Page 25 of Mister Cowboy
Holding the toothbrush out for her, he lifted his eyebrows.
“You have an answer for everything,” she said, taking the toothbrush.
“Yes. So, it’s useless to protest.” He hovered near her, and she half hoped and half worried that he was going to kiss her. Their first kiss tasted like Jägermeister, the next one absolutely could not taste like morning breath. She would forever be known as the girl he took out that had terrible breath. She backed away a step.
“Why do you want me to stay here when you aren’t even going to be home? I could just meet you for dinner later.”
“Yeah, you say that now, but I feel a last-minute text message cancelation coming if I let you leave. That hangover is going to get worse and you’re not going to want to move. I’d rather you not move at my place.”
With a sigh, she let her eyes drift to the windows behind him. She didn’t want to leave and didn’t know why she was trying to. Besides, she knew that if she wanted to leave while he was at work, Michael was a phone call away. “Which way is the shower?”
Silent, but wearing a victorious grin, he led her through his bedroom to a large bathroom. He walked to the center and lifted his arms in the air as he turned and started pointing out the obvious features. “Shower, tub, there’s extra towels in the cabinet there. Use whatever you like. If you need anything else, let Edward know.”
He left her in the bathroom without another word, and she looked around, taking her time. The bathroom was large, white, and stark, a lot like his bedroom. The dual sink vanity looked a little sad with his toothbrush and toiletries on one side. The other side bare. Without thinking it through, she walked toward the empty side and placed her new toothbrush on the vanity, staring at the mess of a woman looking back in the mirror with a large grin on her face.
What have I gotten myself into?
When she finally pried herself out of the bathtub, feeling clean and a whole lot more like herself, she tiptoed into the bedroom and peeked out into the living room. Brecken was gone. Shutting the bedroom door in case she was wrong, she moved to the bed where he’d laid out a t-shirt and sweats, which were far too big, in a tidy pile. Pulling the shirt over her head and forgoing the sweats, she smiled at the smell of him. It clung to the clothes and made the morning perfect for lying around.
12
Brecken
“Brecken?”
“Hmmm?”
“I was asking about the presentation for Morris Technologies. Are we ready?”
“Yes. We’re ready. We’re always ready,” he answered without looking to Tina, who was clearly annoyed. He could hear it in her tone. Not that he could blame her. He’d been spacing out all morning and wondering if January bolted the minute he left.
“And the merger meeting is next week. Are you still going?”
“Yeah, I know you aren’t on board with the idea, but I want to at least hear Dan out.”
“I didn’t say a word,” Tina held her hands up defensively.
“Your face says it all. I’d like to bring you along and get your thoughts on his proposal, but I need you to keep an eye on things here while I’m gone.”
The idea of merging his company put a bad taste in his mouth, but he wanted to go in with an open mind. He’d done well and had poured every ounce of himself into this company. Blood, sweat, and even a few tears. His success was largely thanks to his hermit ways. But he was still a small fish in a big pond and wanted to see if he was ready to fix that.
How would his life change if his company continued to grow and became public? He thought of January. Her dedication to her career and her friends. She’d managed to have both, albeit she was less successful professionally than he was, but she seemed content. Happy even. Was it possible for him to have both a successful career and a relationship with someone like January?
“Are you married?” he asked.
She looked at him curiously. “No. What kind of question is that?”
“The personal variety. I don’t know anything about your life outside of work.”
“That’s because I don’t have a life outside of work.”
He waited, staring her down until she gave in with a sigh. Taking off her glasses, she leaned back in her chair. “My parents live in Arizona, as well as an older brother and his family. I moved here only a few months before I started working for you.”
Nodding, he sat back in his chair and looked out the window. “Think there’s more out there for us? Family, friends?”
She shook her head adamantly. “I like my life. I’m good at my job, and it makes me happy. I don’t need a spouse or friends to feel complete.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right.” The words tasted like a bad omen as he said them aloud, and he knew by the reaction in his gut that he did want those things. His job wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted more.
