Page 106 of Brooke
“Getting there, Dean,” Brooke told him. “Tell everyone to cool down. Axel, you seem to bring out the violence in my family. Did Madison really bring her cleaver with her to talk to you?”
“The instrument was part of her story, one I will never forget.” He sent a self-deprecating smile at Dean. “I appreciate you not resorting to violence to defend your friend.”
Dean made a rude sound as he gave a pointed look. “My means were going to be more subtle, trust me. Well, I’ll go in and tell the masses a truce is in the air. We have a full house of people plotting revenge to defend your honor. Giulia has already been blackballed at all of our businesses.”
With that, the door shut with a click. Brooke enjoyed the smile spreading on her face. “God, it’s nice to be so well loved. I mean, even you were inspired to violence on my behalf today with Giulia.”
“Revenge is different than violence,” he pointed out in his usual somber way. “But I concede your point. So Marcello…”
“I know that glittering look in his eyes. He wants to do something in interiors. Just not design them himself, as he said. Like we mentioned with the hummingbird story, he has set interior design trends unintentionally before. I wonder how he would feel about me doing that more intentionally. Under a partnership. With us both. Because he’ll want your involvement as well. But I was thinking you could be involved as a creative consultant. I can handle the store—and the line. Limited quantities. Exclusive items. Think the Bergen bag for interior design. From there, I could branch out.”
“How would you feel about selling exclusive Axel Erikson furniture as well?” He pointed to the tree close by in the garden. “I have a number of carpenters I’ve been working with in Norway for years. We could ramp up production. Brooke, you are right. I am not well-known out of exclusive design circles. But I would like to be. I was too quick to close the doors you were opening to me. Despite my wishing to show you that you didn’t need to do it, I also exhibited pride and hubris. My old lone wolf syndrome was still with me. I am not used to working with others or letting them help me.”
The trace of vulnerability in his voice reminded her of the young boy he’d been who’d built beautiful things out of nature that no one else could understand or appreciate. “Neither am I. Well, that’s not completely true. I have my father and Nanine and my Paris roommates.”
He traced her cheek with an achingly loving touch. “And now we have each other. Perhaps your friends will forgive me and invite me again into their embrace. I do hope so. For you, since they are your family, but also for me, because I like and respect them very much. In fact, while we haven’t discussed whether you wish for children, I would like you to know that should you wish to have them with me, I would be very happy—and I think we should ask Madison to be their godmother. I can think of no better person in the world.”
Children! She found her mouth gaping a little before she grinned. “That’s… Wonderful! And Madison would be great at that. She let me cry all over her this morning after seeking me out to go power walking. Hearing what she did for me… God, that makes me all choked up.”
Her laugh was shaky, but he only tightened his grip on her hand. “It’s a beautiful thing to be so loved. I hope you are prepared for a lifetime of it, because that is what I want to give you. I know we have not spoken of marriage either?—”
Her scalp was tingling now. “You probably should, havingjust mentioned wanting kids,” she tried to joke. “I’m game for having them in a while, by the way.”
“What about marriage?” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, holding her eyes the entire time. “People in my country are seeking it less and less for their own reasons, but I find I want something sacred and committed with you.”
Her swallow was audible as the images played through her mind. Walking toward Axel down the aisle surrounded by their friends and family. His head slowly descending as they kissed as man and wife. “I’m open to that with you as well. When you ask me.”
He gave a playful waggle of his brows. “Add it to your day planner as coming any day now.”
She could already see the page.
MY DAY
Sleep log:
4 hours (because sex with Axel!)
Noteworthy Dreams:
All blissful, involving joint power lunches with Axel and working at home on mutual projects in front of the fire
Weather:
Always sunny
Affirmations:
Love changes my life and me with it.
Priorities:
Planning our wedding with Axel and my found family.
Working with Axel on our current project.
Forging my own path to become a great interior decorating legend myself.
Her insides gave a little cheer, and her heart reached for a new set of matches to play with. She turned her face up to the sun shining over them, enjoying the moment. She and Axel were back together and figuring things out—the rest of their lives, in fact. “I’ll make it my top priority.”
