Love Is a Breeze (13 page)

“It’s hardly noticeable. I’m sure a good cleaners can take care of it.”

“What’s going on between you and John?” Kaitlyn demanded.

Brianna stopped applying lip-gloss and stared at Kaitlyn’s reflection. “There’s nothing going on. What do you mean?”

“I think you know exactly what I mean.” Kaitlyn turned to face Brianna.

“Not a clue,” Brianna dropped the lip-gloss into her purse and turned to leave.

Kaitlyn brushed past and stood in her path. “You know, I can make your life miserable.”

“I’m sure you can.” Brianna tossed her hair and swished through the door.

The men stood as they returned to the table. Brianna avoided looking at John and gave Brian a grimace. In their absence the food had been served.

“That was good timing,” Brian said, holding Brianna’s chair.

“This looks great,” Brianna said.

John took a bite of his steak. “Hmmm, this is delicious. Would you like a bite?” He asked Brianna.

At her nod, he cut another bite, reached across the table and fed it to her. Kaitlyn looked from one to the other.

“I’d like a bite,” Kaitlyn simpered.

‘I didn’t think you ate red meat.” John cut another piece and moved his plate toward her.

She glared. “You’re right. I don’t.” She picked up her fork and viciously stabbed her salmon.

“I believe it’s already dead, Kaitlyn,” Brianna quipped.

Brian burst out laughing. Unfortunately, John had just taken another bite of his filet and started choking. Brian jumped up and preformed the Heimlich maneuver on him. The morsel lodged in John’s throat flew out and landed right in the middle of Kaitlyn’s salmon.

Brianna reached over and removed the steak from Kaitlyn’s plate.

“John, Kaitlyn doesn’t eat red meat.”

Kaitlyn threw down her fork and pushed her chair back, nearly knocking it over.

“I’ve had enough,” she said. “John, take me home.” She picked up her purse.  “Now!”

“For Pete’s sake, Kaitlyn. Give him a minute to catch his breath,” Brian said.

John took a couple of swallows of water and pushed back his chair. “I’m fine. Not everyone is finished eating, Kaitlyn.”

“Well, I’m quite finished. If you won’t take me, get me a cab.”

“But, Brianna…” John started to say.

“For  heaven’s sake, John. She’s a big girl. Let Brian take her home.”

“I’d be happy to drive her home, sir,” Brian said.

John frowned at Brian and turned to Brianna.

“That’s fine. Brian can take me home.” She smiled at Brian.

“Fine,” John said. “Do you have your key?”

Brianna shook her head.

“I’ll leave mine with the security guard.”

Kaitlyn stopped, raised her brows and dropped her jaw. “What?” she shrieked.

“I’ll explain later, Kaitlyn,” John said, guiding Kaitlyn quickly through the tables to the exit before she caused a scene.

When they disappeared from sight Brian turned to Brianna. “You live with him?”

“Well– sort of – yes. It’s a long story.”

Between bites Brianna told Brian her tale and before they were finished eating both were laughing.

“I’ll bet this is one blind date you won’t soon forget,” Brianna said.

“And, it’s a bet you’d easily win,” Brian said, taking her hand.

                                                               * * * *

Brianna eased the door closed and locked it, careful not to disturb John.

“Do you know what time it is?” A voice boomed from a corner of the dark living room.

She jumped and turned. Leaning against the closed door, she willed her galloping heart to slow. When she could breathe again, she retorted, “No, but if you’ll turn on a light, I’ll look at the clock for you.”

“Very funny. It’s three AM.” John rose, switched on a lamp and moved to lean against the back of the sofa, bracing an arm on either side. “Where have you been?”

“I was with Brian.” She straightened. “I wasn’t aware I had a curfew.”

“I know you were with Brian, and you don’t have a curfew, but you should be considerate of someone waiting up for you.”

“I didn’t know you were going to wait up.” Brianna took a step toward him. “Why did you?”

“I didn’t think you would be this late. I was concerned. The club closed at one. Where were you?”

“Do you want details or will the highlights do because I’m really sleepy.” She moved toward her bedroom door.

John looked at her intently for a moment. “Highlights will do.”

Brianna attempted to smooth her windswept hair. “We stayed at the club dancing until it closed. After that, we took a walk along the shore.”

John took a step toward her. “So, you like Brian.”

“Yes. He’s very nice.” She noticed John’s frown and narrowed eyes. “What? You don’t like him?”

“Of course, I like him, otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen him for your date. But I wouldn’t expect you to like him so much on a first date.”

Brianna studied her toes for a few seconds before looking at him. “Oh, I get it. You didn’t have a good time and you’re upset because I did.”

