Smith

 

 

I left her in my bed. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but I need this job. I love this job, and I know when I'm on air today, I'm going to have the biggest fucking grin on my face, even when I'm interviewing the sorry shit who just wrote a tell-all about his time with one of the most influential women in Hollywood.

You never sell out a woman you've fucked, dude. That's going to be my off the record advice for the douche.

I even gave Arthur a pat on the shoulder today when he opened the car door and handed me a steaming hot cup of Roasting Point's premium blend. The look of confusion on his face said it all. I'm not the nicest guy first thing in the morning. We both know it.

I plug my phone into my laptop as I settle in. The battery died sometime between my impromptu visit with Gramps and this morning. Normally, I'd be in full panic mode about the calls, emails and text messages I missed, but not today. Nothing on earth could have taken me away from Brynn last night.

My phone lights up like a goddamn Christmas tree. I scroll through the text messages, all from the same person. Julian.

Where the hell are you?

You can't just drop a bombshell like that on me and then vanish.

She's my sister, you asshole.

Is she all right? Tell me she's all right.

I type out a quick text in response even though I know he's fast asleep. The last text message he sent me is time stamped three hours ago.

She's fine, Julian. I've got her.

I drop my phone in my lap and take a long sip of coffee. I haven't felt this good in years, maybe ever.

I jump when I hear the chime of my phone. I drop my gaze.

You're in love with her, aren't you?

Surprise, surprise. Brynn's brother is wide awake.

I text back a response. It's short, sweet and sums everything in one word.

Yes.

Those three little dots jump on the screen as he types back a response. I don't give a shit if he has a problem with this or not. Brynn is all grown-up and what happened last night is just the beginning.

It's about time you realized it.

I laugh so hard that Arthur tips back his chin to look at me in the rear view mirror.

What the fuck does that mean? I press send.

"Is everything all right, sir?" Arthur asks, his eyes darting between the mirror and the road.

"Couldn't be better." I toss him a wink.

I was in the doorway of the kitchen that night. I saw her try to kiss you. I know it killed you inside not to.

Who the fuck knew Julian was so stealthy? I don't think twice before I thumb out a response.
I couldn't touch her back then. She was young and I didn't want you to beat the shit out of me.

At least two minutes pass before my phone chimes again.

She's an adult now but rest assured, if you hurt her, I'll beat the shit out of you now.

I laugh again. I wasn't worried either way if Julian was good with this or not, but knowing he is, does bring a sigh of relief from within.

I love you too.

I press send, slide my phone aside and open my email app on my laptop to read the notes Resa sent me thirty minutes ago. My day is about to begin and knowing that Brynn is tucked in my bed dreaming about everything we did last night makes me the happiest man on earth.

 

***

 

"You met Mavis?" I reach across the table to scoop Brynn's hand into mine. "When did that happen?"

She looks around the crowded café. It was her idea to meet here. I wanted to take her back to my bed, but she's got a meeting with a big shot developer and a contractor in an hour so I need to squeeze every second I can out of this coffee date.

"I was leaving your place. She said hi in the corridor." She tugs her hand away and pats her purse. "Thank you for leaving me a key so I could lock up. I'll give it back to you now."

I did leave her a key. I needed her to secure the deadbolt of my apartment door when she left. It's not that I don't trust every single soul who lives in my building. I do. I don't trust the people who wander in from the street.

"I'd like you to keep it."

Her hands stop just as she's pulling on the silver chain that the key to the rooftop deck is attached to. "You want me to keep it?"

My eyes follow her movements as she tugs the remainder of the chain free. I see two keys now. One has to be my apartment key. I want it to stay there. I know it's early for that, but my heart is telling me this is it for me, so fuck conventional wisdom that says you don't give a key to a woman until you've dated for a few months.

"Yes," I say quietly. "Does that make you uncomfortable?"

She exhales softly. "Is it too soon for that? I can't give you a key to my apartment because I have a roommate and most of the time she doesn’t have clothes on."

I don't give a shit about that. There's only one woman I want to see naked and she's looking right at me. "We can hang out at my place and if you have a key it makes it easier. I leave for work in the middle of the night, Brynn. You can sleep in when you stay over and lock up like you did today.

She scratches her brow. "That does make sense."

"Keep it. I want you to."

As I watch her tuck the chain back into her purse, a silver ring with a small diamond setting falls out. It bounces once on the table before it lands on the floor. I'm on my knees in an instant, chasing after it as it rolls under our table.

"Oh no, no," Brynn mutters as she drops to her knees next to me. "I can't lose that. Please, Smith. Don't let me lose it."

I won't. I have no idea why it means so much to her, but I'm not about to let it slip away. I crawl another foot forward until I slap my hand down on it, blocking the path of a couple ready to leave the café.

"Hey, you're Smith Booth, aren't you?" The woman crouches, her skirt shifting so I can literally see right up her dress.

I scramble to my feet, brushing the knees of my pants to get rid of the dirt that's settled there. I'm still wearing the suit I was earlier when I was on air. It's just past noon now, and normally I'd be in meetings discussing tomorrow's show. I ducked out to see Brynn.

"Can I get your autograph?" She's on her feet now too; her hand fishing inside her bag for what I assume is a pen.

I look down at the ring in my hand before I turn back to find Brynn standing behind me, a broad smile on her face. "He'd be more than happy to give you an autograph."

The woman taps me on the shoulder before she shoves a pen and what looks like a take-out menu from a pizza restaurant at me. "Make it out to Bonnie, with a B."

Is there another way to spell Bonnie that doesn't begin with a B?

"Are you his wife?" Bonnie, with a capital B, asks Brynn.

Brynn stammers through a series of "I…no…we used to be friends…not really, but then last night everything changed."

"She will be," I interrupt. "I'm going to marry this woman one day."

"Smith," Brynn says breathlessly as her hand lands on my shoulder. "You don't know that."

I hand Bonnie back her pen and the menu that now has my signature scribbled across it. Then I turn to my love. "Is this your grandmother's ring, Brynn?"

Her eyes drop to my open palm at the ring that I'm still holding. "It was originally my great-grandma's wedding ring. She left it to my grandma and she left it to me. My grandma told me her parents had a very special love."

"On the day you tell me you want to marry me, I'll slip it on your finger."

She leans forward, her eyes wide and open. "You're saying these things because we had great sex last night."

"I'm saying these things because I'm in love with you," I whisper against the shell of her ear.

"You can't be serious?" She steps back and scans my face. "How can you be in love with me?"

"Ask my heart." I tap my fingers against the center of my chest. "I've never been in love before and my Gramps told me that when it happened, I'd know, so I know."

Tears glisten in the corner of those brilliant blue eyes. "You know I loved you when I was seventeen, right?"

"And every day since," I add with a soft kiss to her mouth.

"I hated you yesterday when I woke up. I can't love you now." She shrugs through a half-grin. "I don't think that's how love works."

"I know it works that way." I open my palm again. "I'm going to give this back to you now, Brynn, because I know you won't let me keep it. One day I'll put it on your finger forever."

I place the ring in her hand, fist mine around it and hold it to my chest.

"You're as confusing now as you were when I was seventeen." She leans into me. "Kiss me, Smith. Just kiss me."

I do.