Chapter 29 Brooke
Brooke
“Yes, I understand that you’re writing the check, but Hannah and Preston signed the contract so technically they are the clients…Hannah specifically told me no surprises…yes…okay…I’ll speak with Judy, of course…nice speaking with you, Mr. Quincy.”
Maddie dances into the office, literally dances to whatever pop song she’s hyper-fixating on at the moment blasting in her earbuds, catching the end of an argument I usually have with the mother-of-the-bride.
Maddie tosses her bag on her chair and pops over to her computer. “He’s a piece of work, huh?”
“You have no idea.” I sigh. “He wants bagpipers at the ceremony as a surprise. Hannah didn’t just tell me no surprises—she explicitly said no bagpipers, no matter how much her dad wants them.”
She sips her coffee and shakes her head. “I love bagpipers.”
“Me too,” I shrug. “But not my wedding. He insisted that I talk to Judy about it. Said she’d understand that he has the right because he’s paying. Can you believe that?”
“Oh, I can,” Maddie says, then puts on her famous Judy Spencer voice. “And that, girls, is why we always have the couples sign the paperwork and not the parents!”
It’s a strict policy. We’ve all dealt with one too many overbearing parents who try to make the wedding all about them. Under normal circumstances, Judy would stand by her policy. With the Quincys, I’m not so sure. She certainly didn’t stand by it when it came to planning Kent and my nuptials.
This is the type of thing that usually sends me into a spiral about Mom and the broken engagement fallout.
“You okay?” Maddie asks. She knows all too well about this particular spiral.
“I’m fine,” I say, my usual response, before thinking about it. “Actually,” I say, straightening in my chair, “I am fine.”
“Are you now?” She sounds skeptical.
“Yes, I am,” I say, sitting up even straighter in my chair.
Maddie looks at me expectantly.
Play dumb, Brooke. “What?”
She cocks her head to the side, raising a brow. “This is the part where you tell me why you ditched us the other night, why you lied about it, and why in your right mind you’re giving Caleb fucking Foley another chance.”
Shit.
“Maddie! Lower your voice! Judy’s in her office.”
“So, you are then?” She eyes me. “Giving him another chance?”
“It’s complicated,” I say through clenched teeth. “And we can’t talk about this here.”
“It’s complicated?! Of course it’s complicated! Bad complicated!”
“Maddie, please,” I beg, eyeing Mom’s office.
She sits back at her desk. “Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.”
“Fine.” I knew she wasn’t going to be thrilled about this. I should have researched those rage rooms sooner. Maddie’s always been fiercely protective. She’s like that with the people she loves. She’s an eldest daughter; Made to watch out for the people she cares about.
She’s been by my side since we met, putting all my pieces back together. After Caleb moved to San Francisco. When I broke things off with Kent. I can’t blame her for holding onto some anger. If anyone can hold a grudge, it’s Maddie. She is an Aries after all.
I scan the room to ensure no one overheard us. It’s Tuesday and the room is already filling up for the staff meeting.
“Also!” Maddie pops up, her red curls bouncing. “I’m still mad, but I should tell you that I confronted Caleb.”
“You what?”
“I told him if he breaks your heart again, I’ll murder him. You’re welcome.”
My jaw drops. Before I can find words to respond, she’s sitting again. She hasn’t actually murdered him though, so I guess that’s a win.
My phone buzzes.
Jordan: Just landed. I would have warned you if I’d known. Thoughts and prayers.
Jordan left early this morning to shoot an elopement somewhere out west. Wyoming or Colorado, I can’t remember.
It’s hard to keep up, but it’s definitely some place that involves a ranch.
She refuses to give me access to her calendar, but all that matters is that she’ll be here for the Quincy wedding.
“Still mad but…” Maddie rolls her chair over next to mine and points to Judy’s office. “Who is that?”
She’s walking out with a woman who can only be described as absolutely stunning. She’s tall with a blunt blonde bob and impeccable style. She looks like she stepped right out of Vogue in her definitely-designer-but-not-a-label-to-be-seen outfit.
“I have no idea.” I usually know about important meetings or new client prospects.
This woman isn’t one of those. Only Maddie and I are paying attention to the runway model walking through the office, everyone else is busy finding a place to sit.
At the door, Judy shakes the mystery woman’s hand before saying, “I’ll be in touch next week. ”
Judy turns back into the office. Her eyes meet mine in the sea of planners. There’s a moment of surprise before she schools her features to a neutral place. What is she up to?
“Good morning, ladies. Let’s get started.”
The walk-through at the Quincys’ isn’t until eleven o’clock, which gives me and Caleb the morning to work from my sunroom. Early light shines through the bamboo shades in my favorite spot in the house. This room’s at its best in the summer.
It’s only been a week since Caleb and I have become…whatever we are, but it feels like we’ve always been us.
Every moment we haven’t been working, we’ve been together.
Either here or at his place, sneaking around like teenagers worried our parents will catch us.
Though I am worried Mom will find out sooner than I’m ready for her to.
She’s been micromanaging more than usual.
Maddie, despite being angry with me, dropped me at Caleb’s after work earlier this week in case Mom drove by his house.
It’s possible I’m a little paranoid. The truth is I’m terrified of having to tell Mom anything when it comes to us.
I knew Maddie was going to have some concerns, but I also knew she’d always have my back.
Mom I’m not so sure about. Actually, I am sure how she’s going to react and it’s terrifying.
I try not to sit with that thought for too long.
Caleb told his parents about us and they’re happy. That’s what he said, they’re happy. I had a lot of questions, but he knows exactly what to do to distract me.
This morning he’s laying across the daybed with his computer perched on his lap, answering emails and preparing estimates.
