Page 37 of That: Taylor & Brooks

“Mmhmm.” She gave him that look that said she wasn’t buying it entirely. “So you expect me to believe Brooks Bishop, with all this...” she gestured at him and their surroundings, “hasn’t been entertaining all the women he could as a bachelor?”

“I’ve had dinner with plenty of people. I’ve had my way with women too,” he admitted. “But none of them were you or as important as you. They nonfactors.”

“Yeah, I hear you.

“Come on Tay, why you keep playing me off? I ain’t good enough for you?” His voice was gentle, but his eyes were intense, demanding honesty.

“Brooks,” she said softly, finally meeting his eyes. “No, that’s not it at all. I’ve never done this. The only man I’ve ever been with was at my house, drunk and angry about being put out. I don’t know how to do...” she gestured between them, “this. whatever this is. I don’t even know if I should.”

“You should do whatever you want. However you want.”

She took a shaky breath. “I want to be friends because that’s all I can handle right now. I need that to be enough.”

Brooks studied her. He was used to getting what he wanted, and making things happen on his terms. But Taylor wasn’t some territory to be claimed. She wasn’t something to acquire. She was going to make him work for it, wait for it. And he was ok with that.

“I respect that,” he said, holding her gaze. “But let me be honest with you.”

“Honest about what?”

“I don’t do temporary. If something’s worth my time, I don’t play with it. You can’t get time back.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“It means I’ll be patient. I’ll be whatever you need right now. But don’t expect me to act like I don’t want this to be more when you ready of course.”

She grabbed his hand across the table, surprising them both. “You’re the only person I have right now who sees me, really sees me.”

Brooks turned his palm up, tracing his thumb across hers.

“I hear you,” he murmured. Then he smirked, “But you won’t want me to stay on the bench for long.”

“Cocky much?” She giggled, her laugh was becoming his favorite thing about her. This was what the night was about. Ensuring her mind was anywhere else but on the shit, she had going on.

“Nah, not cocky. Just patient, kind, sweet, funny, fine as hell,” Brooks shrugged with a smile that had her crossing her legs under the table to calm the pulsing. He knew exactly what that smile did to women. He knew exactly who he was and what he could offer. She’d see it, in time.

“Soooo,” Taylor said, deliberately changing the subject when his stare got too intense. “My divorce should be final in about six weeks. As long as he doesn’t take forever signing the papers.”

She took a long sip of wine, grateful for the distraction. “Hard to believe it’s happening.”

“I’m happy for you but why you trying to change the subject on me?” His lips curved into that knowing smile that made her stomach flip.

He wanted to tell her that if there was a problem he’d handle it and for good this time. Tyree had been warned if he didn’t follow through Brooks would, and he had to know that.

“Because I can tell you can talk any woman out of her decision. I don’t need those problems yet.” She gave him a look right back, finding her footing.

“Yet?” He asked and licked his lips.

The air between them crackled. Taylor felt her resolve weakening it was her now under a spell. This man had grown up fine, but more than that, he’d grown up solid.

“Brooks...” she started, but he cut her off.

“I know what you’re about to say. I heard you, you need time. You want us to be friends first. And I respect that,” he leaned forward, his voice dropping to that tone that made her toes curl. “But don’t sit here acting like you don’t feel what I feel or at least think about it.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t thinking about it.” The words slipped out before she could catch them, and the way Brooks’ eyes darkened told her he’d caught every bit of meaning behind them.

“Then stop overthinking it,” he said softly, reaching across the table to run his thumb across her knuckles. “I ain’t asking for everything tonight. Just asking you to let me show you what it could be, with me. Just...” he paused, his eyes never leaving hers, “let me be in your world a little bit and you come into mine. Let me prove to you that different doesn’t mean wrong.”

Taylor looked down at their joined hands.

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