“That’s ridiculous.” John turned and walked toward the patio door.

“Oh, so you did have a good time?”

“No. That’s beside the point. We’re talking about you.” He slid the door open. “Come to think of it, this whole thing is your fault.”

Brianna paused with a hand on her doorknob and turned back to face him. “My fault?” She crossed the room. “How is it my fault?”

“You insisted I ask Kaitlyn out.” He looked down at her.

“Then it’s your fault for listening to me. You know her better than I do.” Brianna stalked back to her room. John followed and caught her by the elbow turning her around before she could open the door.

“Tell me more about your date.” His eyes scanned her tousled hair.

“Can this wait until morning? I’m really tired.”

“Did he kiss you?” he said, focusing on her lips.

Brianna jerked her head up. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s not but I want to know.”

She ran her tongue across her lower lip. “Why?” she said, conscious of their bodies nearly touching but unaware of which one had moved.

“I don’t know,” John said, lowering his head.

Brianna backed up until the doorknob jabbed her spine.

“Well, if you must know, we made mad, passionate love in the sand.”

John stepped back and glared at her. Brianna glared back.

He grabbed his suit coat from the back of the sofa and swung it over his shoulder. The strong scent of Obsession struck Brianna as he turned toward his room.

Brianna sneezed and waved a hand in front of her face. “Smells like you had a good time.” She walked to the patio door. “I need some fresh air.”

John stopped. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He followed her onto the balcony.

“You have Kaitlyn’s trademark all over you. Did you kiss her?” She moved to the balustrade and leaned back against it striking John’s favorite pose, arms folded across her chest, feet crossed at the ankles, and waited for his answer.

“And, if I did, would you care?” John advanced.

Brianna moved her hand up to her throat.

“I– no.” She shook her head, averting her eyes. “I couldn’t care less what you do or who you do it with.”  Turning toward the lake, she grasped the railing for support lest she be struck dead by a truth gnome.

“I think you’re lying,” John said, so close his breath stirred her hair.

Brianna whirled around and pushed at his chest.

“How dare you–” Her words were cut short when John pulled her to him.

His mouth crushed hers. John’s hand tunneled beneath her hair to grasp her head while his other arm molded her softness to his hard frame. Breathing became impossible. Her arms encircled his neck. Coherent thought abandoned her. Her feet dangled freely above the terrace floor. Sandals fell unheeded. Time ceased to exist. Heat consumed them.

As suddenly as it began, it ended. John set her down and peeled her arms from his neck. He turned his back, thrusting his hands through his hair before bracing them on the rail. Brianna sank onto a chaise, not sure what was real and what was imagined. She drew much needed air and tested her legs for strength before standing.

She opened her mouth. Something between a squeak and a sob escaped.

Without turning, John said, “Go to bed, Brianna.”

“John, I–”

“Go, Brianna. Now.” She fled to her room.

CHAPTER fourteen

Brianna stared at the ceiling. She’d barely slept. Every time her eyes closed her lips recalled the searing heat of his kiss. She tossed between savoring the feeling and rationalizing it.  Finally coming to the conclusion that it was born of frustration and anger. Though why John was angry remained a mystery.

Footsteps paused outside her room as light began to peek through the drapes. She closed her eyes and held her breath. A few seconds later the steps resumed. The front door opened and  closed.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she reached for her phone and called Carly.

Half an hour later Brianna sat in a small beach front bistro stirring a cup of tea and staring at the lake. Carly sat opposite her and slid a muffin across the table. Brianna pushed it back, shaking her head.

“I’ve been here five minutes and you haven’t said a word,” Carly said, pushing the muffin back to Brianna. “I assume you didn’t ask me to meet you so I could watch you stare out the window.”

“He kissed me.” Brianna continued stirring her now cold tea.

“Who kissed you? Your blind date? And, that’s bad because…?”

“John.”

Carly set her cup down, sloshing coffee onto the table. A smile played at the corner of her mouth. “And, that’s bad because…?”

Brianna looked up at her. “Because he was angry.” She averted her gaze. “And I don’t know why.”

“Brianna, look at me.” She reached over and turned Brianna’s face toward her. “Nobody kisses someone because they’re angry. Tell me everything. I need details, girl!”

Reliving the scene evoked feelings similar to those she experienced during the kiss but she suppressed them, choosing to focus on the negative. “He pushed me away. I think he regretted it. Anyway, it didn’t mean anything. He was just angry. I don’t know how I’m going to face him.” Brianna hid her face behind her hands, then pushed her hair back. She gave Carly a cheerless smile and released a shaky breath.

