“Wait,” she whispered as she broke away. “Wait, we should talk about…”
“Yes, we should, but don’t wanna,” Brooke argued before pulling at Catherine’s waist and tugging her impossibly tighter as she pressed her lips against the blonde’s mouth once again. Her tongue was hot and soft as it slid inside and took control of the tempo. Brooke’s hands were already under Catherine’s blouse. “Tell me you want this?” Brooke whispered against swollen lips.
“I do…but…” She hadn’t ever been this turned on with any other person, but Catherine was a pragmatic woman, and this needed to stop. They needed to talk. With all her willpower, she pushed Brooke away, groaning in wanton need as she did so. “Talking first,” she said, panting for breath.
Chapter Forty-One
The point of talking was that one person had to start, and as Catherine poured the tea from the pot and concentrated on adding milk to the cups, Brooke considered what it was she wanted to know, but Catherine beat her to it.
“I want to tell you about Penny,” Catherine announced, placing the pot down on the coaster with a small donk sound. In hindsight, this was what she should have done instead of panicking and ending potentially the best opportunity for a relationship she’d had in a long time. “In my last employment I’d worked my way from the entry level position to assistant HR manager. I’d worked there for years and had built a solid reputation. I am good at my job, but affairs of the heart…” She sighed and looked away, gathering her thoughts. “I met Penny at work and things instantly became intense.” She chanced a glance at Brooke. She had her head propped up in her hands, just as intensely following the story. “We had quite a volatile relationship. Penny was…” She considered how best to describe her ex. “A little passionate in everything she did, and that included me. She wanted the world to know every detail of our life, and I didn’t. While things were good between us, she respected that privacy, but then things changed and…” She swallowed, her breath shuddering as she exhaled. This was a lot harder than she had thought it would be. It was dredging up old painful memories, but she pushed on. Brooke deserved the truth. “Eventually, we broke up…I thought it was mutual. We both agreed that it wasn’t working. Over the weekend, I moved out. But when I came in to work the following week, something had changed. I caught people looking my way and then glancing away quickly, whispering in corners and then downright laughing in my face with overtly sexual jokes. I discovered that Penny had sent copies of our intimate conversations in an email to every member of staff, along with a photograph of me in a…compromising…it was private,” she explained in an almost whisper.
“Wow, that’s just…Words fail me.”
Catherine nodded. “She was sacked for doing it, but my position was totally untenable, and I had no option but to resign. She contacted me later of course, apologising. She said that she was hurt that I had ended things. I didn’t, it was a mutual agreement, but in her mind, I had done her wrong and therefore I should be punished in the worst way possible, by ruining my reputation at work.”
Brooke reached for Catherine’s hand, the older woman letting her take it and Brooke’s thumb rubbing gently over the back of her fingers was reassuring. This was what she wanted.
“I never in a million years expected you to walk through the doors of those interviews.” Catherine laughed sardonically. “I should have sat you down and explained all of this, but I was so scared. I know they call me the ice queen and Frosty Knickers; those walls are thin. I hear them all gossiping about other members of staff and I just…I couldn’t risk it.”
“I’m not going to say this hasn’t hurt me,” Brooke said, still holding her hand.
“I know…I’m not trying to make excuses. I was a cow when all you were trying to do was be nice and prove your worth. I brushed you off and left you feeling miserable. I did to you what I swore I’d never let anyone else ever do to me, and I am not proud of myself.”
“So, you know now that I’d never do that to you, right?” Brooke smiled. The idea of ever causing this woman to hurt in anyway was pretty much unthinkable.
Catherine nodded. “Yes, but there is more. It’s not just the work thing.”
Brooke was confused. “What else?”
Catherine smiled warmly at her. “Brooke, look at you. You’re only 26, the world is out there waiting for you.”
Brooke shrugged. “So what? You’re ten years older than me, doesn’t make a difference to me.”
“Oh, you are sweet,” she laughed gently. “Brooke, I am 42…I was already having sex before you were even born.”
