“Well, since that’s out of the realm of possibility, what else?”
“Coffee?”
“Not possible either,” she said. “Why are you here so early this morning? Don’t you have a company to run or something?”
“Not on Sunday,” he said and moved forward, ignoring the fact that she obviously didn’t want him in her apartment.
Then it hit her, the all important question and some of her belligerence left her. Turning to face him, she looked down at the floor so he wouldn’t see her blush again. “Um, did you happen to mention where I live to any of my brothers?” she asked, twisting the cap on and off of the bottle of aspirin.
Brett walked into the kitchen and set down a large brown bag. “Why? Do they not know where you live?” he asked, surprised.
Antonia shrugged as if his answer didn’t matter. “Not really,” she answered, watching him open cabinets, then finally finding the coffee and filters.
“Why not?” he asked, scooping coffee into the coffee machine and acting as if he’d lived here for years.
“Look, just tell me if you mentioned it to them. Please!” she said, desperate now to know the truth. The idea that her brothers might show up on her doorstep, en masse or one at a time was too frightening. Because she knew they’d all have moving boxes in their hands. She couldn’t stand the suspense any longer.
“Not yet,” he said, coming over to where she was standing. “Do you not want me to?”
Antonia’s eyes pleaded with him. “No. I’d be very grateful if you could leave that bit of information between the two of us.”
Brett put his arm behind her against the wall and leaned closer to her. “What other information should I leave out of our conversations?” he asked.
Antonia didn’t understand what he was talking about, but then, as she stared up into his half-closed eyes, seeing the sexual desire there, she put two and two together. Last night, Brett had taken her clothes off and put her to bed. With that realization, her face flamed red again and she couldn’t look him in the eye. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you last night. It was thoughtful of you to carry me inside. I hope the elevators were working.”
Brett shook his head. “They weren’t.” He was so close, she could feel his warm breath on her cheek when he spoke.
“Oh,” was all she could say. She was so embarrassed that he had taken off her clothes, she couldn’t think.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, leaning down and gently touching her lips. “And I didn’t see anything,” he lied. He eased his conscience with the knowledge that he hadn’t seen everything. soon, he promised himself. Not nearly everything he wanted to see. But soon. Very
“Oh,” Antonia said, instantly relieved. She took a deep breath and glanced up into his eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and pushed away from the wall. “Are you hungry?” he asked as he took the bottle of aspirin she’d been holding. He walked back into the kitchen and found a glass, filled it with water, then handed her two aspirin and the glass.
“Yes,” Antonia replied, trying not to touch his warm fingers when she took the glass gratefully.
Brett started opening the bag but then he caught sight of her robe. He stopped looking in the bag and turned to face her, leaning a hip against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest. “You aren’t wearing anything underneath that robe are you?” he asked.
Antonia gripped the folds of the neckline closer to her and shook her head. “I’ll go take a shower and get dressed,” she said, already moving towards the bathroom.
“That would be a good idea,” he chuckled.
Antonia rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. She took the fastest shower in her life, too afraid Brett would come in at anytime. Back in her bedroom, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a soft, navy blue sweater with short sleeves and a matching, blue cardigan. Looking at her hair, she thought about pulling it up, but she didn’t want to bother with it. So she brushed it until it shone, then put on some mascara, a light coat of powder and some lipstick.
Feeling satisfied with her appearance, she opened the bedroom door to the smell of fresh coffee, eggs, bacon and toast. Antonia’s stomach growled in anticipation of the food.
Peeking around the corner, she spotted Brett sitting on the sofa, reading a newsletter sent from her investment company. She hadn’t gotten around to reading it yet, but she’d left it on the coffee table yesterday along with the rest of her mail.
As soon as he saw her, he looked up and smiled. “I’m not sure which woman I like better. The one that was warm and cozy from sleep, or now when you’re all fresh and gorgeous. I’m glad you left your hair down. I love it like that,” he said, tossing down the newsletter and moving towards the kitchen.
“You have a good portfolio. Who taught you to invest?” he asked as he picked up two plates.
Antonia looked down at the papers scattered about on her “coffee table”. Sure enough, she’d taken time to open her investment report and just left it laying there. She couldn’t even blame him for snooping around when she’d forgotten to put personal papers in a safe place.
“No one,” she said and walked over to pick it up, folding it and putting it in the drawer she kept all correspondence that needed to be filed. “I taught myself.”
“Who’s your broker? He gives some great advice,” Brett said from the kitchen. He emerged a moment later with two plates piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and each balancing a glass of orange juice.
Antonia took one plate and inhaled the wonderful smell. She loved breakfast, but rarely woke up in time to enjoy it. “I don’t have a broker. I use the internet to invest,” she explained. “I do my own research and invest my money they way I think is wise,” she said and headed for the sofa. She hadn’t gotten around to buying a table, so she ate all her meals in the family room instead of the kitchen.
Brett nodded and sat down on the sofa to eat. “Well, when you find your next investment, please give me your ideas. I’ll go with your instincts.”
She was about to take her first bite of food, but her fork stopped halfway to her mouth. Antonia flushed with pleasure. She thought he’d give her advice, but instead, he was praising her and asking for her advice. She was so confused, she didn’t know what to say. So she just said, “Thank you.”