Brooke took off the dress and hung it back where she’d found it along with the shoes and jewelry. She went over to her suitcase, pulled out a pair of black jeans and pulled them on. A short-sleeved green-and-black button-down shirt was the only accessory she needed. After removing the small amount of makeup she wore and pulling her hair back up in a messy ponytail, she picked up the breakfast tray and walked back downstairs in her bare feet with her head held high.
“There you are. I was about to come find you.” Brice reached for the tray with one hand and Brooke’s with the other. His touch sent shock waves through her body; everything about Brice plagued her.
Brice helped her down the last couple of steps. “How do you feel?” Dizzy, sad and overwhelmed, thanks to you. “I’m fine. Thanks for the breakfast. It was great,” she complimented him.
“Did you take your medicine?”
“Sure did.” Swallowing those pills was easy compared to this one. “Brice, we should talk.”
“Yes, we should,” he agreed, setting the tray down on the dining table before leading Brooke over to the living room sofa.
Brooke had forgotten how bright and beautiful the rooms were when the natural light came shining through all the windows. That was one of the main reasons they loved the house so much. Unfortunately, Brooke felt the light was now shining on the life she’d once had and was about to lose all over again.
Brooke forewent the sofa he offered and took a seat in one of the leather wingback chairs that had been placed across from it. She sat with her back straight and hands folded in her lap. Brooke knew she didn’t look comfortable, which only matched how she felt, but keeping things professional was the only way she could get through the next few moments. As much as she could be, sitting barefoot in a house she adored, in front of the man she loved, who she knew was judging her based on past actions he could never understand.
“Brice, I really appreciate everything you did for me last night, but I think my staying here isn’t the best idea.” Brooke tried to keep her voice even and firm.
“Really, now?” Brice stared down at her with a curious look. He widened his stance and folded his arms across his chest.
“Yes. It just complicates things.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, hoping the tears that stung her eyes wouldn’t fall.
“How so?”
Brooke released a quick breath, opened her eyes and looked up at Brice. “Please sit down.”
“If that will make you more comfortable.” Brice dropped his arms and sat on the sofa, resting his elbows on his knees. “How’s this? Better?”
Brooke could hear the annoyance in Brice’s voice that he was clearly trying but failing to hide. “Much, thank you.”
“Now, why don’t you explain to me why is it that my wife, who’s in danger and risking her life to protect my family and our business from a vengeful maniac, shouldn’t let me...her husband...protect her in their home surrounded by a top-notch security team?”
Brooke slumped back into her chair. “When you put it like that...”
Brice dropped his head and released a sigh of frustration, one she’d heard many times before while working together. He stood, walked over to Brooke and knelt down in front of her. His right hand cupped her face. “Talk to me.”
A flush crept up Brooke’s face and her whole body came to life at his touch. She couldn’t think clearly when he put his hands on her. Brooke’s nipples were hard and she needed to cross her legs to release the pressure building. She was fighting hard not to fling herself into Brice’s arms. Focus, Brooke.
“There are a lot of things about my past...about myself, that I know I should’ve shared a long time ago.”
“And why didn’t you?” He dropped his hand.
Brooke shrugged. “Scared, I guess. I’m so used to handling things on my own.”
“But you’re not on your own anymore.” Brice stood and started pacing the room. “You’re my wife and you’ve kept things from me...important things. Things that alter the direction of our marriage.”
“I am sorry.” Brooke wiped away her tears.
Brice stopped midstride and said, “I am too. I’m sorry you didn’t let me help you.”
Brooke shook her head. “There’s nothing you could’ve done.”
Brice’s cell phone rang. “I have to answer this. I’m expecting an update on Perez.”
“No problem.” Brooke needed the distraction. She rose from the chair, picked up the tray of dirty dishes and entered the kitchen to find her cell phone also dancing across the countertop. “There you are.”
Brooke picked up her phone and read the missed text messages she’d received from several individuals regarding the Carter rumors Brice had set up. Her phone vibrated again; only this time she was receiving a call from a caller with a blocked number and she knew who it had to be.
“What do you want, Shannon?”
“Good morning, sunshine.”
“What do you want?” Brooke repeated.
“Just checking to see if you’re doing okay this morning.”
“I’m fine, no thanks to you and your henchmen.”
Shannon laughed. “Good, because I need a small favor.”
“Favor?” Her voice rose slightly. Brooke looked over her shoulders to make sure she hadn’t caught Brice’s attention.
“Yes. I need you to meet me—”
“Hell no. I’m not coming anywhere near you ever again.”
“You don’t have a choice. However, to prove what a good sport I am, I’ll let you pick the location. Make it as public as you like, only come alone,” Shannon demanded.
“Why do you need to meet me in person, anyway?”
“There’s been a change of plans,” Shannon announced.
“What kind of change?” Brooke pressed.
“You’ll find out when I see you. So, where will we be meeting in two hours?”
