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)
“He is hot,” Madison agreed.
They’d moved so they were standing beside Brooke, but she kept her gaze locked on the elevator doors. She could see her own hazy reflection in the metal.
“And you know he’s rich since he’s a Sterling,” Lisa said. “Whoever lands him is going to be one lucky woman.”
Unable to stop herself, Brooke turned to face the two women. Hands on her hips, she stared down Madison first, then Lisa.
Their eyes opened wide, both obviously startled. It would be better to bury her emotions and not say a word, but she disliked hearing these women objectify Aiden.
Brooke’s feelings for him were complicated, but before she fell for him, he’d been one of her best friends. “You know, there’s more to a man than looks and money.”
The women stared at her.
“And those are probably the least important things about Aiden. He’s a person with feelings.” She knew even more. He’d volunteered at a soup kitchen once a week during college. He was a huge Mets fan and loved Hawaiian pizza. And he’d taught himself how to play the drums when he was just a teenager. “Any woman that wants Aiden Sterling needs to appreciate all the things about him, not just his fat bank account,” she informed the two stunned employees.
Madison’s mouth had dropped open. Clearly, she was surprised at her outburst.
“Just how well do you know him?” Lisa asked, and Brooke immediately realized her mistake.
Her friendship with Jared wasn’t a secret, but she didn’t share her long, personal history with the Sterling family around the office. She didn’t want anyone to think she was given special treatment or didn’t deserve her position in the company. She’d earned her spot as an executive with Sterling Investments. Starting with an internship during college, she’d worked her way up in the firm and was now one of the top executives.
The doors finally opened, and she turned away from Madison and Lisa, and stepped into the elevator without answering the question.
Unfortunately, they were also leaving for the day, so they rode down with her. The air was thick with tension.
“We didn’t mean anything by it,” Madison, the sweeter of the two, said to Brooke as the doors opened.
“I know. You just don’t want the wrong person to overhear you gossiping.” She spoke as a company executive. But as a woman, she added, “And it’s not a bad thing to remember looks aren’t everything.” She paused, then wanting to break the ice, she said, “But it doesn’t hurt, either.”
Madison let out a relieved breath and Lisa laughed.
“But point taken,” Madison said. “It won’t happen again.”
Brooke nodded. Neither woman needed to know she’d been defending the man who’d broken her heart.
The elevator doors opened. “Good night,” she said, as she stepped out and strode across the marble floor. She exited the building through the glass doors that led to the parking lot and headed home.
Chapter Five
Aiden arrived home and immediately glanced toward the gatehouse before pulling into the garage. Habit had him looking to see if Brooke’s little blue PT Cruiser was parked in front of the gatehouse. It was and he was glad. Though he hadn’t gone out of his way to interact with her, giving her space, he liked knowing she was around. He took bittersweet comfort in the fact that he was closer to her now than he had been in years.
He walked into his childhood home through the garage entrance, passing through a mudroom and into the kitchen. The place was immaculate, the granite countertops gleaming under the recessed lighting and not a speck of dirt on the floors. Lizzie kept the house pristine and as she was now dating his dad, the line between employee and girlfriend had blurred.
Aiden headed for the foyer, intending to go to his bedroom, but restless energy had him pivoting and heading out the front door. He didn’t have a destination in mind as he walked, he just wanted to stretch his legs and breathe some fresh air. Coming home had been the right thing to do but he hadn’t acclimated to the easier pace yet.
The family estate was sprawling, the lawn perfectly manicured, trees lining the edge of the property. He walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the sunshine on his face, when movement at the gatehouse caught his eye.
Brooke stepped out of the house and onto the little covered porch, turning to pull the door closed behind her. A pair of jeans hugged her hips and delectable ass, and she’d taken down the short ponytail she’d worn to work.
His fingers itched to touch her, the memory of their one night together fresh in his mind. Everything inside him was drawn to her, and not just in a physical way. He missed hearing her laugh and watching her hands fly around as she gestured when telling a story. He missed the smell of the coconut shampoo that always lingered on her hair.