My Best Friend's Ex (4 page)

Garrett stood in the middle of the kitchen, staring at
Brooke. Everything in his world had changed because of her. In the last few
days, they’d fallen into a comfortable pattern of spending time together.
Saturday night’s dinner had ended with a promise from her to return on Sunday.

Now, on Monday evening, she was back.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t see you again until Friday. I
have class every night until then. The only reason you saw me at the grocery
store last week was because my Wednesday night class was canceled.” She placed
the last of their dinner dishes in the dishwasher.

“You’re welcome to come over afterward.” He struggled
not to become the domineering beast Janet always claimed him to be, but he
hated not seeing her. His evenings for the last year had been a challenge to
endure. He’d found things to do such as work out or spend time on home
improvement projects, but he’d prefer doing both with Brooke or simply sitting
on the couch with her.

“I can’t. I get home late and have to be up early to head
to work the next day.” She dried her hands and hung the dishtowel over the
handle on the stove before turning. “Friday is the best I can do.”

He stepped forward, caught her around the waist, and pulled
her close. Her alluring scent teased his senses, awakening the need to stake a
claim on her as belonging to him. “I know how important getting an education is
to you, and I support your dedication.”

“But that strong possessive streak of yours doesn’t appreciate
me spending time away from you.”

Her answer shocked him. He tightened his hold and
studied her face, looking for a sign that indicated he might have offended her.
“Yes, well...”

“You’re probably worried that like Janet, your
overprotective attitude will bug me. It doesn’t, but I don’t know a way where I
can be here and still attend class too.” She slipped her hands over his chest
and up around his neck.

Surprised and pleased by how she understood him, he
relaxed. “You could drop by afterward and spend the night here.”

“Or you could meet me at my apartment and sleep over.”
She rocked her head as if unhappy with the idea. “But either way, one of us has
to leave early so we can go home and get ready for work.”

 “And leaving clothes at each other’s places can
quickly become a pain.” He recalled, playing that particular game with Janet.
Before too long, he couldn’t remember what was in his closet and what was in
hers. 

What other alternative did they have?

“Why don’t you move in with me?” The moment the words
were out of his mouth, Garrett realized how much he liked the notion.

“What? We’ve only been dating for a few days. It’s too
soon to even talk about moving in together.” Brooke shifted and strained against
his hold.

“Wait a second, don’t panic. Just give it a minute for
the idea to sink in.” He smoothed his hand along her back and spoke in a
reassuring tone. “It’d solve the problem of us having to divide our time
between your place and mine. It’d also give us a chance to get to know each
other better.”

“But I still have several months left on my apartment
lease.” She shoved on his chest, trying her best to break free of his embrace.
“And what will Janet say?”

Unmoved by her argument, he offered, “If you talk to
your apartment complex, they may let you out of your contract. If not, you can still
move the stuff you’ll need during the week here. Then on the weekend, we’ll
hang out at your place and play.”

“And Janet? What do we do about her?” Brooke stared at
him as if her best friend was the bigger hurdle to overcome.

He knew better. Janet had a new life and didn’t care
what he, Brooke, or the rest of the world did as long as she got to do what she
wanted to do. “I really don’t think it’ll matter to her one way or the other.”

“And if it does? What then? She and I have been best
friends forever. I...” Brooke’s eyelids drifted closed, and a pain expression
flashed across her face. With a sigh, she lowered her head to his shoulder and
whispered, “I’ve already lost her, haven’t I?”

Recalling how close the two had been, Garrett wondered
if Janet valued their friendship as much as Brooke. During his marriage to
Janet, he’d heard her say several derogatory comments about Brooke, which
proved they had a complicated relationship. One, he didn’t understand, but he
refuse to give up on his chance with her because of what Janet may or may not
like.

Hoping to soothe her, he ran his hand up under her
hair and cupped her neck. “I don’t know. When was the last time you talk to
her?”

She snuggled close and whispered, “Thursday night, I
called to tell her I was coming over here.”

He tightened his hold and contemplated giving his
ex-wife a call. “What did she say?”

