In the Long Run

by Haley Cass

  And Taylor’s insistence on drawing that attention to herself had driven Brooke crazy.

  But now, as she stared at Taylor, who looked like she was lost in thought, she had the weirdest sense of admiration for her.

  Weird, because she’d definitely never let herself really delve into her thoughts on Taylor. Not in a long time, and never too deeply, anyway.

  Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away.

  “But in senior year – you and Ben were freshmen, and he was talking crap about Ben, about you, saying…” Taylor’s dark eyes narrowed, “Dumb shit. And I tripped him as he walked by me, and he went headfirst into my open locker.”

  Brooke’s mouth fell open, a laugh falling from her lips, sheer delight working through her at the mental image. The courage of her convictions, even as a teenager, Brooke thought again. “I wish you had that on video.”

  “Well, if only camera phones were a thing in the nineties,” Taylor drawled, before she stroked her thumb over Brooke’s pulse.

  She hadn’t even realized Taylor’s hand was still wrapped around her wrist and she pulled away sharply as the touch made her pulse quicken.

  It was too easy to fall into a – a comfort, here, she realized in that moment. The Vandenberg house provided Brooke with a sense of peace, as it always had. Taylor’s ranting… thing… made her feel heard. Her touch too easily evoked a deep, deep pleasure. Picturing Taylor kicking Kevin’s ass even if it had happened over twenty years ago made Brooke feel, understandably and reasonably, pleased.

  Brooke cleared her throat. “I guess I’ll… go.” She should. She knew that. Ben wasn’t here, and their annual typical Friday Night plans for trivia didn’t start for hours. So. She should go.

  “Orrrr, you could stay,” Taylor wiggled her eyebrows. “I made massaman curry for dinner,” she gestured to the stove, lilting her voice like she was singing. “Well, it will be for dinner. It should simmer a bit more.”

  “You made a pot of curry for yourself?”

  “For myself and Savannah; she’ll be coming over in a bit. She’s just doing some… stuff,” Taylor pointedly turned and walked to the stove to stir, and – it was just off. Disjointed in a way Taylor typically wasn’t.

  She was like that, though, she’d noticed in the last couple of weeks. Taylor had been in town for almost three weeks now, and while Brooke may have spent her time diligently not being around Taylor as much as she possibly could without it looking weird on her part, there were things she couldn’t help but notice at the last few Sunday dinners.

  And, fine, she couldn’t help but notice Taylor during Sunday dinners. Not when Taylor always sat next to her and always turned to look at her, head in her hand with brown eyes warm and inviting. Not to mention the way she always dropped her hand to Brooke’s thigh.

  But she noticed these little moments, little off moments. The little looks exchanged between Taylor and Savannah, too. A lot of them.

  And, yeah, Brooke should leave. But also, she couldn’t just leave when she had to know.

  “What’s going on with you? Or her?” She challenged, staring at Taylor’s profile and resolutely not on her legs. That Brooke hadn’t realized were essentially showcased in a pair of fraying jean shorts that didn’t even hit mid-thigh. So short, in fact, that her sweatshirt almost completely covered them and made it appear as though she weren’t wearing any shorts. Regardless, there were miles of long, tan legs on display.

  And she was not giving in to her baser instincts and staring at them. No. Instead, she latched onto her suspicion.

  “Nothing,” Taylor answered swiftly. “She’s just busy.”

  “Hmm,” Brooke narrowed her eyes and stared hard at the side of Taylor’s face.

  Taylor was a crappy liar, she already knew that, but her face didn’t reveal anything else.

  No, instead, Taylor was staring down into the simmering pot, biting at her bottom lip, eyebrows drawn down before she turned to face Brooke, an excited gleam in her eye. A gleam that made Brooke back up a step as soon as it landed on her, her stomach clenching with it.

  “Actually, now that I have you here, can I pick your brain?” Taylor’s already always-raspy voice dipped, mirroring that excited look.

  Brooke shook her head, swallowing hard. “Huh? Stop trying to change the subject.”

