Mister Cowboy, page 7
“I feel great. Tonight has been magical,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Magical, huh?”
“Don’t ruin it,” she chided.
He nodded to Michael, and in an unspoken exchange of hand motions and lip reading, he explained that he was taking her home. He texted Edward to let him know they were headed outside before sliding from the booth and pulling January to her feet.
“Ready to head out, beautiful?”
“Mmm. Bed.” She listed toward him, both her palms landing on his chest. “Are we gonna have sex now?”
He chuckled under his breath. She was a mess, but it was hard not to laugh at her. Drunk January was irresistible and far less concerned with rules and conventions. He did his best to wrap her arm over his shoulders, and they slowly navigated down the stairs with her on her feet.
She stopped dead in her tracks only a few steps from the front door. For a moment, she looked stone-cold sober. Standing a little taller, her eyes focused in on him with an intense narrowing. “You didn’t answer me. Are you taking me to bed?”
Pushing a loose tendril of hair back behind her ear, he smiled at her, wishing that was exactly what he was going to do. “Not tonight.”
11
January
Faint voices woke her, and January rolled over in bed, squeezing her eyes closed at the first pang of a headache that she knew would only get worse when she opened her eyes.
Champagne was a bad idea.
Champagne was always a bad idea.
Sitting up slowly and opening her eyes, she fought for a sense of balance as she looked around and realized she was not at home.
The room had mostly stark, white walls. A large television on the wall in front of the bed, a nightstand on one side with a fancy looking alarm clock that had more buttons and numbers than she could make sense of in her current state. The bed, which was a large four-post masterpiece that had a glorious view of the sunrise starting to peek over the horizon, was the most interesting thing about the room.
Forcing herself from the bed, she was relieved to find she was still in the dress from last night. She grabbed a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around herself, hoping the thick, soft blanket would shield her from any embarrassment from last night’s actions.
Brecken was a sight. He was kicked back on a black couch in sweats and a black t-shirt, his bare feet were propped up on the glass coffee table in front of him, and a large bowl of cereal rested in his lap. He was watching CNBC like a kid sprawled out on Saturday morning watching his favorite cartoon.
“Hi.” Her voice came out low and gravelly.
He directed his attention to her as he spooned a large bite of cereal into his mouth.
“Mornin’,” he said in a crunchy murmur.
She walked toward a large window that peered down at the city below. Unlike the bedroom, this room had personality and she could tell from the laptop sitting on the far end of the couch and his casual demeanor that this was the room he spent the most time in. Her eyes were drawn to a metal bookcase on the far wall. Floor to ceiling and wall to wall, there were books on every shelf.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I should still be in bed. Sorry about last night. It gets a little blurry after you showed up. Hopefully, I didn’t do anything too embarrassing.” She pulled the blanket tighter and sat on a matching black loveseat across the room from him.
He put his cereal bowl down on the table, the spoon clanging against the side. “Did you have a good time?”
“Yes. I did actually.”
“Good. Nothing to be sorry for.”
Her eyes fell to the pillow and blanket strewn over the couch he was sitting on. “Oh my gosh, did I throw you out of your own bed?”
“You passed out before we got here. I wasn’t sure how you’d react waking up in bed with me with no memory of how you got there.”
Her cheeks warmed at the thought of him seeing her in such a vulnerable state. “Thank you. You could have taken me home to my own bed.”
“I could have, but then I wouldn’t have been able to see you this morning.”
“No ranch again today?”
He stood and carried his empty bowl to the sink. “No ranch for either of us. Tina and I have several meetings in the office today, so I’m declaring it a vacation day for you. Take today to sleep and recoup.”
“I guess there are some perks to you being my boss.”
“Ah, not anymore. Tina is your boss now.”
Silence hung between them as he stood smiling, and she shifted awkwardly from one bare foot to the other. What was the social protocol for gracefully exiting a man’s home. Was there one? She didn’t know.
Standing and folding the blanket, she avoided eye contact. “I should get home.” She tossed the blanket on the couch and made her way over to where her purse sat on the counter. All the while, she tried to appear confident in yesterday’s clothes. It was a feat, considering her hair was a mess and her mouth tasted like . . . well, it tasted terrible. “Thank you again. I’m really glad you came last night.”
“Wait.” He held up his hand but stayed standing across the room. “Stay here. You can shower, sleep, order takeout, whatever you want. Then, when I get home, maybe we can have dinner.”
Pulling her bottom lip behind her teeth, she considered his offer. Part of her would love to stay wrapped in his sheets all day, but the saner part felt a little off balance and a lot like he had the upper hand. “I should go home, check in with Michael, and thank him for last night. Besides, I need to change, brush my teeth, wash my face.” She waved her hand in front of her as if it was obvious what a mess she was. It was to her.
“I talked to Michael this morning. He knows you’re alive and well. I have some clothes you can wear, and I’m sure I can rustle up a spare toothbrush.” He disappeared down the hallway and returned a moment later holding a toothbrush with a proud look on his face. “When I get home, I’ll take you by your place to change before dinner.”
Holding the toothbrush out for her, he lifted his eyebrows.
“You have an answer for everything,” she said, taking the toothbrush.
“Yes. So, it’s useless to protest.” He hovered near her, and she half hoped and half worried that he was going to kiss her. Their first kiss tasted like Jägermeister, the next one absolutely could not taste like morning breath. She would forever be known as the girl he took out that had terrible breath. She backed away a step.
“Why do you want me to stay here when you aren’t even going to be home? I could just meet you for dinner later.”
