by Elle Keating
She chuckled as she wiped her tears away. “Hey, those are fighting words. Wawa hoagies are delicious.”
“I forced down half of it. It was bad.” She slapped his chest. “Maya wants to meet you.”
“She wants to meet me? One of your ex-girlfriends? Won’t that be weird?”
“After I told her that I wanted to see if we could be friends again, she asked if she could meet you.”
Anna couldn’t dismiss the way he smiled when he spoke about his girlfriend. “She must be really special to you.”
“She is.”
“Then in that case, I accept.”
Chapter Ten
Brennan
It had taken everything Brennan had not to pummel that guy he had seen in Anna’s kitchen last night. She didn’t answer him when he had asked if she was with the guy and that pissed him off, an emotion he had no right feeling. She didn’t owe him anything; in fact she had every right to be angry at him. He hadn’t called when he said he would. He had proved that she had been right all along, that she was a conquest, that he had succeeded in getting her to go out with him. In other words, he was supposed to be done with her.
But he wasn’t done. Far from it. He had thought about her the entire ride back from his parents’ house, wondering what she was doing, if she was eating crappy food and passing it off as her Thanksgiving dinner. And then his truck seemed to magically find its way to her house. He had stared at her home for a good fifteen minutes before he found the courage to knock on her door.
“Hey boss, you okay?”
He shook his head and stared at Michael, his right-hand man.
“Yeah, I’m good. Didn’t sleep so hot last night is all.” He swiped the cutting board off the counter and scraped the mountain of garlic he had chopped into the pan on the stove.
“How’s your family? Did the entire McGinnis clan get together last night?”
“Just the immediate family. I’m sure Christmas will be a different story.” His mom had told him last night over dinner that her sister’s family in Italy was coming for Christmas, which meant that every relative in the United States would be making their way to south Jersey to see their family members from overseas.
“Well, you know I’ve got you covered here.”
With Michael manning the staff and overall operations and Brennan’s competent sous-chef killing it in the kitchen, Brennan didn’t have to worry anymore that his restaurant would fall apart in his absence. “Thanks, man,” he said. Michael gave him a nod and left.
He needed to get his head on straight. It was a Friday night of a holiday weekend, which meant that they would be swamped. He was about two hours in and working his ass off when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He reached for his cell and read the incoming text:
“Get out here and say hi to your favorite sister.”
He smiled at his phone. Carina hadn’t told him she was coming. “What a brat,” he uttered to himself. Brennan washed his hands and told his guys that he would be back. He removed his white jacket, leaving him in a black polo and charcoal pants and headed onto the floor. It was crazy. Every seat was taken. His staff was hustling, functioning like a well-oiled machine. He appreciated their work ethic and loyalty and paid them well in return. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had quit on him.
Brennan spotted Carina and Josh and his grandmother, who everyone called Lady Jane, at a table near one of the many windows overlooking the water. Lady Jane wasn’t English royalty, just a nickname Josh had given her a long time ago and one that the McGinnis family had happily adopted. He was a few feet from their table when Carina turned and faced him. He was met with a warm smile and she stood and hugged him.
“You’re my only sister, squirt.” Carina gave him a swat to the chest before flopping back into her chair.
Brennan reached for Lady Jane’s hand and he leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The sassy girl proceeded to fan herself afterward which always made Brennan smile and Josh roll his eyes. Lady Jane lived a few minutes from here, so whenever Josh and Carina were in town, they always brought her to Lucrezia for dinner, claiming it was her favorite place to eat.
“You get more handsome every time I see you,” Lady Jane said.
He was just about to return the compliment when he felt someone staring at him. He peered to his right and met Anna’s gaze. Her eyes darted from him to his family. Brennan glanced to her left and he saw the same guy who had been at her house last night. She was on a date… in his restaurant. Brennan watched her say something to her date and then she was on her feet and walking toward the restrooms.
***
Anna
It took less than five minutes to understand why Tom was so head over heels in love with Maya. She was perfect for him. Sweet, pretty, intelligent, and ready to settle down and have that family Tom had always wanted.
“When Tom told me that he wanted to get back in touch with you, I have to admit I was a little jealous. But then I thought to myself, no, this is Tom and well, I have no reason to be jealous.” Maya took Tom’s hand and he smiled. This girl was over the top understanding, but she appeared genuine and very secure in her relationship, so good for them.
“It’s nice to have my friend back,” Anna said. Her response made Maya smile even more, which was exactly the reaction Anna had hoped to invoke. Maya had nothing to worry about. They were just friends now and Tom was completely smitten with his new girlfriend. He hadn’t stopped touching her. Even during the car ride over, they had held hands, something that Tom and Anna rarely had done when they were together, mainly because she wasn’t an overly affectionate person. When Tom had pulled up to Lucrezia, Anna had thought she was going to have a panic attack. She curbed her anxiety by telling herself that she wouldn’t run into Brennan. He worked in the kitchen. Slim chance that he would come out onto the floor.
