“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.” She’s talking fast, the words rushing out of her mouth. “The guards at the front desk told them to come talk to me, and I found out you were all in a meeting, and?—”
I step close to her, bringing both hands to rest on her shoulders. “Relax. Everything is okay.” Something sharp stabs through my chest at how quickly she’s breathing. The fear pinching her expression. “You did perfectly. Probably better than we would have, because I can guarantee not a single one of us would have thought to offer them somethingto drink.”
That claim seems to shock her out of the panic starting to spiral. “Your mother would kill you.”
“Probably.” My hands move all on their own, going to her hair and pushing it behind her shoulders so it hangs down her back. “So that means your quick thinking saved my life.”
It takes a few seconds, but a smile slowly begins to curve Brooke’s lips. “I feel like you’re being a little melodramatic.”
“I told you I’ve changed.” I need to stop touching her, but I can’t. Instead of leaving her body, my hands slowly pass up and down her arms. “Now I’m all about the drama.” I lean down, breathing in a lungful of her sweet scent. “Why do you think I’m planning to hire Maren for my team?”
I finally accomplish what I’m trying to do, and Brooke’s head tips back a little on a laugh. “What is her position going to be? Resident gossip grabber?”
“I was planning to put her in charge of maintaining our stock, but I think I like your idea better.” I accidentally step closer. “Maybe I should hire you too.”
Brooke rolls her eyes. “Titus would kill you.”
“I doubt it.” I shrug. “I think he’s got his hands full with a very pregnant fiancée and a house renovation.”
And while I don’t know exactly how much of an undertaking renovating a house is, I am somewhat familiar with what’s involved in making dramatic changes to a property. Suffice it to say, I don’t think my oldest brother is going to be lining up to kick my ass anytime soon.
“Mariah was telling me about all the stuff they’re doing to their house.” Brooke seems to relax a little, leaning back against the desk as she continues. “I’m kind of surprised he took on such a big project so close to her due date.”
“There wasn’t really a lot of wiggle room.” Titus and Mariah’s love story is the stuff books and movies are basedon. Two people who found each other by complete accident. All the stars lining up just right to put them on the path to each other. “Mariah was already pregnant when they got together.”
Brooke blinks, like it’s taking her a second to process the information I’ve just given her. “I guess that wouldn’t leave much time, would it?”
I shake my head. “No, but I don’t think you’ll hear him complaining about it.” I tip my head, a little confused she doesn’t already know this information. “I’m kind of surprised my mom didn’t tell you.”
Brooke’s expression turns sad. “I think she knew I had a lot going on.” Her eyes fall to the floor between us. “And she and I haven’t talked as much the past year or so.”
It seems like maybe my mom has been holding back a lot of information, because I didn’t know that. “Any particular reason?”
Brooke rubs her lips together before pinching the lower one between her teeth, digging in so deep I’m worried she’ll raise blood before releasing it. “I haven’t made the best choices in life since I moved to California.”
I don’t like how she won’t look at me. The slumped slope of her shoulders. The way her head is hanging. Like she’s embarrassed.
“We all make mistakes.” I reach up, pressing a finger beneath her chin so I can tilt her head back, bringing her eyes to mine. “Ask me how I know.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t.”
Leaning forward, I let my free hand rest against the edge of the desk just beside her hip. “Can’t, or won’t?”
Her eyes dart back and forth between mine. “Both.”
“Fair enough.” I bring my thumb up to drag across thelower lip still pink from the aggressive way her teeth assaulted it. “Can we at least agree we’ve both made mistakes?”
It takes a second, but after a beat, Brooke nods.
I stroke over the soft flesh of her lip, eyes zeroing in on where I’m touching her. “Can we also agree that we would both like to move forward from those mistakes?”
Again, Brooke nods.
“Can I ask you one more question?” I wait, hoping to God I get another nod.
When it comes, I fight to keep from smiling. We’re finally getting somewhere, and I want to capitalize on this momentum. “Were you upset when I kissed you the other day?”
She makes me wait longer for this answer, and every passing second is torture. The longer it goes on, the more I’m sure I went too far.
