Page 26 of Mister Cowboy
“I’m going to take the afternoon off. I’ll be available on my cell if you need anything.” Brecken stood and moved toward the door. His feet couldn’t move fast enough.
“Brecken, are you okay?”
“Yeah, great. I just need an afternoon. Tell Nadia to cancel anything scheduled for this afternoon.”
She nodded slowly, peering at him suspiciously through narrowed eyes, but he couldn’t stick around and give her the opportunity to ask him why he was suddenly interested in her home life. She was happy with her situation, and a week ago, he was too. Not anymore, though.
I want more.
* * *
The nightof his senior prom, Brecken’s father pulled him aside. Heart to hearts weren’t Samuel Blackstone’s style, but he led them out on the front porch, and he gave his version of the birds and the bees. The exact words were hazy, but Brecken remembered the gist: Treat women well, and if you’re lucky enough to get to sleep with one, remember that your manners don’t end when it’s over.
He hadn’t gotten lucky that night, but the words hit him as he flew out of his office to find January. There was no doubt in his mind that he would have held that as his life’s motto even today if his father hadn’t simultaneously wrecked that and all respect Brecken had for him in one terrible revelation. He believed that even if his father had been talking out of his ass, he’d gotten one thing right.
Funny, he hadn’t thought about that advice for years, but he let the memory continue to trickle back as he wandered the aisles of the florist shop, trying to pick an arrangement.
He scoffed softly. That night had been the last time he gave flowers to a girl, too.
A woman stepped from behind the counter and walked toward him. “Can I help you, sir?”
“I’m looking for something simple, elegant, and pink,” he said, remembering January’s pink lips and hoping like hell he was going to get to taste them again.
13
January
Wakingup the second time in Brecken’s glorious bed was far less startling. In fact, January had rested a little too effortlessly. She threw back the covers as her stomach growled and walked in the direction of the kitchen in pursuit of food.
The fridge was almost empty. A dozen eggs, a carton of milk, and every condiment known to man. Opening the pantry next, she laughed as her eyes fell to several shelves filled with colorful boxes. He had at least fifteen different brands of cereal. The man had everything from Froot Loops to Raisin Bran.
Grabbing the Cheerios, she flipped open the top of the box and pulled out a handful. Her stomach was too angry to mess around with a bowl or milk.
The sound of an elevator dinging from the other side of the wall reminded her where she was and how removed and quiet it was. Granted she’d been sleeping most the day, but there was no constant bustle of people coming and going like there was at her apartment. Being there felt like she was removed from everyone and everything.
She froze at the sound of keys jingling and the unmistakableclickof the front door opening. Brecken entered the apartment, scanning the room until his eyes found her and then he flashed her a boyish grin.
She tried to swallow, but the dry cereal stuck to the back of her throat, and her eyes teared as she struggled to cough the tiny circles back up.
“You’re still here.”
Trying to speak, her eyes continued to water, and she nodded instead. He moved past her, grabbed a glass, and filled it with water before handing it to her. It was only after she lifted it to her mouth that he dropped his eyes to her bare legs. His shirt, which was big on her, only just covered her assets.
She took a long drink and then cleared her throat.
“Better?”
“Yes, thanks. You surprised me.”
“That was the idea. I brought lunch.” He held up two takeout bags that he’d dropped on the counter in his rush to rescue her from the cereal debacle. “Unless you’d rather have dry cereal,” he said, not hiding his appalled tone.
“Says the guy who has twenty different kinds of cereal in his pantry.”
“I like to mix it up.” He raised his eyebrows and motioned with his head to the living room.
They sat on the couch next to each other, and he pulled out three takeout containers from the bags.
“I took a chance you liked Thai. You can have your pick.” He opened the containers placed each on the table in turn. “Pad Thai with chicken, Kao Phad with beef, or Som Tam.”
