Page 34 of Brooke
“No way I’m answering, Thea,” Brooke said with a laugh, reaching for her champagne.
“I will.” Axel’s gaze swept her roommates before lingering on her as he turned his head. “I was most ashamed that I could not help the woman I was in love with when she felt like she was professionally drowning.”
Thea gaped. “Wow, that’s?—”
“Balls-out honest, dude.” Sawyer lifted his brandy snifter. “I salute that kind of naked truth. It almost makes me want to divulge, but alas, I have already drunk.”
“Easy to say now, Sawyer,” Madison commented as Pierre flew onto her shoulder. She fed him an almond from a bowl on the counter. “Honestly, I’m a little disappointed with Axel’s answer. I was hoping for some tawdry sexual revelation.”
Brooke realized she was clutching her champagne bottle, blown away by his honesty. Her roommates and father aside, she worked in an industry of cutthroat professionals. Hearing Axel’s deep regret that he hadn’t been a good partner to the woman he loved seemed almost counterculture to the circles they moved in. While she didn’t know the whole story, she rather thought his feelings said a lot about his character…
His laugh was a low rumble of deep, masculine amusement. “Sexual shame isn’t one of my challenges. I never go to bed with anyone I’d regret sleeping with. The only people who experience sexual shame are the ones who believe, or later come to believe, that they have made a bad choice.”
“Have you ever had someone look at you like you were a slut as you’ve walked home after being out for a night?”Madison’s mouth twisted. “Trust me, that can cut you into pieces.”
Kyle swung his head sharply to look at her.
She lifted her middle finger slowly. “But I usually flip them off.”
“And I would say,” Axel responded, swirling his cognac, “that yes, women have to contend with the double standard, and while I cannot experience such a thing, I would wonder why you care what anyone thinks.”
“Really?”Brooke turned and tucked a leg under her. “That is such a male perspective.”
“Totally,” Madison said as Thea bobbed her head in solidarity.
“Oh, boy, here we go.” Dean quickly gathered up the broken kebab skewers.
“Men are slapped on the back, promoted, and lauded for their sexual conquests,” Brooke continued, “while women are called vicious names, demoted, or outright fired for such so-called pursuits.”
Axel rested his elbow on the counter and gazed at her, a tender giant actively listening. “I would never call a woman such things or punish her for doing what she wanted. It is a right everyone should have.”
“Hear, hear,” Sawyer cried, lifting his glass. “Dean, the skewers.”
“Yes, everyone, please pick one,” he practically pleaded. “Drink and Divulge is supposed to be a fun game, not the trigger for gender wars.”
“You ask Jacqueline her opinion when you head back to her place tonight,” Brooke told him, uncrossing her leg from under her.
She was worked up, and she knew it. Maybe it was because the discussion had triggered her. Wouldn’t pursuing a personal relationship with Axel open the door to such comments for her? She’d been concerned about GiuliaMariani talking about them the other night after seeing them have dinner.
If it became known they’d not only worked together but slept together, would some people attribute any future success she found in interior design to her shacking up with the design god?
“Dragons, Brooke?” Axel whispered as he leaned closer, his presence usually able to push them away.
As she glanced over at him, she could concede she was battling one. But that didn’t make it any less real. Some of her dragons were paper. She knew that. But in the real world, there were dragons that did breathe fire.
And she needed to give this one careful consideration as they continued their adventure. She forced a smile and reached out to pluck a skewer from Dean’s hand. Everyone held theirs up.
Madison smacked her lips. “My turn.”
Brooke locked her muscles. Madison had a way of asking questions that could make a person squirm. Even Thea.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Thea breathed out, clutching her wine stem.
“Be easy on our guest here,” Kyle pleaded, his wince not for play. “With Thea going rogue, we aren’t off to our usual night of fun. I find myself missing Dean’s inane questions.”
“Thanks, man.” Dean inclined his chin. “I’ll take the compliment.”
Madison set her weight in her barstool, stewing silently.
