Heartbreak Holiday

by C. J. Laurence

  I understood then why he’d given me the patronising lecture. I didn’t know the details of his sister’s death but the pained, wistful memories glazing over him told me that he’d thought the worst.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, guilt starting to gnaw away at me. “I didn’t think anything like this would happen. I just wanted to catch that damn cow.”

  He gave a slight chuckle and reached for my hand. “That’s the funny thing about life. Actions always have consequences but no one ever thinks about that until it’s too late.”

  I smiled but said nothing. His words reverberated through me with a sense of something slowly clicking into place. Had Ben thought there would be no consequences to his actions with my sister? If I forgave him and played happy families for the rest of my life, what would be the chances of him doing it again with someone else? After all, if there were no consequences for him impregnating my sister, why would he think there would be any if he did it with someone else?

  ***

  Thankfully, after a rather disturbed night in the hospital, Dr Tate cleared me to go back to the ranch by mid-morning. I was under strict instructions to rest for the next week—I was not amused.

  “Please, Brady. I’ll even let you lead me around if it makes you feel better.”

  I was begging to the best of my ability as Brady drove us back to the ranch, but where it concerned me getting back on a horse any time before the eighth day, I was out of luck.

  “You think I’m daft enough to leave myself on the ground again whilst you’re up on a horse telling me you’re fine?” He snorted and shook his head. “Don’t think so.”

  I pulled a full-on pout and batted my eyelashes at him. “You’re being mean.”

  “No, Sophie. I’m being sensible and following the doctor’s orders.”

  Noting the lack of humour in his voice, I turned my attention to the desert landscape instead, sighing in my displeasure. What exactly was I supposed to do for the next seven days? Resting at home was one thing, but resting whilst on holiday? I couldn’t quite comprehend the reality of it.

  Several miles zipped by, a comfortable silence filling the space between us. Just as I was observing several dark silhouettes walking along a hillside, Brady cleared his throat and placed a hand on my leg.

  I looked at him only to see he was still staring straight ahead, focused on driving. Glancing down at his large hand spread over my thigh, I debated what the gesture meant.

  We hadn’t been intimate in any way yet so was that what he was hinting at even though it didn’t seem his style? Was it just an affectionate move, one meant to comfort and reassure me? Or was it something else entirely?

  Whatever the answer, it had my heart skipping beats, and warm tingles trickling through my body. After a tentative moment, I settled my hand on top of his, only to be surprised when he moved and curled his hand around mine.

  “So, I’ve spoken to John,” he said, his voice meek and mild. “And I’m due some vacation time.”

  My heart rate increased ten-fold. A thousand thoughts danced through my mind.

  “How would you feel about staying with me during your week of rest?”

  I was flabbergasted. Had I been hoping for something along those lines? Well, yes, but to actually have the words said was something else entirely. We’d known each other a week. Seven days. The exact amount of time he was suggesting I stay with him for.

  “Um, I’m not sure. I mean thank you and all but…”

  “But what?”

  “We barely know each other. Do you make a habit of inviting strangers to stay in your house?”

  He laughed. “Only female ones.” Giving me a cheeky wink, he turned off the main road and onto the dust track. “It was just an idea, that’s all. Spending a week on your own in that chalet will drive you mad. Unless that’s what you want of course? Time and space on your own?”

  I thought things over for a couple of minutes. “It would be nice to have some company but it would just feel odd being in your house. I’m sorry, it just wouldn’t feel right.”

  “That’s ok, I understand. What if I stayed in your chalet with you?”

  A cold, excited sweat broke out all over my body. There was one bed. One. Was this his way of guaranteeing something?

  As if reading my mind, he said, “I’m not trying to force things along if that’s what you’re thinking. Think of it as my own personal insurance to make sure you don’t go chasing after that cow again.”

  I giggled and nodded. “Ok, that would be better, thank you.”

  As we neared my picturesque home, it suddenly struck me that Brady was using his vacation time to sit within four walls, with me, whilst technically still at work. Who would use their hard-earned holiday hours to go to their workplace and sit inside a room for a week with a stranger?

  Actions always have consequences.

  What would be the consequence of this?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Two days into my seven-day prison sentence, I’d done nothing but sleep, watch TV, and cuddle Brady. Even though I wasn’t going to admit it, the doctor was right and I needed my rest.

  Brady was just utterly amazing. He’d settled me in bed before going home to fetch his clothes and wash bag. Since stepping back through the door, the only time he’d left me was to fetch us food.

  That first night was one I’ll never forget. The sizzling image of him topless, in just a pair of black lounge pants, would be forever scorched into my memory. Smooth, golden skin stretched over defined muscles, trousers hanging low on his hips with that delicious V of his loins disappearing below. He’d stepped out of the bathroom drying his head with a towel, his ruffled, sleek hair just begging to have fingers run through it. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t help the red-blooded woman within me wanting to cross the boundaries of our…whatever this could be described as.

  In my own slob clothes of a baggy Friends t-shirt and a pair of burgundy shorts, I’d snuggled up against him, my head resting on his sculpted chest and an arm draped across his taut abs. One of his arms was around me, softly pressed against my back, keeping me close to him.