  “That she couldn’t care less if we hooked up, but
she was...” She gulped in a quick breath and continued, “At a party and
drinking.”

 “And with another guy too, right?” The truth of the
statement didn’t sting like it once had. In fact, he liked that she’d moved on
because he felt no guilt at doing the same.

 Brooke lifted her head and tears sparkled in her
eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up the subject of Janet.”

He cupped his palms around her face. “Don’t worry
about it, sweetheart. Janet is part of our past, but we can’t let her rule our
future. Now, let’s get back to the possibility of your moving in with me.”

 A weak smile fluttered over her lips. “Can you give
me some time to think about it?”

Worried he already knew her answer, he decided to
enjoy the rest of the evening. “Sure, but that’s not changing my plans for tonight.”

“And they are?”

Unwilling to release his hold, he dropped a kiss on
the side of her neck and nibbled on her ear. His hand slid under her shirt. He
unhooked her bra with a quick twist of his wrists. “To have you under me,
begging for mercy.”

She giggled and her fingers ran through his hair. The
light scrape of her nails played over his scalp. “Right, that’s what you said
last night.  If I remember correctly, we spend over an hour in the basement on
your exercise equipment. What type of workout do you have planned for me
tonight?”

He lifted his head. The heat in her gaze when their
eyes met thrilled him. He circled his hands around her breasts, the peaks
tightening in response to his touch. A sigh whispered from her lips.

“I was thinking of an activity that requires more
personal contact.” The thought of having her in his bed overruled his earlier
plans.

“But you said we were only having dinner and watching
a little TV.” She released her hold and toyed with the hem of his T-shirt.

Pleased by her desire to have him out of his clothes,
he stepped back and waved a hand down the hallway. “Yes, but I didn’t say where
we would be watching TV. Remember, I have a very nice, flat screen in my
bedroom.”

“Oh, please, you can’t tell me you’re really dating
Garrett.” Janet’s incredulous tone rang through the phone. “He likes blonde hair
beauties, not curvy redheads.”

Shifting in her seat, Brooke tightened her grip on her
phone and debated starting her car. She’d tried for days to get a hold of her
best friend so she could get a little friendly advice.

Of course, in her normal way, Janet hadn’t picked the
best time to return the call. Luckily, Brooke’s class tonight had let out early
or the ring would have set off her professor. Instead, she’d been on her way to
her car when Janet phoned.  “Maybe, his tastes have changed, but we are dating.
He even asked me to move in with him.”

“Okay, now that makes more sense.”

Confused, Brooke stared through the empty parking space
in front of her car and watched a steady stream of cars leaving the lot. “Why?”

“Because just like when he came home from college,
he’s looking for a woman to take care of him,” Janet offered.

The silence stretched out for several seconds.

Brooke opened her mouth to speak when Janet answered, “Remember,
he wanted me to share an apartment with him too before we got married.”

“You never told me that.” Brooke sat up straighter in
her seat, wondering what else Janet hadn’t bothered to divulge.

“Yes, well, you thought he hung the moon. If we
argued, you always took his side.” She released a disgusted sigh. “You two were
constantly taking up for each other. I was the odd man out.”

“That’s not true.” Brooke remembered Janet making this
claim while she was still married to Garrett. To fix the problem, Brooke had
stopped visiting their place whenever she thought he might be home. “You’re my
best friend.”

Janet chuckled, “Then take my advice, Garrett doesn’t
want a woman with an independent bone in her body. He wants to be in charge and
have you fall in line with his orders.”

“But...”

“But I’m not you. I wanted more than to be his wife,
cook his meals, and have his kids. I still do. That’s why, I’ve signed up to
study abroad. I’m spending this summer in Spain.”

“What?” Brooke rocked her head back as if she’d taken
a pop to the chin. She collided with the headrest of her seat. “Why didn’t you
tell me this before now?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t approve and would try to
talk me out of doing it,” Janet stated with a note of authority. “But don’t let
me being away stop you. Go have your fling with Garrett, and we’ll catch up
later.”

