have dinner. We have important business to discuss…”
Brenda waved off those words as if Taylor were a pesky fruit fly circling over a bunch of grapes. “I’m not his date. We’re a couple.” She paused a moment, then continued. “Actually that second verb should be in the past tense.”
“What?” Keith shook his head. “No, Brenda, don’t say that.”
Taylor, arms on her hips, glared at him. “You said you were single. Well, implied. When you met me at Bistro.”
Brenda turned and unleashed the full force of her disappointment. “Single? Maybe you’d like to help him stay that way, Taylor. Have him tell you about how to be his Emergency Ex. That’s always good for some laughs.”
“Emergency Ex?” Taylor’s face furrowed in confusion. “What the hell is that?”
Keith looked sick. “I’m so sorry, Brenda. I swear I’ll make it up to you. If it takes the rest of my life, I will make it up to you.” He held his arms out. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you. To tell you I’m ready. To make this birthday a real celebration and a real beginning.”
“Right.” She tossed her head. “And you have a bridge to sell me. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Keith Tarrant. Your chance to help me celebrate is history, along with everything else that has to do with the former us.”
Keith felt as if he’d just fallen off a mountain only to be buried under an avalanche. What the hell had just happened? He could hardly recognize Brenda. He couldn’t lose her. Not like this. Not any way.
Taylor looked from him to Brenda. “I don’t need this crap. No way I’ll recommend you to my firm. Send me the final bill for your work for my sister. I can see why you’re a good investigator for that kind of case. Cheats.” On that word, she stomped out.
Not a good hit for his business to take, but he could deal with that later.
Brenda’s eyes glittered with some strong emotion he wasn’t sure he could identify. Maybe he didn’t want to identify. “You don’t have what it takes, Keith. Never have, never will. It’s past time for me to realize that. And cut my losses. That’s the best thirtieth birthday gift I can give myself.”
No. This couldn’t be happening. “Please listen. I messed up, but now I’m ready. Let’s make what we have work.” He got down on his knees.
”I’m out of here.”
He got off his knees and raced to the door, blocking her exit. “Brenda, no. Don’t do this. Give me a chance to explain.”
“I’m tired of hearing evasions. Do me a favor and move away from the door. I do not want to start my birthday listening to more excuses.”
“No. Brenda, no more evasions and excuses. You know I suck at finding the right words. Let me show you. Let me make love with you, communicate that way first. Then the rest.”
“Really? You expect me to fall for that?”
“Can you think of a better way to bring in a new year? Come with me. First I’ll show you, then I’ll tell you. What you mean to me.”
She started to push past him and he caught her in his arms. He kissed her like the drowning man he was. Though she resisted at first, her arms came around his neck as she responded.
“Keith. I can’t keep doing this. I’ll be with you one more time, but then it’s over—“
No. Never. Not exit sex. Still, he’d clutch at this lifeline, take what he could get. He’d let his passion tell her all the things he’d not been able to. Then she’d have to know they weren’t over.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and seemed to dare him to turn her on. Nothing he liked better than that kind of dare. One more kiss and he felt her begin to warm to him. She flashed her “Do me now!” expression. Though his body responded instantly, a warning bell went off within. Maybe things wouldn’t be so simple this time. He chose to ignore the message. After all, they were so great together in bed, they’d make love and fix all the unhappiness. Keep It Simple, Stupid.
“So
Brenda waved off those words as if Taylor were a pesky fruit fly circling over a bunch of grapes. “I’m not his date. We’re a couple.” She paused a moment, then continued. “Actually that second verb should be in the past tense.”
“What?” Keith shook his head. “No, Brenda, don’t say that.”
Taylor, arms on her hips, glared at him. “You said you were single. Well, implied. When you met me at Bistro.”
Brenda turned and unleashed the full force of her disappointment. “Single? Maybe you’d like to help him stay that way, Taylor. Have him tell you about how to be his Emergency Ex. That’s always good for some laughs.”
“Emergency Ex?” Taylor’s face furrowed in confusion. “What the hell is that?”
Keith looked sick. “I’m so sorry, Brenda. I swear I’ll make it up to you. If it takes the rest of my life, I will make it up to you.” He held his arms out. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you. To tell you I’m ready. To make this birthday a real celebration and a real beginning.”
“Right.” She tossed her head. “And you have a bridge to sell me. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Keith Tarrant. Your chance to help me celebrate is history, along with everything else that has to do with the former us.”
Keith felt as if he’d just fallen off a mountain only to be buried under an avalanche. What the hell had just happened? He could hardly recognize Brenda. He couldn’t lose her. Not like this. Not any way.
Taylor looked from him to Brenda. “I don’t need this crap. No way I’ll recommend you to my firm. Send me the final bill for your work for my sister. I can see why you’re a good investigator for that kind of case. Cheats.” On that word, she stomped out.
Not a good hit for his business to take, but he could deal with that later.
Brenda’s eyes glittered with some strong emotion he wasn’t sure he could identify. Maybe he didn’t want to identify. “You don’t have what it takes, Keith. Never have, never will. It’s past time for me to realize that. And cut my losses. That’s the best thirtieth birthday gift I can give myself.”
No. This couldn’t be happening. “Please listen. I messed up, but now I’m ready. Let’s make what we have work.” He got down on his knees.
”I’m out of here.”
He got off his knees and raced to the door, blocking her exit. “Brenda, no. Don’t do this. Give me a chance to explain.”
“I’m tired of hearing evasions. Do me a favor and move away from the door. I do not want to start my birthday listening to more excuses.”
“No. Brenda, no more evasions and excuses. You know I suck at finding the right words. Let me show you. Let me make love with you, communicate that way first. Then the rest.”
“Really? You expect me to fall for that?”
“Can you think of a better way to bring in a new year? Come with me. First I’ll show you, then I’ll tell you. What you mean to me.”
She started to push past him and he caught her in his arms. He kissed her like the drowning man he was. Though she resisted at first, her arms came around his neck as she responded.
“Keith. I can’t keep doing this. I’ll be with you one more time, but then it’s over—“
No. Never. Not exit sex. Still, he’d clutch at this lifeline, take what he could get. He’d let his passion tell her all the things he’d not been able to. Then she’d have to know they weren’t over.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and seemed to dare him to turn her on. Nothing he liked better than that kind of dare. One more kiss and he felt her begin to warm to him. She flashed her “Do me now!” expression. Though his body responded instantly, a warning bell went off within. Maybe things wouldn’t be so simple this time. He chose to ignore the message. After all, they were so great together in bed, they’d make love and fix all the unhappiness. Keep It Simple, Stupid.
“So
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