Page 91 of Brooke
He took her shoulders lightly in his large hands, his blue eyes narrowing. “Brooke, I decided to take you and your roommates on as clients because designing a space to be shared by six such different people was a new challenge for me, one I was eager to take on.”
Glancing off for a moment, she noted the hardness of his jaw before he turned his head back to her.
“Your situation is unique and fairly spectacular in my estimation. I also knew it would make a terrific story, along with my design—our design—and magazines do love to cover that kind of thing.”
Her stomach was tied into knots now. “You didn’t answer my question.”
He slid his hand into his pants pocket as he shifted on his feet, as if giving himself time to form an answer. “Kyle asked me to work with you, and as I knew of your articles atTRENDSand reputation in the fashion world, I did not believe this to be an onerous task.”
She crossed her arms. “Exactly. I know this industry, Axel.”
He waved his hand, almost like he was waving away her point. “Brooke, I do not work in fashion per se, but I want to expand on my own terms, in my own way. Like I have always done. Besides, I thought you would share your thoughts with me about any ideas you had for my expansion.”
“But I did!” she protested. “The day I showed you the retail space?—”
“Which I provided my feedback on.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t expect you to keep forging ahead withyourplans for me and my business.”
Her sharp intake shot through the night. “That’s not fair.”
He dropped his hand from his nape and rested it on the balustrade, raking her with a disapproving glance. “Did you ask me if I wanted to meet Marcello because I might want to partner with him and sell my designs through his store?”
Suddenly, she was furious with herself for even bringing him. “It didn’t even dawn on me that you wouldn’t want me to use my contacts to help you. Do you have any idea what people would do for an invite to this party? Axel, this isMarcellowe’re talking about.”
“Again…” His voice was aggrieved. “Did you ask me?”
She chewed at her lip when he only kept staring at her, tension lining his usually calm features. “No, I didn’t.”
“Exactly.” His deep voice was as crisp as the night air. “You moved ahead withyourvision of my expansion. Brooke, I know you are a go-getter, as your roommates call you, but I can arrange for a meeting with Marcello on my own if I wish it. In fact, there are few people with whom I cannot meet.”
Her pulse began to beat hard and incessant in her head as the hurt wracked her already cold insides. “You’re right. Marcello fawned all over you. You don’t need me.”
She started to walk away, but his strong hand encircled her arm. “I thought we were past you leaving like this.”
Lifting her face to the dark night, she inhaled a shaky breath. “Clearly, I’m a work in progress. I was only trying to be helpful to you tonight, Axel, and you don’t seem to be hearing that. Or even valuing it.”
“And what of keeping our relationship a secret?” he asked, hurt flashing in his eyes. “Brooke, I thought you were bringing me here tonight to show me your world. As your partner. Not out of some trade I honestly want no part of. Ihad hoped you understood that you do not have to do anything for me to love you.”
She fisted her hands at her sides. So he didn’t want her to do anything. Normally she’d be cheering, but this smacked of something else. “Fine! I’ve got the memo now. As for what we have…” The anger and hurt warring in her made it difficult to keep her voice even. “As for keeping our relationship secret from my fashion colleagues, it’s only for a while longer. You just said you knew of my reputation. That means a lot to me.”
His Adam’s apple shifted in his throat before he said, “If I am honest, this is why I am most upset.”
She heard someone come out on the terrace and turned, swearing under her breath. It was Giulia, dammit, taking a cigarette break with her notorious fashion gossip friend. Awareness shot through her. Everyone could see her and Axel out here through the glass doors. She caught sight of Marcello watching them from a group of other designers she knew close to the exit to the terrace. He raised his champagne flute when he caught her regard.
Anxiety spiked through her like the aftereffects of a shot. “This isn’t the place for a private discussion, Axel.”
“You’re only evading now.” He stepped closer with his hand out, only to stop short when she stepped back a polite distance, reacting to feeling watched like a spectacle.
She discreetly tilted her head to the side. “We have eyes on us.”
“So what?” he countered, his jaw set. “Brooke, this is important.Whenwill we be able to tell people we are together in your mind? In a year? In two? How established do you have to be before we can be open about what we are to each other?”
“I don’t know, okay,” she whisper hissed, “and right now isn’t the time to discuss timetables.”
“Brooke, this is ridiculous.” He waved another massivehand through the air, his frustration evident. “Everyone will know how we met in the first place. That I was designing the home you lived in. You might not wish to hear it, but at least be honest with yourself. Wedohave a romantic relationship. While working together.”
She bristled, as much at herself for knowing he was right, as at him for saying it out loud. Hearing it made it sound as tasteless as Giulia and others would call it. “So I’m to be fine with such comments being bandied about in the professional circles I work in? You are being such a guy right now.”
He took another step closer, standing very tall in the darkness, and she wondered if he was trying to use his size to shield them from view. “Another truth we cannot ignore. I am a man. Another is this… You are letting your fear of others’ opinions define your life and actions. And our relationship—something that I treasure, something precious to me.”
