A Brevia Beginning

Sam was right—he’d been doing more self-medicating with alcohol than he should lately. Since his partner had been killed, it was the only thing that numbed the pain and the thoughts that raced around his brain. He’d always enjoyed a good buzz, but he’d never needed it the way he did now.

He’d already lost control in so many areas of his life. How much was he willing to give up? He’d poured out the glass of whiskey and paced the length of the building. There was nothing more depressing than an empty bar after closing, when the lack of body heat and voices made it feel like a sad, lonely shell of broken dreams.

A lot like his life.

He’d gotten in his truck and driven here. Sure, he could have called Tina or even Misty and found a warm welcome and a warmer bed. Instead he’d craved the lightness he felt radiating from Lexi. She was the purest person he’d met in a long time, someone good and innocent and everything he hadn’t been in years.

He didn’t understand his need for her. He’d never been attracted to the buttoned-up type before. But her strawberry hair, big luminous eyes and creamy skin made him want to fold her into him and not let go.

Except he knew he’d destroy the goodness in her. That was what he did to the people he needed. As much as he might want her, he’d keep his distance. He’d stay on the couch, stay away from her bed. As self-destructive as he could be, he still had a deep need to protect the people around him. Too bad he was the person Lexi needed protection against the most.

* * *

Scott slept better on the overstuffed couch than he had in years. He woke, showered and dressed, feeling halfway human again.

By the time eight o’clock rolled around, Lexi still hadn’t made an appearance. He knocked softly on her bedroom door. “I know you’re awake. I hear you moving around. You can come out—I won’t bite.”

He heard something bang behind the closed door.

“I bet you have to go to the bathroom pretty bad by now.”

The door opened and Lexi appeared, fully dressed in jeans and a shapeless T-shirt that nonetheless gave him a little thrill. She tried hard to hide her petite figure and he couldn’t understand why.

“Why are you still here?” she asked warily.

“It’s cheery.”

“There isn’t a lick of decoration in the place,” she said and nudged him out of the way, slamming the bathroom door behind her.

He chuckled and moved back toward the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, “It’s a hell of a lot cheerier than the bar.”

He opened several cabinet doors. “There’s got to be coffee here somewhere,” he said as she came into the kitchen behind him.

“I told you I don’t drink coffee. Tea is your only choice.”

He made a choking sound.

“There’s a bakery around the corner.” She rolled her eyes. “Have at it.”

“I have a better idea,” he told her. “Let’s grab breakfast. That diner in town is always crowded.”

Her eyebrows shot to the top of her head. “I’m not having breakfast with you.”

“Why not? All you’ve got is yogurt and fruit here. That’s not going to do it for me.”

“What does it for you isn’t my concern.” She put her hands on her small hips. “I let you stay here.”

“Consider it a thank-you, then.” He winked. “We’ll discuss our future living arrangements. The couch is great but I’m going to need to get a bed.”

She shook her head. “This is my apartment.”

“Actually,” he said slowly, “it’s my sister-in-law’s apartment. I have more rights to it than you.”

Lexi’s mouth dropped open and he found himself wanting to kiss it shut. “She’s renting it to me.”

“I don’t like staying at the bar. I’m family.” He grabbed her purse from the back of the chair and handed it to her. “My brother doesn’t trust you after what you and your father tried to do.”

She sucked in a breath.

“Don’t make me use the family card.”

“I’m ordering everything on the menu,” she mumbled and headed out the door.

They drove in silence the few minutes to the restaurant. Scott could feel her frustration. He knew Julia didn’t think much of him, and the truth was, his sister-in-law might very well rather rent her apartment to Lexi than him. He wasn’t letting on, though.

He didn’t want to stay at the bar. Although he would never admit it out loud, he didn’t want to be by himself right now. He’d been living alone since he’d left home at eighteen. By nature, he was a loner. Even with girlfriends, he’d never been much of a stay-the-night snuggler. But he’d felt a strange sort of comfort knowing Lexi was sleeping down the hall last night. He had about a decade’s worth of decent sleep to catch up on, and he was determined to make it happen.

She didn’t order everything on the menu, but did ask for both an omelet and a stack of pancakes, plus granola on the side.

“Where do you put all that food?” he asked after their waitress had filled the table with plates. “You’re no bigger than a minute and you’ve got enough calories on that plate for an NFL quarterback.”

Reaching for the syrup, she answered, “It’s going to be my dinner, too. I’ll get a take-home box.”

“So you conned me into buying you two meals?”

“I gave you a place to sleep last night.” She took a big bite of pancake.

“Why do you need to hoard food? You don’t strike me as someone hard up for money.”

“I don’t want to use my credit cards while I’m here.” She stopped chewing midbite and stared at him, as if realizing she’d shared too much. “I’m trying to save money.”

“You’re hiding.” He took a drink of coffee and studied her, the mystery that was his little pixie mouse falling into place. “From a boyfriend?”

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