Flirting With Disaster (14 page)

Brooke frowned. “You haven't seen him? I'm
surprised.”

“
You like to keep your
family and friends separate.”

“
For good reason, but my
mother would love you.” Her mouth suddenly filled with bitterness.
Naomi was strong, smart, and despite a crappy divorce, would
probably fall in love and get married again. Brooke practically
broke out in hives thinking of marriage. Naomi was the dream
daughter her mother would never have.

“
Don't start,” Naomi said.
“You were looking happy there for a moment.”

Brooke’s stomach tightened. “Happy?”

“
A little...in love.”
Naomi's expression grew expectant.

Brooke snorted. “Just because Peyton is
floating on cloud nine doesn't mean anything. Dane and I had sex.
That’s all.” Except when their gazes met and she couldn't breathe
anymore. That reaction had nothing to do with sex.

“
Uh-huh.”

“
That's it.”

“
Hmm.”

Brooke’s heartbeat skittered. “Okay. He
stayed the night.”

“
Who cooked
breakfast?”

“
Me. It was my house. If I
had stayed at his, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger. It's what you
do for guests. And depending on how my mood is turning, I just
might make it a sandwich, free-for-all kind of evening.”

The words drew her up short, and she sat up
straighter. The meaning in them so subtle. Dammit. They weren't a
couple. They hadn't talked about what happened next, but already,
in her head, him coming over would be a routine. They'd be domestic
again, entwining their lives.

“
Don't overthink it.” Naomi
must have sensed a change. Her tone had softened.

Brooke had to get some perspective on what
was likely happening. Not blow it up to something more.

“
We need to find the right
location to shoot the cars. Between my brother and I, we can whip
these cars into shape pretty fast, but getting the calendars out at
the same time will be optimal. I'm thinking we can work on the
cosmetics and take our time with the insides.”

“
Brooke,” her friend's
voice was soft. “I was teasing.”

“
I know. I just...it's
nothing.” But the muscles in her shoulders bunched.

“
Brooke, enjoy the
happy.”

She wanted to, but how long would it take
for her to happily fall right back into the same role she'd fought
to escape? Being that mindless woman was easy. It was ingrained.
She'd be too happy to even notice all the little pieces of herself
she gave up to Dane.

She rolled her shoulders. “So, my plan?
Hunting down some of the interior and exterior parts will take
time, but not that long. Not with my brother around. That man has
contacts that make me drool.”

“
My ears are burning,”
Pierce said before coming into view.

She rolled her eyes. “I was saying you have
a pig nose and crossed eyes, but you think you're fine as
hell.”

Naomi stiffened, but she pulled out her
signature smile, reserved for busybodies and other politicians.

Pierce's steps slowed and he grinned, the
grin he used when flirting shamelessly.

“
Pierce, this is one of my
best friends, Naomi.”

He tossed a bag of food toward Brooke, and
she caught it, but he didn't miss a step. He offered his hand.

Naomi's brow rose, but she took his hand.
Her breath hitched. Brooke shook her head.

Her friend said, “I'm heading out,” in a
breathless jumble. “I think whatever works best for you is fine.”
Her gaze slid to Pierce who hadn't dropped her hand yet.

Brooke said, “Pierce, let go of my
friend.”

Her brother sighed and did. He turned a
glare her way. “Thought I told you to work in the office.”

“
My foot is jacked up. Not
my hands.”

Naomi seemed to get herself together because
she smiled like normal. “How did you mess it up, anyway?”

“
Me hitting you with a
wrench is all I'm saying. See you later.”

Her friend laughed on her
way out. Brooke tried not to read too much into the way Pierce
watched Naomi. Evidently, the coupling thing was contagious and if
she weren’t careful, she'd end up a losing herself in a man
again.
Whenever
she saw Dane, they'd talk about their situation, rationally.
They needed boundaries and fast before things between them became
any more complicated.

