Page 29 (1/2)

She’s quiet again And then, "You used to"

"Yeah, well You kno that ended" Darows quiet again and I wish I’d never asked the question

"Kathryn toldsomeone means you hat’s best for them And I’m what’s best for him" Kathryn is Brooke’s stepmother--one of them She’s the one Brooke is closest to Ironically, they didn’t have to have any relationship at all, because Kathryn was her father’s first wife--but for soood, because Brooke’s mother is one crazy bitch

"That sounds like convoluted logic to me My father would say it’s a conflict of interest for you to decide that you’re what’s best for hiain

"Are you trying to talk et Emma away from him if I don’t succeed"

Wow--coument and a below-the-belt insult "No, I’m not Ever heard of devil’s advocate? And what the hell, Brooke? I et it You don’t have to fucking underscore it every tih "This conversation has gotten way out of hand Look, we’re allies on this little venture, but we aren’t friends When this is over, I don’t care if I ever talk to you again and I’ht"

"Then let’s stop pretending we’re BFFs and focus on e’re doing This week is all abouthis family over--God, what a pain in the ass that’ll be--and you continuing to be e your dick in your pants"

"You really have a ords You know?"

"So I’m blunt Sue me"

I knew Emma would love the seafood place in Union Square, with its century-old architecture and an interior rese an underwater fantasy One look at her face as we entered confirlass-walled semi-private room I reserved, where we can observe the rest of the place while the bodyguard who accompanied us blocks the door and any possible intrusions

"I feel like we’re inside an aquariu solass or make fish faces at us"

We’ve had caviar and oysters on the half shell and too Eets ho, e meet in Burbank to tape Ellen

I lean up on my elbows after the waiter clears the second course dishes "So when did this thing with Grahain?" I expected to startle her with this question, but I didn’t foresee the full-on blush that floods her face My eyes narrow "Wait… was it before that night in the club?" The night Graham threatened to kick irls love that shit

"What?" The blush surges until she looks sunburned

I had no idea she had such an overactive conscience Of course, I didn’t know she was capable of what that blush entails, either She and Graha her? Holy shit She’s staring into her lap and I’m torn between auys werearound before you broke it off with ht, I’ , and the aquarium-like walls are suddenly the worst idea ever

"No It wasn’t like that" She looks up, straight into my eyes Still tomato-red from her hairline to the neckline of her sweater, she seeh I’e honesty or lack thereof in anyone "We kissed once, before you kissed me I mean, before you kissedelse"

Like a slideshow through my head, I recall those photos of the two of the to And then the looks they shared that Brooke and I both noticed, and the protective way he sometimes acted around her I all but missed that because he seemed even more so with Brooke Now it all looks like evidence, and I’m not sure I believe her

"Here’s the unavoidable question--especially given the fact that you two are a thing nohy did you begin a relationship withto her lap, her voice is low "It was that photo of you and ht ere already involved" She shrugs "After that went viral, he decided not to intrude"

So he just backed off and let"Hmm That seems a little… sacrificial"

The anticipated crease appears in her forehead "What do youinto her eyes in the e I know she’ll detect "There’s no way in hell I would have given him the same consideration, if our positions had been reversed" I watchthe physical tension just enough to convince her that I’ in past tense Probably

She clears her throat "I guess he’s just not that, um, competitive"

Spoken like a true hetero-feressive alpha gene, while dreaainst a wall and kiss her breathless before telling her to shut up and hold on

"So you and he got together--when--after you and I broke it off last fall?"