by Lee, R. A.
Staring at her, Jake waited for her to finish. He rarely saw the fun Brooke. Even if she was making fun of him, it was nice to see her having fun. Jake realized he could feel her heartbeat and didn’t pull his hand away. It was the same heartbeat he felt when they were together in bed.
“Are you done?” he asked and she pushed his hand away.
“You never felt this way about Jenny,” she said, nodding to the TV.
Jake started to joke with her then realized it wasn’t a joke.
“I thought so,” she beamed, poking him in the arm playfully.
“Your eyes met across a room, I am betting,” she said, leaning back and watching the movie. “One look and you were in love.” Jake blushed.
Brooke was up on her knees, pointing at Jake victoriously, and she knocked over the plastic bowl. Popcorn flew everywhere and Brooke didn’t care.
Jake had looked across the room and seen Jenny and instantly fell in love. He never thought it was that romantic, but it was what all the movies Brooke watched were based on. Love at first sight. Jake had never been the same. He always thought those men were fools, that his was a more sophisticated relationship. It was just a variation on a theme.
“I knew it,” she declared pointing at him and doing a bizarre victory dance still on her knees.
Jake ignored her.
“You’re picking that up yourself,” he said.
“I don’t care,” she sang joyfully. “Jake is a romantic!”
Brooke suddenly realized Jake had broken up with Jenny.
Eyes wide, hands over her gaping mouth, Brooke sat back and apologized.
“I forgot,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Just rub it in,” he said and Brooke waddled on her knees over to him and hugged him.
“I got carried away,” she said and Jake absolved her.
“I shouldn’t have made fun of your silly romance movie,” he joked. Brooke clasped her hands around his cheeks and looked sadly into his eyes.
“Now you’re one of us,” she said and it was the way she looked at him or the way she held his face or joked with him, but Jake suddenly wanted to kiss her.
Placing a hand on her back, Jake pressed her toward him and she rested her forehead on his. Jake could feel her breath quick on his cheeks.
Letting go of his cheeks, Brooke slid her soft warm hands down his neck and rested them on his chest. Raising his other hand to her neck, Jake felt her shiver when his hand grazed the skin of her neck as he held her like a fragile animal ready to flit away at any moment.
Guiding her, Jake placed his mouth on hers and lingered, just their lips barely touching. The sensation sent a jolt through his stomach and hot explosions throughout his body. Grabbing his shirt, Brooke flicked her tongue and Jake nearly moaned. Shaking, Brooke waited for him to make the next move. Jake could have just kissed her, but he enjoyed the pleasure of holding her close, getting to feel her skin on his hands, the beat of her heart fast on his hands, the anticipation of kissing her somewhere outside his bedroom.
Resting his tongue just inside his lips, Jake pressed his mouth to hers and he felt her lean back in his embrace and relax into his kiss.
Grasping each other as they engaged in the most erotic kiss he had ever had in his own kitchen, Jake lowered Brooke onto the bench.
Back arched, hair flowing on his arms, Brooke moaned and Jake wanted to just pick her up and take her upstairs, but this was the first time they were intimate in the light and he could actually see her reaction to his touch, so he didn’t move them.
Kissing her cheeks and down her neck, Jake tucked his cheek into her kisses and pulled away to catch a glimpse of Brooke lost in the pleasure of the moment, and Jake gasped realizing that must be how she looked when they were wrapped naked around each other, and he got very hard.
Brooke opened her eyes and tilted her head further back and froze. In a movement Jake didn’t see coming, Brooke pushed Jake away, rolled onto the floor and was up just as the kitchen door opened. Jake wondered from which ninja school she graduated. She could hear people approaching before she saw them.
“I saw the lights on,” his mother said and she peeked in.
“Just watching TV,” Brooke reassured her from the sink. Turning on the water, Brooke washed the popcorn bowl that had fallen on the floor.
When did she pick that up?
“Good-night,” his mother said and closed the door. When it clicked, Brooke almost collapsed.
“That was close,” she said breathlessly, her back against the counter for support. “If she saw us together like that, I would have gotten nothing but baby hints for the next year at least.”
Shaking the thought off, Brooke caught her breath. Jake was still trying to figure out what happened.
“Good-night,” she said leaving Jake on the bench to gather his senses. The couple in the movie was kissing and he stood and turned it off.
Good-night?
After that kiss, it was just good-night?
Hobbling to her room, Jake peeked in through her open door. Brooke was on her bed facing him in the dark.
He didn’t know what to say. He hoped she would have a solution.
“I can’t be her replacement, Jake,” she said. “If you’re looking for a friend for the night, that’s fine, but I don’t want to be her placeholder.”
Jake hung his head. He didn’t think she was.
“I need a friend in my room in five,” he said.
Closing her door, Jake went to the dining room, grabbed a candle and a pack of matches from the hutch and headed one step at a time to his room.
Placing the melted candle on his nightstand, Jake lit it and waited for Brooke.
A few minutes later, peeking in and gently closing the door and locking it, Brooke stepped carefully toward Jake.
