Will You Marry Me?

(Author's pov)

"Finally... I need at least 10 hours sleep so that I can feel refreshed..." Brinley said in a tired voice while stretching her back. Derek scrunched his face.

"My dear sissy... you had a queen size bed and enjoyed the whole time we were in there. Still, you need 10 hours sleep!? Idiot." Brinley pouted, getting visibly upset.

"Don't call me that! And mind your own business." Brinley said, pointing her finger sharply on his face.

"Okay, then come by yourself, I will mind my own business." Derek shrugged his shoulder and sat inside his car, signalling the driver to leave fast from there.

"HEY!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Brinley shouted in vain and sighed as she saw his car moving further and further away. Brinley started moving slowly on the streets of Dubai with her suitcase rolling behind her. She shivered in fear as soon as she saw a local rich resident strolling casually with a lion like his pet.

"UMM... I don't even know the name of the hotel I am staying in. He is such a jerk!! Who leaves their real sister alone in an unknown country alone with no information!?" Brinley groaned and kicked a small stone, looking down. The stone lightly hit a leather shoe of a man. She looked up slowly, getting ready to apologize to the man she hit unintentionally, but she got shocked to see who it was.

Yes, Adam Brooke.

"WHAT!?" Brinley screamed as if she saw a monster.

"What?" Adam was confused by her sudden screaming.

"What are you doing here?" Brinley said while rubbing her eyes.

"*Sigh* Xavier told me you were going to come." Adam said casually, Brinley stared at his face. He was looking hot in those black aviators.

"Why did he tell you? He was not supposed to tell you about me coming here." Brinley got upset and looked away, staring at moving cars for a while.

"Brinley why was he not supposed to tell me? I also care for you. Look, Derek left you alone here. You could have been in danger. If I didn't come to pick you up, how were you going to reach at my house?" Adam said and tucked his hands inside his suit pockets.

"Yeah, I know... don't care about me and do all that caring-for-sister sh*t act. Why are we going to your house? I'll stay in a hotel!" Brinley was stubborn and angry because Adam left without telling her and was again behaving with her like a brother would.

"Brinley mind your language. I care for you, but that doesn't mean you'll insult my feelings about you like this." Adam said in a serious tone and stared in her eyes sharply.

"Whatever." Brinley huffed as if annoyed and started walking ahead, ignoring Adam. Adam caught hold of her wrist before she could move further away and dragged her towards his navy blue lambo, making her sit in the passenger seat and fixing her seatbelt. Brinley just continued pouting, but she was happy from inside. She felt this shivering tingles in her heart when he was sternly yet politely making her sit and tucking her seatbelt.

"Take a picture if you want." Adam said, taunting her for staring at him for a long time. Brinley scoffed listening an old-rusty dialogue made by cringy men to make them look even more dashing, but she was smart enough to tackle his comment.

"Good idea, actually. That's what I deserve, right? Just a picture is enough for my survival." Brinley said, looking out through the window. The buildings and places passing by were noticeably more amusing than staring and arguing with him.

"What do you mean by that? Brinley I'm telling you very seriously this is not a joke stop all your fantasies, and it would be better if you concentrate on your studies rather than taking steps which might make your family and friends sad and upset." He unnoticeably told her not to take any self-harming step and to stop her fantasies about her love for him. Brinley just kept her mouth shut, not really feeling to reply to him.

Adam looked at Brinley's sad face as she was looking outside and sighed. He knew how much he was suppressing what was already cooking in his heart. He had to stop this spark before it causes a flame in his heart.

When they reached Adam's house, Brinley noticed Derek had already arrived. The house was large and fancy enough to fit at least 20 people inside. Brinley stared at the house in astonishment and rolled her suitcase, following Adam at a distance which went noticed by him. Adam was about to say something when she ignored him and moved inside the hallway towards the living room.

"You jerk! Why did you leave me alone there!?" Brinley shouted as soon as she spotted Derek lying lazily on the sofa while scrolling his phone.

"Trust me, you should be saying thank you. I gave you a chance to witness a lion in front of you roaming like a cat. Meow." Derek snickered, while Brinley clutched her fingers tightly, suppressing her anger.

"Thank you, my foot! So you were there when I was walking alone in the street!" Derek shrugged.

"Idiot, it's so obvious, why would I leave my sissy alone in the middle of a den of lions and sand." Derek laughed as he was enjoying troubling his little sister. Brinley gritted her teeth and was about to hit him hard on his back, but Adam stopped her and offered her a glass of orange juice.

"Drink this. You must be tired." He said and sat on the sofa.

"Anyways, you guys enjoy your 'making-up' session, I will go and enjoy Dubai. Adam I am borrowing your bike okay? Don't worry about me if I come late. Goodbye." He said and went outside. Brinley threw a pillow at him while he was walking outside, but it missed him barely. Adam sighed and leaned his head on the back of the couch.

"Umm... Adam, I'm sorry if I was rude earlier." Brinley said after thinking for a while about her actions towards him.

