Chapter 15

Eden

When my eyes flutter open, I see a few things simultaneously. One; last night's shenanigans are bouncing around in front of my eyes, starting at the restaurant to the bar and beyond. Two; my husband is lying next to me and I'm staring at his naked chest. Three; it was no word of a lie when Blake proudly told me my name, as well as hers, was inscribed across his chest. I know because it's staring right back at me.

I jerk back and he rouses, his eyes flickering. I keep very still for a moment, then Noodle wriggles between us and I glance up to meet his now open eyes.

"Brook!" It comes out in a gasp as I make the realization that he really is here, and I'm not seeing things that aren't really there.

"E," he says in that deep voice I know only too well. It's even thicker since he just woke up.

"What the hell are we doing in bed together…" Wait, it's all coming back to me. I was tired as well as a little drunk… okay, a lot drunk. He carried me from the bar to his truck and drove me home. OHMYGOD, did I try to kiss him at one point?

"We're not actually in bed together," he points out, sitting up a little and resting one arm behind his head like he can afford to be oh-so-casual here. "I'm on the bed, you're in the bed. Though, you did kick back the comforter during the night and wrap your arm and leg around me."

"I'm so sorry. Oh, God."

"Relax, it's fine. I fell asleep here after I made you some tea and grabbed you some Tylenol. I was supposed to be on the couch…" He palms the back of his head sheepishly.

"Yet here you are," I say in a shaky voice. I glance at the nightstand. His story checks out because sure enough, there's a cold cup of tea, a glass of water and two tablets waiting for me.

That's typical Brooklyn; always being thoughtful. I also realize I'm fully clothed. So at least I didn't make a fool of myself, other than me latching onto him in his truck.

"You were a little on the tipsy side last night. I took you outside to get air and drive you home." He leaves out the most important part. "You never could hold your liquor, baby girl."

The way he says baby girl… It affects me in ways it shouldn't; stirring my insides, as well as things on the outside. And if I wasn't so embarrassed, I'd explore those thoughts a little more closely.

"You're being kind. I downed a couple too many glasses of wine with dinner, then at Moose's I just wanted to dance... Shit, do the girls know we left together?"

He chuckles. I'm glad he finds this whole thing so amusing. "Yes, I texted Georgia that I was taking you home. Though, I'm pretty sure me carrying you out of the bar was a sure indication of me lookin' after you."

I bury my face into my hands, not being able to hide my embarrassment. "I'll never be able to show my face around town ever again."

"Why not?" he laughs.

"Umm, because I got drunk and disorderly last night and made a fool of myself."

"No, you didn't."

"What about in the car?"

He presses his beautiful lips together. My eyes flick down for a moment seeing how succulent they are, I have the urge to run my thumb over them. I quickly look back to him instead of doing anything foolish. "What about it?" His voice is husky, the motion of it prickles my skin. How come I've never noticed that before?

"Did I try to kiss you?" I breathe, dreading the answer. I reach for the water and tablets because the marching band in my head has already started.

"Something like that," he says with a soft, easy smile.

"Something like that? Is that all you have to say?"

"What else is there to say?" He shifts toward the edge of the bed as Noodle emerges and shakes herself off, happy that we're awake it seems. She rewards me with a big lick on the face as I watch the muscles in his back ripple.

"And now you're going, just like that?"

He runs a hand through his messy hair. I can't stop gaping at his broad, muscular body. That feeling stirs between my legs watching him. He still turns me on.

"No, I'm going to the bathroom and then to make us some coffee."

"Oh." I sit back against the pillows feeling a little foolish. "Sorry. I'm just a little bedazzled by finding you here and by my actions last night. And nice tattoo by the way. Were you ever gonna tell me?"

He grins, not even bothering to shrug his shirt back on. Oh no, he walks around the bed barefoot in those sexy jeans hanging off his hips and heads for the door. Turning just in the doorway he gives me a sexy, lopsided look. "You like it?"

"What's it doing there?"

"It's a long story."

"I'm sure it is. You know, Blake told me about it a few days ago. I thought she was joking."

"Well, now you've seen it." He shrugs like it's no big deal and doesn't even bother to elaborate. Because having your ex's name tattooed on your body after you supposedly got divorced is totally normal. I open my mouth to retort but he disappears before I can say anything. Noodle hops off the bed and follows him with her little trot and I hear the doggie flap a few moments later as she lets herself outside.

Well, now you've seen it? Is he actually for real?

There are so many questions in my head right now. And I know I got teary at some point and started confessing what had happened with Kirk. What was I thinking?

My God, did I beg Brooklyn to stay at one point? I remember calling him Brookie more than once, in fact, several times.

