Page 81 of Brooke's Bliss
She had no doubt he wasn’t talking about Denver.In Mark’smind there was only one American city.“I have a couple of friends who livepart time in Manhattan.They’re my family and friends.They don’t have anythingto do with my work beyond helping to pay for my education.Stef ponied up thecash 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 admityou’re not the usual.”
She wasn’t from a wealthy family.She wasn’t from a citywith the best schools.“I never wanted to be usual.”
But hadn’t that been what she kind of strove for in NewYork?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 Blisswould ever tell her she needed to wear the right clothes or speak in a certainway.They celebrated her weirdness and loved her for her unique soul.
Had she been so worried about failing she let those peoplein the city grind her down?
It was a revelation.One that kind of smacked her hard.
Why would talking about her brothers’ relationship create ahostile work environment?It was New York City.One of the women who complainedto 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 ofstories about how he managed to get women in bed because they thought he couldget them free shoes?He couldn’t and he ghosted them the next day.
Why should she let them take everything from her?Herbrothers would stand beside her.So would Rachel.So would…
Her niece would offer to kick all their shins and bringCharlie 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 fartoo great.
“No, I’m not usual.I suppose that’s why I never fit in atBianchi,” she admitted.It was an admission to herself as much as to Mark.
Mark’s expression took on that pained, slightly constipatedlook he got when he was trying to seem compassionate.He reached across thetable and put a hand on hers.“Brooke, that’s simply not true.I don’t thinkanyone understood how important you are.I came here to apologize.”
She pulled her hand away and wished she could put more spacebetween them.“For stealing my work or sexually harassing me?”
Caleb stood and turned.
Damn the doc and his excellent hearing.And for a man whoclaimed a certain level of misanthropy, Doc liked to listen in.A lot.
“Caleb, I can handle him,” Brooke said in a firm tonebecause Caleb liked to handle things for people from time to time.
She’d heard Alexei started a group for citizens with angerissues.Caleb would be their poster child.Not that he belonged to it.He’dtold 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 Icould stick a fork in his neck, collapse his jugular, and then refuse treatmenton the grounds that I don’t wanna.”
“Sit down, Doc,” Stella ordered in a soothing tone.“Yourwife is walking up the street with Amelia.You don’t want your baby girl seeingyou murder someone.Even if they deserve it.”
Mark had moved to the window side of the booth.As thoughthat 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 himsave the lives of people over and over,” Brooke explained.
“Yeah, well, today’s a new day,” Caleb vowed, but herefocused on his breakfast.
Mark seemed to gather his courage around him and sat upstraight 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 ofyou.It’s what I should have admitted in the first place.I should have offeredwhat I’m going to offer now.A partnership.”
If he had before, she would have jumped at the offer andnever looked back.
Would that have been a mistake?
She wanted to throw it back in his face and tell him to goto hell.She didn’t need his partnership.But she also shouldn’t toss out theoffer.Not that she would work with him.She couldn’t trust him in any way, butif he was her way back to the life she had before, she had to hear him out.