“But it has to be a few weeks before you leave. We can
get together and do lunch.” Brooke scrambled with the likelihood of not seeing
her friends for weeks.

“Can’t, I have too much to do between now and the time
I need to leave. I’ll call when I get back.”

Recognizing the stubborn note in her tone, Brooke
didn’t argue. “Fine, have fun and call me when you come home.”

“Sure,” Janet answered.

A click and the phone went silent.

Shocked by the abrupt goodbye, Brooke lowered her
phone and argued with herself as to what to do. 

Garrett wanted an answer.

She promised him one by Friday, which meant she had
less than twenty-four hours to come up with what she wanted to do. Move in with
him and see if they could make it work or...what?

Give him up entirely?

The sound of the doorbell had Garrett barreling up the
stairs in his running shorts. Brooke had promised she’d come over right after
work so they could talk. During their brief conversation on the phone, she’d
refused to comment on his invitation to move in with him, saying they discuss
it later.

Tonight, he planned to settle the subject once and for
all. Glancing at the clock on the sideboard in the living room, he noted the
time and figured she must be anxious to see him if she bugged out of work
early.

He flipped back the deadbolt and tugged open the door.
“Hey, sweetheart, I’m so glad you...”

The rest of the sentence evaporated in his head as he
stared at his ex-wife.

“Hi, Garrett, Brooke told me you bought a new house,”
Janet said with a smile and glanced beyond him to the front room. He’d rearranged
the room and rehung the pictures on the walls.

The shock of seeing her left him cold, and a little
irritated so he didn’t bother to invite her inside the house.  “What are you doing
here?”

She shrugged. “This is just a quick visit to let you
know I’m heading out of town. Not that you really care, but I wanted to make
sure that while I’m gone you don’t do anything stupid like hurt Brooke.”

“Right, like you care one way or another what happens
to her,” he grumbled and tightened his hand over the handle. Ready to shut the
door in her face if he felt so inclined.

“Yes, well, we’ve known each other a long time.” Janet
toyed with the strap of her purse and appeared almost ready to leave. She
glared at him and squared her shoulders. “I don’t want to see her crushed and
battered after you leave her. She’s been in love with you for a long time.”

Confused by the comment, he blinked. “What are you
talking about?”

“She fell for you in high school, but I’m the one who
screwed it up. When we got together after you graduated from college, she
stepped aside, saying she wanted the most important people in her life to be
happy. At the time, I didn’t realize what she meant. It wasn’t until after our
divorce that she came clean on her feelings.”

Janet shook her head and stepped back. “Hell, I
thought her crush on you in high school was simply puppy love. But it wasn’t,
she loves you much more than I ever did.”

Pausing before turning, she ran her gaze over him as
if he were a tasty side-of-beef and rubbed a hand over her neck. “If you two
getting together is some type of vengeance against me, rethink your plan.
Because if you break her heart, I’ll not rest until I make you pay.”

“Janet, I really...”

She held up her hand. “Save it. I’m not interested.
Just remember my warning.”

Stepping off the porch, she walked down the sidewalk
to her car. Without any farewell, she stepped inside and backed out of the
driveway before she disappeared down the street.

After closing the door, he stood for a moment fighting
the urge to scream.

What the hell was that about?

Reviewing their conversation, he walked over to the
living room sofa and sank onto the soft cushion in a daze.

What was Janet’s true reason for stopping by?

He worked through several different scenarios, trying
to determine her motivation for visiting him. His mind racing, he blinked at
the sound of a knock on the door.

Uncertain if Janet had returned, Garrett glanced at
the clock. More time than he realized had passed. He bolted to his feet, hoping
this time Brooke would be on the other side.

Gripping the handle, he opened the door. Instantly, he
caught sight of Brooke. Still dressed in her work clothes, she had an overnight
bag in her hand. Thrilled to see her, he stepped over the threshold, wrapped an
arm around her shoulders, and pulled her into the house before he shoved the
door closed. “I thought you’d never get here.”

She laughed and dropped her overnight suitcase on the
floor. Her delicate hands caressed his naked chest, and she snuggled close. “That’s
why I came here directly from work. I brought my clothes along so I wouldn’t
have to go by my apartment.”