I push back the comforter and prize my way out of bed, dragging myself to my ensuite. I strain my ears as I go and hear Brook moving around the kitchen, humming to himself.

Humming!

And here I am, dragging myself around after a hard night on the town.

I'm embarrassed to say the least. While I did cut a little loose, and it felt good at the time, I'm definitely paying for it now.

It's not usual for me to get drunk, but when I do, I get a little silly.

I walk into the bathroom and lean my hands on the basin to take a breath, my eyes flick up and I cringe when I look in the mirror. Since I didn't get to take my makeup off last night, and my hair is a complete mess, I can't say I look ravishing.

I turn on the shower, stripping and throwing my outfit from last night on the floor. I sigh as I step in after a moment and let the hot water wash away all the traces of the shit week I've had, as well as my wild night.

Note to self: Do not go out on the town with your friends and get shit-faced!

I'm a mother, for goodness sake. What if someone — like a client — saw me behaving badly? Then again, I was only trying to dance with my so-called ex-husband and laughing loudly with my friends.

The water sure does feel good, though. I sigh as it cascades down my body, instantly making me feel replenished. I quickly wash my hair and make sure I get last night's traces of makeup off my face with my cleansing lotion.

Stepping out, I wrap myself in a towel and grab another one for my hair. Realizing I didn't grab anything to change into, I curse and pull the door back to grab some sweats and new underwear.

Just as I do, Brook is coming in with the coffee.

I halt in my tracks as he acts like this is the most normal thing in the world to be doing.

"Don't worry, it ain't nothing I haven't seen before, precious," he snickers as he places my coffee on the side table.

"Very funny, Brook." I feel my cheeks heat at his words.

"Feel better?"

"The power of a hot shower is underrated."

He chuckles. "Well, hold your horses, I'm making breakfast. There's nothing like a greasy plate of food to help with a hangover."

I'm bewildered by the sentiment and how thoughtful he is taking care of me. He's definitely not rubbing my face in it, or even being too jokey. "Thanks for the coffee," I say, as he slips out again.

I quickly push the door closed with my foot when he's gone and grab some sweats out of my closet.

I don't even know why I reach for my lacy Victoria's Secret underwear, but something about wearing a nice matching set makes me feel a little more sexy and less like a dead mommy. I figure I might as well try to feel better about myself.

By the time he comes back with a tray, I've already brushed my teeth and I'm towel drying my hair.

"Back to bed, little lady." He gestures with his eyes toward my comfy duvet.

"Wow, what have you been doing out there?"

"Nothing fancy. You need to do some grocery shopping," he chuckles. "But I whipped you up some scrambled eggs and toast."

"Wow, Brook, thank you. That's so sweet." I sit back on the bed against the propped up pillows as he lays the tray down on my lap. "The coffee is so good."

"That's because you have the best coffee machine money can buy."

"You don't have to be this nice. You can tell me I'm an idiot for last night."

He shakes his head. "I'd never do that. You're pretty cute when you're drunk."

"Tipsy," I correct him. "I wasn't falling over or anything."

"That's true, but you did try to grope me."

He says it at the exact time I'm picking up a piece of toast and I take a bite, nearly choking on it at his words. "What?"

His shoulders shake as he walks back out of the room. "Don't sweat it honey, it happens all the time."

"Not with me it doesn't," I holler so he can hear me.

"Even angel's falter sometimes, Edes. Don't worry about it."

Angels? What the hell has gotten into him?

"I'm far from that," I say when he comes back in with his mug. I dive into the scramble and toast. It's really good. "Are you eating too?"

"I ate some toast as I was making yours."

"Brook, you don't have to do this."

"Do what?"

"Be so nice about last night."

"You were pretty upset. I couldn't just leave you."

"Before or after I tried to grope you?"

He clears his throat. "After."

"I'm sorry about that."

"I didn't mind."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Really? That must've been so attractive."

"Coming from you, it is. There's no other tipsy wife I'd want to drive home or have in my lap."

I press my palm to my forehead. "I'm a mother too, it's disgraceful."

His laugh grows as he perches on the end of the bed, reaching for his shirt. He slides it back on, but doesn't do it up. "Even mothers are allowed to let their hair down, E. Live a little."

"Not this mom. I totally dropped the ball, Brook. But I guess I must've needed to do it. How much did I blurt out last night about what happened in Georgia?"

"Most of it," he sighs. "The guy's an ass, what can I say?"

"Yeah, and you knew it," I say sadly.

"I was just being a jealous fuck. I didn't know he was as big a slimeball as he turned out to be. Obviously."

I swallow as my eyes dart over to him. Wait… "Jealous?"

"I didn't like him being around my girls."

