Brianna woke up alone in her bed. She hadn't woken up once with Dave by her side. She couldn't help but smile. Despite what was or what wasn't going on between them he was a good man. Especially staying with her through the night. She'd felt safe. Where was he anyways? She got up at that thought. "Dave?" She called out as she entered the living room. Nope. Not there. Did he leave? "Dave?" She called for the second time.

"Right here." He called out from the hallway. Brianna quickly turned around. There he was. In the middle of her hallway with only a towel around his waist. My god. "Hope it's alright that I used your shower." He replied as he ran another towel through his hair.

Brianna watched as he joined her in the living room. "Oh. Sure. That's fine. I thought you'd left already." She answered with her eyes still glued on his just showered body.

Dave noticed where her eyes were looking. "You can touch if you like." He smirked making her eyes flick up at him.

"What? No. Asshole. Well, what am I supposed to look at when you have practically nothing covering you?" Brianna struggled. Giving a huff of breath as she plopped on to the couch.

Dave laughed as he took a step towards her. "Come on. You know you want to see the full view." He teased as he took a step to stand directly in front of her.

"You better get out of my face. Dave. I am being serious." She warned as he reached to grab her hand.

"Don't be shy Bri. Here. Watch." He said as he kept a hold of her hand.

Brianna covered her eyes with her free hand. "Dave. Damn it. Get away from me." She pleaded in attempt to hide a laugh.

"You ready? Look." He smiled this time around as she peeked.

Brianna slapped him hard on the arm when she noticed he had his pants on. "Asshole." She managed a laugh this time. "You really scared me for a minute there."

Dave quirked an eyebrow as he wrapped the towel around his neck. "Scared. Yeah right. You know you wanted to see it."

Brianna rolled her eyes as she climbed off the couch. "You wish."

"Where you going?" He questioned as she made her way into the hallway.

"Taking a shower." She called out. "Care to join me?"

Dave sighed. "Don't tease me Bri." He said as he watched her from his seat on the couch.

Brianna peeked around the corner. "You know you want to." She laughed as she entered the bathroom closing the door behind her.

"Yeah. I do." He said to himself as he tried to picture what was behind the door.

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Dave. Fully dressed now was preparing some coffee when Brianna entered the kitchen with just a robe around her. Damn it.

"Sheryl called. She heard about what happened. I told her that you were nice enough to stay with me and that I was fine." Brianna replied soundly trying not to repeat in her head the events from the previous night.

Dave handed her a cup of coffee. "Are you?" He questioned.

Brianna shrugged her shoulders. "As fine as I can be, I guess. I've been through this before, I know how to handle it." She answered as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Don't shut people out Bri. That is how you tend to handle things isn't it?" He commented quiet rudely.

Brianna turned to him. "Excuse me? And you've known me for how long?" She said just as rudely.

Dave just 'looked' at her as he downed the last of his coffee. "Long enough to know that's how you handle things. You can't do that Bri. You need to let people in. Let people help you."

Brianna swallowed. Perhaps he was right. But why was she ready to argue? "Don't tell me what I need to do Dave. I am going to handle things my way. Sorry if you don't like it."

Dave followed her as she retreated to the living room. "No. You're going to be the one who's sorry Bri. You can't live the rest of your life closed up and alone. You need to let people in. People who care about you. How come you've never mentioned your family except for the incident with your brother? I'm guessing you have a mother who cares about you." He stayed inches behind her as she stared out the window.

Brianna let her head fall. "They chose him over me that's why. Even after what happened. Even though I never told them. I told her it was either me leaving or him. And guess who left?" She said with a wave of her arms.

"They're your family Bri." Dave spoke quietly as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

Brianna let a tear fall. "I know. It just hurts too much." She didn't break down. She just rested in the arms that wrapped around her and let the silent tears continue to fall.

Dave kissed the top of her head, then her cheek, and not being able to resist a couple of light kisses on her neck. The way her body shivered against his told him that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. If only she'd let him. "I care about you Bri. Don't shut me out." He whispered in her ear.

Brianna sighed as his hand ran down her arm. "Dave. I can't. Please. I can't." She quietly pleaded.

Dave ran his finger down the open part of her robe knowing that she had nothing under. "I'm not going to give up on you Bri. I don't care how long it takes." She swallowed hard as he left her standing there. How did she respond to that? She couldn't. And what scared her is that she knew he wasn't lying. What was worse is that she was glad he wasn't. "Go get ready. We'll go do something." Dave ordered. If she didn't get some clothes on he'd have to jump her no matter if she wanted him too or not.

"Don't you have to work?" She asked jumping out of her thoughts.

Dave shrugged. "Then you'll go to work with me." He replied as he took his seat back on the couch.

Brianna went to argue but just nodded her head. She didn't feel like arguing anymore. "I'll be out in twenty." She said quietly before heading to her bedroom.

Dave sighed and leaned his head back against the couch. He wasn't going to wait that much longer. He didn't have the patience to. He needed to have her. And have her soon.

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