Brooke thought about the one public place that would be full of people with an area where they can meet and open enough that she could see Shannon approaching from any point. “Hermann Park...the zoo. Meet me at the big concession stand after the main entrance.”
“Outside, really? You know how much I hate the heat.”
“You should probably get used to it since you’ll be roasting in hell one day.”
“But until then, I’ll see you at noon.” Shannon disconnected the call.
Looking down at her phone she mumbled, “How do you pull this off, Brooke?”
* * *
“Sorry about that,” Brice said, reentering the kitchen. “With all the recent media attention online about our little announcement, we’re now getting pushback from one of our equity partners about the Carter.”
“I thought Victoria called all the partners and informed them of what was really going on with the Carter.”
“She did, but this particular partner wants to try and take advantage of the situation,” he explained.
“That can’t be going over well with Victoria.” Brooke reached into the cabinet and pulled out a glass. She opened the refrigerator, retrieved the orange juice and filled her cup. “Want some?”
“No, I’m good. I need to go into the office for a bit. I know we need to finish our conversation—”
“Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand.
“No, Brooke. We need to talk things through.”
“We will. But for now, you need to go take care of business. Lori’s coming over, anyway.” Note to self: call Lori.
Brice’s forehead creased. “She is?”
“Yes. I’d go stir crazy sitting around doing nothing, and I need her help on a project.” Brooke took a sip from her glass.
Brice’s frown deepened. “Shouldn’t you be resting?” He knew one of the meds Brooke was taking was to combat fatigue.
“I will,” Brooke raised her right hand. “Promise.”
Brice closed the space between them and Brooke slowly lowered her hand. He stared down at Brooke and smiled. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” In spite of all the lovely things Brooke had to wear, Brice like it best when she was relaxed and dressed casually.
Brooke captured her bottom lip between her teeth and shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “Thank you.”
Brice ran the back of his right hand down the side of Brooke’s face. “I love how soft your skin feels against my own.” Brice slid his fingers across her lips before capturing her chin with his thumb and index finger. He raised Brooke’s head as he lowered his toward her. Brice kissed Brooke gently on the lips. He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “Everything’s going to be fine. I promise. Together, we can get through anything.”
“Can we?” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yes.” Brice picked Brooke up and sat her on the edge of the island. He stood between her legs, buried his hands in her hair and devoured Brooke’s mouth.
Brice lost himself in her taste. The slide and pull of their tongues ignited his hunger for Brooke and he had to touch her. Brice unbuttoned her blouse, slid his hands inside and under her bra, massaging her breast and sending his blood racing south to his groin. Brooke moaned in Brice’s mouth. Unable to deny their lungs oxygen any longer, Brice ended their kiss but moved his mouth to her breast. Brooke’s head fell back, offering him what they both needed. Brice sucked and pulled until he heard Brooke whimper his name.
Brice fought hard to break through the hurricane of desire they were both engulfed in, to bring himself back under control. He was only moments away from taking Brooke right then and there in their beautiful kitchen. Brice leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard. “I have to go, but I’ll be back soon.” Brice helped Brooke down and gave her another not-so-quick kiss before walking through the living room to the stairs, taking them two at a time to put on his running shoes and heading out the door. Brice was annoyed he had to leave Brooke with so much unresolved and for a brief moment he worried that she might not be there when he returned.
* * *
Brooke’s shoulders dropped and she released an audible sigh. She adjusted her bra and buttoned her shirt. “I should have told Brice about Shannon's call. Maybe it’s time you start trusting your husband a little more,” she chastised herself. “But first, I have to deal with Shannon.” Brooke picked up her cell phone and dialed Lori.
“Brooke, what’s up?” She could hear surprise and curiosity in Lori’s voice, especially since they rarely spoke on the weekends since Lori’s engagement.
“Sorry to bother you on this beautiful Saturday morning, but I was hoping I could get you to do me a small favor. That is, if you’re not too busy right now.” Brooke held her breath, hoping Lori would give her the response she desperately needed.
“I’m not busy—what do you need?”
“How would you like to go with me to the zoo?” Brooke asked, sniggering, imagining the look on her friend’s face.
“What?”
“I need to meet someone there in about an hour and a half, but I don’t want to drive or take a car service.”
“Why are you meeting someone at the zoo, of all places?”
“It’s a long story, and I promise I’ll fill you in on everything,” Brooke assured her.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Lori guessed.
“Probably not.”
“Does this have anything to do with all those sketchy phone calls you pushed off as nothing?”
“Will you come?”
Lori groaned. “Of course, I’m coming. I can be at the hotel in thirty minutes.”
“Thanks, I’ll tell you everything when you get here and yes, it does have to do with those phone calls. But I’m not at the hotel, and I need you to wear that long maxi sundress I bought you.”
“A sundress? Why? Wait, did you say you’re not at the hotel?”
“Yes, I did and I’ll explain when you get here.”
“Where’s here?” Lori asked.
