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“Want me to make some coffee?” I asked quietly.
Hissing, he whirled around and blinked at me. “You’re up?”
“I am. A little hungover after spending half the night drinking with Gordon?” By the time I’d gone to bed last night, the two of them were still knocking back beers out back.
“Not hungover. Just can’t find my damn shirt,” he swore.
“And you thought that it would be in the living room?”
“No. I thought maybe I dropped it last night when I grabbed the laundry. Why the hell are you up so early? I like my mornings quiet.” As he brushed past me, my fingers reached out like they had a mind of their own and grazed across his hard abs. He froze and inhaled sharply.
What was I thinking? I almost stopped to apologize, but that would just prolong the humiliation. “I got a phone call. I’ll start coffee while you look for your shirt.”
“Fine.”
Turning on the light above the sink, I grabbed the coffee pot. It still had some of yesterday’s coffee in it, so I dumped it out and rinsed it clean. Starting a new pot, I leaned against the counter and watched as Brendan emerged from the laundry room. To my relief, he was fully dressed.
“I think there are still some biscuits left over from dinner. Want me to warm up a couple for you?”
“Coffee first.” Yawning, he straddled the stool at the breakfast bar and wrinkled his forehead. “Who would be calling you at this hour? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I have a client who thought she was having a panic attack. Actually, she asked me to have lunch with her on Saturday, so I’m planning on going to the city this weekend. Is that okay?”
“Clients? I thought you weren’t practicing yet.”
“I’m not. She’s more of an informal client.”
“Right.” He tapped his fingers on the counter. “Actually, I’ve got a party on Saturday night in the city. I was just going to drive up for the night and get a hotel room, but we can go together and spend the weekend.”
“Together?” I practically squeaked. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“I’m afraid that if you’re going into the city, you don’t have much of a choice. The Blackwells are going to be there, and we need to tread carefully. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure our hotel room has two beds. Friends, remember?”
That mischievous sparkle in his eye didn’t look very friendly. “Right. Friends.” The coffee finished brewing, and I swallowed hard. How did my weekend away from him turn into a weekend of us sharing a hotel room?
“Relax, darling. I can control myself around you,” he drawled. “As long as you can keep your hands to yourself, we won’t have any problems, will we?” His gaze swept to my feet and back again. “Do you have a dress? If not, you can get one that afternoon. It’s a black-tie charity event, and there are some elbows that I need to rub.”
“You? Rub elbows?”
“Hey, it’s not just my pretty face and hard work that keep this ranch afloat.” He grinned, looking ridiculously adorable. “Are you going to pour me a cup of coffee or are you just going to stare at me?”
Was I staring? Damn it. It should be illegal for him to look that sexy in the morning. Annoyed, I opened the cabinet and grabbed two cups. I could feel the heat of his stare behind me.
“You know what?” he said softly. “I take back what I said earlier. I prefer mornings with you rather than mornings alone.”
Damn. Damn. Damn.
***
Brendan wanted to go Friday night, but one night was already one too many for me, so I talked him into driving us up early Saturday morning. I was still trying to get used to seeing him in the expensive sports car. He’d made reservations at one of the most exclusive hotels in the city, and I couldn’t help but gawk when I opened the blinds of our suite and stared at the view below.
“Unbelievable,” I whispered.
“Did you say something?” he asked as he tipped the bellhop.
There were a million things that I wanted to say to him. How was it that the man I married, the man who ate ramen for a straight week just so he could buy me a birthday present, was able to afford a hotel suite like this? And why was it that a man who could afford this hotel suite still worked from sun up until sun down on the ranch?
“Just admiring the view,” I said weakly. “I’m going to freshen up and then head out for my lunch with Cindy. I’ll pick up a dress on my way back. What time do I need to be ready?”
“I plan on making an appearance around nine,” he said as he stretched out on the couch and yawned. Removing his cowboy hat, he placed it over his face.