Brooke considered this new information. Catherine didn’t look her age, that was for sure. “Then you should have plenty of experience to teach me. The world is out there, and I can see it with you; hell, I’ve already seen most of it.” She stood up, dragged the stool around to Catherine’s side of the bar and sat back down on it. “Look, I am not an idiot…”
“I know that…”
“Catherine, can I speak now?”
“Yes, sorry.”
“I like you, a lot. I find you really attractive. You’re sexy, and I think we’re pretty compatible, you know, in bed too.” She blushed a little, but continued on. “But mostly, I feel this…connection, I feel like…”
Catherine reached out for Brooke’s face. Taking it in her palms, she leant forward and kissed her softly.
“I feel it, I do…I feel it.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Catherine dropped Brooke off at home just after seven that evening. She had wanted to continue talking, but Brooke had things she needed to discuss with Robin as well, and she didn’t want to wait.
She found Robin in the living room, sitting cross-legged in Catherine’s armchair with a book open in her lap and another hanging off of the arm of the chair. Brooke grinned to herself as she considered the chair belonging to Catherine.
“We need to talk,” Brooke said as she entered the room fully. She felt a little peeved at just how easily her sister had manipulated the situation for her own benefit.
Robin jumped. “Jesus, Brooke, you don’t have to sneak up like that.”
“I wasn’t sneaking, unlike you.” She sat down on the couch opposite and watched as her sister cringed. “Let’s discuss this job of yours.”
“Okay, the thing is…” she started, placing her books down on the floor besides her. “Wait, you got your memory back?”
Brooke nodded. “I got my memory back, yes.”
“Wow, that’s great, we should celebrate,” Robin stammered trying to change the subject.
Brooke’s stern face told her otherwise. “You used my injury against me so that you could get what you wanted. That’s not cool, Robin.”
She looked away, biting her lip. “I know, but I just wanted to help. I knew we were struggling, even with you having a new job…”
“Binnie, we talked about this…” She stood again and paced the room.
Robin jumped up. “No, you talked, you decided and I…I’m fifteen, I need to start learning to stand on my own two feet and, Mr Khan’s is the best place to take my first steps. It’s safe, and it’s easy…I get paid my first wage and I can pay some of my way…”
“I get that, but the point is this…this is your big year at school. When you get back after the holidays you’ve got exams, and you need to be prepared for that.”
The youngster picked up a book and held it in the air. “I know, I am studying still. I work one day, and I’ve already bought my party dress, so that’s one less thing you need to worry about. The rest I am putting towards the trip, and Mr Khan said that if I want then I can keep on working after Christmas…just Saturday…I really want to, Brooke,” she pleaded. “And I know I shouldn’t have used your injury to get what I wanted, but I just thought it made sense…I’d be out of your hair and you had Catherine here…and I thought…I thought, that if you and her had the time again, maybe it would turn out differently.”
Brooke had to admit that
her kid sister made a compelling argument, even if she had used devious and underhanded tactics. Should she be punished for seeing a solution to something and using it? Brooke would probably have done similar if she had been able to get away with it at that age, and at least now, the dinner for two made sense.
“Okay, here’s the deal. You can keep working at Mr Khan’s on two conditions. One, you keep your grades up. Any inkling that you are not studying properly, then you stop working there.” Robin nodded and tried to hide the grin that was threatening to spread across her face. “And two, you stop interfering in my love life, otherwise I am going to go hang out at the school gates and have a word with Miles.”
Robin laughed. “Yeah and get yourself arrested for being a perv.” She flopped back down into the chair and picked up her book. When she looked up again through a curtain of hair, she found Brooke still standing there grinning. “Why are you looking so happy? Not that you shouldn’t be but… I haven’t seen you this happy since…oh my God, you and Catherine? Is it back on?”
“We’re talking,” Brooke said, letting herself fall backwards onto the couch, her arms outstretched like a kid doing an aeroplane around the room.