“Very cheesy,” she admonished him as she sat on the edge of the bed. Holding her warm cheek in his hand, Jake could see Brooke close her eyes and lean into his caress. Warm, golden candlelight flickered and caught the many emotions he never could see when they were in bed before.
Sliding his hand down her neck and grazing her collar bone, trailing one finger down to her breast, he felt her shiver. Rising to meet her, Jake pulled Brooke to him and resumed their kiss.
Caressing her body, he just wanted to hold her close, feel her heartbeat, her chest rising and falling on his own, and her soft hands exploring and caressing his body.
It was a simple romantic gesture, and he had no idea he was a romantic. Deep down, he needed to feel a connection with a woman stronger than sexual attraction. He thought he could only feel that with Jenny, but as Jake held Brooke, he started feeling something that went beyond friendship or obligation.
This depressed housewife was making him believe he might be able to find a life without Jenny. It was just a flicker of recognition. If he had any chance of being with Jenny in the long run, Jake knew he wouldn’t hesitate to take it when the chance was presented.
For the time being, he wanted to explore his attraction to his wife.
Chapter 20
Sitting in the kitchen, Brooke sat straddled on Jake while holding hands and they were laughing about the day MJ wanted him to throw the fish back in the water.
Staring into Brooke’s eyes, Jake sighed as their laughter faded.
“I have to discuss something with you,” he said and felt Brooke become tense, her eyes on alert.
“I want to make changes to our arrangement,” he said, holding onto her waist as Brooke started to pull away.
“Let me explain,” he urged, not sure how his change might be received. Brooke didn’t move and just stared at him calculating all the options.
“What if I said I wanted to be married for real,” he said and Brooke sighed loudly.
“How long do I have?” she asked and Jake was confused.
“What do you mean?” he asked puzzled.
“You want to be with your lover,” she shrugged. “How long do I have to tra
nsition out of this.”
Looking into her eyes already making arrangements for her departure and a million other things, Jake closed his eyes realizing she misunderstood.
“I don’t mean to someone else,” Jake asserted. “I mean to each other. What if I wanted this to be for real, for there to be no arrangement?”
Brooke stopped making plans and was now recalculating.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“You and I are already married,” he said, slowly trying to lighten the situation. It was so hard to get to this point and he was afraid he was failing in communicating his intentions.
“I’m not stupid,” she said.
“I want us to be husband and wife, man and woman,” he explained. “Sleep in the same bed, you know, married.”
Brooke realized what he wanted and laughed. Clasping his face in her hands and looking deep into his eyes, Brooke shook her head and Jake had no idea what she was thinking.
“You think what we’ve been doing is any indication of what married life would be like?” she asked.
Jake was confused. What else was there?
“If I were your wife, I wouldn’t hold back on a lot of things, Jake,” she said. “What we’re doing is fun, Jake.”
“What would be different?” Jake asked, wondering what he missed.
“I would not be happy about the time you spend away from home,” she explained. “I would nag you and accuse you of having an affair. Another thing, I would not hesitate to tell you I hate the interior of this house and would remodel everything,” she laughed. “Sex? You like these intimate moments. Eventually, the fascination would wear off and where would we be? We don’t even really know each other Jake. Just think about that. We bypassed everything. We have never been on a date.”
“Is that what you need?” he asked. Brooke had been married before and he realized she knew what he had missed.
“Think about it for a while,” Brooke said, sliding off his legs and back to the ground. “You scared the heck out of me,” she said walking away.
Jake was left stunned when he thought he was surprising Brooke.
Sitting for a long time pondering her challenge, Jake headed to his room. As he walked by the dining room and living room, he stood looking at what she was talking about.
The house was the same as it had always been. What didn’t she like? What else didn’t she like about him?
Jake didn’t say good-night to Brooke. He took the stairs to his room and lay in bed thinking about what Brooke said.
Where did he begin?
Chapter 21
Brooke woke up to the sounds of men talking loudly outside and the sounds of trucks backing up.
“Mommy, mommy,” MJ said, jumping on the bed to wake her up. “There’s men in the kitchen with hammers!”
Brooke bolted out of bed and grabbed her robe.
“Stay here,” she commanded and closed the door on her way out.
Loud pounding greeted her as she pushed open the kitchen door carefully. Tearing down cabinets and ripping out the island, the men didn’t notice Brooke.
“Are you Mrs. Parker?” an overweight man holding a clipboard asked.
“Yes,” she said, remembering she was the Mrs. Parker of the house.
“Your husband sent us,” he explained as he handed her a business card. Brooke quickly read the name of a design firm. Looking up at the man, Brooke questioned him with her eyes.
“Call Mitch over there,” he said gruffly as cabinets fell and her island was carted away.
Brooke nodded and backed out of the kitchen.
Calling Jake, Brooke hung up when she got a busy signal.
Brooke called Mitch.
After Mitch told her Jake had contracted their services to remodel the house, Brooke thanked him and made an appointment.
Holding the phone to her chest, Brooke didn’t know whether to smile or get angry.
Part of her was happy he listened to her about her desire to remodel the house if she was going to be his wife, the other part of her was angry he didn’t consult his wife before making a big decision.
