Page 26 of Filthy Rich

I remembered how I’d pressed my lips against the softly scented skin of Brooke’s cheek in greeting her at the design studio. I’d wanted to lick my way down her neck instead, pull her in against me, and suck on the place where her neck drifted into her shoulder. I wanted to feel and experience her response to me. What would she look like when I had my lips on her body? How would she sound? What was she like during sex? Did she taste sweet like this wine we’d been served?

This dinner was going to test my control, but I had to remember to keep things low-key. Coming on too strong would not be the right move with Brooke.

She studied me for a moment before saying, “Just right now you reminded me of someone I know on the island.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, my nan’s fiancé.” She shook her head and smiled. “Gosh, that sounds so strange but I have to get used to it because the wedding is in a month, and I’m planning it.”

“Congratulations to the happy couple.” I couldn’t help wondering who Mrs. Casterley was marrying in her golden years. I’d bet she was still as lovely as I remember—pretty, kind, and very British, ruling over the house at Blackwater, making sure everything was as perfect as it could be for our imperfect family. I remember a great deal of patience on her part, especially when we got into trouble and made huge messes as children do.

“I just thought of this, but Herman will be my grandfather once he marries Nan.”

Herman? The back of my neck tingled. Herman was not a common name. I could safely predict that the only Herman living on the island was my uncle. “Herman Blackstone?”

“Are you related to Herman?”

“He’s my uncle. So, Uncle Herman is getting married. Wow. That is awesome.” I’d have to come clean to Brooke about Blackwater. There was no way to keep that secret going. “Have you seen the guest list for the wedding?”

She shook her head in disbelief. “No, they’re still working on it.”

“Well, I imagine my name will be on there when you do.” I was thrilled for him. Herman deserved some happiness after the shit deal he’d been saddled with the first time around. Aunt Cynthia had not been a nice woman. In fact, she wasremembered fondly as a fucking hydra. My mother would be beside herself when she heard the news.Imagine a former servant marrying into all that money.I could hear her moaning the words over her chardonnay. I’d be lying if the thought of my mom’s distress over Herman’s news didn’t amuse the goddamn hell out of me.

“So your father and Herman are brothers?” She frowned. “I thought he just had one brother?—”

“He did. My father, John William, or JW as he was known, was his only brother and ten years younger than Herman.”

Her expression grew compassionate and I figured she had now finally made the full connection. Such a smart girl.

“Oh, Caleb, I am so sorry for your loss. It happened right before I came back to Boston to help Nan. She thought the world of your father and was heartbroken to hear that he’d passed away.”

“Thank you. I miss him every day.” I took some comfort in knowing his passing had been relatively peaceful with all of us right beside him when he died.

She studied me thoughtfully for a moment, focusing on my eyes mostly. “Caleb, I assume you’ve figured out my nan was housekeeper at Blackwater. Why—why then did you hire me for your renovation after those terrible things I said to you and the hideously disrespectful way I spoke about your family?”

She blinked several times as if she was trying to hold back tears. So tenderhearted.

“Brooke, please let it go.”

“But I don’t understand. I don’t know what you’re doing here, Caleb. With me. The flowers, the job offer, the fifty thousand dollars of damages you paid on my behalf for destroyed suits.” She turned toward the window and stared out at the rain. “My old boss stopped in to deliver my final payand to thank me in person for having myboyfriendpay for the extensive damages.”

She turned back from the window to hit me with her blazing amber eyes. Sensuous eyes I fantasized about at night when I was alone in my bed—how it would be, having them locked on me while I was buried balls-deep inside her. And I had no doubt it would be fucking spectacular.

“You didn’t evenknowme that night, Caleb, so why did you do all that for a stranger?”

I reached across the table and took both of her hands in mine. I caressed the back of each one with my thumbs, admiring the delicate bone structure.You’re a banquet for my starving soul. My brother believes I love you. You’ve completely owned me since I first laid eyes on you.“I don’t know why. That is the honest-to-God truth, Brooke. I do not know why I offered to pay the damages, or why I followed you outside to see if you were okay, or why I listened in on where you told your cab driver to go, or why I sent you flowers the next day, and then purposefully gave you my number. I don’t know why I did any of it, except for the fact I wanted to help you…when you so obviously needed some kindness from another person. I couldn’t stop thinking about you and needed to know you were all right the following day. You intrigue me, Brooke. I feel like it was fate meeting you, especially now with Herman and your grandmother getting married. We will be connected by their marriage from now on anyway. What are the odds of that happening? I don’t want to think too hard about it; I just want to give fate a fighting chance here.”

“But after I was so horrible to you on the phone?”

“You know what? You were right about everything you said to me. It took me a bit of time to find out the truth. I had no idea Blackwater had been shut down and all employees terminated. No one told me, and possibly even went out oftheir way to keep me ignorant of that fact.” I didn’t want to say it was my own mother who’d done it, but once Brooke met Mom, she’d understand much better. “But please know I am working on fixing it. Your grandmother and everyone else will be compensated for absent wages and benefits since they lost their jobs. That is a promise.”

“Oh…” She trailed off uncertainly. “But you don’t have to do that because of me. Ah, I get it now. You must’ve thought I had figured out who you were when I called to apologize, hmm?”

“Actually I didn’t. Brooke, you surprised me with your phone call, yes, but don’t forget I had already retained you for my renovationbeforeyou reached out to me, so I would have hired you for the job anyway. I only found out last Friday who you really were and how our families are linked. I haven’t visited the island in nearly a decade, until just this past weekend. My brother Lucas filled me in on a lot of what’s been going on. I wanted to keep Blackwater out of…us,” I waved my fingers back and forth between our bodies, “until I could assess how best to move forward, reclaiming the property and fixing the giant mess made bymyown family.”

“I didnotknow who you were, Caleb.” She brought her hands up to curl beneath her chin. “I never dreamed it was your family who owned Blackwater. I am so horrified right now, just so you know.”

“Well, you look beautiful even when you’re horrified, Brooke. You keep surprising me at every turn. I didn’t want to tell you that it was my family who owned Blackwater until I’d had a chance to right the wrongs.” I really hoped she believed me.

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