*****

Dane looked up from his paperwork when the
bookstore door opened. A smile spread when he saw Brooke. She wore
her uniform and had the sleeves tied around her waist. Her mouth
was a flat-line and worries wrinkled her forehead.

“
Brooke,” he said and then
tried again since a low burn of heat had sluiced into his stomach.
“Just got off work?”

“
We need to talk,” she said
in a flat tone.

The muscles in his back coiled. “Lock the
door.”

She hesitated. “It shouldn't take that
long.”

He rounded the counter to lock the door
himself. She didn't move from in front of it as though she needed
an escape route. He reached behind her, and when the lock clicked,
he stayed right there in her space. “What do you need to say?”

“
We didn't get the chance
to talk yesterday.”

So easily he could see the walls she'd put
back up since he'd seen her that morning. He'd kissed her hard and
long on her doorstep, and she'd held onto his shirt as though she
didn't want to let him go. Dane had to get that woman back. Not
this one who held a hint of mistrust in her eyes.

“
Sex got in the way
yesterday,” he joked. “How's your foot?”

“
Sore and I need to ice it
when I get home. But the point of me being here...” She placed her
hands on his chest. Maybe she had intended to push him back.
Instead Brooke spread her hands over his pecs.

“
Yes?” His breathing grew
heavy.

She snatched her hands away. “What are we
doing here?”

“
Prelude to sex,” he
answered though he knew what she really meant.

She glared at him. “So this is just
sex?”

Brooke had started to frown again so he
brushed his thumb over her lips. She moaned and then backed up. He
stuffed his hands in his pockets, because he had to be drastic to
get that soft, kind woman back. “What's your favorite color?”

“
Green,” she said
slowly.

“
Mine's black. I don't
often wear it. That's probably something leftover from my design
days. My favorite book is
Grave
Peril
by Jim Butcher. Surprising, right?
You'd think a classic, but I've yet to read a classic that hasn't
put me to sleep within the first chapter.” He stopped long enough
to ask, “What's your favorite book?”

“
What does that have to do
with anything?”

“
Answer the
question.”

She sighed.
“
Fallen Angel
by
Francis Ray. I would have run the hero over with my car in real
life but he's my fiction boyfriend.”

He nodded and smiled. “That's one of Naomi's
favorites, too.”

“
Naomi?”

“
She came in the other day
to get some books. I asked her what authors she liked.”

Brooke shook her head. “But why are you
asking me this?”

“
We skipped right to being
a bickering old couple then we progressed to no-holds-bar sex. I
figured since we're doing this whole relationship thing backwards
we should get to really know one another.”

Her breath caught and her eyes widened.
“Relationship?”

He tried to see how her disbelief settled on
him and he didn't like it at all. It pinched. “Yeah.”

“
Maybe we should date first
before we skip to relationship.”

“
Maybe.” He smiled because
he could see he'd flustered her. Her cheeks looked red and
she...just looked shell-shocked. “So, what's your favorite meal so
I can make it for you tonight?”

She made a noise of disgust. “You're so
slick.”

“
I am.”

It took a moment but Brooke laughed. He
grabbed at the sleeves wrapped around her waist and pulled her to
him. When she met his gaze her laugh sobered. Fear flashed in her
eyes and he almost could taste it.

“
Dane.”

“
Brooke,” he
murmured.

She put her head to his chest and softly
rapped it on his sternum. He embraced her knowing the fear that had
her trembling against him. “Tell me what you need,” he said.

She shrugged not moving her head. “I just
don't want to...I don't want to be...” She groaned. “I need you to
let me be who I am.” She looked up at him. “I want us to date, but
you have to take me like this or not at all.”

Date. He tilted his head and frowned. How
could she not see they were already in a relationship? She'd fight
him on principle if he pointed it out. He pressed his lips to her
forehead and she melted into him. “I like you prickly. That
probably means I need therapy.”

She snorted. “And what do you need, Dane? I
need to know your boundaries. Otherwise, it's not fair to you. I
can't make all the rules and you follow them. I'd be no better than
my ex. Hell, yours.”

