Out Of The Friend Zone: Chapter 1Chandler Tiller carried his daughter Willow up the stairs to her bedroom. He lay her sleeping body down on the bed before he covered her up. "Goodnight Princess," he whispered, then kissed her forehead. He stood by her bed for a few minutes, watching her sleep. Even at seven years old, she looked so much like her mother. Chapter 2Brynn Chase sat on her couch waiting for her no-good husband to come home from 'work'. It was 10:30 at night, but she knew he had left the office hours ago. How did she know? Brynn had seen Nico walking down the street holding hands with some bleached blonde bimbo in a very short, tight skirt. Chapter 3Four weeks later, Brynn and Barrett pulled up behind a big moving truck. Their new house was in a town half an hour away from where they used to live. The school district was one of the best in the state, and the neighborhood was in a low crime area. By living here, Brynn could afford more house for her money, so that she and Barrett weren't stuck in a tiny box that the realtors had the nerve to call a house. Chapter 4Monday morning was Barrett's first day of school. With Chandler's permission, Brynn drove both him and Willow to school so that she could meet with the administrators to finalize Barrett's paperwork. She thought Willow might help Barrett make the transition smooth and easy, and Chandler agreed. Chapter 5A few months later, Brynn sat on her back deck after getting home from a long week at work. She was watching Barrett and Willow play catch and enjoying the nice July weather. When the phone rang, Brynn looked at the caller ID. Chapter 6The next morning, Brynn woke up with a monster headache. She rolled out of bed and headed straight for the medicine cabinet in her bathroom. She shook out three pills from a bottle of Advil, and put them into her mouth. After turning on the water faucet, she scooped up a handful of water and poured it into her mouth, washing the pills down her throat. Chapter 7Friday came all too quickly for Chandler and Brynn. Neither one was really looking forward to their dates, and on more than one occasion, both had tried to think of ways to get out of it. In the end, nothing worked, and the date was going to happen as planned. Chapter 8Brynn tossed and turned all night, thinking about everything that had happened with her and Chandler. She couldn't deny that she had feelings for him, and that his kisses made her feel like she was floating, but was she really ready to get into another relationship, and more importantly, was he? Chapter 9After breakfast, Chandler and Brynn strolled down the street filled with small shops, going into the ones of interest and looking around. Brynn had bought a few knick-knacks for her house, some clothes, and even managed to buy something for Chandler when he wasn't looking. Chapter 10Brynn groaned. Should they? Shouldn't they? Her body said one thing but her mind said another. She leaned her forehead against his and took deep breaths to get her emotions and body under control. "I want this right now, I want it bad, but is this how our first time together should be? Should there be more to it than just sex and a rush of hormones?" Chapter 11The next morning, Brynn woke up with a tickle in her nose. She tried to rub it away so that she could sleep longer, but nothing was getting rid of it. When she heard the giggle of little kids, she slowly opened one eye to see Willow and Barrett standing next to her bed with a feather. Brynn snapped her eye closed again, pretending she was still sleeping. Chapter 12The group managed to get to the baseball game with plenty of time to spare before the first pitch was thrown. Barrett and Willow were both so excited to be at their first major league baseball game. Their little eyes took in everything that the stadium had to offer as they looked around in awe. Chapter 13Brynn woke up the next morning wrapped tight in Chandler's arms. She had slept better last night than she had in years. It was a little odd for her at first, to have to share her bed with someone again, but lying so close to Chandler brought a peaceful feeling over her that she had never had, even when she was with Nico. She felt calm, and she felt safe...both things she hadn't felt in a while. Chapter 14Before Chandler was able to make it back downstairs, some of the dinner guests began showing up. Brynn didn't have any problem entertaining them, especially since Zaiden and Nyla were the first ones there. Zaiden knew the two guys, Pete and Tony, who had shown up after he did, so he helped Brynn by keeping them company until Chandler showed back up. Brynn was thankful to Zaiden for helping her, and she was even seeing him in a whole new light from when they went on their 'date'. Brynn was also happy because it gave her and Nyla some 'girl time' before everyone else started to show up. Chapter 15Chandler and Brynn slept soundly in each other's arms throughout the night, waking early for an encore performance. After they were both spent again, they lay together, holding one another in the afterglow. Chapter 16Two weeks had passed for Chandler and Brynn since that dreadful morning. Two weeks filled with rejected flower deliveries, unanswered phone calls, and a tortuous silence. Two weeks filled with the sorrow and anguish of what could have been, but was lost in a moment. Chapter 17After their talk, Brynn was slowly starting to warm up to Chandler again. Now, instead of completely ignoring him when she saw him outside, Brynn smiled and waved politely, then went on with her business. Chandler was confused by her actions at first, but soon he figured