by Lisa Crane
“Brooke.” Travis waited a moment. “Brooke, look at me.” Slowly she raised her eyes to meet his. “I’m sorry you heard that. But if you heard it, you know that I wasn’t the one who said that.”
“No, I believe you were the one who said there was nothing going on between us now or ever,” Brooke said.
“I just wanted to shut Will up,” he said. His voice rumbled in his chest beneath Brooke’s hand, and he stepped a little closer. “Maybe I spoke too soon.”
“Travis, what –“
He silenced her with another kiss. Brooke once again allowed herself to get lost in Travis’ kiss. His mouth was so warm, and he tasted of coffee and spice. Brooke’s arms slid around Travis’ neck and she stood on her toes again. She gave herself over completely to the kiss and held on to Travis as if her life depended on it! She could hear her own heart pounding in her ears. That sound was suddenly joined by the ringing of bells. Travis raised his head and glanced over his shoulder.
“Oh, don’t let us interrupt!” Jazz said, struggling to contain her laughter, as she and Riley left the bakery.
Wordlessly, Travis helped Brooke into the Hummer. He gave Riley and Jazz a little grin and went around to climb behind the steering wheel. He started the truck and backed out of the spot in front of the bakery. The closer they got to his and Brooke’s houses, though, Travis found his smile and good mood fading. Each passing minute brought him closer to spending the evening with Lorna; he was looking forward to the evening even less than he’d been a few days ago.
When they turned into Travis’ driveway, Brooke quickly climbed out; just before she closed the door, she gave him a smile that was barely there and said, “Have a good evening with Lorna, Travis.”
“Brooke, wait!” Travis called.
At first, Travis didn’t think Brooke was going to stop; he hurried across the yard after her. Just before he reached Brooke, she stopped, turning to face him; Travis ran into her, grabbing her shoulders to steady her. Brooke looked up at him.
“Brooke, have you given any thought to this Thursday?” Travis asked. “Would you come with me to my parents’ house?”
“I – Travis, are you sure?” Brooke asked. “Your mother may not want a stranger at her family’s Thanksgiving table.”
“Are you kidding?” he chuckled. “Mom will love having you there. Come on, say yes.”
“I…okay.”
“Great!”
Travis pulled Brooke in for a quick, hard hug. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then released her. He walked backward a few paces, grinning at her, his blue eyes twinkling brightly. Knowing he’d convinced Brooke to spend Thanksgiving with his family somehow made the prospect of the evening ahead with Lorna a little less depressing.
Chapter 26
The following day, Brooke, Riley and Jazz all worked in the kitchen, taking turns manning the counter out front. They filled orders for cakes, cookies, pies, cupcakes, breads and pastries. Brooke couldn’t believe the amount of baked goods they made; Jazz warned her Christmas would be even crazier.
“At least we have three more days to get the rest done,” Riley said. He looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s only two o’clock and I’m beat.” He looked pointedly at Jazz. “Why don’t you girls knock off a little early?”
“Are you crazy?” Brooke asked. “Riley, we can’t leave you with all the work!”
“Sure we can!” Jazz laughed. She tossed a spoon into the big sink with a resounding clatter. “Come on, Brooke, we have somewhere to go!” Jazz pulled off her apron and kissed Riley. “Love you, babe! We’ll be back after a while.”
“Wait!” Brooke said as Jazz pulled at her arm. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see!” Jazz said, grinning. “Come on!”
Brooke pulled off her apron and followed Jazz out the back door to her truck. A short time later, Jazz pulled up in front of a hair salon. Brooke looked curiously at her.
“Jazz, what are we doing here?”
“My cousin works here,” Jazz said. She was obviously very excited about something. “Come on!”
Inside the salon, Jazz hugged another woman, chattering rapidly in Spanish. The two women looked at Brooke as the talked and Brooke began to feel self-conscious and nervous. When Jazz grabbed Brooke by one hand and the other woman took her other hand, Brooke resisted, pulling back slightly.
“Jazz, what are you doing?” Brooke asked.
“Nothing drastic, I promise,” Jazz answered. “Marlena’s just going to trim your hair up a little bit and…how do you feel about some highlights?”
