. He looked at it, then up at her, and stuffed it in his pocket.
"Just the paper verifications for this condo," he lied.
"Oh. Well, your question?" she reminded him.
"Oh, yeah. Uh…do you know who I am?" he inquired.
"Yeah, I do."
Suddenly, she stood up halfway and reached into her pocket. "I had to give this to you."
He looked at what was in her hand. A key.
"Is it to this condo?" he asked, looking up at her. He was shocked to see how close his face was to hers, and he stepped back some.
"Yeah," she said, nodding. "My uncle owns the condos, and he said you forgot it, so I was sent to give it to you. I had no idea it'd be you, though."
He just stared at her. The key was warm in his hand-the heat from being so close to her thigh. He shivered.
"Thanks," he managed. She smiled. He noticed her perfectly straight, pearly white teeth.
"I should go," she murmured, turning around.
He didn't want her to go so soon. He wanted to tell her everything, how he was in love with her, how he had waited so long to meet her, and how bad he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to shout it out that he had found his soul mate…but he was marrying someone else.
"Wait," he blurted out. She turned around, her hand on his doorknob.
"Yeah, Brian?" she asked. He loved the way his name sounded on her lips.
"Can I keep in touch with you?" he asked shyly. She looked surprised, and then she smiled and nodded.
"Contact my uncle," she said. Then, "Thanks for the tea."
"Anytime," he answered. She smiled again. She seemed reluctant to go.
"Well, bye," she said. He grinned, knowing she didn't want to leave.
"Bye," he replied. It was killing her, and it was killing him even more.
Finally, she opened the door and stepped out onto the grass. She was about to shut it, but he stopped her.
"I got your letter," he said, and held his breath to see her reaction. Her mouth dropped open, and she quickly shut it.
"Y-you did?" she stammered. He nodded, smiling. She took that as a good sign.
"How did you know it was me?" she questioned.
"I put the pieces together," he said, shrugging. "You said you have a twin, and you're staying on your uncle's strip of condos this summer. I wanted to meet you."
"You did?" she said again. He nodded, surprised he had had the courage to say that last part.
"So you're stalking me?" she teased, grinning. He shook his head softly, smiling.
"I thought you had to go," he said, smirking.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.
Anything but, he thought.
"Not at all," he said aloud. She reached up and ran a hand through her hair, and then she leaned against the doorframe.
"You know where to find me," she said, and then she turned around and walked down the sidewalk. His eyes followed her all the way down the walk until she turned left, heading wherever she had been before she stopped at his condo. Even from far away she was gorgeous.
Faith felt Brian's eyes on her back as she walked away, but she fought the
urge to turn around and run back and tackle him. She had a feeling it wasn't
the last time she'd run into Brian Littrell.
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