two things out. One, that Brynn had too much pride to come out and say she was sorry, or that she forgave Chandler, and two, that she was coming around and he'd have her back soon. Chapter 18The ride home seemed to take forever. The anticipation of what was to happen was driving both Chandler and Brynn to the verge of insanity. Brynn tried to keep her hands to herself while Chandler drove, but the temptation to reach out and touch him was just too strong. Chapter 19Sunday morning, Brynn woke up refreshed and happy. All she had to do was look to the man cuddling her in his strong, safe arms to know the reason. She watched as he slept peacefully, looking as if he didn't have a care in the world. Chapter 20After the last guest from the cookout had left, Brynn and Chandler looked at each other with a sigh of relief that it was finally over. They looked around Brynn's backyard to see how much of a mess they were going to have to clean up before they could call it a night. Chapter 21Brynn awoke the next morning, still tired and groggy from tossing and turning all night. Not only was she worried about the possibility of Chandler losing Willow, but she was also considering the prospect of them living together. She knew this wasn't a decision she could make at the drop of a hat, and she needed to talk to someone about it. Chapter 22When Chandler and Brynn got home, both of them were tired and decided to use the time alone to relax, rather than get in another 'workout'. The kids and babysitter would be back from the zoo shortly, so they decided to just sit in the hot tub and unwind. Chapter 23Brynn and Chandler woke late the next morning, after getting some much needed sleep. As she rolled to Chandler to put her head on his chest, a wave of nausea shot through her body. Chapter 24After a peaceful night, Brynn and Chandler woke up when their alarm went off. Almost as if it was on an alarm of its own, Brynn's nausea woke up too. Chandler followed her into the bathroom, trying to soothe her as her body revolted. When Brooklyn was pregnant, she rarely got sick, so the constant morning sickness that Brynn was experiencing was new to him. Chapter 25The week passed by rather slowly for Brynn. She couldn't wait for the weekend, when she and Chandler could spend more time together. Brynn spent the weekdays trying to get her home office ready for her to work out of, while trying to tie up loose ends at her office. She was also inundated with calls from people wanting to see their other house, in response to the 'For Rent' sign in the front yard. Chapter 26The next month passed rather uneventfully. Nyla and Zaiden made up and were discussing their future together. They hadn't agreed to move in together, but Brynn knew it was only a matter of time before they did. Chapter 27Chandler stood and walked over to the doctor. His feet felt like they were made of lead, his knees were like jelly, and his mouth like a desert. Chapter 28Sunlight poured through the slits of the blinds, aiming a beam straight at Brynn's closed eyes. As she willed her muscles to roll her body away from the light, they screamed out in agony. It was then that a realization hit Brynn...the realization that she was in pain. Groaning, memories of the accident rushed into her mind. Chapter 29Brynn lay in her hospital bed for nearly a week, pleading with her doctors to release her. As each day passed, not only did Brynn get stronger, but the baby growing inside of her did too. On the day that both her doctors agreed that she could go home, both Brynn and Chandler were elated. Chapter 30Brynn shifted on her side, feeling the soft feathery pillow beneath her head give ever so slightly as she moved, the mattress hugging every curve. The strong, comfortable arms of the man she loved with all her heart tightened around her, reassuring Brynn that he was still there. Somewhere between a dreamy state and being awake, Brynn smiled at the feel of his body next to hers. Chapter 31The days and weeks wore on endlessly for Brynn, with nothing more to do than lie on the couch, read, and watch TV. There was only so much she could read, so much that she could watch on TV, until it didn't hold her attention anymore. From her position on the couch, Brynn could see out into the back yard, where she longed to be running and playing with the kids. Instead, she was confined to the couch that she loved so much in the store, but now detested. She felt like she was going stir crazy, and seriously wondered if anyone ever died from such a serious case of 'cabin fever'. If they had, she was the next to go, for sure. Chapter 32Brynn waddled through the kitchen, making lunch for the kids to bring to school. She was now in her ninth month of pregnancy and felt as big as a house. She was constantly uncomfortable, and was just praying that the baby would decide to make its entrance into the world soon. The baby inside her was becoming just as restless as she was. It was constantly kicking and moving around, never giving its mother much respite. Also By Stephanie Nicole