“What?” Brooke’s eyebrows shot up and she pulled harder against Jazz. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Jazz, I can’t afford something like this!”
“You can pay me back.” Jazz leaned closer and added in her own whisper, “And Marlena’s going to give you her family discount.”
“But why? Why are we doing this?”
“Are you going with Travis this Thursday?” Jazz asked, one raven brow raised slightly.
“Well, yes, but what does that have to do with –“
“It has everything to do with it,” Jazz interrupted. She gave Brooke’s hand a yank, pulling her into a chair. “Now behave. And trust me.” Jazz softened her words with a smile. “Please Brooke.”
Something in Jazz’s expression caused Brooke to finally acquiesce. She relaxed in the chair before sitting up again and looking at Marlena with wide eyes.
“Nothing crazy, okay?”
“Of course not,” Jazz’s cousin agreed, smiling. “I think just a few really thin golden brown highlights, okay? And I want to shape your hair just a little, maybe some fluffy layers?”
“Fluffy?” Brooke echoed. She looked nervously at Jazz, who snickered.
“Just more body, more volume,” she explained.
“Like hers,” Marlena said, pointing at a poster on the wall.
“Oh.” Brooke nodded, relaxing again. She leaned back in the chair and gave herself over to Marlena’s hands. An hour later, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She shook her head from one side to the other, loving the way her hair fell in glossy, silky layers around her face and shoulders. It had been a long time since Brooke’s hair had been styled professionally; for the past several years, in order to save money, she’d simply trimmed the ends herself when necessary. Now, seeing how pretty her hair looked, she felt the sting of tears. She looked at Marlena, gratitude shining in her violet eyes.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Marlena!” Brooke said.
“That face is thanks enough!” Marlena answered, hugging Brooke.
After they left the salon, Brooke found herself being pulled along to a small boutique. There, with the help of a saleswoman, Jazz purchased some makeup. Before they left the store, Jazz made Brooke go wash her face and reapply just her usual mascara. She gave the surprised saleswoman a conspiratorial look.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise for someone!” Jazz said. “A big handsome male someone!”
“Oh, I see!” the woman said, beaming. “In that case, let me give you these, too. Perfume samples. You’re bound to find something he’ll like in there.”
As they left the boutique, Brooke looked at Jazz and said, “Jazz, I can’t afford all of this!”
“Brooke, listen,” Jazz said. “I’d like it if you’ll accept this as a gift from Riley and me.” She held up a hand to forestall the protest she knew was coming. “You’ve helped us out more than you know, and we’ve both come to care for you. We want to help you with this.”
“What, exactly, is ‘this’, Jazz?” Brooke asked a little suspiciously. “Are you talking about Travis?”
“Not just Travis. But yeah, he’s part of it.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Jazz,” Brooke said, a sad little smile tilting her lips.
“I will if I want to, and so should you!” Jazz insisted.
A short time later, Brooke found herself inside a changing room at another boutique;
Jazz hung several outfits and pieces of clothing over the door, ordering Brooke to try them on and model them. Reluctantly, Brooke tried on everything from jeans to nice slacks; after the first few items of clothing, Jazz threw up her hands and growled in frustration.
“Do you see this?” she asked the saleswoman. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
“If you’re seeing someone who looks great in everything she’s tried on, but who doesn’t seem to realize that,” the woman replied. “Then yes, I’m seeing it.” She looked at Jazz. “You think the mirror in there is broken?”
Jazz giggled as the saleswoman pulled Brooke out to the middle of an area where three mirrors reflected different angles. She positioned Brooke in the middle of the mirrors and held her firmly.
“Brooke, take a good look!” Jazz ordered.
“Jazz, I know what I look like!” Brooke protested. “And I’m telling you, you keep giving me clothes that are too small! I know what size I wear, and these are not it!”
“Really, Brooke?”
Jazz put her hands on either side of Brooke’s head and forced her to look at her own reflection. Brooke stared at the stranger in the mirror. She looked at Jazz, then at the saleswoman, and finally, back at the mirror.
“But…how is that possible?” Brooke asked breathlessly.
