Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Fallon opened her mouth to speak, but Brooke beat her to it. “And before you yell at Aiden for not telling you either, I asked him to keep it between us for the same reason. I didn’t want anyone in the family to feel pulled one way or the other.”
“I understand. So where do things stand now?” Fallon asked.
At least Brooke had good news to share. “We agreed to date and see how things go.”
Fallon’s lips curved upward in a big smile. “That’s great news!”
Brooke nodded, though she was still wary. “I hope we can make things work, but you know your brother. Travel seems to be in his blood.” Though he did admit he’d come to terms with the main reason he’d left home. Escaping pain that had followed him anyway. So maybe he was home to stay.
Fallon drummed her fingers on the table. “Aiden seems different now. When he used to visit, he was antsy. I could always sense he had one foot here and another in whatever country his latest story was in. Now, I see a more settled version of my brother.” She paused, even her finger tapping stopped. “I think that’s because of you.”
“Time will tell.” Brooke refused to jump to conclusions or assumptions. She’d learned that lesson the hard way.
“Well, I’m sure living under the same roof gives you quality time together.”
Brooke merely hummed, not answering. She didn’t want to discuss her sex life with Aiden’s sister. No matter how close they were. Besides, it was more like her lack of one.
Despite having slept together last Saturday, Brooke refused to sneak into his room at night or let him join her in her bed. She didn’t know what either parent suspected, but Brooke had too much respect for Alex Sterling and her own mother to do it again.
“I think it’s time for me to look for my own place.” The words surprised her, but Brooke was ready. And so, she sensed, was her mom.
Her mother had survived her dad’s death all those years ago and she was no longer alone. Though she lived in the gatehouse, she was dating Alex and that wasn’t about to change. Brooke could move out without guilt.
Fallon nodded. “I love that for you!”
The more Brooke thought about the prospect of living on her own and decorating her own space, the more excited she got.
Chapter Twenty-One
Living next to Brooke and not being with her was torture, but Aiden understood her concerns about their parents. They needed to find someplace to be alone… or his dad and Lizzie needed to go out again. He felt like a teenager looking for a place to make out.
Friday morning, he walked to Brooke’s office, a small bag in his hand. The door was open but her head was down. Before knocking, he stared, taking in her beauty. In a green sleeveless top that made her eyes pop, she was focused on the papers on her desk.
His gaze slid to her chest where the V-neck dipped low enough to show the barest hint of cleavage. He remembered how he’d used his mouth on her taut nipples last weekend, and had to collect himself, breathing deep and instructing his dick to behave, before rapping twice on the door jamb.
“Hi, Aiden. What’s up since I saw you last?” An adorable smile hitched the corners of her mouth.
They’d driven to work together, as had become their habit, and he relished that time, using it to talk and get to know the woman she’d become. She did yoga twice a week with Amy, she still scrapbooked, though less often now, and she worked hard, often bringing paperwork home with her.
She asked him about his life abroad. He told her about the well-known places he’d visited and the countries he’d explored while at work. To his surprise, she admitted to reading some of his articles while he was gone, complimenting his skill at reporting. Her continued interest despite her anger and hurt told him she’d thought of him as often as he’d wondered about her.
He shook his head and returned to the present. “I come bearing gifts.” He lifted the bag he’d held behind his back and set it on her desk. Though he’d found it just as he returned home, he’d held on to it until they’d reached a détente.
“Oh!” She smiled, her excitement obvious by how quickly she tore into the paper bag. Carefully, she pulled out the figurine and placed it in her palm. “Tinker Bell!” she all but squealed.
The small statuette sat in her hand. It was approximately five inches tall, depicting the little fairy posing with her hands on her hips, wings spread out behind her. It was cute, but that wasn’t the reason he’d bought it.
Brooke stared at it for a long moment. Then, she looked up at him through her eyelashes. “You remembered,” she said in a soft voice.