Building Something Hot: Chapter One"Mom, I don't see why you feel the need to move all the way to Texas!" Briella stared at her mother. In all her twenty-four years, she had never faced something that made her so angry and so sad at the same time.Chapter TwoJameson flew back to New York the next day. He wasn't helping much with the move anyway. It seemed like all he did while he was there was complain and get in the way, so the girls were secretly pleased he was out of their hair.Chapter ThreeThe girls spent the next day helping Charlee finish unpacking. The house was really shaping up and already starting to look like a home. There was plenty of space that had yet to be filled, but Charlee would enjoy taking care of that in the months to come. When the last box was finally emptied, all three women gave a yell of victory and collapsed on the living room furniture.Chapter FourKason and Dexter spent the next hour showing Briella and Mila different sites along the lake. Briella couldn't help but notice how absolutely beautiful it was on the lake, like a wonderland of nature, and how lucky Kason was to live right beside it.Chapter FiveThe plane ride home was relatively quiet, with both girls lost in their own daydreams. When they landed in New York, they hailed a cab and went back to their apartment.Chapter SixThe next morning Mila and Briella headed to work. "You look like shit, honey. Did you even get any sleep?" Mila asked, looking at Briella's puffy eyes and the dark circles underneath.Chapter Seven"So, looks like you two worked things out?" Mila asked, and smiled at a very happy Kason and Briella.Chapter EightThe next morning Briella woke up in Kason's arms. She immediately remembered the night before and smiled broadly. She felt as if the whole world could fall down around her, but as long as she was in his arms, it wouldn't matter. She could get used to waking up with him like this every morning, if only they lived in the same city.Chapter NineWhen the guys got home that night, they called to let Briella and Mila know they'd made it. They sounded exhausted, so the girls didn't talk for too long. Briella and Mila thanked them for the shirts, and said they had been wearing them all day.Chapter TenThe girls wouldn't be able to see Dexter and Kason for another three weeks, until they made it to Texas. But as Kason reminded her, there were ways around that. Briella and Kason both bought webcams so they could see each other when they were talking on the computer. It wasn't the same as being together, but it was the next best thing. They spent plenty of time talking and watching each other while they did.Chapter ElevenThe next morning, Kason's alarm clock buzzed promptly at six. He tried to shut it off before it woke Briella, but it took too long because one of his arms was underneath her. She yawned and stretched as he shifted his arm and pushed the button to silence the alarm.Chapter TwelveTwo hours later, there was still no word on Charlee's condition. Kason was pacing in front of the nurse's station, waiting for someone to give him some new information. After another fifteen minutes, a doctor came out to the lobby of the ER.Chapter ThirteenWhen the group got to the hospital, they headed straight to the fourth floor. They were told by the nursing staff that Charlee had made some progress overnight, and that she was out of Intensive Care. Visitation was no longer limited to one person at a time for five minutes. Briella was elated to hear about her progress, and hoped that everything would be okay after all.Chapter FourteenEverything after that seemed to pass in a blur for Briella. There was so much to do, and that helped keep her from breaking down with grief. She notified all of Charlee's friends, then went to the funeral home to make arrangements. She chose a casket and headstone and made plans for the wake, all the while running on autopilot.Chapter FifteenMonday morning, everyone returned to work. No one was surprised when Briella announced she and Mila would be running the company, and that Kason was now a part owner. There were a few older architects who seemed resentful that people so young were now running the company. Briella sensed this and told everyone that if they were uncomfortable with the new management, they were free to leave and would get positive recommendations for new jobs.Chapter SixteenAfter a fun-filled weekend of shopping in New York, Briella found herself back at work Monday morning. It had been a typical Monday, between meetings, paperwork, and project updates, but that all changed with a single package that arrived just before lunch.Chapter Seventeen"Someone get over here and help her!" Kason yelled, with tears streaming down his face.Chapter EighteenThe wedding was only a month and a half away, and Briella and Kason were busy trying to tie up last minute plans. Mila had been traveling a lot, drumming up new business for the firm, making the demand for their designs higher than ever. Briella had to hire four new architects to ensure deadlines were met.Chapter NineteenA few days before the wedding, Briella went for her final dress fitting. Luckily, Briella's dress still fit, and if anything, it was a little too big in the waist. The bust was tighter, but looked as though it was made to fit that way.Chapter TwentyBriella and Kason sat in the limo cuddling on the way to the reception. The photographer had kept them and the wedding party at the church for forty-five minutes after the guests had left, then sent them on their way, telling them he would get more pictures at the reception. The wedding party was following in a different limo, giving Briella and Kason some time to be alone.Chapter Twenty-OneBriella and Kason sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office, nervously waiting to be called for Briella's first ultrasound. "We won't be able to see too much this early, mostly just the heartbeat," Briella told Kason.Chapter Twenty-TwoBriella lay in her bed watching Mila apply makeup in the bathroom. Mila was getting ready for her first date since she and Dexter had broken up, and she had asked Briella if she could get ready at her house, to avoid tension with Dexter.OTHER BOOKS BY STEPHANIE NICOLE