Robin fist pumped the air. “Yes, I knew if she just got to spend time with you then…”
Kicking off her boots, Brooke said, “Was this before or after you gave her a hard time?” The raised brow gave Robin half a hint that she wasn’t being too serious.
“Well, she needed to know that being a cow to my big sister, wasn’t going to cut it with the little sister.”
Brooke picked up a magazine and flicked through the pages, lifting her feet up onto the coffee table. She felt content. Life was falling into place at last. Christmas was literally around the corner, and she felt like it wasn’t going to be the saddest day on record any longer. She sat up suddenly as realisation hit her.
“What?” Robin asked, noting the movement.
“I just thought, it’s Christmas next week.” Brooke closed the magazine and placed it tidily on the shelf under the table.
“Yeah, today’s the 17th.”
“I know but, I’ve got nothing organised.” She jumped up and patted down her pockets. Locating her wallet, she checked the contents. “I need to…” She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found the name she wanted. “Amber, are you still at work?” As she listened to Amber talk, she mouthed that she wouldn’t be long. Robin waved her off and shook her head, laughing.
Chapter Forty-Three
Finding Amber in the café sipping on a latte, Brooke all but skidded to a halt as she reached the table. “Hey.”
“Hello, did you want one?” Amber asked, indicating the coffee.
Brooke shook her head and pulled out a chair to wait. “No, I’m good, thanks. And thanks for doing this.”
“Not a problem, do you want company or just whizz round and then I’ll join you at the checkout?” Amber asked, sipping her coffee. It was pretty full and still steaming.
“I guess I could get everything while you finish that,” Brooke agreed. “I won’t be long. Just need to pick up a few things, and the discount you get will be a godsend, seeing as I won’t get paid before Christmas.”
Amber smiled up at her as she stood, ready to complete her errands. “It’s fine, might as well make some use of it. I am at my mum’s for Christmas, so other than a few presents, I don’t have to buy anything.”
“Well, like I say, thanks for this. I won’t be too long.” She turned then and ran back down the stairs. Getting a trolley from the store’s entrance, she waved a quick hello to Stan, before whizzing back inside.
Her first port of call was the music aisle. She grabbed a couple of CDs she knew Robin wanted and picked one of the Christmas albums too; nothing like carols on Christmas morning as they opened their presents. In the clothing section, she found a nice top that would work with most of Robin’s skirts or trousers, the obligatory Christmas jumpers, and a dressing gown covered in penguins for Catherine. None of the items was particularly expensive, but that didn’t matter.
She found a cute bear for Jasmine and a couple of toys for her siblings. Unsure if they actually celebrated Christmas, she figured that if they didn’t, then it would suffice as a small thank you gift anyway. Heading down the wine section, she picked up a couple of bottles, one for Catherine and one for Amber. Then she considered whether it was really the done thing to buy someone’s present using their own discount card. Shrugging, she decided needs must and carried on with the shopping, filling the trolley with a few bits that could go into the freezer.
As she rounded the last aisle, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket and she fished it out, smiling when she saw the name: Catherine.
Catherine: How’s it going with Robin? Xx
Brooke: I had a good talk with her and now I am at work. Christmas shopping. Xx
Catherine: God, yes, it’s almost Christmas. I forgot that. Xx
Brooke: You have seen the store, right? All these fairy lights and elves? Xx
Brooke chuckled as she pushed the trolley towards the tills. She looked up and saw Amber wave her over and pushed the cart in her direction as she read the next text message.
Catherine: Of course, however I have been a little preoccupied with one of my staff members recently. Xx
Brooke: Oh, which one? Xx
Catherine: The hot, sexy one that wears a uniform so well that all I want to do is let her ravish me anytime she visits my office. Xx
Brooke grinned and felt the first flush of arousal fuel her movements as she quickly double-checked her trolley. She didn’t want to forget anything.
Brooke: Oh, that one. Yeah, she told me that all she thinks about was the gorgeous HR manager naked in her bed. Xx
The phone beeped once more just as Amber bounded up to her, a blur of purples and pinks wrapped around a smile. Brooke quickly opened the message and found an image along with the latest text.