“Well, I’m going to hit the ladies’ room. Be right back.” Maya gave Tom’s hand a squeeze and left in search of the bathroom.
“She really is perfect for you,” Anna said, picking up her wine glass. Tom smiled in return but it quickly melted away. She followed his gaze and found Brennan staring at them.
“Anna…” Tom said.
“I um, I think I’m going to use the ladies’ room, too.” Anna set her wine glass on the table and headed in the direction that Maya had gone. She rounded a corner and was walking down a hallway when she heard his voice.
“Anna.” She stopped abruptly but didn’t turn and face him. She squeezed her eyes shut, which was a mistake because all she could see was him. Him kissing her on her front sidewalk, how she had kissed him back, only for him to put a halt to things… and tell her that kissing her was a mistake. “Anna, can we talk?”
She whipped around and held her head high. “About what, Brennan?”
“Please,” he said, gesturing to a door farther down the corridor.
“We have nothing to discuss,” she said, walking toward what she hoped were the restrooms.
“The kiss…”
“Was a mistake. That’s what you called it, right?” Brennan went to the door, unlocked it with a key from his pocket and held it open. Maya appeared from what must be the women’s restroom several feet down the hall.
“Oh, hey, Anna. You should see the bathroom. They have these cute little soaps you can take and an actual sitting room. I felt like I was at a spa!”
This girl was cute and her innocence was refreshing, but Anna wasn’t in the mood right now. Anna forced a smile. “Sounds great. I’ll be quick. Food should be coming out soon.” Maya gave her a little wave and left.
Anna stepped into the room, and Brennan shut the door behind her. Anna folded her arms and waited. “The guy you came with tonight…”
“Tom, his name is Tom.”
His jaw clenched. “Are you two a couple?”
“Honestly, it really isn’t any of your business.”
“Did you bring him here to make me jealous?”
&n
bsp; She let out a half snort/half chuckle. “Get over yourself. You know what, I told you before I’m not into playing games so here’s me being as transparent as I can be. Tom is my ex-boyfriend and now my friend. Maya, the woman from the hallway, the one who is in love with your bathroom and its amenities is Tom’s current girlfriend. I had no idea Tom and Maya were taking me to dinner here tonight.”
“You’re having dinner with your ex and his new girlfriend?”
“Yes, sounds weird, but yes.” She glanced around the room and was surprised at what she saw. She expected an office or some kind of breakroom, but instead it resembled an upscale hotel suite. To her immediate left she spotted a large cherrywood desk, computer, and some leather chairs. To her right, a full-size bar. Farther into the room, Anna saw a king-sized bed, flat screen television, bureau, and what she believed to be a bathroom. “What is this?” she asked, looking around.
“Sometimes I work late and am too tired to drive home, so I crash here.”
“That’s convenient. Well, I need to get back. I’m hungry.” She turned on her heel and faced the door. She was going for the doorknob when he reached around her and pressed his hand against the door. He was standing right behind her, close enough to feel his breath upon her neck. Goosepimples peppered her skin and she inwardly cursed. Because why the hell did he affect her so much?
“Anna, last night. I don’t regret kissing you… I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first night we met… I just…” She heard him swallow hard. “I have never pursued a woman, never chased after one… because…”
“Because you never had to. They typically fall at your feet, right?” She turned and stared right into eyes that could easily melt her in seconds.
Be strong.
“You know what, Brennan? Before I moved here, before Tom, I would have been that woman you seem to be attracted to. The kind who doesn’t mind a quick romp with no strings, no promises of more or even a phone call the next day. When I said that I know men like you, I do. Because you are looking at the female version of you, or at least what I used to be like. No serious relationships, minimal emotion expended, no attachments. But things have changed. I’m not looking for a quick fuck anymore.”
“What happened? What made you change?”
Did he deserve an answer? Not really. But that’s not why she didn’t give him one. She was spent. “My dinner is waiting and so are my friends.”
“Anna…”
“Look, Brennan, you seem like a nice guy. We just want different things.” He took a step back, his hands fisted now at his sides. He didn’t look angry but at a loss for words. Or maybe he just seemed lost. Maybe that’s why she heard herself ask, “We could be friends? I don’t have many of those.”
“Friends?” he asked with a laugh.
“What’s so funny? You don’t think men and women can be friends?”
“My brother Gabe tried to be just friends with a woman.”
“What happened?”
“They ended up engaged.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “But… if friends is all we can be, then I’ll take it.”
She wasn’t expecting that, for him to give up so easily, to agree to enter into a relationship that wouldn’t involve sex. But it looked like he had called her bluff and she was now stuck. “Okay, then. Friends it is.”
Chapter Eleven
Brennan
Brennan stared at his bedroom ceiling and listened, took in the sounds of his house, every creak, the heat seeping through the air vents. Was his house always this quiet? What he would give to not be alone right now. Maybe he should get a dog. His thoughts went to last night when Anna revealed that her sex life once rivaled his. But something had happened, something had made her want more than just casual flings and heated hookups. What was it?