“Honey, I don’t know who convinced you those were the sizes you should be wearing, but they were wrong,” the saleswoman said sincerely.
Brooke stared at the woman in the mirror. The silky black slacks revealed the curve of her hips then fell in a smooth line to the floor. The soft sweater clung to her curves as well, revealing a petite hour-glass figure with a narrow waist, and curves in all the right places.
Brooke turned slowly and asked, “Can I…may I try something else on?”
For the next twenty minutes, a veritable flurry of clothing flew back and forth between the saleswoman, Jazz and Brooke. Brooke tried on jeans, sweaters, skirts, blouses, slacks and various tops. Finally, she asked if she could try on some dresses, too.
Several dresses in various styles and hues appeared in the dressing room. Brooke tried on several of them. When she tried on a deep blue dress she stood completely still in front of the mirrors. The dress followed her curves and showed just a hint of the valley between her breasts. The little cap sleeves revealed the lean muscles of her upper arms. The hem stopped just above her knees, revealing the lines of her calves. Jazz handed Brooke a pair of matching blue strappy sandals with three inch heels; Brooke slipped her feet into them and was amazed at the added length to her legs. She stared at her reflection.
Brooke could hear her mother’s voice in her head, telling her she was too short and too fat to be considered pretty or sexy. Now, looking at her reflection and seeing the truth for the first time in years, Brooke felt tears burn her eyes again. A ragged little sob escaped her and she covered her mouth with trembling fingers.
“Oh, Brooke, don’t cry!” Jazz said, throwing her arms around the shorter woman. “Don’t you like any of them?”
“I like all of them!” Brooke cried. She looked at Jazz, her eyes dark and troubled. “I look good in them, Jazz!”
“I don’t understand,” the saleswoman said. “Did you think you wouldn’t?”
“I…someone told me I was too short…and fat…and….”
“Brooke, what idiot told you that?” Jazz demanded angrily.
“My mother,” Brooke whispered. “Travis’ friend. Others….”
“Well, honey, you’ve been hiding this cute little figure under these baggy clothes!” the saleswoman admonished gently. She gasped. “That’s why you wear them, isn’t it? You’re hiding!” She shook her head. “Oh, honey.”
“Brooke, is that true?” Jazz asked. Brooke nodded silently; more tears fell as she did so. “Oh, Brooke, I’m so sorry!”
Suddenly, all three women were hugging one another and crying. After several minutes, Brooke wiped her face and began to laugh softly. Jazz stared at her for a moment, then began to laugh as well. As suddenly as they were all sobbing, the three women were laughing. Brooke stepped out of the embrace and spun in a slow circle.
“I’m kind of cute,” she said hesitantly. She gave Jazz a doubtful look. “Aren’t I?”
“You’re more than kind of cute, Brooke,” Jazz said sincerely.
“Oh, honey, if I had your figure,” the saleswoman said. “Well, let’s just say I’d be on my fourth husband already!”
The women began laughing again. When they all caught their breath, Jazz pointed at the blue dress Brooke wore.
“That’s the dress you’re wearing Thursday to dinner with Travis and his family,” she said adamantly. “The shoes, too. You’ll do your makeup the way the lady at the boutique showed you.” She turned to the saleswoman with a gleeful smile. “Ring it all up! All of it!”
“Jazz, no!” Brooke protested.
“Brooke, yes!” Jazz laughed. “Travis Cooper’s not gonna know what hit him!”
Chapter 27
The next morning was Sunday, and Travis appeared on Brooke’s doorstep. He and Riley had loaded numerous bags and boxes into the Hummer when he’d picked Brooke up the previous afternoon at the bakery. Travis was curious to see if Brooke was wearing some of her new clothes. Instead, when she opened the door, Brooke wore a simple denim skirt and a rather baggy sweater Travis had seen before. He wondered if she was saving the new clothes for a special occasion.
