Chapter 17
Brooke
* * *
My heart swelled the way it always did when I listened to this part of the play.
A Midsummer Night’s Dreamwas one of my all-time favorites. I’d read it countless times, watched several film adaptations, seen the play in at least ten countries in four languages, and still I loved it.
Currently I was sitting in the old town library with a host of other literature lovers, appreciating the reading conducted by two of the actors who were going to be starring in the upcoming production at the local theater. I actually put the date on my calendar so I’d remember to attend.
It was enjoyable, definitely enjoyable, but I wasn’t actually here to enjoy the reading. I was on a mission.
Sally sat with her assistant in the front row. I was in the back. This was my attempt to get to speak to her—one on one, woman to woman, work aside.
It was my last attempt to save my job, my assignment, my career.
I’d taken the previous day to think about what I was going to do. I’d still avoided talking to Perry, too. I had actually avoided him like the plague, and I’d enlisted Noah’s help to do some snooping around.
This mission of sorts had not, however, been my idea. It was inspired by my truly sexy next-door neighbor who I totally couldn’t get out of my head.
It was crazy. I should have been more freaked out about my job, but I’d spent the time replaying that kiss in my mind.
Both kisses.
God, I was thinking about it again. As I sat there staring ahead at the actors, I was thinking about Ryan and his lips, that hard body I wanted to run my hands all over and explore.
The thought made my nipples tighten and my stomach do somersaults.
A day and a half had passed since I’d last seen him. I’d even seen Aria the night before and had contemplated going over to see him but had known it would look weird. Besides, I didn’t want to suddenly appear like I was more interested in her father and not her.
The next day would be two weeks since I’d arrived here, and already I’d gone crazy over a man—the same man who’d thought I was on drugs and had riled me up the wrong way days after my arrival.
I blinked so I could focus.
The audience cheered as the actors gave their closing remarks and invited everyone to attend the play, which would open in two weeks. I thought it would be cool to take Aria if Ryan didn’t mind. Somehow I didn’t think he would.
People started getting up. Some milled over to the actors to get their autographs while others who already had autographs took copies of the flyers that were on the little table by a grand mahogany shelf that contained all of Shakespeare’s works.
I would have to put getting autographs and grabbing a flyer on my to-do list because Sally got up and was heading through the door to the left that led out to the children’s library.
I thought she’d leave through the exit that was nearer to me. Then she would have seen me like I hoped.
I grabbed my bag and dashed, catching up with her before she got to the elevator. It was her assistant who saw me first and alerted her.
The heavy scowl on Sally’s face when she turned and saw me made my heart sink, but I brought the mission to the front of my mind.
The mission was this: Be myself. Be me. That was it.
I wasn’t going to be the Brooke who worked forPeople Magazineand needed this assignment as a stepping stone up the career ladder. I wasn’t going to be Brooke who bent over backward to be professional at all costs.
I was going to be downright dirty, say whatever the fuck was on my mind Brooke, and I wouldn’t give a shit what she thought afterward.
The way I figured it, I already had the worst thing happen. I’d been pulled from the assignment before I’d even begun, and according to Perry’s text this morning, I really was close to losing my job.
He’d called me more times than I wanted to count, and I’d ignored each attempt. He’d sent one message, one message only stating that if I didn’t contact him by the end of the day he’d fire my ass.
That was it, and it was quite enough.