Carly studied her for a moment before speaking. “I don’t think he regrets kissing you. And, I don’t think it was anger. I think he’s jealous.”

“Jealous! You’re insane, Carly. Why would you think that?”

“He waited up for you, didn’t he? He asked you if you liked Brian, then got angry when you said you did. He asked you if Brian kissed you. Think about it, Bree. Why would he want to know that?”

“I don’t know.” Brianna slumped down in her chair.

“Oh, I think you do. You just won’t admit it.” Carly leaned back. “You’re in love with him – we both know that. Why is it so hard to imagine that he might feel the same?”

“Because.” – Brianna searched Carly’s face for answers but only got a smug look. “It just is.”

Carly moved to the seat next to Brianna and took both her hands in hers. “Listen to me. You can’t think of a single reason, can you?” Brianna shook her head and Carly continued. “ It’s quite possible, probable even, that he feels the same way. Talk to him.”

“And what, exactly, am I supposed to say to him?” She pulled her hands from Carly’s. “Oh, John, by the way, are you in love with me? Yeah, that’ll work.”

“Now who’s being silly?” Carly quipped.

“Why don’t you come home with me and you can ask him?” Brianna said, half hoping she would.

“I would but,” she looked at her watch and stood. “Gee, would you look at the time. I have to pick Rob up in twenty minutes. Call me later.”

“I’ll call you a chicken.”

Carly clucked all the way to the door. She turned and blew a kiss to Brianna before walking out. Brianna blew a raspberry at her.

After spending the afternoon kicking pebbles along the lake shore, Brianna was no more clear-headed than when she started. She carefully picked her way along the rocky shoreline back to the condo. The sidewalk would have been faster but she wasn’t particularly in a hurry – actually she wanted to prolong the inevitable as long as possible.

“Talk to him,” Carly had said. Words swam around in her head but they refused to come together in coherent sentences. She picked up a flat rock and skipped it across the surface, wishing she could be a dragonfly riding on it.

All too soon she arrived at the high rise. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and entered the building. After taking some time to chat with the doorman and the security guard, she punched the button for the elevator. It opened immediately.
Just my luck
. She got in and pushed the button for John’s floor. The elevator shot to the twenty-fifth floor like a souped-up Mustang.

Digging her key out of her pocket, she walked to the door and leaned her head on it while fitting the key into the lock. Before she could turn the key, the door opened and she tumbled head-first into John’s stomach sending them crashing to the floor.

So much for sneaking into my room.
 

Brianna rolled off him and sat up.

“Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” She looked at John who struggled to catch his breath.

“It’s okay. I’m getting used to it.” John stood and offered a hand to help Brianna to her feet. “Where have you been? I was beginning to worry about you.”

“I went for a walk.” Brianna answered. She noticed John’s raised eyebrow and added, “A long one.”

“Dinner is nearly ready. Are you hungry?”

She shook her head. “I ate a hot dog on the beach. I’m going to take a shower.” She turned toward her room.

“Come out to the terrace when you’re through. We need to talk.”

Scratch Plan B.

She really just wanted to go to bed but she knew she couldn’t avoid him for a whole week until her apartment was ready.

Brianna nodded.

Forty minutes later she stepped onto the terrace barefoot, her hair still damp. John watched her approach. He offered her a glass of wine from the bottle on the table. She declined – better not confuse her brain more than it already was.

John leaned back against the balustrade and sipped his wine. Brianna squirmed under his scrutiny.

“I know what you want to talk about and it’s okay. I understand. You were frustrated and angry. It didn’t mean anything.” Brianna avoided his eyes, leaning on the railing beside him.

John was silent for a few minutes before he walked to the table and set his glass down. He turned toward her.

“It meant something to me.”

Brianna looked up and met his eyes.

He continued. “For the record, I was not angry.” He took a step toward her. She ran her tongue over her dry lower lip. He took another step, then another until there was no space left between them. He reached up and traced his thumb along the path her tongue had taken. His fingers splayed beneath her ear, then traveled to the back of her neck. Brianna’s heart banged against her ribs, a small moan escaped.

“Please tell me it meant something to you, too,” he said.

Brianna stood paralyzed. He lowered his head until she inhaled his breath and his mouth closed over hers. Her hand traveled up his chest, she felt the steady beat of his heart before raising on her tiptoes to circle his neck. Her other hand found its way to his back where she stroked the hard smooth muscles.

The pressure of his mouth increased. He cradled her head with one hand and caressed her spine with the other. His tongue traced her parted lips before pushing inside to tango with hers.