  “I’m not!” Taylor pointed the spoon she’d been using to stir at her, before she chuckled, an impossibly light sound as she shrugged and winked. “I’m not trying; I am changing it. But it’s also legitimate. Something I actually could use your very specific help with.”

  She hated that she was intrigued. “About… what?”

  For a moment, she thought about their night in San Diego, and wondered if Taylor was going to change the subject with some comment about sex. About how she could use Brooke’s help with –

  Her heart sped up, heat moving up her chest and neck in a blush, as she cleared her throat and shifted back again, her thighs brushing against the kitchen table. Taylor hadn’t made any actual sexual advances, not since she’d asked Brooke to come up to her room that first night, anyway.

  Brooke’s gaze flickered to the stairs. But she wouldn’t necessarily put it past Taylor.

  Taylor grinned at her, as if she knew she’d captured Brooke’s attention. As if she knew where Brooke’s mind had gone.

  The thought immediately made her scowl, crossing her arms as she cocked a hip against the table. She couldn’t back up from Taylor any more even if she tried. Not that she had to, since Taylor was across the room. But still.

  Taylor placed the spoon down. “You see, I’ve had this problem.” She tilted her head in thought as she pushed away from the counter. “Well, maybe not a problem, per-se.”

  She sauntered closer to Brooke, a speculative look in those dark eyes, and Brooke’s stomach leapt with it even as she narrowed her eyes in suspicious annoyance. She wasn’t going to be distracted by – by this.

  “It’s something I could definitely take care of myself,” Taylor murmured, low voice washing over Brooke, as she walked closer. Close enough that Brooke could catch that scent of summertime. Like clothing that had been freshly washed and then dried out in the sun, that’s what it was. Fresh and clean and bright and… sunny.

  “But I think you’d actually be a bit more helpful.”

  She could hear so easily – alarmingly and distressingly easily – the unrestrained whimpers that had left Taylor’s throat that night in San Diego echoing in her ears. And she let out a shaky breath before she straightened her spine, pressing harder against the table as Taylor drew to a stop right in front of her.

  Brooke’s heart pounded in her chest, and she opened her mouth to tell Taylor to cut it out. Or, something to that effect.

  Before Taylor reached around her and plucked a paper up from the table. “I’m hammering out the potential cities for my list, and I was thinking – you know what would be really useful right about now? A professional consult regarding small southern cities.”

  Her breath left her in a whoosh, shoulders untensing slightly with relief. And – stupidly, ridiculously, annoyingly – the smallest kernel of disappointment. Ugh. Then she realized that when she slumped just so, Taylor’s warm breath blew over her cheek, and she straightened back up immediately.

  “You – want me to look at your list?” She hated that she had to clear her throat, realizing her voice was scratchy.

  It was confusing and just made no sense. It was this ridiculous physical attraction that simply was designed in her DNA; it was beyond her rational control.

  “What else would you think I was talking about?” Taylor’s tone dipped, and she dangled the paper from her fingers, as a slow smirk slid over her face.

  Brooke huffed out a breath, because of course that had been on purpose, as she rolled her eyes and brought her hands up to Taylor’s shoulders to back her up a step. And she absolutely did not let her touch linger.

  “What do you need?” She snatched the paper, and s
lid out from between Taylor and the table.

  And she could breathe again.

  Taylor shifted closer to the table and rearranged some of the papers there, and it was only then that Brooke realized Taylor had been working on something in here before she’d interrupted. Her laptop was open, as well as an actual paper map of the states, amongst a few other papers with Taylor’s elegantly scrawled writing.

  “Well, I realized I have to actually buckle down and get going on my list. But I wanted to take the time and spread out with my thoughts, which I’d prefer to do down here, so I figured I’d take advantage of Ben being out for the evening.”

  Her tone completely shifted, out of playful and teasing, no flirtatious sounding dips, as she dropped herself back into the chair and gestured for Brooke to take the seat next to hers. And, she damned herself, because she was too curious not to.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these lists; the last time I did, it was about Well-Kept Secrets of the Northeast, and that was eleven years ago. And I focused on specific locations; parks, inns, restaurants. For this list, it’s going to focus more on small cities or towns as a whole.” Taylor gestured to the map she had out, where Brooke could see small tabs variously stuck on different areas.

