“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 jour
ney 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.
She called her supervisor and told her she would be late due to transportation problems—which was true as she needed to figure out the L schedule online.
Arriving at the office only an hour late, she checked in with Miss Davis and got her assignment. She stuck her head in Carly’s cubicle before going to her own.
“Morning.”
Carly glanced up. “Hey, you’re la—Oh. My. God.” She jumped up from her desk and wrapped Brianna in a fierce bear hug.
Brianna extricated herself. “What? I’m just late. It’s not like I went missing or anything.”
“You’re absolutely glowing.” Carly held her at arm’s length. “That could mean only one thing.”
Brianna felt the color rushing to her face despite her efforts to remain cool. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked at the paper in her hand.
“Oh, yes, you do. Look at me.” Carly grasped her jaw, turning her face to face. “I’m your best friend, remember? Talk to me.”
“All right, all right. At lunch. Miss Davis is looking this way. I have to get to work.”
She backed into her cubicle leaving a grinning Carly behind. She’d have to work on her poker face before she became the latest hot topic for the gossip team.
Brianna groaned when she saw the name of the account executive, Kaitlyn Schuster. Why did I get this assignment?
At noon, Carly poked her head around the partition between them. “What’re you doodling there?”
“Nothing,” Brianna answered. “Would you believe I’ve been given the new Saks’ campaign to work on? It should have gone to Liv.”
“She’s pretty tied up with the Bloomingdale account. Who’s the suit?”
“Kaitlyn.”
“Ahh, well, there ya’ go.” Carly grinned.
Miss Davis met them as they were leaving for lunch. “Ms. Schuster wants to see you in her office at one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Brianna said. When the supervisor was out of earshot, she mumbled. “Great! Just freakin’ great.”
* * * *
After lunch Brianna shuffled The Green Mile to Kaitlyn’s office.
She knocked lightly on the frame of the open door.
Kaitlyn rose from her chair and looked down her perfect nose, ice-pick heels giving her nearly a foot advantage over Brianna,. They assessed each other for several seconds across the desk before Kaitlyn spoke. “John left me in charge while he is away.”
Brianna met her frosty eyes and opened her mouth to challenge Kaitlyn’s statement. For once, she thought better of it.
“That’s what you called me in here for?” Brianna cocked one brow.
Kaitlyn narrowed her gaze. “I expect preliminary drawings for the Saks’ campaign on my desk by Thursday morning. Can you handle that?”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem, Ms. Schuster.”
“It’s a great opportunity for you, Bree,” Kaitlyn’s patronizing tone stiffened Brianna’s spine.
“Yes, it is. Thank you so much for the favor, Ms. Schuster.” She nearly gagged on the words and forced the corners of her mouth up.
Kaitlyn stepped back, her eyes frigid. “If you disappoint me, Ms. Ryan, I’ll have no choice but to inform Mr. Sharp.” Bracing her arms, she leaned over her desk until she was nose to nose with Brianna. “Is that clear?”
“Crystal clear, Ms Schuster.” Brianna shot the icicle daggers back, turned and stomped out of the room.
Carly looked up when Brianna returned. “I see that went well.”
Brianna rolled her eyes, opened her mouth a couple of times then waggled her head and retreated to her cubby hole.
CHAPTER fifteen
John called as she was finishing dinner. Her heart turned over at the sound of his voice.
“You sound tired.” She detected the weariness in his tone.
“It’s been a very long day.”
“That it has. How’s your father?”
“He’s doing pretty well. The doctors want to run more tests in the morning. If they come out all right he’ll be able to go home on Wednesday. I’m planning to stay until Saturday, if I can stand it that long. My mother is already driving me insane.”
“She’s just worried about your father.”
“You don’t know my mother; she’s the kind who makes coffee nervous.”
Brianna laughed. “Be patient. She’ll be happy when your father gets home.”
“I’m sure she will. She’ll have two of us to fuss about. How are you doing?” John asked.
“I had a little trouble figuring out the L but I was only an hour late.”
“You could drive my car. The valet has the keys.”
“I never had the chance to learn to drive.” She traced a fingernail along the pattern in the granite counter top.
“Really? We’ll have to work on that when I get home.”
“Great. That will be fun—at least, for me.” She chuckled.
“I’m sure it will be for me, too.” John assured her. “I miss you. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you.”
“Love you, too. ‘Night.” Brianna hugged the phone a moment before laying it on the nightstand.
It was too early to go to bed but it was just the right time for a long bubble bath. She lit scented candles while the tub filled.
Securing her hair on top of her head, she stepped into the tub and relaxed into the foamy water. The little shell-shaped pillow cradled her head and her eyes closed.
Images of John forced visions of Kaitlyn to the dark corner of her brain where thoughts she refused to acknowledge resided. John loved her and that was all that mattered.
When the water finally turned too cold to be comfortable, she sighed, stood and wrapped a bath sheet around her shivering body. Pulling the clips from her hair, she dropped the towel and climbed naked into John’s bed luxuriating in the subtle but intoxicating, male scent surrounding her.
* * * *
By Thursday, Brianna’s week had settled into a routine. John’s nightly calls were the highlight of each day, sending her to sleep with warm, fuzzy feelings. Working on the Saks account and avoiding Kaitlyn provided challenges that passed the time quickly. Only two more days. She dug her pass out of her purse and boarded the “L.”
A note stuck to her monitor stated, “I want to see you in my office immediately. K. S.”
Brianna threw her purse into the bottom drawer and slammed it shut.
Carly appeared above
the partition. “I take it you saw the note.” She grinned.
Brianna glared. “She wants to see me ‘immediately’– as in get your sorry bum in here now.” She flopped into the chair spinning it to face the computer and ripped the large pink sticky off the screen. “I’m really beginning to hate Post-its.” She crumpled it into a ball and tossed it back at Carly over her head.
It took three tries to log onto her computer. She knew this was coming but to be rudely summoned caught her off guard. It whipped up her Irish blood. She pulled the drawings from the top drawer, scanned them into her computer, grabbed her purse and left the cubicle.
“If I’m not back in an hour, send in the troops,” she said to Carly before trudging to the Green Mile.
Kaitlyn cradled her phone against her shoulder and motioned for Brianna to enter.
“I’ll call you back.” Kaitlyn replaced the receiver and stood. “It took you long enough to get here. Don’t tell me you were late – again.”
Brianna opened her mouth. The words that formed in her brain were unfit to utter in English but sounded pleasant enough in Gaelic especially when spoken with a sweet smile. Kaitlyn furrowed her brows.
“I was on time, ma’am.”
“Humph.” Kaitlyn snatched the folder from Brianna’s hand so fast her fingers burned. “Are these the Saks drawings?”
Brianna nodded. She stood with her hands clasped tightly around her purse strap to keep them from wrapping around Kaitlyn’s skinny neck.
One by one, Kaitlyn dropped the sketches onto her desk. As the last one hit the pile, she looked up.
Her narrowed gaze pierced Brianna. “These are junk,” she sneered. “If this is the kind of work you do, I don’t know how you keep your job.” She paused. “Oh. Right. Sleeping with the boss does have advantages.”
Brianna took a step back, her jaw dropped. Even the bad words abandoned her. The heat that infused her from toes to forehead betrayed her.
Kaitlyn gasped. “So, I’ve hit a nerve.” She sat and leaned back in her chair. “Well, well, well.” She steepled her fingers beneath her chin. A smug look crossed her face.
When the words swirling in her mind fought to escape, Brianna felt like she’d throw them up. She turned to leave.
Love Is a Breeze Page 13
