Page 17 of Falling into Place
Chapter Five
Carly
Got the pictures—very cool. I had no idea there were so many sharp angles in Korean architecture, and I loved the notes about the importance of harmony in design. Maybe one of these days we’ll travel the world and sightsee together.
—Email from Carly Porter to Benjamin Wheeler
Brooks lived in a nearby historic neighborhood only ten minutes from Coffee Slingers, which meant Carly didn’t have much time to marinate on their meeting.
Not that she needed to have him figured out already, but listen, she liked being in the know. She worked behind the scenes on most things—like design and accounting—and paid attention to tiny details most people took for granted, whether it be clothing or a spreadsheet.
She liked being prepared, and she hated surprises.
The mystery of Brooks Martin would drive her crazy.
He’d seemed nervous and reserved when he first arrived, and had relaxed only marginally by the end.
When had he changed so much? Had something happened, or had he just grown out of his wild ways the same way she’d grown out of caring so much what other people thought about her? She still wanted to succeed, but now she just wanted it for herself. She’d always been her own biggest critic anyway.
Where was the confidence Brooks had worn like a well-loved sweatshirt? The fun-loving, enigmatic guy who’d shone so bright it had almost hurt to look at him? It was like he’d installed a dimmer switch and slid it all the way down, muffling the brightness she hoped was still buried in there, somewhere.
Rather than inviting and open, he was ... not standoffish, exactly. She couldn’t put her finger on it ... Just not quite as warm. Less accessible.
He was still handsome, though, even if his good looks were more subtle. Current-day Brooks was a man who seemed like he wouldn’t mind being overlooked, and if women weren’t paying attention, they might do just that. But the longer she’d sat there assessing him, the more attractive he’d become.
And in thoseawfuljeans! She’d lied through her teeth when she said she wouldn’t throw anything away. They’d be gone the second she could get her hands on them.
She slowed to a stop when Brooks turned his Audi into a driveway. He parked and got out, walking to the porch of the single-story bungalow, where he waited for her with his hands in his pockets.
“This is so cute,” she said as she made her way up the sidewalk, admiring the large oak towering over the yard, casting dappled shade over her steps. The front porch was long and narrow, and the railing looked freshly painted. The front door, too—a deep navy color that caught her eye right away. “I adore that color.”
He seemed pleased. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure about it, but I wanted a project. Thought about doing the table and chairs next. They came with the place.”
A small wooden bistro set sat in the corner of the porch, and it had seen better days. “I’d totally do that in a lime green or yellow, but something tells me that’s not in the cards for you.” She glanced over at him and laughed. “Judging by the look of pure horror on your face, I’m right.”
“It just sounds . . . bright.”
Note: Slowly ease into bright colors when shopping for Brooks.
He unlocked the door, holding it open for her. A black-and-white blur darted across the room, and Carly let out a yelp before realizing it was only a cat. She took a few steps inside before she knelt and held out her hand.
“Meet Oreo,” Brooks said, leaning against the doorjamb. “He’s an okay roommate. Usually late paying rent and sort of has an attitude problem.”
“That’s cats for you,” she said with a grin. The animal padded forward to sniff her, eventually allowing her to scratch underneath his jaw. “Nice to meet you, Oreo.”
She rubbed him for another moment and stood. Oreo slithered in a figure eight around her ankles, purring and curling his tail around her calves.
Brooks regarded his pet with raised brows. “He’s not usually into new people. The first time my friend James came over after I got him, he hid in the bathroom for three hours.”
“James or Oreo?”
That earned her a tiny smile as they walked farther into the house. “Oreo.”
“Maybe he smells my cat. I also have a freeloading roommate named Pepper.”
“Yeah? Does Sasha give you a hard time about that?”
“No, why?”
