Free Reaching Hearts (Hearts Series) by Sabrina Lacey Page A

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.
    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