Free Love Is a Breeze by Sarah Purcell Page A

convalescing.”
    An over-stuffed loveseat faced the TV. A matching chair and ottoman sat at an angle. Heavy wood end tables held antique brass lamps that cast a warm glow in the room. A desk with a computer occupied the area in front of another wall of windows that could be covered by deep blue drapes.
    He led her through the living room, assisting her up the step to the entry level. He pointed out the half bath and a utility room off the entry hall, opposite the kitchen, before continuing past her bedroom to a set of double doors.
    He held the door open, suggesting she should precede him into the room. Another windowed wall opposite the door drew her eyes to the moonlight streaming across the king sized bed. John turned on a bedside lamp casting a soft glow. She forced her gaze away from the black damask striped duvet. Cobalt accents softened the stark masculinity of the room.  He continued into the master bath. Brianna’s eyes widened. It was nearly as big as Carly’s whole apartment. John brought her attention to a large black tub. It sat on a raised platform under the corner windows that framed the city skyline.
    “I thought you might want to use this. It would help your ankle.” He showed her how to turn on and adjust the multiple jets and water temperature. “Feel free to use it anytime.” He smiled.
    Brianna felt as if she could melt onto the marble floor.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
     
    After finally getting a full night’s sleep, Brianna woke early. She slipped into her robe and went to the kitchen. The condo was quiet which meant John was either not up or already gone - most likely the latter.
    She found a box of Honey Nut Cheerios in the pantry and poured a bowl, adding milk. Perching on a bar stool at the peninsula to eat, Brianna opened the newspaper that lay on the counter.
    John entered the room dressed in his workout clothes, a towel draped around his neck, his tousled hair falling across his brow. Brianna inhaled a mouthful of cereal and spewed it across the countertop and newspaper. John quickly crossed the room and thumped her back while she coughed and struggled to regain her breath.
    “Okay?” John asked when she finally stopped coughing.
    Brianna nodded. “Sorry, I kind of messed up your paper. You startled me. I thought you’d gone to work.”
    “I leave for work at seven-thirty. I work out from six to seven.”
    Brianna filed the information away for future reference.
    John moved to the other side of the bar which made breathing infinitely easier for her. She appreciated the play of muscles in his bare arm as he took a cup from the cupboard and filled it with coffee, offering her one. She shook her head. Probably best to keep my mouth empty, she thought.
    He put an English muffin - whole wheat - into the toaster while she cleaned up the mess she’d made. When the muffin popped up he topped it with fruit spread.
    He eats healthy, she thought but said, “You’ve got a lot of muscles for a desk jockey.”
    “Excuse me?”John turned with his muffin half way to his mouth.
    Brianna blushed. “It’s just that, normally, one wouldn’t expect someone who sits behind a desk all day to have such well developed muscles. You’re in really good shape.”
    “Thank you.” He leaned against the cabinet, ankles crossed, an amused glint in his eyes, and took a bite of the muffin. He licked the jam from his lips.
    Brianna looked at her bowl of soggy Cheerios and pushed it away.
    After John cleared the dishes and went to take a shower, she brewed a cup of tea adding cream and sugar. She sat at the breakfast bar stirring the drink and studying the classified ads.
    John returned, hair still damp but neatly combed, dressed in a gray pinstripe suit with a blue shirt and blue and gray striped tie.
    “Are there no affordable apartments in this city?” She looked up with a frown.
    “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure something will turn up” He glanced at his watch. “I have to