Anna let out a deep rumble of a chuckle against Brooke's back.“So, we’ve discovered that you like head rubs.”
Brooke wanted to argue that this wasn’t a head rub. That it was much more aptly described as a head scratch, but it felt too good for her to even bother trying to articulate the difference. She just hummed happily at the contact. No one had ever played with her hair before. This wasn’t even something she knew that one could like. But whatever it was, or was called, she did very much enjoy it.
Anna continued to run her fingers through Brooke's hair, humming a song that Brooke didn’t recognize.“Do you want to get up and hangout with Nate? We can go get some food or order it back to the house?”
Brooke’s eyes fluttered open. She lifted her hands to wipe the sleep from them. They should get out and enjoy the day. They had a busy couple of days ahead of them. It wasn’t like they would get many opportunities like this and Brooke did really want to show Anna around. She rolled onto her back carefully, not wanting to squish Anna as she rolled.“We should go get lunch. I can show you some scraps of my childhood.”
Anna propped herself up on her forearm and positively beamed down at Brooke.
Brooke felt herself blushing under Anna’s soft gaze.“What is it?” Brooke asked, nervously. She was worried that she must have sleep or drool crusted to her face.
A pink tongue flicked out along Anna’s lips. Her long eyelashes fluttered against her high cheekbones.“Nothing,” Anna said softly.
Brooke wiped her face, certain now that something was on it.“Anna, you’re going to give me a complex.”
Anna let out a laugh.“No, no. Don’t get a complex, B. It’s just. You. You’re really pretty when you’re half asleep and kind of cranky.”
Brooke’s heart flatlined. They stared at each other, daring the other to move, but the moment passed, the wish unfulfilled. Anna finally cleared her throat.“Well, I guess I should get up and get dressed for the day.”
Brooke nodded, lamely, wishing that she possessed the strength to whisper stay. Or that she would be bolder still somehow and lunge forward and capture Anna’s lips with a kiss. She managed to do neither. At least now, Anna had heard the underlying trauma that had kept Brooke from letting herself ever get in too deep with a woman.
Anna untangled herself from Brooke's body and rolled out of bed. Brooke sat up, watching as Anna dug through her suitcase and produced an outfit that Vivienne had absolutely helped pick out. It consisted of a cream colored turtle-neck sweater that looked soft to the touch, and a dark tan suede skirt that would most definitely be high waisted and probably stop somewhere in the general vicinity of Anna’s knees.
Textures. Brooke had long ago learned that nice things were nice because of texture. It was in the quality of fabrics used. A button down made from textured fabrics was the epitome of class and grace. Anyone could wear a button down, but wealth was marked by quality. It was an obnoxious thing to know and an abhorrent thing to notice, but that was the byproduct of being a Kent.
Anna had selected well. Anna’s outfit, while feeling much like something Brooke could have already seen her in, was fitting for the company in which they might be keeping here. Brooke's stomach dropped at the thought of seeing her mother. She really hoped that wasn’t on today’s agenda.
“Ready to see me all dressed up?” Anna asked, her voice suddenly playful. The intensity of their moment completely melted away and replaced by Anna’s general good nature.
Brooke let out a laugh and rolled out of bed on her side and stretched her hands up over her head. She felt her shoulders pop and her spine straighten. She also noticed Anna’s eyes drop to the thin line of skin that had been exposed between the bottom of her shirt and the waistband of her sleep pants.“Yes,” she said, softly.“I’m ready to see what you selected.”
Anna nodded.“I’ll take the bathroom?”
Brooke nodded and dug through her suitcase as soon as Anna had shut the door. She pulled out a long sleeved stark white button down and a woven navy blue sweater. The light gray pants she pulled to go with them were wool and incredibly well cut. She changed into her outfit quickly, not knowing how long Anna would be. She was in the middle of slipping two rings onto her left hand when Anna knocked softly on the door.
“I’m decent,” she called, still trying to figure out at what point she had on enough rings.
Anna smiled softly at her and ran her hands down the front of her tan skirt.“Well, am I fancy enough?” she asked, her question genuine.
Brooke nodded. Anna looked like she could be on the front page of a Banana Republic magazine. Her hair was pulled back into her signature half up, half down look that only looked that good on her.“You are,” Brooke smiled a tight, closed lip smile. She was nervous to ask the next question, and it was probably too late to ask anyways.“It’s okay, right?”
Anna frowned at her.“What do you mean?”
“Well, like.” Brooke sighed.“I just hope you know that on a normal basis I don’t care about things like clothes or where they’re from.”
Anna blushed.“I know, B.”
Brooke nodded and looked back down at her hands. Two rings on each was plenty. She cupped the rest in her hand and stood, she’d leave the extras in organized rows on the dresser. She was certain she’d wear them all at some-point this week. Anna watched her as she worked.
“You know, Christine might have suggested that I just borrow jewelry from you all week,” Anna said.
“Did she?” Brooke asked, not looking up from her work.“You’re welcome to it. I never wear enough of the stuff according to Chris.”
Anna moved closer, her look another one that Brooke couldn’t place. She felt like flirty was a fair category to put this gaze in.“You wouldn’t mind?”
Brooke shook her head and stepped back.“Not at all.” She gestured to the rings and the few necklaces that she had lined her side of the dresser with.
Anna looked at the rings and touched one gently, reverently.“Even this one?” She lifted an eyebrow.
