The Brute Read Online Free Page A

finally got to me. “Haven’t been standing here for three hours have you?” Well, duh, I only left him an hour ago. “Then I win,” he said.
    I punched him playfully on the arm.
    He lifted the shopping bags that he had with him up in the air. “I’m going to cook dinner for you. Say thanks, for you letting me stay here.”
    No one had ever cooked for me before. I was so used to grabbing a bite from the local deli for dinner because I hated cooking for one person. I missed what a home cooked meal was like. I crossed my fingers hoping it would be something wonderful.
    I wasn’t disappointed. Rosemary and pepper mingled together as steam mushroomed above the stovetop - a whole symphony of scents and sounds as he shook a pan here, added some butter there. He moved really well in the kitchen, like he’d been cooking all his life. I didn’t know that about him. Even in my teeny-tiny kitchen he looked like a Masterchef, right at home.
    I hadn’t noticed before, (well, okay I had, but I didn’t want to admit it, not with everything else going on), but the way he was looking at me was different than he used to back in Claremont. It was almost as if he was seeing me as a completely different person.
    I liked that he was looking at me that way. I don’t know why - it’s not like I could do anything about it. And I wouldn’t of course, my life was already way too fucked up. But just being looked at and really seen. Well it was nice, and gave me a tiny warm feeling in my stomach. Or that could have just been my stomach anticipating the feast it was about to have. My body didn’t always respond in the ways that I wanted it to, lately.
    “Dinner is served,” he said dramatically as he waved his hand in the air and bowed low like he was some grand servant.
    I couldn’t help myself - I giggled again. I was turning into a silly schoolgirl. Oh well, no loss, he’d be gone the day after tomorrow. What would be the harm in having a bit of happiness in the meantime and actually enjoying these wonderful meals he was making for me.
    After the meal, (which was seriously the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted), he grabbed a dvd from my collection and put it on.
    I’d seen the movie a few times already (what else was I going to do with my nights alone?), but he hadn’t seen it. It was funny to see him jump at the scary parts and smile at the sensitive moments. He was really engrossed in it. It gave me a chance to sit back and watch him again. I didn’t let him see me do it though, I was always careful to turn my attention back to the television when he looked my way, but out of the corner of my eye it was like I couldn’t look away.
    Only a day and a half. And he’d be gone.

10
     
    I woke up late again the next day. I almost skipped into the living room, I felt so light. But James wasn’t there. There was a note on the desk, I walked over to read it. He’d already left for his business meeting and would be back late this afternoon.
    What sort of meeting takes place for practically the whole day? Why did I care?
    I had to take my mind of things. I had to take my mind of James. Hell, it was like I was a little kid again with a new toy. This had to stop.
    I logged onto all the job sites I knew online. Nothing was available that I was qualified for. I found my resume file, updated it and printed it out. I might need it soon. I promised myself that I’d ask that little florist shop on the corner if they wanted staff. Sometimes they had a sign up for busy periods like Valentine’s and Mother’s day. A few days would be better than nothing.
    The rest of the day, I sat around moping. Nothing interesting was on television, and I didn’t feel like going out and walking around. Even the corner cafe where I get those sweet coconut macaroons wasn’t tempting me. Maybe I was coming down with something.
    At least The Brute hadn’t called. Yet.
    I got changed into my yoga gear and did some stretches. After the amount of food