  Taylor leaned over the map, reaching out and sliding some of the papers she’d written on over to Brooke. Interested, far more than she’d like to admit out loud, she glanced over them, noting the names of locations.

  “I’ve been doing some research remotely – clearly – to narrow my options down. Based on population size and type of government styles, even into political leanings, places I’d actually like to promote or even visit myself, you know?” She asked rhetorically, but Brooke still nodded. “But I’d like to pare the list down to twelve or thirteen options to seriously research. It’ll be a top ten list, and I already have a few places I’ve been that I’d definitely like to include.”

  Taylor tapped a finger at a paper with three bullet points already listed. “I’ll be visiting everywhere I can on day trips over the next couple of months, to nail down the top contenders. Even better if they have any sort of event coming up, that I can highlight and visit for. It can’t be a place too… known? Or large enough that it couldn’t possibly be a local gem. Taking into account entertainment, activities, atmosphere, aesthetics, and logistic travel optics – I have sixty-three potential places.” Taylor gave an entirely too charming self-deprecating smile, as she gestured to the papers.

  Brooke found herself staring at Taylor as she spoke, because the businesslike tone she’d taken on was just so… not like Taylor. Not that Brooke had ever experienced, anyway.

  As Taylor stopped speaking, the silence felt – expectant. Brooke shifted in her seat, aware of her own staring, before she frowned. Because it wasn’t like she’d heard any sort of question in there. “And you’d like me… to…?”

  Taylor looked up, the little furrow in her forehead that had appeared as she’d gotten lost in her own thoughts smoothing out as she shot Brooke a smile. “Oh, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind maybe reviewing with me? I don’t think there’s anyone I could possibly ask who is more prepared on this topic. Unless, of course, you think I should approach Kevin.”

  Brooke rolled her eyes hard, biting her lip to stop herself from grinning at the dumb joke, before she got pulled into the assorted papers in front of her.

  Taylor’s possible choices listed many towns Brooke was familiar with throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. And she’d admit; the beginnings of her research was thorough.

  There were pros and cons listed for each city, the demographics, commentary on local government, and unique attractions. It had more work to be done, clearly, but it was something. Brooke could see the places Taylor had mentioned as ones she definitely wanted to include asterisked; it was all meticulously labeled and organized.

  It was impressive.

  “Ideally, it would be great to visit all of these places in order to make the final cuts,” Taylor murmured, twirling her pen again between her fingers as Brooke looked up from the information laid out in front of her.

  She blinked with surprise as she realized she’d been leaning in close to Taylor as they’d been reading.

  “But I honestly don’t have the time. So, it would be great if I knew someone who was more knowledgeable about these places, or at the very least, the people who run them.” Taylor arched her eyebrows. “You know someone who could give me a hand?”

  Brooke hated that she was so interested. That this was right up her alley and Taylor knew it.

  She dipped her eyes back down to the papers in front of her, mulling it over.

  Before she realized –

  “Where’s Faircombe?”

  She frowned, flipping through some of the pages in front of her, because maybe she’d missed it in her quick review. Only, no. It wasn’t there.

  “What do you mean?” Taylor asked, the picture of confusion.

  Brooke gestured to all of the items spread out before them. “Faircombe,” she repeated. “Where’s the information and papers for it to be on the list?”

  Taylor stared at her for a long moment, an incredulous expression sliding over her face. “You’re serious?”

  Brooke’s mouth fell open, both surprise and irritation twisting together in equal measure inside of her. “You aren’t even going to put Faircombe on the list?”

  “In fairness, I haven’t actually made the list yet.” She waited a beat before tilting her head as she admitted, “But… no.”

  “Why? You’re living here right now. You’re from here. Why wouldn’t you include it?” Brooke demanded, eyes narrowing as she pushed her hair back behind her ears. The movement was hurried, so the strands fell immediately back down, which made her sigh in frustration.