  The way this all felt so natural…so right, absolutely astounded me—it was like we’d known each other for years. We’d shared kisses, some very deep, passionate kisses, but nothing had gone beyond that. Not only was I shattered, but I was a nervous wreck. I’d had no experience outside of Ben, and Brady, well, you just had to look at him to know he’d worked his way through a football field of women. How on earth was I supposed to measure up against them?

  After two days and nights of being so close and exposed to him, every part of me was wide awake, almost burning with the need to push things further. The chats we’d had about films or TV shows had always ended with a lingering silence, both of us staring at one another before glancing away and breaking the moment.

  Tonight though, I could tell things would take a turn. The atmosphere between us was almost electrified, every particle around us charged with energy. We were laid on my bed, watching the end of Die Hard. Bruce Willis in that dirty white vest would never get old for me.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, skimming his fingers across my back.

  I shivered from his light touch. “Good. You?”

  “Perfect.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Think you can manage to venture outside for an hour or two?”

  I sat bolt upright like a child who’d been promised sweets. “Definitely.”

  Rising from the bed, he cupped my face between both hands and gave me a heart melting kiss. “I’ll be back shortly. Make sure you’re ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  With a parting kiss, he threw his t-shirt on and padded out to his truck. As the sudden turn of events began to register, I couldn’t help but feel an anxious curiosity beginning to surface. Just what was he up to?

  ***

  Just after nine, Brady reappeared. He’d gotten ch
anged into a smart, light blue shirt and faded denim jeans. The curve of his jeans hugging all the right areas made me want to investigate. Now.

  He held his hand out to me. “Come here,” he said, a sly smile pulling at his lips.

  I bit my lip as I ventured towards him. I’d dressed in a simple pair of jeans and t-shirt but looking at him, already felt underdressed. “Do I need to wear something else?”

  “You’re perfect as you are.”

  He stepped towards me and took my hand, leading me outside. The ranch had descended into night time quiet, only the lights from guest rooms and the main house telling of anyone’s existence. I glanced up into the night sky, surprised by how beautiful the evening sky was tonight. The clear jet-black background with the twinkling bright white stars was just breath taking.

  Stepping behind me, he whispered into my ear, “Do you trust me?”

  Goosebumps chased over my skin. His warm breath floating over my neck had me liquefying into a pool of nothing. How could one man affect me so much?

  “Trust you? Why?”

  He slipped his hands around my waist, making me jump. “I can’t say. It’ll spoil the surprise.” He brushed a feather light kiss over the base of my neck. “So do you trust me?”

  Using my last ounce of willpower to suppress the groan from his single kiss, I pondered over his question. Trust. Hardly something I’d been giving out in abundance lately. Ben had had my trust and broken it into thousands of pieces. Would it ever repair? Brady was an incredible man who I’d barely known for more than ten days, and he was asking me to trust him. I had no reason not to, but I also had no reason to either. I feared where it concerned trust, it would be a difficult thing for me to wholly give again.

  However, I was on holiday, and here to enjoy myself. Sometimes a little risk was worth it, right?

  “Yes,” I whispered. “I trust you.”

  He kissed my ear and told me to close my eyes. My heart began pounding against my ribcage. Adrenaline pulsed through me, making me edgy. Before I could think anything else, a soft, velvet fabric laid across my eyes.

  I gasped and reached up, panic already taking over.

  “Shhh,” he said, taking a hold of my flailing hands. “Just trust me.”

  A violent shudder ran down my spine. I took a deep breath and concentrated on counting to twenty in odd numbers. By the time I’d done that, the blindfold was on and my gut was a churning mess of excitement and nerves.

  He settled his hands back in the curves of my waist and helped me walk for the next couple of minutes. When he stopped, he stroked a thumb over my lips and kissed my cheek.

  “I’m going to lift you up onto a horse now. There’s no saddle.”

  I shrieked in surprise. “Blindfolded? Are you kidding?”

  He chuckled. “Trust me.”

  My heart hammered inside my chest. His grip on my waist tightened, and as if I was nothing, he lifted me up onto a broad back which I could only presume was Cody’s. Seconds later, Brady was behind me with his chest pressed against my back. He felt solid, warm, reliable—something I wanted to keep close to me.

  He reached forwards, his arms resting around me and further encasing me inside his strong body. Clicking to Cody, he ushered us on into a sedate walk.

  “You ok?” he asked.

  His lips were millimetres from my right ear, I could feel the movement of them as he spoke. In my mind, I was screaming at him to kiss me, run his hands through my hair—anything but this ‘so near yet so far’ torture. A fierce wave of goosebumps flooded my body, leaving every nerve ending tingling. This was driving me crazy and we’d barely managed more than a few steps.

  “Yes,” I said, my voice nothing short of a breathless whisper. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see soon. It’s not far away.”

  I fell silent, concentrating on anything but the closeness of our bodies. Finding some wisps of Cody’s mane, I twirled the coarse hair around my fingers to keep my hands busy. The urge to lean back against Brady’s chest was becoming hard to resist. Visions of him trailing tender kisses down my neck consumed me to the point where I almost asked him to do just that.

