Page 60 of Lying Hearts
I pull out two coffee cups with very large handles. “I gave you something else instead so stop complaining.”
She laughs. “Yes sir. Sorry sir. My mistake, sir.”
I smirk and pour water over the grounds, pressing the knob down to let them soak. “Oh, this is gonna be good coffee.”
Her legs swing. “I love that we’re both naked. Where’s your roommate?”
“With a woman.”
“How do you know?”
I throw her a look.
“Oh. That predictable huh? So… what do you want to do today?”
I freeze, tensing immediately. “Rebecca.”
“Uh oh.” Her legs stop swinging.
I rest my hand on the counter, put my weight on it. “I’m not looking for anything serious.”
She regards me, not sure at first how she feels about this, but then she shakes it off with a smile. “I live in Arizona, Brendan. And I’m a free woman. Do you think I want to shackle myself to some twenty five year old?”
“I’m twenty-seven.”
“Well, then let’s get married!” She laughs, obviously joking. “Please. Give me more credit.”
“I’m giving me more credit. I’m pretty sure you’re going to get attached and I’m warning you not to.” There is no smile on my face. I want to be very clear about this.
She gives me a look like I’m being ridiculous, but I can see it hit her, and she’s covering a little shock. She’s a beautiful woman. I’m sure men are probably falling at her feet now that she’s dropped the ball and chain. I don’t want to turn her away. I just don’t want to get that close. There’s a difference.
“Do you want me to leave,” she asks, from behind a forced smile.
“No. I don’t. I just want you to know where I stand so you can live in reality. I like you, that’s why I’m telling you this. I didn’t have to let you spend the night.”
She whoops loudly, shocked and amazed. “Let me spend the night? Let me? Oh man. You have an ego on you! Were you like this two years ago?”
I pour the coffee for us, holding the lid on the press and pouring carefully. “No. I was a naïve kid who’d just broken up with his longtime girlfriend. It took me awhile to become a dick. But I’m there now.” I throw her a wink.
She shakes her head, unable to resist me. Taking the extended cup from my hands, she blows on it, looking at me over it. “Well, I’ve been warned. Now what do you want to do today?”
“What’s your last name, by the way?”
“Wells. Why?”
“I’ve got a thing about knowing names of the women I sleep with.” I take a drink of the coffee, lick my lips. It’s good stuff. “Let’s go to Fisherman’s Warf. I’ll introduce you to a sourdough bread bowl of clam chowder you’ve never dreamed possible.”
She swings her legs a little again, smiling and looking very sexy as she pulls her hair up into a bun. “Deal.”
A voice filters in from far away. Feminine, soft and caring. “Hey you. You have a coffee maker?”
I open my eyes halfway; see a hospital room coming into focus. It’s all I can manage. “Rebecca,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.
“I’m here. You’re okay. It’s going to be okay.”
I strain to understand what’s happening, where I am, why I hurt so badly. Images start flashing before my eyes. Annie’s face. Her eyes closing. My body collapsing into one of the best orgasms I’ve ever felt. Holding her. Then the gunman. The yelling. The grabbing of our clothes. How he pointed the gun at her while she went to register. How furious I was that I didn’t know how to open it so I could get it myself and keep her safe. How I saw his arm tighten, about to pull the trigger. I remember jumping in front of the bullet. Nothing after that.
Too tired to move my head, I scan around me to find my body under a plain white blanket, cords leading out to an I.V. drip and a heart monitor. I focus back on Rebecca, the only soft thing in the room.