He hadn't realized how tight the muscles in
his shoulders had been until they relaxed at her words. She was
being vulnerable with him and he would not take that lightly. “If
you're ever mad at me just say it. Don't play games with me. If
we're trying not to be the other person's ex, don't do that. That's
all I ask.”

She smiled, closing her hands in his shirt.
“I always let you know when you piss me off. That’s going to be
easy.”

He pressed another kiss to her forehead.
“Then we should be fine.”

But when she met his gaze again, he could
still see the fear.

CHAPTER TEN

Brooke had Dane's shirt halfway off when
someone pounded on her door. She sat astride his lap, on the couch.
They had dinner, and had barely made it midway through the movie
before they couldn't keep their hands to themselves.

Even with someone at the door, Dane's lids
were low as he slipped his hands beneath the band of the
short-shorts. She'd done them both a favor and gone commando.

He cupped her ass. “Don't answer it,” he
murmured against her mouth.

She wiggled and laughed when he groaned.
“Sorry. Was trying to get up.”

“
I'm up all right.” He took
his hands out of her shorts.

The knocking turned urgent. She jumped off
Dane with a touch of regret and answered the door.

Her gaze went right to the three-year old.
His big brown eyes were red-rimmed like he'd been crying. His hair
was cropped short into a shadow fade. A picture of a teddy bear
decorated his small T-shirt and matched his dark blue boots. He
pouted as he clutched his mother's hand. Brooke met Naomi's gaze
and sighed, knowing what was about to come next.

Her friend took in the tank top and
short-shorts and cringed. “I'm so sorry. Am I interrupting?”

“
You're fine.” She glanced
over her shoulder. Dane had his shirt back in place. “Come
in.”

Naomi's blue ball gown moved in one fluid
motion. The baby bag wouldn't be the norm for formal wear, but
Brooke could guess that wasn't part of the ensemble.

“
Something for the mayor?”
she asked.

“
I feel like s— ” Naomi
glanced down at Jonathan. “Sugar cookies for dropping by like
this.”

Brooke frowned at her friend's hurried and
guilt-filled words. “It's not a problem,” she tried to reassure
her. “I'm guessing his father couldn't watch him.”

Naomi's gaze flashed with anger. “And the
babysitter is sick. And the backup one just headed to The
Grog.”

Brooke had watched Jonathan enough times to
know the routine. She held out her hand for the baby bag and knelt
in front of him. The boy was cute as a button, but his eyes were
wide with trepidation. “Hey, Jon. Looks like you're stuck with me.
Want to make cookies?”

Naomi sighed and then chuckled. “Sugar
cookies?”

“
Nope,” Brooke said. “Big
chocolate chunks that will have you”—she poked him in his stomach
and he giggled—“bouncing off the walls. Uh...” She glanced in the
living room again. Dane had risen from the couch. “I do have
company. Just FYI.”

Interest filled her friend's gaze and she
rubbernecked. “Hey, Dane. Good to see you.”

“
You are stunning tonight.”
Dane looked at Jon and smiled. “Hey, buddy.”

Jon looked at Dane warily but waved. This
was going to be interesting. Naomi shifted restlessly, likely
anxious to leave. Brooke opened her arms and the boy ran into the
embrace. She picked him up, threw him over her shoulder like a sack
of potatoes and gave a little twirl. His little feet kicked and he
giggled.

Naomi met her gaze again, mouthed “thank
you” already stepping out the door. Brooke waved her off. “Say 'bye
mama. See you when I'm full of sugar.'”

Brooke laughed when he did just that. Before
the tears of his mother's departure could set in, she had him
sitting on a stool in the kitchen. This wasn't what she had in mind
for the night. Dane had rolled by with takeout, some action flick
and convinced her, easily, to have a night in. Their seventh in the
past two weeks.

She didn't mind the day off, because she'd
been working hard. But him being here, her wanting him here meant
they were getting closer to a relationship instead of just dating.
Tension did its best to crawl up her neck.