Catherine: I’m naked in my bed. Xx
Brooke’s face flushed at the sight of Catherine’s naked torso, the sheet just about covering her lower half, her left-hand snaking beneath it. It was sexy, but more than that, it was trust. Catherine was walking the walk, and that turned Brooke on even more than any naked image could.
“Everything alright?” Amber asked, gazing up at her and waving her discount card in the air to get her attention.
“Yep, all is just…perfect.”
With everything packed into carrier bags bearing the name Pollards boldly across either side of them, Amber looked concerned. “How are you getting all of this home?”
“I’ll uh…hmm?” Brooke tried to pick them up, but no matter which way she tried, there was no way she could manage it with her wrist still not one hundred percent. She considered calling a taxi, but that wasn’t something she could really afford. It would be at least a tenner to get home, and that was money that could be spent on a lot of other things that were more important. It was frustrating to not be able to just carry it all onto the bus.
Amber checked her watch. “Look, I have to get going, get a cab or see if someone upstairs is going your way?” She leant up on tiptoes and kissed Brooke’s cheek. “Got a date with Brian.” She grinned before skipping off, waving over her shoulder.
“Go, enjoy. I will be fine.” She was happy for her friend and watched her hurry away. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she noticed another text from Catherine.
Catherine: Sorry, was that too soon? Xx
She realised that she hadn’t replied to the previous text and felt bad for letting Catherine worry.
Brooke: No, I loved it, was just paying at the tills and trying to solve my predicament. Xx
Catherine: What’s wrong? Are you okay?
Brooke snapped a photo of her bags and then a different picture of her injured hand.
Brooke: Seven of these and only one of these that works properly. Xx
Catherine: Wait there, I’ll be 10 mins xx
She was about to reply and politely refuse. Catherine was in bed. It was only 7p.m., but still, she was clearly settled for the evening. However, Brooke selfishly wanted to see her again. So, she waited outside in the cold, grinning when she saw the black SUV pull into the kerb outside almost fifteen minutes later.
Catherine jumped out and had the boot open in seconds, coming around the car to help load the bags. “You should have said. I’d have taken you shopping,” she said, reaching out to take another bag from Brooke’s hand. “I really wouldn’t have minded.”
“I know, but I hadn’t even thought about it, and…” She smiled shyly. “I needed presents.”
“Yes, and I could have helped with that.”
Brooke blushed and looked away. “But then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” she mumbled.
“What do you mean?” When Brooke said nothing but raised a brow, she got it. “Oh, you bought something for me?”
Dark hair nodded as the last bag went into the boot. “It’s nothing exciting, I just thought…”
Catherine climbed into the car and waited as Brooke followed. When she was settled in her seat, Catherine leant across and used her finger to turn Brooke’s chin towards her. “I will love it.” she whispered, leaning forward to kiss her.
The blare of a horn from behind broke the spell as an impatient taxi wanted to get out from behind Catherine’s car. She smiled against Brooke’s lips.
“I guess that means we should get moving.”
Brooke grinned. “Make him wait.” And she leant into kiss her once more. Both of them broke into laughter as the Hornblower blared again. Catherine waved back at him and pulled her car away from the kerb.
“Some people are so impatient.” Brooke laughed, her good hand resting easily on Catherine’s thigh as she drove.
Chapter Forty-Four
Catherine took the lead and carried the heaviest bags up the stairs, holding doors for Brooke and receiving a kiss at each pass. She felt lighter in herself since their heart-to-heart. She had decided that Ronnie was right: at some point, she was going to have to just trust that the person in her life would be as honourable as she hoped they would be. So far, Brooke had done nothing to prove otherwise, and as Catherine stood in the hallway outside of Brooke’s flat, waiting as Brooke trudged along laden down with bags that she wouldn’t let Catherine anywhere near, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of desire and lust pulse its way through her lower regions.
The Meant to Be Collection Page 42
