Page 99 of Brooke
Not much time, then. They all slipped from the room, but suddenly Brooke was flying to the doorway. “Sawyer!”
He paused as the rest of the others continued on their way downstairs. “Yeah?”
“What did you talk to Axel about?” The need to know was a living and breathing push inside her.
Shifting on his feet, he worried his lip. “I asked him for his opinion on a painting. One none of you have seen yet. I…couldn’t let you see it until I knew it was good enough.”
Love and something raw wrapped around her throat. She knew the answer already, but she forced herself to ask the question. “And what did Axel say?”
A golden glow came over Sawyer’s face. “He said it was. We…shared a moment. As artists. Brooke, whatever happens with him, I’m with you. All the way. But I’ll always be grateful to Axel for giving me the praise I needed to keep moving forward. You’d better get changed.”
With that, he left. She wondered if he was saving her the need to reply to his story. Thank God he had. Because thinking about Sawyer trusting Axel with something so precious as one of his paintings—over her and her roommates—blew through her like a hurricane touching land.
Axel had given her so much.
Forget the ultimatum ahead of her and all the complications with it. She and Axel might have issues to sort out and different views on how to handle their relationship, but she loved him.
How could she let him walk away?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Madison studied the open back door of the restaurant.
Nanine’s hand was on the gesture, as if she were welcoming Madison and the rest of her staff into her domain.
Only Madison couldn’t make herself walk inside…
Brooke’s pale, ravaged face loomed large in her mind. When she should be thinking about filleting duck breasts and stuffing pumpkins, all she could think about was her friend’s plight.
Plight! Hell, Doc’s wordiness was rubbing off on her. Not unsurprising. He’d power walked between her and Brooke along the Seine before Madison had detoured to the restaurant, her internal ten o’clock bell ringing in her ears.
Only her friend’s heart had been broken like someone had taken a hammer to a bag of walnuts, and she didn’t like the thought of Brooke having to put on a brave face tonight. The opening was supposed to be happy for everyone.
She pulled out her phone and texted Sawyer.
Doc, I need Axel’s address. And I don’t want to hear you talk me out of it. Also… I will use my cleaver on you if you tell anyone. Got me?
She paced outside the restaurant until her phone pinged.
Your threats for violence are unnerving. I will send it, but only because I was thinking about going over too. You didn’t hear it from me. Address to follow. Do you want backup?
She snorted as she texted him back.
I already have it. My cleaver. Thanks, Doc.
Inspired, she rushed into the restaurant. Only to find Nanine waiting for her beside the stainless steel counters, a café crème before her. The chandelier gave a welcoming jingle, and Madison realized it was for her. Jeez, why put out a welcome mat? She was only here to do her job.
“I wondered why you were not coming inside, Fifth Course,” Nanine said with an arched brow. “I hoped it was not because you still hesitate to come intoyourkitchen. I left the door open to welcome you. Madison, the kitchen is yours now. I have something to give you.”
Madison cracked her neck, fighting off the crazy zinging of emotions. God, what a morning. “Nanine, I appreciate you opening the door. I knew why. I didn’t come in because of Brooke. She’s…had a rough morning.”
Her elegant face tightened. “What happened?”
“Men. Love. Sucky co-workers. She can tell you the full story—although she might be mad at me for interfering. She wanted today to be all about Nanine’s.”
“But all of you are Nanine’s,” said the woman who’dstolen Madison’s heart, proving how she’d done what should be impossible—with absolute love and devotion.