When church was over, the two neighbors went to lunch together before heading back home. At home, they parted ways, each going to their own house. Brooke let Boo out in the yard and went to change clothes. The day had grown unseasonably warm, and she pulled on a pair of old faded jeans and a white tee shirt. When she’d dressed, she heard Boo at the back door; she opened the door and immediately slammed it shut again. Peeking out the window in the door, she saw that her big, beautiful black and white Harlequin Great Dane was covered in mud; he was almost completely brown now, his smooth coat lumpy with the sticky stuff. Obviously the silly dog had been playing in the little creek at the back of Brooke’s property.
Sighing, Brooke went to the utility room and found Boo’s shampoo and brush. She gathered some old towels she used just for the dog’s bath and headed outside; she eased out the door, keeping Boo from pushing his way past her. In the storage shed behind her house, Brooke pulled a child’s wading pool from a peg on the wall and carried it outside. Boo knew immediately what was coming and began romping around Brooke excitedly.
“You idiot!” Brooke laughed. “You’re the only dog I know who gets excited about a bath!”
Tail wagging rapidly, Boo stepped into the wading pool. Using the garden hose, Brooke rinsed most of the dark mud from the dog’s coat. She quickly worked up a lather with the shampoo and scrubbed vigorously, ridding Boo of the rest of the mud.
Inside his house, Travis could hear laughter and barking outside. He looked outside his kitchen window to see Brooke Valentine giving her huge dog a bath. Smiling, Travis walked out his back door; just as he stepped onto the porch, Boo turned around, knocking Brooke down. She came up spluttering in the cold water in the pool, mud and suds all over her.
“Boo!” Brooke scolded. “Be still!”
“Looks like it’s too late for that,” Travis drawled.
“Why is it every time I look my worst, you show up?” Brooke asked Travis. She sighed as she rose; the bottom of the kiddie pool was slippery and she went down again. Travis grabbed for Brooke as she fell; the next thing he knew, he was falling with Brooke. They landed with a splash in the water.
Carefully, Travis rose and stepped out of the pool. He extended a hand to Brooke and pulled her to her feet and out of the pool. Shivering, Brooke laughed up at Travis; at the look on his face, her laughter died.
Travis’ blue eyes burned brightly as he took in Brooke’s appearance. The tee shirt clung to her; through the wet cloth, he could clearly see her lacy bra. His brain immediately recalled the drawer full of silk
y, lacy little undergarments in Brooke’s bedroom. Heedless of the mud and suds, Travis wrapped his arms around Brooke, pulling her up against his chest.
“Brooke, what are you doing to me?” Travis asked, his breath warm against her skin.
Even if Brooke had known how to answer, she never got the chance as Travis lowered his mouth to hers with a low groan. She wouldn’t have thought it was possible for any kiss to top the last one they’d shared; Brooke quickly realized she was wrong. Then her brain stopped functioning and she didn’t think at all.
Through their wet clothing, Brooke could feel Travis’ hard chest and his arms wrapped around her. His mouth slanted across hers, demanding a response Brooke was happy to give. She opened her lips to him, meeting his tongue with her own. Her fingers tangled themselves in his short black hair.
Suddenly, Travis raised his head. With his hands on her waist, he set Brooke away from him. He took a deep breath.
“You should get out of those wet clothes,” Travis said bluntly.
“Travis…?” Brooke said a little breathlessly. “Did I – did I do something wrong?”
“No, Brooke,” Travis said wearily. “You just need to get out of those clothes.” He reached for the forgotten brush in her hand. “I’ll finish with Boo and let him in. You should, ah, take a warm bath – shower! A hot shower.”
Brooke remained where she was for a long moment, looking up at Travis. The moment was long enough for Travis so see all the doubts and questions flicker across her face. He wanted to say something, to answer the questions and assuage the doubts, but he didn’t. He kept his mouth shut and turned away to finish giving Boo his bath. After another moment, Brooke turned and hurried inside.
As she rinsed the muddy water off, Brooke replayed the kiss in her head; more to the point, she replayed the moments after the kiss. She was an idiot! Once again, she’d allowed her foolish attraction to Travis Cooper to override her common sense. But apparently Travis was a little lacking in the common sense area, too; he kept kissing her as if he thought she’d get better at it or something! Clearly, her kisses were disappointing. Why wouldn’t they be? She could count on one hand the number of men she’d kissed, and she had to count boys in high school to use all the fingers!