She whimpered when John left her mouth to rain kisses along her jaw, over her eyes and the little hollow beneath her ear. She nipped his earlobe. He traced her ear with his tongue. She wrapped a leg around his bringing them ever closer. John inhaled sharply and reclaimed her lips in a searing kiss. She could no longer think. She could only feel.

John kissed the hollow between her neck and shoulder before stepping back. He ran his hands up and down her arms. Smiling into her up-turned face, he took her hand and led her to the chaise, pulling her down beside him.

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I said we needed to talk.” His voice was gravelly. He laughed at her puzzled expression. “Oh, it was in my mind, but I wanted to talk first.”

He wrapped an arm around her and cradled her head in the crook of his neck and kissed her temple. The moon bathed them in a glow as if it were hung just for them. Brianna shivered.

“Are you cold?” He rubbed her arm.

She shook her head. “You want to talk
now
?” She squeaked. She cleared her throat and reached for the half full wine glass on the table.

John chuckled. “I have a couple of things I’d like to say, yes.”

Brianna raised the glass to her lips. “Like?”

“For starters, I love you.”

She set the glass down with a shaky hand and turned to stare at him.

“You what?” She was certain she hadn’t heard him right.

“I love you. And, I don’t want to live without you.”

Brianna threw herself on top of him and, framing his face with both hands, kissed him.

John rolled her beneath him and raised up on one arm.

“I take it you feel–?”

Brianna brought his lips to hers.

                                                             * * * *

Brianna woke when John brushed the hair off her neck and kissed her nape. His arm encircled her, drawing her close to his warm body. Rolling onto her back, she smiled as his mouth slowly made its way along her collarbone and over her jaw before finally claiming her lips. Brianna purred.

A muffled tone sounded from the floor. John raised his head, his eyes dark with passion. He grumbled and rolled over.

“I have to answer this.” He retrieved the offending cell phone from the pocket of his crumpled pants and sat on the edge of the bed.

Cool air rushed to fill the void where  John’s body had been. Brianna frowned and wrapped the sheet around her as she stood.

“Calm down. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” John said into the phone.

She walked around the end of the bed heading for the door. John grasped the sheet and pulled her down beside him. Not wanting to listen to the conversation, she tried to stand but he put his arm around her waist. She knitted her eyebrows and nodded toward the bathroom. He released her, trailing his hand across her back. She gathered the large sheet and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Donning John’s robe, she waited a few minutes before returning to the bedroom. John sat on the bed, elbows resting on his knees, his head in his hands. He raked a hand through his hair and patted a spot beside him for her to sit.

“That was my mother on the phone. My father’s had a heart attack. I’m all they have. I need to be there.”

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry. You must be terribly worried,” she said, placing a hand on his arm.

“I’m concerned but I leave the worrying to my mother. She’s very good at it.”

He raised his head, brought his hand to her cheek, tracing his thumb over her lower lip.

“Is there anything I can do?” Brianna asked.

“Yes, please. While I shower and pack, would you make a reservation for me on the first American flight to Tucson? First class.” He gave her the password to his Advantage account.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Was it really only seven a.m.?

Brianna went to the den to book the flight. Grabbing the confirmation from the printer, she went back to his room.

She trailed her hand over the bed as she wandered to the window. The sun continued its journey blazing a trail of gold across the lake. A few boats were leaving the nearby marina and cars rushed along the street below. John came up to stand beside her, draping his arm around her shoulder.

“Great timing,” he said.

Brianna nodded, stroking his hand.

“You’re on a non-stop flight that leaves O’Hare at 9:45. That will get you into Tucson at 11:30.” She handed him the itinerary. “I called for a cab.”

“Thanks, Bree. That’s perfect.” He folded the paper and tucked it into his breast pocket. “My bag is packed. I just have to get my shaving gear.”

When he returned, he once again put his arm around her and walked to the front door. He dropped his arm from her shoulders and hooked his finger in the V of her robe, drawing her to him. She raised up on her toes to meet his lips. Breaking contact, he sighed heavily and rested his forehead on hers. He glanced at his watch.

“I have to get going but I’ll call you tonight.

“Have a good flight. I’ll be praying for your dad.”

He stroked his knuckles down her cheek.

“I love you,” he said and closed the door between them.

Brianna leaned against the door, hardly daring to believe how much her life had changed in less than twelve hours. She glanced at the clock on the mantel. There was no way she could get to work on time. Toying with the idea of calling in sick and spending the day snuggled in John-scented sheets, she pushed away from the door. 
If only the housekeeper wasn’t coming today. It wouldn’t do for her to catch me in John’s bed.