Page 16 of Reaching Hearts

Chapter Nine

Brendan

Room 323.

“Rebecca, have you had breakfast?”

She looks up from her phone. “What?”

“Breakfast. Have you eaten.”

Blinking a few times, she searches. “No. I guess not.”

I take her phone from her hands. “Remember when you did this to me?”

She smiles, recognition lighting up her brown eyes. “We were at the movie theater and you wouldn’t stop working.”

“About two years ago, I guess, wasn’t it?” My hand falls to my lap, fingers wrapped around the phone. It was like I wasn’t here when she was on it.

“Yes, almost that. What movie were we seeing?” She leans in with that look you get when you’re searching for something just out of reach.

Moving the pillow back up to a comfortable position, I say, “I don’t remember. Why don’t you go get breakfast and answer your emails there and come back in a bit. I need to sleep.”

Embarrassed, she takes her phone from me, landing a quick kiss on my lips before she stands. “Of course. I’m sorry. You sleep. I’ll be back.”

Before she gets to the door, I call out quickly, “Rebecca. I’m really glad you’re here.”

She turns and looks at me. “Thank you, Brendan. I’m glad I’m here, too.”

“I mean it. Mark’s in New York and if you weren’t here, I’d be really fucked up. This isn’t a great place to be alone.” I laugh, but my smile isn’t real and she knows it.

She nods, and walks over to me, leans down and kisses the top of my forehead. “Get some sleep. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.” I watch her walk to the door, the picture of elegance in a pencil skirt, heels and a silk blouse. She turns and smiles one last time, and then leaves, pulling out her phone as she goes. She couldn’t even wait until she cleared the door.