"UGHHHHH!"
Katie huffed, her Prada Dégradé Paillette slingback sandals clicking away as she angrily marched towards her car.
"Already, everything is going wrong." The brunette hissed under her breath. "First day of planning a damn wedding, and these stupid heels-"
And the next thing she knew, she was knocked against the ground.
"Hey!" She squealed as she felt the man's arms wrap around her waist, lifting her up to hold her against his chest.
"Oh my gosh. Katie-bear, are you okay?"
James felt like slamming his head against a wall. Jo had warned him not to be late, and yet that is exactly what he did. Of course, it was not intentional… Somehow he had overslept; his mussed brunette hair and his tired looking eyes were proof of that. But to top it all off, was it really necessary for him to knock Katie off her feet? Literally?
"Katie?"
The woman blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. And yet, she her brain could not register the image of James, her James, holding her in his arms ever so delicately.
"James?" She whispered, the sweet sound of her voice mumbling his name made James shudder.
Then they made the horrible mistake of looking into each other's eyes.
They were lost. Hopelessly, endlessly, completely…lost.
Katie could feel the warmth of James' chest under her fingertips while her body was temptingly pressed against his body, causing the innocent blush on her face to deepen. Her cheeks felt as though they were being pressed against the sun itself, turning a lovely shade of scarlet as Katie realized how close her face was to James.
"W-What are you doing here?" Katie mumbled, frozen in her place. While she had the urge to push James away, she couldn't. She was glued, hypnotized and utterly paralyzed by the man in front of her as his hazel eyes lingered on her glossed lips.
Katie's heart stopped. Perhaps she was exaggerating. There was no way on earth that James Diamond would be staring at his best friend's sister's lips in such a sensual manner. She must've imagined it!
"I…I'm here for Jo." James slowly replied, coming out of his daze. "She told me to come in her place since she… uh, kind of threw up."
"Well, why didn't she just call me? We could've simply rescheduled. You didn't have to come all the way down here just to tell me that Jo couldn't make it."
"Actually, Jo wanted me to help you get started on your wedding."
The brunette merely looked at James. This time, however, her eyes were wide and full of astonishment.
"You? Help me plan my wedding?" Katie laughed. "That's hilarious, James."
James, in turn, gasped, "How dare you think that I'm joking? I'm perfectly capable of helping you get started. You act as though planning a wedding is rocket science."
"Oh, please. It may not be the simplest task in the world, but it's not your average birthday party either. Do you have any idea how much effort I have to put into this wedding? There's a reason I'm getting married in a year, not next week!"
James sighed. "Fine, whatever. Either way, you should let me help. Come on, Katie. I'm your best friend, aren't I?"
"Well-"
"Best guy friend?"
"Uhm…No."
James immediately released Katie, allowing the brunette to step away from him and breathe. "What do you mean no?"
Katie, on the other hand, grinned. Even after the brutal response, James' heart skipped a beat. (Or perhaps a couple of beats.)
"Kendall will always be my best guy friend, silly."
"Psh!" James rolled his eyes. "Brothers don't count. Doesn't that make me your best guy friend now?"
Please don't say Tyler. Pllleeeaasseee don't say Tyler. James prayed in his mind.
"You're an idiot." Katie grumbled, wobbling back into Starbucks. She was definitely feeling the impact of the fall now.
She was sure she had gained a couple of bruises, especially with such contact with the dirty, concrete floor. Considering she had heels, Katie considered herself lucky to not have broken any bones. (Or her expensive shoes. Especially her expensive shoes.)
So when James nearly collided with her again in an effort to catch up, Katie was ready to beat him up.
"If you make me fall again, I swear-"
"I'm sorry, Katie. But I needed to ask you…are we making the plans for your wedding then? Cause I brought a notepad and everything. Jo wrote down some ideas for the venue and such. She told me that you definitely have to tell her what day your wedding is though."
James smiled, hoping that Katie wouldn't see through his façade. If she didn't let him help her with her wedding, there would be no hope of making her fall in love with him. She had to let him help her…
"Fine. The 22nd of June. A Saturday, of course. And hurry up. We have to get a table and a Mocha Cookie Crumble before you have to carry me in. My feet hurt."
"Yes, ma'am!" James winked, lifting Katie up in his arms bridal-style.
"James!" Katie shrieked. After realizing she was off the floor-and that her feet were no longer throbbing- the brunette started giggling. "Put me down, please."
"Absolutely not."
Katie sighed, wrapping her arms around James' neck for support. "You know, I was kidding earlier. You are definitely my best guy friend. Only my best guy friend would carry me to Starbucks, despite how ridiculous he probably looks at the moment."
James smiled at the girl in his arms, briefly forgetting that she was engaged. "And you, Katie, are mine."
The brunette laughed, "Your best guy friend?"
James stuck his tongue out. "No."
No, Katherine. James thought. You are mine.
I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long! I just lacked motivation. Thank you for all those nice reviews! You definitely inspired me to force myself to write a chapter.
-Loreli