Page 71 of Brooke
But not right now…
She pulled on her new dress, telling herself the red color over the forest green underwear didn’t scream, Happy Holidays! She began putting on her makeup, thinking about the pleasure that awaited her tonight.
When he saw the green lingerie, his nostrils would flare with passion, his blue eyes darkening as his hands cupped her, and?—
His passionate face faded as the ever-present guilt pinged her, like the sound of a bell on a hotel desk from a pesky tourist. Why couldn’t she embrace this secretive love affair like a teenager sneaking out? Or own her inner Frenchwoman who had a true lover at last! She’d snuck into the house late a few nights, and it had felt delicious, Axel’s scent still on her.
As she finished shaping her eyebrows with her eye pencil, she knew the reason. Because her father had always allowed her to do what she’d wanted. And why not? She’d been the proverbial good girl.
So far her excuse had worked with her roommates. There was a fashion expo going on this week to highlight French products. She’d attended, of course, but not every night exactly. She told herself it was a white lie she could live with.
“Hey!”
She jerked the pencil against her skin at Thea’s voice. Her friend had just walked into her bathroom. “God, you scared me.”
“Sorry,” Thea cried. “Dean said it was okay to come in since your door was open.”
She shot him a glare for good measure.
“You look like Harry Potter now with a lightning bolt coming out of your brows,” Dean said, squeezing into her bathroom past Thea and resting against the marble vanity.
She’d thought they’d both left for the evening, seeing asit was past seven on a Friday night. Something must have held them up from meeting their intendeds forapéroand dinner.
“Not exactly the look I’m going for tonight.” She wanted to growl, knowing she’d have to redo her makeup. “Warlock couture is so last season.”
“I’d say.” Dean gave a low whistle. “What is that number?”
“New designer named Rora.”
“Nice.”Dean walked around her back, giving it a good perusal. “Not your usual business meeting wear.”
“Dean, I’m in fashion,” she replied, knowing she needed to go on the offensive. “Are you saying I don’t look good?”
“What?” he grumbled. “DidIsay that?”
“Well, I think it’s beautiful,” Thea said with awe, delicately touching the fabric. “Everyone is going to notice you tonight.”
There was only one person she wanted to notice her. But had she gone too far? Dean was right. This was not a usual Brooke Adams dress. She pressed her hands to her stomach as she eyed her choice. Red. Spaghetti straps. Tight-fitted. Above the knee.
When she’d ducked out to shop this week—something that hadn’t been in her day planner—this dress had practically had a spotlight on it. Normally she’d never wear anything so bold and daring. Not even for a date.
“Aren’t Jean Luc and Jacqueline expecting you guys?” she asked when they continued to hover. “I figured you’d already taken off.”
Thea ducked her chin. “Dean and I feel kinda bad that we haven’t been around much for you. We feel a little out of touch with what’s going on with you.”
Shit. Guilt’s tentacles squeezed. Hard. “Oh, hell. Don’t feel that way.”
“Everything is changing!” Thea blurted out, her handsgesturing excitedly. “I hardly see you and talk like we used to.”
Dean only continued to watch her, patting Thea’s back gently, before saying, “We both feel like we haven’t been there for you lately.”
That raw feeling she’d been wrestling with suddenly made her eyes burn, and she saw tears in Thea’s eyes too. Friends could make you raw too. “You’ve found the people you’re going to marry and make a life with. Change was inevitable.”
Suddenly she thought of her father and Nanine. Seeing them less as they focused on their new relationship was going to be an ongoing part of her life, she realized, and one she needed to make peace with.
But Thea’s eyes were swelling up like a flooding river while Dean’s mouth twisted. “But we’re family!” Thea protested.
Her explosion made Brooke pinch the bridge of her nose to fight off her own swelling emotions. “Oh, hell! I can’t continue this. I’m not trying to pull away from you guys. It’s just…I’m seeing someone, okay, and it’s new and crazy, and I wanted to wait a little longer to tell you.”
