Page 59 of Lying Hearts
Chapter Thirty-Six
Brendan
So tired. But it’s a good tired. When: Three Years ago.
Apersistent stream of sunlight heats up my face, trying to wake me out of a dream. But I resist it. I’m having that reoccurring dream again where I’m walking through a field in Italy. No one is there, but I keep searching, compelled. It’s beautiful and peaceful and I don’t want to leave. The wind rises and something brushes my bottom lip. I touch it, thinking it was just the wind, and find a hand there. Soft fingers…
“Hey you. You have a coffee maker?” A feminine arm slides around my waist in the real world. Reluctantly I awaken, feeling a naked body sliding up close against my back, spooning me. My shoulder gets kissed twice. “I was thinking of getting up and making some, but I don’t know my way around your kitchen.”
I stare forward out my window, thinking I want to move soon. This place is getting to be too small. I need to rise up in the company fast, if I’m going to afford it. Plus I’m still thinking about the dream. I want to go back to sleep, but that’s not an option. “Yeah, I have one.” I roll around to face Rebecca, see her looking beautiful with no makeup or need for it. “Morning.”
A slow sexy smile spreads across her lips. She accepts a kiss from me and murmurs into my hair, as she presses herself against me, “What a surprise to see you again.”
I laugh. “Oh, you saw me alright.”
“Yes, I did, didn’t I?”
“That you did. Since this is your first time here, I’ll make the coffee. But after that, if we ever do this again, it’s all you.” I kiss her again, and climb out of bed, my cock bouncing with my walk as I rub my eyes and rake a hand through my hair.
Rebecca watches me, but I don’t know it. I’m thinking of one thing and one thing only. Coffee. Make the coffee and separate from the dream world, so I can shake this feeling of emptiness that dream always leaves me with.
Within a couple minutes, Rebecca joins me, wearing her shirt and panties and nothing else, her long dark hair still tousled. She takes a seat at the small dining room table, picks up the donkey shaped saltshaker and plays with it. “So, how’ve you been?”
I pour beans into the grinder. “Since Mendocino? I’ve been good. Moved in here with my buddy Mark right after I met you. Got a job at the Ad agency I’m working at, but I’ve got my eye on another job higher up.”
“Yeah?” She smiles, curious and interested. I know she’s gotta be almost forty, but she sure wears it well. “Where?”
I hit the grind button and pause for the four seconds it takes to finish. “Location Times Three.” Pouring the grounds into the French Press, I add, “I’ve been taking some risks where I am now, coming up with new ideas they didn’t see coming. Word is spreading, that’s what I hear. I think now’s my shot. I’m aiming for Creative Director.”
She leans back, puts the donkey back on the table. “That’s a big leap, isn’t it?”
I glance at her. “Yeah. So?”
She shrugs, looks away. “Well, you’re pretty young.”
Staring at the water pouring from the faucet, I say again, “So?”
“Don’t get upset.” She rises and comes up behind me to hold me and rest her head on my back. “I forget you’re so amazing you can do anything.”
I chuckle and cover her hand with mine, put the teapot on the stove and turn it on for boiling. I should have done this first. But I’m not used to having someone here with me in the morning.
We ran into each other at a fundraiser last night where Rebecca had flown in from Arizona to participate. I’d seen her first, gone up and surprised her. Wearing a very graceful suit that reminded me of Katherine Hepburn, she looked around the party holding a glass of champagne in her hand. It was obvious she didn’t know anyone. I sidled up behind her, leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Kiss behind any trees recently?” She’d started, then her body relaxed. She slowly turned and smiled at me.
“Well, I never thought I’d see you again.” Her gaze sketched quickly down my suit and rose again. “Decided to get rid of the jeans and no shirt ensemble?”
I laughed. “I’ll be wearing that later.”
Her eyebrows went up and her eyes lit up with sensual fire. “You don’t say.”
“You want to have proof? Unless you’re still married, that is.” I leaned against the wall, and waited for an answer.
She paused. “Divorce went through a year ago. Finally free.” Her eyes clouded over. “Is that why you left without saying goodbye?”
“Looks like you’re out of champagne. Let’s get you some more.”
She took the hint and didn’t push it. We came back to my place well before the party ended and fucked until about four hours ago. I need more sleep, but I’ll manage.
“I never got that champagne by the way,” she teases me, jumping up to sit on the counter as the water comes to a boil.