Impatience for a taste of her, he dropped his head and
whispered against her lips, “Clothes aren’t required. You can run around naked
as far as I’m concern.”

“Oh, you,” she responded and brushed her lips against
his.

The teasing caress set him on fire. He clamped his
mouth over hers. The hot, female flavor of her, which held the savory essence of
chocolate, fueled the passion burning inside him.  All the doubts he’d
experience during the week while waiting to see her, disappeared. Janet had
given him the one thing he’d been too blind to see.

Brooke loved him.

Suddenly, he remembered each and every way she’d
helped him through the years, studying with him in high school, introducing him
to other girls, soothing Janet’s anger whenever they fought. Brooke had even
stepped out of their lives so they could work out their problems. Why had he
not grasped how important she was to him before now?

Damn, he’d married the wrong woman
.

He allowed her mouth to slip from underneath his and
whispered, “I love you.”

She jerked back. “What did you just say?”

Amused by her reaction, he grinned. “That I love you.”

Working her hands up between them, she eased backward.
“Are you saying that to get me to agree to move in with you? Because you don’t
have to. I’ve decided you’re right. With us living together, it’ll give us a
chance to see if a relationship between us will work.”

Her lack of response to his words of love lit his
anger. He released his hold and stepped away. “And what if I’ve decided I want
more?”

She dropped her hands to her side and turned. After
taking two steps into the living room, she spun on her heels and glared at him.
“More what? I’m already giving up my apartment and possibly my best friend.
What more do you want?”

The blaze in her eyes spoke to him, telling him
without words about the intense hunger raging inside her. She wanted love as
much as he did. Yet, she’d always played it safe and stuck to being just his
friend. Why?

Irritation and need warred for the top prize inside
him. He pushed aside his need and said in a clipped tone, “Everything.”

“And what exactly does that include?” She leaned
forward, her chin jutting out as if ready for battle. “Because I’ll expect the
same in return.”

Excited by the passion radiating off her, he fisted
his hands unsure if he should step forward and touch her or back off and gain
control of his emotions. Choosing to give them both a little breathing room, he
turned. “Why don’t I go start dinner while you cool off?”

“Hell, no.” She lunged for him and landed on his back.
As if riding him piggyback, she wrapped her hands around his neck and her legs
circled his waist.

“Brooke, what the...”

She nipped at his ear. “We need to settle this.”

Dragging her around in front of him, he held her in
place by shoving her back against the hall closet door. The light thump of her
head hitting the solid wood didn’t stop him. He dove for her mouth, searing his
lips to hers.

Her outburst of temper morphed into a fury of
movement, her hands ran over his head, her legs tightened around his waist, and
her tongue stole inside of his mouth, demanding he provide everything she
wanted.

Set on fire by her response, his control slipped. He
yanked his mouth from hers and demanded, “Your mine, Brooke, mine to hold, mine
to love, mine.”

He didn’t wait for an answer and laid her on the
carpet floor of the living room. Nothing matter except proving to her, she was
his world. He tugged at her shirt and collided with her hands in their joint
fight to remove the barriers between them.

Her heavy breathing rang in his ear, her heart pounded
against his chest. Still, he couldn’t slow down. Not this time, he had to show
her they belonged together.

With an all-consuming need, he drove into her, finding
his center as he filled hers. Unable to slow down, he set a fast pace rhythm
that quickly had her begging for relief.

“Please, Garrett.” She tightened her hands over his
shoulder, piercing his skin with her nails.

He wanted to slow down and draw out her pleasure. He
would have, he told himself if she hadn’t rocked her hips, which allowed him to
slip just that little bit deeper. His body shoved to the brim of an erotic
abyss, he plunged forward and poured himself into her.

Her answering climax drew out his pleasure, leaving
him spent and weak. He used the last of his energy to roll over and pull her up
over his body.

“Wow.” She buried her face into his neck.

He fought to catch his breath and calm his speeding
heart rate while he worked on what he should do or say next.