Page 20 of Brodie

“Okay, be safe.” I blow her and Marco a kiss and then wanderback into the bathroom, carefully getting out of the dress. When it’s back onthe hanger, I put on the sweats and tank top I had been wearing earlier, thencheck on Mickey to make sure he’s good before leaving the apartment and takingthe elevator up to the penthouse on the top floor.

When I get to Brodie’s door, I knock and wait, then knockagain when he doesn’t answer after a couple of minutes. Taking out my cell, Icheck the time. I’m a few minutes early, but only a few. He should be here. Thedoor swings inward, startling me, and my head flies up. I blink as my eyescollide with a half-naked Brodie wearing nothing but a thick white towel aroundhis waist, his broad chest beaded with water. I swallow while my nipples pebbleand the space between my legs throbs. You’d think, having seen him in swimtrunks, I would be able to control my reaction to seeing him like he is now—ormostly like he is now because I’ve never seen him dripping wet, and his towelis doing nothing to hide just how well-endowed he is.

“Sorry, my agent called when I was just finishing with myworkout, and I didn’t realize what time it was, so I jumped in the shower.” Hereaches for my hand and drags me into his apartment, which is a good thingbecause I doubt I could have gotten my feet to move on their own.

“No problem.” I look anywhere but at him, then thank mylucky stars when Jeb decides to make an appearance at that moment and comes togreet me. “You can get dressed.” It sounds like an order, and he laughs.

I glance up at him while I rub Jeb’s head. Yep, he’slaughing, or he was. Now, he’s just smiling at me like he thinks I’m funny. Mycheeks warm. “I’ll be right back. The stuff for the cookies is on the counterwith the recipe.”

He turns and starts down the hall, and I watch the musclesin his back move as he disappears out of sight. Looking down at Jeb, I drag ina breath and then wander to the kitchen. Because Brodie isn’t here to tell me Ican’t, I give Jeb a couple of treats from his jar, then pick up the cookierecipe. I’ve never heard of kitchen sink cookies before, but as I look over theingredients, I know they will be delicious. They have butterscotch chips, bothdark chocolate and regular chocolate chips, pretzels, toffy bits, and coarsesea salt. They sound sweet and salty—my favorite combo.

“Ready?” I look up at Brodie when he walks around the edgeof the counter and groan inwardly because while he did get dressed, he forgot ashirt. And since he’s a guy, he doesn’t technically need one.

“Is it safe to bake without a shirt on?” The question is outbefore I can stop it, and he grins, rubbing his hands over his ridged stomach.

“We’re not frying anything, so I think I’ll be okay.”

“Right,” I mumble, disappointed.

Walking to where I’m standing, I hold my breath when his bigbody presses into mine, and he reaches around me for the standing mixer on thecounter.

“How was work?” he asks, plugging it in.

“Umm. Good. Busy.” I bite my bottom lip when he moves intomy space again and starts opening the bags on the counter.

“I got our plane tickets. Our flight is at almost eight, sothat should give you plenty of time to come home and get ready before we headto the airport.”

“Great.” I step to the side to give him some room—or me someroom. Grabbing the butter, I open two sticks and put them in the mixing bowlwhile he starts measuring the sugar.

“My shoot is at seven a.m. on Saturday, so I figure you cansleep in while I take care of that. Then we can go have breakfast and explorethe city. I know you said you’ve been to New York, but is there anywhere youwant to go?”

“The library.” I glance over at him. “I haven’t ever gone tothe New York City Library, and I know I can’t take any books out, but I’d liketo see it in person.”

His smile is soft. “I can make that happen.”

“Thanks.” I smile back, and then the two of us work in sync,making cookies that are just as delicious as I imagined they would be. Themovie we decided to watch, however, is absolutely horrible. But in the end, itdoesn’t matter because everything seems a little better when I’m with Brodie.

Chapter 10

Reese

Picking my Red Bull off the bathroom counter in my hotelroom, I yawn and then take another drink. I’m already exhausted and have atleast another six hours before I can sleep.

Last night, Brodie and I got into New York late. By the timewe got to the hotel downtown and checked in, it was after midnight, and we wereboth starving. Thankfully, we were in a city that never sleeps, so we couldwalk down the block for a slice of pizza. Then, because at that point I waswired, we walked to Times Square to see the lights. By the time I climbed intobed, it was almost two in the morning, and then I woke up at ten to Brodieknocking on the door. He had been up early for his shoot and looked bright-eyedand bushy-tailed, despite getting less sleep than I did. While I got ready anddrank the coffee he’d brought, he lounged on my bed, talking to me through theopen bathroom door. Then, the two of us wandered the city together.

We went to a cute little café for breakfast, the New YorkCity Library, which was so cool to see in person, the Ghostbustersfirehouse, and the abandoned Track 61. After all that, we wandered throughCentral Park, where we each ate a hotdog while lounging on the grass. The daywas magical. Then again, being with Brodie anywhere was its own kind of magic.

With another yawn, I grab my makeup bag and start theprocess of getting myself ready. I never wear much makeup, and that is notchanging tonight, but I did get talked into buying red lipstick the same day Ibought myself my own pair of strappy heels from Neiman Marcus. I’ll wear ittonight like the girl at the makeup counter taught me.

With my hair tied back away from my face in a tight ponytailthat I took extra time making look perfect—even wrapping an under piece aroundthe hair tie and securing it with a bobby pin—I add bronzer to my face, someblush, a little gel to my brows so they stay in place, and then line my lipsand add the lipstick that is supposed to stay put for twenty-four hours.

When I’m finished and lean back to look at myself in themirror, I blink at my reflection. I look like my aunt. I never noticed itbefore, maybe because I never wear makeup, but I look just like her, whichmeans I look just like my dad. The realization makes me feel oddly connected tohim.

Knowing Brodie will arrive any minute so we can get to thehotel where the event is being held, I finish up in the bathroom and then getdressed.

When I have my shoes on, I grab the small clutch I borrowedfrom my aunt and start adding things to it—not much. My ID, a little cash, myphone, the lipstick just in case, and… I look at the door that separatesBrodie’s room from mine when I hear a knock.

Wandering to it, I open it and swallow. I should have knownthat Brodie in a tuxedo would be hard to handle. Heck, him wearing the shortsand tee he’d had on this afternoon made it difficult to focus. Then again, hisshirt fit him like a second skin, and knowing what was under it had meimagining it off more than once. But in a tux? In a tux, he looks like heshould be on a red carpet somewhere with some pretty little supermodel on hisarm.

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