Page 94 of Brooke's Bliss
“Oh, my love, but I will.”He stalked across the narrowhall, and she took a step back.It didn’t matter since he wasn’t giving herspace.His hand came around her neck, and he gently brought her up on her toes.His mouth hovered over hers, and despite all the crap of the day, a thrill wentthrough her as he spoke.“You have no idea the amount of trouble I’m going tocause if you step foot off the G without one of us with you.Something is goingon and it’s not about your former boss, though you should know I would havedone the same damn thing as Bay.”
“I was going to handle it.”He was so close, and he wasgiving off some serious Dom vibes.
He stared at her for a moment as though deciding how tohandle her.If it had been Bay staring down at her with intense eyes, she couldhave gone on her toes and kissed him and distracted him, but Shane was far moreintense about some things.“If some woman had her hands on me, what would youhave done?”
She could lie.“I would have trusted you to handle it.”
His eyes narrowed, and she felt the hand on her neck tightenslightly.“Some woman is making me uncomfortable and you’re fine with that.I’mon my own?”
She let loose a low groan of frustration.“Damn it, Shane.That’s not fair.”
“Tell me why you freaked out.Did you want your job back?”His jaw tightened.“If that’s the truth, then I’ll talk to Bay aboutapologizing, though I would bet that asshole will be nasty about it.”
“I handled it.”
“How did you handle it, Brooke?”
“I told him he could either leave Bay and Rye alone or Iwould press my own charges and make sure everyone in the world knew exactly whohe was,” she replied with some fire of her own.
“There’s my girl,” he said, his mouth hovering above herown.“Now tell me what you would have done in his place.No fucking lies,Brooke.”
Such an ass.“Fine.I would have pulled her off you by thehair, and I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.”
“Again, my girl.”There was a wealth of satisfaction comingoff the man.“Now tell me why you’re so pissed off about losing a job youdidn’t want back in the first place that you’re willing to leave both of usbehind.I’m suspecting you weren’t planning on asking us to go with youwherever it is you think you’re going.”
Put like that it didn’t sound great.“I’m going with Cleowhen she leaves town.”
He took a step back as though he needed to consider herdecision.After a long moment he nodded.“Will she stick around after openingnight?I read some directors hand things over to the assistant or the stagemanager.”
He sounded so calm it made her heart ache.She’d kind ofthought he would fight her.Still, it was better if they could be civil.“She’ll stay for a couple of weeks.We’re going to hole up somewhere and starttalking about design for the film.There’s not a ton of money attached, butwe’ll make do.I expect to stay at her place in LA for a couple of weeks untilI can figure something out.”
“I’ll start looking.Is there a particular area you’reinterested in?”
“What?”
“I know the marriage thing was fake for you, but it wasn’tfor us.If you go to LA, we go to LA.Bay will make some money off the showing,and even if it’s not a lot, I’m going to apply for some art grants that shouldkeep us afloat until he does.He won’t like it, but he can start doing somecommissions.”
She shook her head.That wasn’t how Bay worked.“He needs tofeel inspired.You can’t count on that when you’re doing commissions.”
She should know.It was what she did every day.She couldhandle it, could find the artistry in giving the client what they wanted, butwhat she and Bay did was different.
“All he needs is you,” Shane announced quietly.“We’ll letTrev know we need to put in two weeks’ notice.It’ll be okay because he’sinterviewing a couple of new hands.We’ll have some time to train them.”
She was floored.“You have to talk to Bay about that.”
His head shook.“No, I don’t.If there’s one thing I knowit’s where our priorities are, and they’re with you.We love you.We’ve waitedall of our miserable lives for you.If you think we’re going to let you walkaway, you’re wrong.”
“You can’t do this.”She couldn’t believe what she washearing.“You haven’t known me long enough to chuck your job for me.How wouldwe even handle that financially?”
“I’ll get a job.Bay will work on commissions, and I’ll letStef know he’s off the leash when it comes to promoting Bay.Up until now he’swanted to stay out of the spotlight, but he’ll do what it takes to take care ofhis family.”
It was overwhelming.Could she ask them to do this for her?It didn’t make any sense.
Shane’s expression softened, and he stepped back into herspace.He lowered his lips and kissed her forehead.“Hey, calm down, baby.Youdon’t have to do anything today.You need to take a deep breath, and when Baygets back, we’ll sit down and talk.Or better yet we’ll get naked and talkbecause I think you’ll be more honest with me if my hands are on you.”
“It’s too soon,” she whispered.“But I can’t let this chancego.Do you understand what I’m saying to you?It’s not fair, but I have to pickmyself this time.”
He seemed to consider her words.“Brooke, if you don’t wantus, it’s okay.I mean it’s not and my fucking heart will break, but I won’tbother you anymore.”
