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“You realize I can’t leave this house. And if I tried to, I’d freeze outside in the blizzard. And here we are having a glass of wine, surrounded by art and literature. It’s like a horrible fairytale I read as a child.”
“Yes. I think I know the one. Something about a beast?”
She stared at him. “It doesn’t make any sense. Nothing in this house makes sense.”
“Brooke.” He looked
at her. She felt his eyes heavy on her lips.
She had to get out of here. She placed the wine on the coffee table.
“I’m going to bed. I have work to do. Early.”
She walked to the doorway.
“Stay and finish the bottle with me,” he urged. “We can tell bedtime stories. Maybe revise that terrible beast story,” he teased.
She closed her eyes. She hated that the draw to him was so strong.
“Good night, Tyler.” She walked away, knowing something inside her was shifting and there was nothing she could do about it.
It took ten days. A grueling ten days of working on the Dreams with Wings design. Brooke had never loved a project more than this. She wasn’t sure she was ready to admit it openly, but it was true. She awoke in the massive cabin each morning, eager to get to work on the latest ideas that came to her overnight.
There were some nights she stayed up late, designing and creating. She felt as if part of her soul were invested in it. It had to be the most beautiful creation she had made.
Today was it. Tyler and Lee would receive the final submissions from the other artists. Brooke’s fingers tingled with nerves. It was hard to decide what made her more nervous—wanting the design to be chosen because she loved it, or wanting it to be chosen to give her the freedom she had sought.
Today could be the day she’d leave the cabin forever. This could be it.
Either way, it was enough to keep her stomach in knots. She skipped her cup of coffee Lee offered in the kitchen.
“Can I get you something else?” he asked. “You seem nervous, Brooke.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think I can eat.”
Tyler rested his tablet next to him at the table. “Is there a reason you have no appetite today?” He smirked.
She wanted to slap that beautiful smile off his face. It was irritating how sexy he was.
“I think you know exactly what is at stake today.”
Lee smiled. “I’m sure your design is going to be chosen. Ty has excellent taste. How could he not pick yours?”
Brooke exhaled and smiled at him. He had a way of calming her when she least expected it. “Thank you. I guess I’ll know this afternoon, won’t I?”
“Whatever happens, we appreciate that you’ve worked hard for the foundation.”
“Thank you.” She folded her napkin in her lap. There was no way she could eat the omelet Lee placed in front of her.
Tyler poured a cup of coffee. He was relaxed and cocky as usual.
“Maybe I should go for a walk,” she suggested, waiting for one of them to protest.
The men looked between each other and shrugged.
“You’re serious?” She stared at them. “You aren’t going to tell me you have to walk with me? Or that you’re worried I’ll run?”
Lee smiled. “I’ve kept the hiking path clear. You should have no trouble finding your way back to the house on your own, but if you want company, you know I’ll go with you.”