“Home.”
“Home...as in your house with Brice?”
“That’s the only home I’ve ever had, so yes.”
“Wow, a lot has happened in twenty-four hours.”
“You have no idea. See you soon.” Brooke disconnected the call, made her way upstairs and to her closet. She selected a multicolored maxi sundress and leather sandals. After Brooke changed clothes and selected two pairs of sunglasses and two tan hats, she looked in the mirror and said, “Time to get creative.”
Chapter 18
Brice walked into the windowless executive conference room of the Kingsley building to find his brothers Alexander and Morgan sitting across from each other in red leather wingback chairs at the six-seat oval mahogany table.
“What the hell happened?” Brice asked, taking a seat next to Alexander.
“It seems that Bob Rosenstein wants to renegotiate our deal because the Carter well is no longer viable collateral for our investment.”
“That’s ridiculous. Rosenstein knows our deal is solid and the Carter isn’t going anywhere, right? Mother did speak to him.” Brice’s eyebrows stood at attention.
“I most certainly did talk to him and he knows our securities in his investment house are solid,” Victoria announced, walking into the conference room in a black pantsuit that reflected her mood.
All three Kingsley men stood and greeted their mother with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Bob is just trying to squeeze out a few more perks.”
“What kind of perks? These are multi-billion dollar business deals, not a damn ice-cream parlor where he can get free scoops whenever he wants it,” Morgan replied, his tone hard.
“Can’t we just stall him until we wrap this thing up with Perez on Monday?” Brice suggested.
“Hell no, we’re not playing games with that fool,” Alexander stated.
“We have to make Perez think that the Carter is up for grabs. Otherwise, he’ll take off,” Brice reminded everyone.
“And we will, son. I have something else in mind for Bob Rosenstein.”
“We can’t afford to make another enemy, Mother,” Brice declared as Brooke’s face popped into his mind.
Victoria took a seat at the head of the table. “He knows why this has to be done. That I’m trying to protect my family and he’s trying to take advantage of the situation. He’s made himself an enemy, son.”
“What do you have in mind, Mother?” Brice’s curiosity was piqued; as long as it didn’t involve or hurt Brooke, he was open to anything.
“The Patterson Group,” she announced.
Brice face twisted. “What about them?”
“Yeah, what about them? You know they hold the paper on two of Perez’s most recent deals,” Alexander reminded his mother.
“True, but they’d prefer to work with us, which means...” she prompted.
“We won’t need to do business with Rosenstein anymore,” Brice concluded.
“Are you sure the Patterson Group has the same resources as Rosenstein? They’ve been securing our overseas interests for years.” Morgan leaned back in his chair and scratched his head.
“Absolutely, who do you think Rosenstein’s overseas resources are?” Victoria announced, raising her left eyebrow.
Brice sat forward in his chair. “You mean Rosenstein has been fronting all this time.”
Victoria nodded. “Yes, Patterson has been underwriting all of Rosenstein’s overseas businesses for the past few years. I guess, technically, they’ve always been working for us.”
“I bet they’re tired of giving the credit away for their work,” Morgan said.
“Not to mention the commission,” Brice added.
&
nbsp; “How can we be sure Rosenstein won’t blow the whistle and ruin the sting on Perez when he finds out what we’re doing?”
“They won’t. First, we have a nondisclosure agreement, so if they say anything they’ll get sued and lose millions. Second, they won’t know about the change until after the sting is done,” Victoria assured them confidently.
“So, what, you’re going to agree with his terms, then renege? We don’t play those games, Mother,” Alexander insisted.
Victoria pointed a diamond clad finger at Alexander and said, “No, son, you don’t play those games and nor should you. You’re not the CEO of my company. It’s not your decision.”
Alexander shook his head. “We have a reputation—”
“Yes, one based off business ethics I put in place a lifetime ago. Now for the record, I’m only going to agree to think about it. By the time they receive their ninety-day termination letter, Perez will be locked away in some jail cell.” Victoria picked up her buzzing phone and read an incoming message.
Brice released an audible sigh. “And Brooke will finally be safe.”
“Excuse me.” Victoria walked out of the room.
“While we’re all together, let’s hammer out a quick outline for this new deal,” Alexander suggested.
“Let’s make it quick. I want to get back to Brooke,” Brice said, smiling, thinking about the nice moments they’d spent together before he left.
* * *
“I cannot believe you talked me into doing this,” Lori stated, adjusting her hat and sunglasses in the mirror of the zoo’s bathroom. “What’s the deal with the stupid outfits, anyway?”
“What? You said you liked the dress when I bought it for you last year.”
“I do. I love multicolored print maxi dresses. They’re light and very sexy.”
Brooke ran her hand down the front of the near replica she wore. “Then what’s the problem?”
Lori turned away from the mirror and faced Brooke. “The problem is we’re dressed like twins, wearing big hats and sunglasses, playing spy games in the zoo and chasing some crazy person.”
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