Page 13 of Brooke
“Yes.” A massive surge of energy had her exhaling deeply. Audibly. She was speechless as her mind zigged back and forth to make sense of this shocking development. Her heart struck more matches, throwing them into the ever-rising bonfire inside her.
If she was brave enough, she could work with him, learn from him—and enjoy him as a woman enjoys a man…
Her mouth slid into a shocked smile as she gazed at the beautiful man filling her entire vision.
He wanted her.
She wanted him.
It didn’t have to affect their work.
Somehow, the formula seemed so simple.
And despite her usual rule about not mixing business with pleasure, she found herself considering it. Even though working with him on this project was one of her top priorities, she couldn’t deny she craved more of him. His compelling company. His perspective on life. His very touch, the first stirrings of which she’d only experienced.
Normally she would look at their situation and assume traveling that path would lead her to a bloodcurdling dragon. This time she didn’t want to. Because the desire to be with him filled her with surprising feelings surging to life inside her. “Understanding all that,” she said, finding her voice, “I would love to go out with you.”
“Excellent.” He gave her a heart-melting smile. “Thank you for the tour of the house, Brooke. Thank Thea for the café I didn’t drink. But this feels like the right moment to end our time together today. I’ll let myself out.”
She stared as he took the stairs two at a time, all too quickly disappearing from sight. Pressing her hand to her raging heart, she battled a wild longing to go after him. God, this was crazy!
She met magnetic people in fashion all the time, but Axel had brought her into his magnetism in a way she’d neverexperienced before. He wanted to create a brilliant and unexpected adventure…withher! No one had ever wanted that. What was a girl to do? The reason cut through her mind with absolute clarity.
Run with it… as long and far as she could.
CHAPTER
THREE
Dude had game.
Sawyer was still gripping the doorframe of hisatelier. He’d been eavesdropping on Brooke and Axel, hoping to hear more about his “genius.” A deafening buzz continued in his ears from the intensity Axel had shown regarding his paintings.
Sawyer had read the packet Brooke had created for everyone about Axel, and he’d also looked the man up online. There was no denying the guy knew his stuff. Not only had he designed museum installations and design exhibits around the world, but he’d worked with an array of artists in everything from painting to sculpture to metal work.
Which was one of two reasons Sawyer had declared hisatelieroff-limits. First, he didn’t want it changed, true, but his second reason was the biggest. He wanted to protect himself from seeing the disappointment or derision in Axel’s eyes if he saw his art.
Only that hadn’t been the case. He’d praised it!
And Sawyer’s inner artist was clawing his skin from the inside out to hear more…
Except Brooke’s world had clearly been shaken too, andhe didn’t want to leave her floundering. So he pulled himself away from the doorframe and stepped into the hallway where she’d stopped outside his studio, still clutching the guy’s handkerchief.
If Sawyer had to define the emotion locked on her face, he’d say Brooke looked bereft. Like a woman who’d watched her love head off to war. God, he was fanciful, he thought wryly as he scratched his head.
“Not exactly your regular pickup line, was it?” Sawyer commented.
Turning her head, she zeroed in on him with a tightening of her makeup-free face.“You were eavesdropping?”
“Yeah, I wanted to see if he said anything else about me.” He ducked his head shyly, feeling stupid, young, and way too vulnerable. “It’s… He’s…” He was stammering. “You’re right. He knows art. Your dossier on him more than sold it. Plus, I did some research of my own.”
She gave him a strained smile. “Thank you for reading what I put together. I’m guessing Dean did little more than flip through the pages.”
“You know what Dean says. Too many words, too little time. Heresy to my professorial ears.”
Her shoulders seemed to relax back into place. “But very Dean. So, you know Axel’s cred and experience. His assessment of your work is?—”
“Don’t say it.” He held up his slightly trembling hands. “I’m trying to keep his actual voice in my head so I can play it over and over again like a voicemail.”
