Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Mark’s head shook as though it needed clearing. “I’m confused, Brooke. You never mentioned you had ties to such interesting people. I knew you were from this tiny town in Colorado. I would have assumed if you knew anyone important, you met them in the city.”
She had no doubt he wasn’t talking about Denver. In Mark’s mind there was only one American city. “I have a couple of friends who live part time in Manhattan. They’re my family and friends. They don’t have anything to do with my work beyond helping to pay for my education. Stef ponied up the cash for Parson’s. Should I have put that on my résumé?”
“Well, I do admit to wondering how a girl from such a tiny, poor town managed to go to Parson’s for her graduate work. You have to admit you’re not the usual.”
She wasn’t from a wealthy family. She wasn’t from a city with the best schools. “I never wanted to be usual.”
But hadn’t that been what she kind of strove for in New York? She tried so hard to fit in, and until she’d gone to work at Bianchi, she’d never wanted to do that. She’d enjoyed standing out. No one in Bliss would ever tell her she needed to wear the right clothes or speak in a certain way. They celebrated her weirdness and loved her for her unique soul.
Had she been so worried about failing she let those people in the city grind her down?
It was a revelation. One that kind of smacked her hard.
Why would talking about her brothers’ relationship create a hostile work environment? It was New York City. One of the women who complained to HR talked about how she had three guys on her string and none of them knew.
What about the dude in accounting who told all kinds of stories about how he managed to get women in bed because they thought he could get them free shoes? He couldn’t and he ghosted them the next day.
Why should she let them take everything from her? Her brothers would stand beside her. So would Rachel. So would…
Her niece would offer to kick all their shins and bring Charlie and Zander Hollister-Wright into the battle.
They had no idea what the world could do to them.
Sometimes the fight was worth it. Sometimes the cost was far too great.
“No, I’m not usual. I suppose that’s why I never fit in at Bianchi,” she admitted. It was an admission to herself as much as to Mark.
Mark’s expression took on that pained, slightly constipated look he got when he was trying to seem compassionate. He reached across the table and put a hand on hers. “Brooke, that’s simply not true. I don’t think anyone understood how important you are. I came here to apologize.”
She pulled her hand away and wished she could put more space between them. “For stealing my work or sexually harassing me?”
Caleb stood and turned.
Damn the doc and his excellent hearing. And for a man who claimed a certain level of misanthropy, Doc liked to listen in. A lot.
“Caleb, I can handle him,” Brooke said in a firm tone because Caleb liked to handle things for people from time to time.
She’d heard Alexei started a group for citizens with anger issues. Caleb would be their poster child. Not that he belonged to it. He’d told his partner that he was fine with his own rage. No issues involved.
Though she had heard Marie was doing well.
Maybe she could get Paige in early.
Caleb gave her a perfectly feral smile. “But why when I could stick a fork in his neck, collapse his jugular, and then refuse treatment on the grounds that I don’t wanna.”
“Sit down, Doc,” Stella ordered in a soothing tone. “Your wife is walking up the street with Amelia. You don’t want your baby girl seeing you murder someone. Even if they deserve it.”
Mark had moved to the window side of the booth. As though that could save him. When Caleb sat back down, Mark leaned over, whispering. “He does not seem like a Sommerville at all. I don’t think they’re violent.”
“He’s not. He’s literally a doctor, and I’ve watched him save the lives of people over and over,” Brooke explained.
“Yeah, well, today’s a new day,” Caleb vowed, but he refocused on his breakfast.
Mark seemed to gather his courage around him and sat up straight again. “As to your question, it’s both. Brooke, you’re a gorgeous, unbelievably talented designer, and I am both attracted to you and jealous of you. It’s what I should have admitted in the first place. I should have offered what I’m going to offer now. A partnership.”
If he had before, she would have jumped at the offer and never looked back.
Would that have been a mistake?
She wanted to throw it back in his face and tell him to go to hell. She didn’t need his partnership. But she also shouldn’t toss out the offer. Not that she would work with him. She couldn’t trust him in any way, but if he was her way back to the life she had before, she had to hear him out.