“Yeah, you say that now, but I feel a last-minute text message cancelation coming if I let you leave. That hangover is going to get worse and you’re not going to want to move. I’d rather you not move at my place.”
With a sigh, she let her eyes drift to the windows behind him. She didn’t want to leave and didn’t know why she was trying to. Besides, she knew that if she wanted to leave while he was at work, Michael was a phone call away. “Which way is the shower?”
Silent, but wearing a victorious grin, he led her through his bedroom to a large bathroom. He walked to the center and lifted his arms in the air as he turned and started pointing out the obvious features. “Shower, tub, there’s extra towels in the cabinet there. Use whatever you like. If you need anything else, let Edward know.”
He left her in the bathroom without another word, and she looked around, taking her time. The bathroom was large, white, and stark, a lot like his bedroom. The dual sink vanity looked a little sad with his toothbrush and toiletries on one side. The other side bare. Without thinking it through, she walked toward the empty side and placed her new toothbrush on the vanity, staring at the mess of a woman looking back in the mirror with a large grin on her face.
What have I gotten myself into?
When she finally pried herself out of the bathtub, feeling clean and a whole lot more like herself, she tiptoed into the bedroom and peeked out into the living room. Brecken was gone. Shutting the bedroom door in case she was wrong, she moved to the bed where he’d laid out a t-shirt and sweats, which were far too big, in a tidy pile. Pulling the shirt over her head and forgoing the sweats, she smiled at the smell of him. It clung to the clothes and made the morning perfect for lying around.
12
Brecken
“Brecken?”
“Hmmm?”
“I was asking about the presentation for Morris Technologies. Are we ready?”
“Yes. We’re ready. We’re always ready,” he answered without looking to Tina, who was clearly annoyed. He could hear it in her tone. Not that he could blame her. He’d been spacing out all morning and wondering if January bolted the minute he left.
“And the merger meeting is next week. Are you still going?”
“Yeah, I know you aren’t on board with the idea, but I want to at least hear Dan out.”
“I didn’t say a word,” Tina held her hands up defensively.
“Your face says it all. I’d like to bring you along and get your thoughts on his proposal, but I need you to keep an eye on things here while I’m gone.”
The idea of merging his company put a bad taste in his mouth, but he wanted to go in with an open mind. He’d done well and had poured every ounce of himself into this company. Blood, sweat, and even a few tears. His success was largely thanks to his hermit ways. But he was still a small fish in a big pond and wanted to see if he was ready to fix that.
How would his life change if his company continued to grow and became public? He thought of January. Her dedication to her career and her friends. She’d managed to have both, albeit she was less successful professionally than he was, but she seemed content. Happy even. Was it possible for him to have both a successful career and a relationship with someone like January?
“Are you married?” he asked.
She looked at him curiously. “No. What kind of question is that?”
“The personal variety. I don’t know anything about your life outside of work.”
“That’s because I don’t have a life outside of work.”
He waited, staring her down until she gave in with a sigh. Taking off her glasses, she leaned back in her chair. “My parents live in Arizona, as well as an older brother and his family. I moved here only a few months before I started working for you.”
Nodding, he sat back in his chair and looked out the window. “Think there’s more out there for us? Family, friends?”
She shook her head adamantly. “I like my life. I’m good at my job, and it makes me happy. I don’t need a spouse or friends to feel complete.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right.” The words tasted like a bad omen as he said them aloud, and he knew by the reaction in his gut that he did want those things. His job wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted more.
“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 night of 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
Waking up 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 unmistakable click of 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.”
She reached for the Pad Thai while Brecken grabbed two plates. Her eyes lingered on him as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. The suit was a traditional style in black, but the bold colors and intricate knot of his tie remained true to his eccentric style.
Their eyes met, and he flashed a wicked, knowing smile. She’d been caught checking him out, but he looked too good to look away.
“Did you sleep while I was gone?” He handed her a plate and spooned a generous serving of Som Tam on his own.
“Yeah, your bed is heavenly. I could sleep in it forever.” Her face warmed as the intimate suggestion of her words sank in. He winked but didn’t rib her about it, which was surprising.
“This is delicious.” She closed her eyes and let the food ease the hunger pains. When she pried them open a colorful bouquet of pink roses was inches from her face. Placing a hand over her mouth as she continued to chew, she looked from the beautiful flowers to the gorgeous man sitting next to her.
“You sure know how to treat a girl. Almost makes this hangover worth it.” She set the plate down and groaned as her stomach flipped.
Concern etched his features. “Not feeling well?”
“My stomach is a little upset,” she admitted, feeling ridiculous after he obviously spent so much effort on the lunch surprise. “I’ll be okay. Maybe food isn’t the best idea yet. What time do you have to be back at the office?”
“I’m not going back. I’m staying right here.” He pulled out his phone, placed it on the coffee table, and then drew her close to him as he leaned back into the couch.
Holding herself up so her entire weight didn’t rest on him, she spoke without facing him. “You really don’t have to go back to work?”
“I took the afternoon off.”
“Do you do that often?” She had imagined him working the same sort of insane hours her father did, and days off weren’t something she remembered her father taking very often.
“Honestly? No. I can’t remember the last time I took a day off.”
The vibration of his deep voice rattled against her back, and it was oddly comforting.
This time, she did turn to look at him, which put their faces so close she could feel his breath. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the nose. With a laugh, she turned back around and relaxed into his hold.
“Comedy, drama, cooking shows?” he asked, flipping the television on.
“You watch cooking shows?”
“Only Giada. Giada is hot.”
She laughed. “Whatever you want. I just like the noise.”