"Yes, you should be sorry." This shocked Brinley and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Why are you here? Look, I'm sorry that I couldn't accept your feelings that day, but Brinley you should try putting yourself in my shoes. You don't know how sad and upset I felt when you got kidnapped because of me." Adam rubbed his hair and facepalmed. Tears gathered in her eyes, she knew she has to be strong, but somewhere she was scared she might destroy this little friendship too because of her feelings.

"I-I know! I know how you feel, you always care for me, treat me nicely and make me smile all the time! You think I never saw love in your eyes for me before? The way you stare in my eyes, the way you do things for--" Adam interrupted Brinley and said,

"Brinley just stop. You are misunderstanding. Yes, I do love you. But as a brother, not someone whom you could spend your life with." Adam said and stared straight in her eyes.

"You... do you like someone else? I know this might sound desperate and obsessive of me, but just give me a chance to express what I am feeling right now." Brinley said, making Adam sigh.

"Okay, go ahead, what do you want to say." Adam said in a low voice and started drinking a glass of water to relax himself.

"I... I-Ugh... I am in love with you... I really like you Adam, not as a brother but as a man... so... uh... WILL YOU MARRY ME!?" She stuttered, but then she shouted like it was her last chance. Adam sprayed out all the water he had in his mouth and started coughing loudly. Brinley came near him and patted his back. Soon, Adam relaxed and sighed, rubbing his face.

"Brinley I have this huge desire to send you back right now to your home, but I can't do that because of your brothers." Adam said, looking at the floor.

"Adam, why are you ignoring my question? Answer me! I had gathered a lot of strength to propose, you know!?" Brinley said proudly.

"Brinley for god's sake... you're just 19 years old. Could you please stop being immature? I don't agree with your thinking, your proposal and your behavior. Go and take a rest for now you might have jet lag after such a long journey. Stop overthinking about things." Adam said and stood up from the couch and went in his room after telling Brinley where her room was. Whereas, Brinley burst out crying loudly, not caring if he hears or not.

'So what if I am 19 years old? Adam is just 23 years old... 4 years older than me... I know, there must be someone he likes. I will have no other choice than giving up on him...' Brinley thought in her mind and sniffed while drinking water. She went in her room and started unpacking.

--At Allen house--

*Ring* *Ring* The doorbell rang, Amelia had already left for her university. Gianna stood up and went towards the door but was surprised when Charlie went past her in full speed and grabbed the handle of the door using his jaw, opening the door like an expert, he barked loudly and launched himself in the arms of the person who rang the doorbell.

"Charlie! Bad manners! Come here!" Gianna said sternly. Charlie just barked, not willing to leave the arms of the person. Gianna came near the door, and soon she inhaled the familiar cologne.

"Xavier!?" She asked in surprise.

"You guessed right." Xavier chuckled, and his sexy deep voice sent chills down Gianna's spine. Gianna welcomed him inside her apartment. He came inside, carrying Charlie easily.

"Isn't he heavy?" Gianna asked in confusion.

"No. Just a little bouncy." Xavier said. He kept Charlie down, who immediately began bouncing and woofing around Xavier. Gianna giggled, feeling Charlie wagging his tail in express speed on her leg in excitement.

"Looks like Charlie has recognized you, and he missed you a lot." Gianna exclaimed as she ruffled Charlie fur on his head.

"Here, this is for you." Xavier said, handing over a baby pink with beautiful floral design and soft scarf to Gianna. She touched it and was confused as to what it was.

"What's this? A handkerchief?"

"No, it's a baby pink color scarf. You will look even more beautiful when you wear this over your dresses." Xavier cleared his throat after speaking, he was noticeably embarrassed. Gianna smiled brightly, looking at which Xavier clutched his chest and whimpered silently.

"You know it was not necessary. Just you visiting here makes me very happy." Gianna said and held his hand patting it twice. Xavier was trying very hard to cover his smile and stop the blush which was warning to rise on his cheeks.

"No. Just wear it. Take it as an order." Xavier tried his best to sound like a boss but what came out was like a puppy whinning for a treat. Gianna chuckled and went towards the kitchen, Xavier following behind her closely.

"So...? What would you like to have? I have this huge collection. Choose anything." Gianna sounded like a professional cafe owner.

"Whatever you make with all your heart in it, even if it's poison." Gianna's eyes widened in shock hearing his reply.

"Stop joking, don't speak like that Xavier... please." Xavier noticed her eyes becoming a little moist. He went ahead and hugged her.

"Okay, okay. Don't cry, alright? I am sorry. I was just joking." Xavier softly patted her back and rubbed her back to sooth her. Gianna hugged him back and stayed in the same position for around five minutes. She left from his arms and rubbed her eyes to remove the little tears which had formed earlier.

"It's okay. Tell me now without joking what will you have?" Gianna said in a little stern voice.

"Hmm... a cappuccino would be great for me. What are you going to make for yourself?" Xavier asked her curiously.

"I think something more sweet than usual... caramel latte it is!" Gianna thought for a few seconds and decided.

"How about you wait in the living room? It will take just a few minutes to--" Xavier interrupted her and said,

"No I will watch how you make. You don't let Charlie do all the work right?" Xavier was in mood to tease her a lot today afterall he met her after so many days. Gianna pouted and started doing her work without feeling necessary to reply.