I’m supposed to be preparing an inspiration board for one of next year’s clients.
Sitting cross-legged with various samples and swatches spread in front of me, it’s hard not to watch Caleb work.
Chef mode Caleb is my absolute undoing, but this is also extremely sexy.
Watching him focus on the screen, scrunching his nose just so and gnawing on his lip without realizing it is making it hard to find the motivation to work.
Caleb’s lips curl up into a smirk. “Stop undressing me with your eyes, Brooke. I have work to do,” he says, without taking his eyes off his laptop.
I quickly look down at the mess of samples in front of me. “I’m not undressing you with my eyes.”
He scoffs. “Then what are you doing?” He sits up and throws his legs over the side of the daybed.
I look at my watch. “I’m thinking about how much time we have until we have to leave for the meeting.”
He leans back, clasping his hands behind his head. I swear he flexes his biceps on purpose. “Oh?”
“Yes.” I stand up and pad over, stopping right in front of him.
“C’mere.” He grabs my waist and pulls me onto his lap.
“I like this.” I smile, my legs comfortably straddling him. “Having you here and working with you.”
“Me too,” he says, brushing my lips with a soft kiss. “But I’m not sure how much work we’re getting done, babe.”
I’m officially a convert on the nicknames. Well, only this one. And only when he says it. And only when it’s not in front of anyone. If he ever calls me baby, it’s over.
He gives my neck a soft bite in that perfect spot.
A quiet moan leaves my lips. I’m desperate for his mouth to be on mine, but he keeps kissing my neck with more urgency.
His hands crawl up my torso underneath my shirt until they reach below my breasts.
Unable to take it much longer, I run my fingers through his hair and pull his face up to mine.
He brushes my lips lightly and then captures my mouth with his.
I open my mouth for him and his tongue that I’m so ravenous for.
I roll my hips over the hardness of his jeans in a slow rhythm as he cups my breasts, his thumbs circling my nipples, slowly at first, the pace picking up as our tongues clash.
Caleb pulls his lips away from mine. “And do you like this?” He pinches my nipples lightly before grabbing my hips to guide my rocking. I nod in answer, my short breaths making it hard to speak. If I’m not careful, I’m going to come just from riding him like this.
He lowers one hand to the front of the waistband of my linen shorts.
I thank past Brooke for picking this particular two-piece set as he easily runs his hand down the front of my underwear and teases me over the fabric.
He’s quickly learned how much I love that friction.
“Mmhmm, I thought so,” he whispers in my ear, moving his hand inside my underwear and torturing me with slow, soft strokes.
“Caleb…we don’t…have a lot…of…time.” My chest heaves. His finger teases my clit with each word I manage to get out. Caleb buries his head in my neck, kissing and sucking. This, I think, is heaven.
He pulls away briefly. “We have just enough time,” he rasps, driving two fingers into me. Pleasure consumes me and I roll my head back, giving him perfect access to that sensitive spot below my ear. His fingers move in and out to the cadence of my grinding against him. I’m slowly falling apart.
He drives his fingers in hard, keeping them inside as he curls his fingertips back and forth.
My core is on fire, melting me into his touch.
Caleb’s thumb presses harder, moving in small perfect circles.
My nails dig into his back. He puts his mouth to mine, kissing me fiercely between my short breaths.
I pant. “Caleb, I’m going to…”
“I know,” he says, satisfaction in his voice.
He applies the smallest amount of additional pressure with his thumb, fingers still working in time.
I unravel completely, my muscles pulsing against his fingers as my climax comes in waves.
Caleb’s mouth hovers over mine. He continues to work his hands as I come down from the release. My breathing slows to a steady pace.
“Oh my god,” I manage between Caleb’s kisses.
Caleb pulls back and smiles.
“What?”
“You’re glowing,” he says, a proud smile on his face.
“That was…” How do I put that into words?
How do I reconcile the person I usually am—a buttoned-up rule-follower who always has a plan and is terrified of doing the wrong thing —with the person I am around Caleb?
With him, I forget my plan for the day. I don’t put all my value in my career.
With him, I do things like ignore client work and come from getting fingered in my sunroom before noon.
“Oh my god!”
“I know, that was…”
“No, Caleb. My mom is here.” I point behind him. Through the shades, I see her car pulling up in front of the house. I push myself off Caleb’s lap.
“Shit.” Caleb stands. The front of his jeans are painfully stretched. “What is she doing here?”
“I have no idea!” I attempt to fix my hair and rid myself of anything that screams I just had one of the most incredible orgasms ever, and then I remember that Caleb is here.
His fucking Wrangler is in the driveway.
“Oh my god, oh my god.” I pace, keeping eyes on the window.
She hasn’t gotten out of her car. “She’s going to see your car.
What are we going to do? She’s going to lose it on me, Caleb. ”
This. This is why I have plans. And a schedule. When I don’t, things fall apart.
“Hey, hey. It’s going to be ok.” He takes my hand, interlacing our fingers together.
“We’ll tell her that I came over to pick you up for the meeting.
Your house is on the way. She might be annoyed, but she’s not going to suspect you just rode my hand into oblivion.
” His lips curl up into what I know now as his signature smirk. Stupid dimple.
“Caleb!” I swat his arm. “That’s not funny.”
“But it was fun!” He gives me a hurried kiss, and I wish we had more time. That Mom wasn’t here so I could show him what else my mouth can do. Outside, her car door slams, her heels clack up the walkway to the house.
“Go wash your hands,” I hiss at him playfully.
Caleb inspects his hand and lowers his gaze with a smug smile. “Go change your shorts.” Shit. I do need to change. I reek of sex.