acting like the injured party.”
“Huh.” So Ryan wasn’t a cheating bastard in the same mold as their father had been. If Keith could believe his brother, and there was no reason not to. Ryan had nothing to gain from lying.
Both brothers agreed to make it a priority to develop the relationship they’d never had before. They even went on a special shopping trip together after Keith told Ryan about Brenda. Good stuff, but it all took time and energy outside work hours. Keith’s case load was starting to pick up, and this was not the time to cut back on any chance to make money. He wasn’t in Brenda’s financial league, something else he’d have to learn to deal with.
She had never been out of his thoughts that week, but he owed it to her to have his head straight before their next contact. He was just about there. This being the night before her thirtieth birthday, he should get in touch. If he didn’t, she’d always remember the disappointment and resent him. One thing he knew about her. She wanted her special times to stand out and sparkle. He could give her that. He’d better.
So, late as it was, they could still come up with a way to celebrate. Should have started earlier and stuck to making plans, but Ryan’s situation sidetracked him. Still, this was San Francisco, a city with tons of great places to eat, to see, to play. Even last minute, he could come up with something worthy.
Best of all, he realized Taylor had nothing real to offer him, and he wanted real. He wanted Brenda. He was finally sure.
So, ready to really commit, he phoned Brenda. Went to voice mail on both her cell and her land line. He left messages. “I’ll meet you or you can come here or I’ll go to your place. It’s not too late to make this birthday special.” It’s not too late for us. Maybe she’d call or just come over.
* * *
The eve of her thirtieth birthday—and no word from Keith. After that night when he showed up on her doorstep and they’d fallen into bed together… Could any two people ever get closer? After we make love and he penetrates to the very essence of my soul, he disappears? What’s with that? She’d tried to come up with possible scenarios. Maybe his brother had taken a turn for the worse and he couldn’t find a single moment to communicate? How could she know? What was she to think?
Brenda clenched her fists and vowed to celebrate the eve of her birthday—as magnificently as she and K.C. could come up with last minute. “Not a complete surprise, is it?” K.C. muttered when Brenda brought her up to date. She had to agree it wasn’t. Though she still held out a spark of hope for herself and Keith as a couple, that spark grew harder and harder to sustain.
After a marathon yoga morning and an afternoon of retail therapy, she and K.C. continued the festivities with late-afternoon high tea at a downtown hotel.
“You know, I don’t want to talk about him. Not mentioning his name is the best gift you can give me.” Brenda bit into a mini-scone slathered with clotted cream. “To hell with diets.”
K.C. endorsed this idea.
They went from high tea to a French movie then were supposed to have dinner at the ultra-trendy Chez Clay, another place Brenda had dreamed of going with “the one who should remain unnamed”. But just before they got to the restaurant, she admitted to herself she wasn’t in the mood. She just wanted to go home and be alone after all.
“Are you sure?” K.C. asked.
“I’m sorry. I know you’ve been looking forward to going there. Maybe you could find someone else last minute? I hate to give up the reservation, but I need some quiet time.”
“Don’t worry about the reservation. Now that I’m a hotshot author, those are easier to come by. I’m just worried about you.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m okay. Nothing like a bit of contemplation as I start my new year.”
“I hope that works for you.”
Brenda got home and shared a cuddle or two with Chelsey, who
“Huh.” So Ryan wasn’t a cheating bastard in the same mold as their father had been. If Keith could believe his brother, and there was no reason not to. Ryan had nothing to gain from lying.
Both brothers agreed to make it a priority to develop the relationship they’d never had before. They even went on a special shopping trip together after Keith told Ryan about Brenda. Good stuff, but it all took time and energy outside work hours. Keith’s case load was starting to pick up, and this was not the time to cut back on any chance to make money. He wasn’t in Brenda’s financial league, something else he’d have to learn to deal with.
She had never been out of his thoughts that week, but he owed it to her to have his head straight before their next contact. He was just about there. This being the night before her thirtieth birthday, he should get in touch. If he didn’t, she’d always remember the disappointment and resent him. One thing he knew about her. She wanted her special times to stand out and sparkle. He could give her that. He’d better.
So, late as it was, they could still come up with a way to celebrate. Should have started earlier and stuck to making plans, but Ryan’s situation sidetracked him. Still, this was San Francisco, a city with tons of great places to eat, to see, to play. Even last minute, he could come up with something worthy.
Best of all, he realized Taylor had nothing real to offer him, and he wanted real. He wanted Brenda. He was finally sure.
So, ready to really commit, he phoned Brenda. Went to voice mail on both her cell and her land line. He left messages. “I’ll meet you or you can come here or I’ll go to your place. It’s not too late to make this birthday special.” It’s not too late for us. Maybe she’d call or just come over.
* * *
The eve of her thirtieth birthday—and no word from Keith. After that night when he showed up on her doorstep and they’d fallen into bed together… Could any two people ever get closer? After we make love and he penetrates to the very essence of my soul, he disappears? What’s with that? She’d tried to come up with possible scenarios. Maybe his brother had taken a turn for the worse and he couldn’t find a single moment to communicate? How could she know? What was she to think?
Brenda clenched her fists and vowed to celebrate the eve of her birthday—as magnificently as she and K.C. could come up with last minute. “Not a complete surprise, is it?” K.C. muttered when Brenda brought her up to date. She had to agree it wasn’t. Though she still held out a spark of hope for herself and Keith as a couple, that spark grew harder and harder to sustain.
After a marathon yoga morning and an afternoon of retail therapy, she and K.C. continued the festivities with late-afternoon high tea at a downtown hotel.
“You know, I don’t want to talk about him. Not mentioning his name is the best gift you can give me.” Brenda bit into a mini-scone slathered with clotted cream. “To hell with diets.”
K.C. endorsed this idea.
They went from high tea to a French movie then were supposed to have dinner at the ultra-trendy Chez Clay, another place Brenda had dreamed of going with “the one who should remain unnamed”. But just before they got to the restaurant, she admitted to herself she wasn’t in the mood. She just wanted to go home and be alone after all.
“Are you sure?” K.C. asked.
“I’m sorry. I know you’ve been looking forward to going there. Maybe you could find someone else last minute? I hate to give up the reservation, but I need some quiet time.”
“Don’t worry about the reservation. Now that I’m a hotshot author, those are easier to come by. I’m just worried about you.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m okay. Nothing like a bit of contemplation as I start my new year.”
“I hope that works for you.”
Brenda got home and shared a cuddle or two with Chelsey, who
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