He gripped his rock-hard cock. He needed to get laid. Soon. Or schedule another fight. Brennan headed to the bathroom, did his business, and then went to the kitchen. His stomach growled as he opened the fridge and stared at the shelves of food. His eyes skipped right over the bacon and carton of eggs and landed on the fresh berries. He knew in an instant what he was in the mood for. He swiped the berries from the fridge, placed them on the island and plundered his pantry for the other ingredients, only to stare in horror at his nearly empty bag of flour. What the hell! He never let his staples get low.
But his disappointment morphed into a fantastic idea, at least he thought it was as he gathered the rest of the ingredients and stuffed them into a brown paper bag.
We’re friends. No big deal. Friends do this kind of thing all the time.
That’s what he chanted to himself as he took a quick shower, as he got dressed, as he drove over to her house.
Just friends. What could go wrong?
***
Anna
“Brennan, what are you doing here?” Anna said, wrangling her hair into a messy bun.
“I ran out of flour. Do you have some? Help a neighbor, a friend out?” he asked with a smile.
“Flour?”
“Yep, I was preparing to make crepes and I looked in my pantry and noticed I was out. Never happened to me before.”
“Oh, well, come in. It’s freezing.” He followed her into the kitchen and she went straight to her ceramic container on the counter. She popped off the lid and was happy to see that she had plenty to spare. “How much do you need?’ she asked.
Brennan set the brown bag he had been carrying on her kitchen island and started withdrawing the contents from the bag. “Two cups.”
She eyed the raspberries, sticks of butter, sugar, heavy cream, eggs, and vanilla extract on her counter. “What are you doing?”
“Making crepes,” he said.
“Here?”
“Yes. I’m using your flour. Only fair that you get breakfast out of it. Have you eaten yet?”
“Uh… no. I just woke up a few minutes ago.”
“Good.”
Mack stood at attention, eyeing every move he made, praying to God no doubt that Brennan would drop something. “You don’t have to do this. I usually just eat something quick like cereal.”
Brennan pretended to gag. “Friends don’t let friends eat cereal if they can help it. Sit. I’m making you breakfast. Cereal, for God’s sake,” he said, shaking his head. She hopped onto one of her four breakfast barstools at the island while he made himself at home in her small kitchen.
He was whipping up the dough at the island when she asked, “Taking this friend thing a little too far, aren’t you?”
“Being friends with a woman is new to me. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m going a little overboard.”
“You’ve never had a female friend before?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he said. He went to the sink and had just finished rinsing off the berries, when his gaze landed on the three empty Tupperware containers stacked on top of her microwave. “Wasn’t a fan?” he said, nodding to the containers.
“Are you kidding? I scarfed everything down in record time. Tell your mom it was the best turkey I have ever tasted. And that gravy? What does she put in that?”
“That’s a McGinnis family secret.”
“Well, you should bottle that. You would make a killing around the holidays.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a chuckle. Brennan poured the berries into a saucepan and set it on the stove. Stirring the berries, he asked, “So what do you have planned today?”
Alright, she had had enough. She was identifying the elephant in the room. “Don’t you find this at all strange?”
With his focus and eyes on the berries, he asked, “What’s strange?”
“This. You in my kitchen, making breakfast, us becoming friends like practically overnight. Take your pick.”
With slotted spoon in hand, he turned and faced her. “I’m a chef, so no, it’s not strange that I like cooking breakfast. As for us becoming friends, I thought that was what you wanted. At the restaurant last night you said…�
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“I know what I said, but…” She shook her head. “How are the crepes coming? I’m starving.”
He gave her a nod, but she saw traces of a smirk. Smart ass. Brennan retrieved the saucepan and poured the red syrupy goodness over powdered sugar crepes. Her mouth watered on sight. They walked into the dining room and took a seat at the table. Brennan set the plates down and she eagerly took a bite… and moaned. She actually moaned. Over crepes. She looked over and he was staring at her, his blue eyes boring into hers, his jaw clenched. After a few seconds, he asked, “You like it?”
“They’re incredible.”
“Good to hear. I’ve never made breakfast for a woman before. Outside my restaurant, that is.”
“You’ve never made a woman breakfast?”
“No,” he said, peering at her beneath his long eyelashes. God, he was gorgeous.
“I know what you’re thinking and you would be right.” She tried to feign innocence but it was no use. He knew. “I’ve never cooked breakfast for a woman because I don’t stick around. I typically leave before the sun rises.” What he said didn’t disgust her because she was consumed with another emotion. She was jealous and she had no right to be. Friends don’t get jealous. His gaze lingered longer than she liked and he finally looked away, at the puzzle on the table next to him. He reached into the puzzle box and grabbed a piece and stared at it. “How long have you been working on this?”
“My dad and I started it about a month before he died. Someday I’ll get around to finishing it.”
He set the piece down and picked up the box to see what the puzzle should look like. “Was he the baseball fan or are you?”