  This need I had for him to touch me was alien to me. I’d never experienced such intense desire for someone—not even Ben. Was this just my body reacting to an attractive male after so long with no intimacy? After all, it wasn’t like Ben and I had been active in that department since my accident. I’d only just allowed him to hug me before I came out here.

  Not wanting to ruin the night with my analysing mind-set, I relaxed, paying attention to the eerie quiet around us. Except for the buzzing of night time insects, and the odd squawk from nocturnal birds, there was nothing but the rustling of Cody’s hooves through the sand and vegetation.

  Several minutes later, Brady drew Cody to a halt. He slid down from behind me and a cool breeze skimmed over me, leaving me aching for his closeness once again. I shivered, a vibrant mix of adrenaline and nerves throbbing through me. He placed a hand on my leg, causing me to gasp. I was such a bundle of emotions and sensations, I was amazed I could even think straight.

  He snaked his hands up towards my waist. The slow, gentle path he took had me balancing on a knife edge of begging him to put his hands on me—bare. He lifted me down, enveloping me into his chest the second my feet touched the ground.

  He rested his cheek against my head as he moved his arms to the back of my head. Tugging my blindfold free, I barely had time to adjust my eyes before he stole the last piece of me with a heart stopping kiss. It was the perfect potent mix of demand tinged with delicacy. The leisurely massage of his tongue on mine coasted me into serene bliss, leaving me clinging onto him for all I was worth.

  After a couple of minutes, he broke our kiss by only millimetres. With his forehead leaning against mine, he opened his eyes, staring straight through into my soul. I was lost, like an unmanned yacht floating along with the current. The glisten in his eyes, the way he wrapped his arms around me, the way he made me crave his touch, his kiss, him, I was losing all sense of myself.

  He uncurled his arms from around my back and cupped my cheeks. Brushing his thumbs across my heated skin, the burning passion in his eyes simmered to a desperate fervency.

  “Sophie, I…” He closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. Drawing a deep breath, he reopened his eyes, the forlorn ardour now gone. “I hope you like this.”

  My heart rate was through the roof. I suspected what he ended up saying was not his original intention. The sinking weight in my gut made me question whether I had actually wanted him to say what he was going to. Was I really ready to hear those words from another man? And so soon?

  As he led me around the front of Cody, I gasped, almost choking. Water flooded my eyes in an instant. The beautiful scene laid out before me was just incredible.

  Chapter Twenty

  We were on top of a ridge which gave us fantastic views of the moonlit desert beneath. Laid out on the half circle shaped cliff edge was a large dark blanket. Edging the soft fabric were dozens of candles, their flames burning bright and strong highlighting the treat in the middle. A wicker picnic basket sat open, wrapped food spilling from its mouth. A dark green bottle of wine twinkled next to it with two glasses.

  “Brady…” I put my hands to my mouth to muffle the strangled sob threatening to escape. “This is just…” A single tear jumped for freedom, opening the path for the rest. “Thank you.”

  He gave me a hug, chuckling lightly. “I didn’t think it was that good.”

  I giggled, steadily regaining my composure. “I’ve never had anything like this before.”

  Pulling back, he took my hand and gave a gentle tug to sit down with him on the blanket. “Hasn’t your lovely fella back home ever done anything like this for you?”

  I shook my head. “No…our first date was at a roller skating disco.”

  He burst out laughing. “Nice touch. What about when he proposed?”

  “Um, no�
�” Memories of that night sprang forwards, unfortunately. “He came home from his Christmas party absolutely steaming drunk, threw up all over me and the bed, and then got down on one knee with a Haribo ring.”

  He said nothing for a good few seconds, his face remaining impassive. “Are you being serious?”

  I nodded. “I only said yes to shut him up. He kept going on about it, harassed me for nearly an hour. I was so mad about the chunks of sick everywhere…” I shuddered, remembering the disgusting mess I’d had to clean up. “I didn’t think he’d remember in the morning…unlucky for me he did.”

  “Well, at least he made it memorable.”

  I smiled but said nothing. Talking about Ben made me feel uncomfortable to say the least.

  “Have you heard from him since the other night?”

  “No. I can’t quite work out if that’s a good thing or not.”

  “From what I heard through the door, I would say it’s a good thing.”

  I bit my lip and took my hand back. “I’m sorry, but would you mind if we didn’t talk about him? I just…I don’t want to think about him.”

  “Don’t feel awkward because of me. I’m curious. I want to understand. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t interested.” He grabbed both of my hands. “Sophie, if you were living your happily ever after, we wouldn’t even be here. Heck, you wouldn’t even be in this country. From what I understand, you’re about as committed to each other as a stud dog is to a bitch.”

  I laughed. What a comparison.

  “I love your laugh.”

  My heart thudded against my ribs as soon as I heard ‘I love’. This handsome, irresistible cowboy was causing such a turmoil of emotions inside me, I didn’t know which way to turn or what to think.