  Which only amplified as a soft smile slid over Taylor’s face.

  “Uh, well, it’s pretty cut and dry. Frankly, not my idea of a gem.” Taylor shrugged.

  Brooke leaned back in her chair, glaring. “I can’t believe you aren’t even going to put us on the list.”

  “Is it such a big deal to you?” Taylor asked, disbelief coloring her voice as she stared at Brooke.

  “Yes!” She bit back. “Did you not hear my rant earlier?”

  “Two Minute Tirade,” Taylor cut in with a clearly deliberately joking tone.

  Brooke was in no mood. “I told you; I’ll fight for this town. Something we do need more of is exposure. And you have a decent amount of followers, right?”

  She had to. She knew Taylor’s blog was popular; she might not know much about it or follow it herself, but she did know Taylor managed to make money from it over the last couple of decades. Jo talked about it from time to time during Sunday dinners.

  The corners of Taylor’s lips moved up in a secretive smirk, that gave Brooke the distinct impression she was being placated. “A decent amount, yeah.”

  “So, put Faircombe on it.” She tapped her index finger against the paper in front of her as she insisted. “Put aside your personal feelings and treat it like it’s any other place you’d visit. We have everything all of these other places have, and we do a lot of it better. I would know, remember?” She challenged. “You wanted my help.”

  “I really enjoy when you get all impassioned.” Taylor murmured, giving her the same look she’d given after Brooke’s rant. “Your eyes get all lit up and you have a little dimple right here.” She reached out and pressed a light, soft fingertip against Brooke’s left cheek.

  She leaned back from the touch as she felt her cheeks heat and that annoying rush shoot through her. “Stop. No flirting.”

  “I thought that rule only applied in San Diego,” Taylor countered right back, arching her eyebrow.

  “It applies everywhere. All of the time.” She bit out, frowning. “I’m not – just because you’re here and not finding women around the globe to flirt with doesn’t mean it’s open season wit
h me.”

  Taylor’s eyes searched hers, so wide and dark and openly amused. “You really do yourself a disservice when you underestimate just how uniquely fun you are to flirt with.”

  “You’re the one who said you wanted to be friends or whatever. Well, I don’t flirt with my friends.”

  “You only have one and it’s Ben! Of course you don’t flirt with him!” Taylor laughed heartily at her own joke.

  Brooke refused to let her lips twitch into a smile, instead rolling into the agitation that accompanied it in that weird only-Taylor-can-ignite-that-feeling way. “I have more than one friend.”

  “Yes, okay, Savannah and Marisa, too. And thank god you don’t flirt with Marisa or it would be workplace harassment.”

  “How do you know Marisa?” Brooke narrowed her eyes.

  Taylor gave her an incredulous look. “It’s Faircombe; how wouldn’t I know her?” Under Brooke’s stare, she broke down and offered an impish smile. “She also comes by the bakery a lot. I’m there with Savannah most evenings in the last few weeks, so…”

  Brooke snorted. “Of course she does.”

  Marisa’s crush on Savannah was – well, Brooke actually thought it was only something she knew about. But it was definitely there.

  Taylor winged up an eyebrow at her comment, but didn’t say anything about it. Instead she stared at Brooke, and then back at the table, where their papers were spread out. Then back at Brooke.

  Her luminous, teasing smile faded a bit, into a more thoughtful one. Just the slightest curling of her lips, as Brooke could see that there were wheels turning in her head.

  “I have a proposition for you.” Taylor drew out slowly, nailing Brooke with a more serious look than she’d expected.

  “What kind of proposition?” She almost regretted asking as soon as the words left her mouth.

  Proposition felt like a word she shouldn’t use with Taylor. A dangerous word.

  But Taylor just nodded in excitement, not a sultry look at all, as she pushed on. “I’ll give Faircombe a place on the potential list… if you help me weed out the cities. Like actual research. Talk things through with me. Be my partner in crime, so to speak.”