“Good morning, Brooke,” her mother-in-law cheerfully said as she came in through the French doors.
“Your son thought he’d make a grand gesture,” Brooke said, motioning to the kitchen.
“I know,” Jake’s mother confessed. “I told him he should consult you first, but he really wanted to show you he’s trying. He’s never done this before.”
Jake’s mother was beaming. Brooke sighed.
“We’re going to have to discuss this,” she asserted. With her kitchen almost destroyed, though, Brooke really wanted to go through with the project. The house did not feel like her home.
“Yeah, but maybe after they finish,” his mother suggested. Brooke turned to her and smiled.
“That’ll teach him,” she joked.
“I cleared out my extra rooms,” his mother said. “Grab some clothes and whatever you need. This place is going to be dusty in a few hours.”
“Can I come out now,” MJ whined from her room.
“You sure you’re ready for the both of us for about a month?” she asked her happy mother-in-law.
“Since Jake left for college,” she confessed and Brooke knew she was sincere.
“What’s in the room at the end of the hallway?” Brooke asked. She had always wanted to know, but didn’t want to ask. Until now, she hadn’t needed to know.
“That’s just a spare room,” his mother shrugged. “Probably filled with junk. Do what you want.”
“Thank you,” Brooke said and she knew what she would like to do with a spare room.
Packing their clothes and toys for MJ, Brooke moved them into her mother-in-law’s. When the kitchen was cleared, she met with the designer and they mapped out Brooke’s dream kitchen. From there they discussed the living and dining room. Brooke wanted a fireplace that worked and would be safe for her son.
“One more thing,” Brooke said, motioning for the designer to follow her after she showed him the downstairs concept. Climbing the stairs to Jake’s room, Brooke announced she wanted a few changes to his room as well.
While the house was being torn down and renovated, Brooke took MJ for a visit to her mother’s.
Sitting in bed reading a magazine, her mother was excited to see the two of them. While MJ played with his toys, Brooke told her mother about Jake’s gesture, but she still didn’t have the heart to tell her about their arrangement.
“He’s trying to show you he cares,” her mother said, rubbing her arm and consoling her. “He’s trying to get through to you, Brooke.”
Brooke lowered her head on her mother’s stomach as she had done when she was younger.
“It’s so complicated, mom,” she sighed and her mother massaged her tired head.
“It only gets more complicated, Brooke,” her mother affirmed.
Brooke left consoled, but still confused.
Passing the men and their work trucks and piles of construction material, Brooke carried MJ to his other grandmother’s house.
“Do you have Jake’s address in the city?” she asked when MJ went to get a freshly baked cookie.
“It’s about time you saw how he lives when he’s not here,” his mother asserted and went to her bedroom, returning with Jake’s work information and address to his condo.
“Do you want to watch him for a few days?” she asked and Jake’s mother hugged her.
“Take your time,” she said. “I’ll call if there’s an emergency,” she asserted and Brooke packed for a meeting with her husband in the city.
Arriving in the city, near where she used to live, Brooke didn’t go to Jake’s condo. Checking into a hotel, Brooke went shopping, met with a hairstylist and made an appointment for a spa day. Brooke the tired mother was not an acceptable date for Jake the wealthy, city dwelling businessman.
In a new suit that accentuated her curves, Brooke took another look at the woman in
the mirror.
Where have you been?
When she worked at the gallery, Brooke had always looked business-like before leaving her house. Even after MJ was born and she returned to work, she never left for her job without looking highly professional.
Everything changed the years after Matthew passed. Brooke could feel a part of her slipping away every day and when the gallery had to let somebody go, it was no surprise they chose her.
Tired, exhausted and barely hanging on, she had alienated her co-workers and because the economy was so bad, many of her close friends weren’t around anymore. Melinda became her only contact to the outside world. While dealing with her divorce, Melinda had worked hard to get Brooke as much compensation as possible. She really liked Matthew and felt devastated for his widow.
Melinda also worked hard to get Brooke married again.
Ready to meet her husband and ask him out for a date, Brooke drove over to his office and waited for the receptionist to announce her. Sitting on the edge of the lobby couch, Brooke admired the contemporary design and expensive artwork. The view of the city was the best feature in the room.
Jake turned the corner and Brooke stood immediately and felt herself panic. Dressed in a dark suit and tie, his hair slicked back, Jake looked like a model in a men’s magazine.
“Brooke?” he said, amazed to see her in the reception area of his office.
Brooke walked toward him maintaining eye contact. She was still uncomfortable with herself and the situation, and needed the familiar presence of his unwavering constant eyes.
“I’m here, Jake,” she said so that no one else could hear. His co-workers tried to look busy, but she knew they wanted to see the woman Jake had married and kept hidden in a house far from the city.
“Is there something you wanted to ask me?” She was not going to invite him to dinner. He had to invite her.
“Would you go out with me tonight,” he said also low enough for only Brooke to hear.
“I’m at the Park Grand on Twelfth,” she said. “I’ll be in the lounge.” Jake looked her up and down admiring her new suit. Brooke turned and walked slowly to the elevator, mainly so she didn’t trip on her own shoes when exiting dramatically.