"That's fair enough for Blake, but I'm not your girl," I whisper, and it hurts my heart to even say it. Despite the fact we've been saying it for years.

"You'll always be my girl. It doesn't go away E, just because you have a divorce. Or should I say, non-divorce."

"Oh, yes, there is that."

"Let's just deal with one issue at a time."

"I think our non-divorce is a pretty big issue, don't you think?"

"You need to eat, and let those Tylenol sink in." He waves a hand toward the side table.

"I'm feeling strangely good after that shower, and the coffee."

"I'll make some more."

"I'll do it," I say. "Is Noodle still outside? I didn't hear her come back in."

"She went out to do her business, but she's eating now. I put some biscuits in her bowl."

I smile. Brook sure is cute in the morning. I kinda forgot. There are other things he used to be too, but I try not to think about that. Imagining him hard first thing is not the order of the day…

"We need to talk about that tattoo."

"Later." He waves it off. "Add it to the list of things we need to talk about. Do you mind if I take a shower before I leave?"

I'm disappointed that he has to go, but I try not to show it. What did I expect? That he'd stick around here all day? Blake will be back later today anyway, so it wouldn't exactly be great for anyone to see us like this. "I don't mind at all," I say. "I'll make us another coffee."

I finish my breakfast and grab Brook a fresh towel. He heads off to the guest shower while I check on Noodle and busy myself in the kitchen washing the dishes and making more coffee. My head is feeling a little less fuzzy, and it feels good to have some sustenance in my body.

It's somewhere between me mapping out the rest of my day and remembering I need to give Noodle her morning walk that someone comes crashing through the front door.

I stick my head around the corner and see my daughter plowing up the hallway.

OH GOOD LORD NO.

This can't be happening. But from the looks and sounds of things, it is happening, and she's home much earlier than I expected.

Noodle shoots past me to greet her as Blake drops her backpack and bends down to give Noodle some love and kisses.

"Baby, hi! Wow, you're early." My heart is accelerating ten to the dozen, knowing Brook is probably about to walk out of the shower any moment and there's literally nothing I can do to stop it. To top it off, Brook's mom comes walking in a few moments later. Blake scoops up Noodle and gives me a hug at the same time.

"Are you okay, Mom? You look weird."

"Um, yes, I'm fine honey… Look." I'm about to give Gayle a hug and a bullshit explanation for what is no doubt about to happen, when the guest bathroom, just off the main hall where they're standing, flies open. Brook appears amidst a billow of steam. And to top off his guest appearance, he's only wearing a towel.

Seeing us, he stops in his tracks as his mom and Blake both gape. Obviously not what they were expecting to see. They would've seen his truck parked out front, but I'm sure they weren't expecting him to be taking a shower in my house… and now standing in the hallway wearing a towel!

"Dad!"

"Hey, buttercup… hi Mom…"

"Honey." Gayle looks from him to me with a surprised little smile on her face. "Fancy seeing you here."

He clears his throat but doesn't say anything.

"What are you doing here, Dad?" Blake laughs, running up to him to give him a hug.

Brook looks more awkward than I've ever seen him before. Like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

I press my lips together, looking at my mother-in-law, aware of the blush creeping up over my face, even though it's not what it looks like.

"Daddy was umm… just fixing something for me," I quickly say. I mean, what else can I say? Your mama had one too many drinks last night, drowning her sorrows after her boyfriend cheated. Then she necked down two glasses of wine at dinner and some shots at the bar. She nearly boot scooted her way across the dance floor before she got dizzy and nearly passed out. Oh, and your daddy saved the day, carrying mommy to his truck and driving her home where she tried to grope him… Then he spent the night and made her the best scrambled eggs she's ever had… and that body on him is still rocking….

Now here we all stand awkwardly.

"And Daddy spilt something all over him," Brooklyn finishes in some attempt to corroborate my story. I can only hold my lips tightly closed so no more lies seep out of them. Even if they are for her own good. "Hope you don't mind I used your bathroom, baby?"

Two white lies to save face surely won't send us both to Hell?

I mean, we are her parents for goodness sake. It's not like I picked up a stranger.

Not that I picked him up! It would almost be comical if it weren't so awkward.

I'm just not sure when the punchline is going to come.

I glance at Brook as his lips quirk in a smile. Yeah, we both look as guilty as sin, even though we haven't done anything wrong.

He sure is cute standing there in his towel. His rock hard abs and sexy, golden skin leave little to the imagination. I forgot how cute he can be. The beads of water still on his skin make me want to be a very bad girl, and now I'm staring…

"How about I put the kettle on?" Gayle says, making her way into the kitchen.

Kill me now.

I'm sorry, Brook mouths.

It's okay, I mouth back.

No matter how hard I try, I know that the spark is still there. And that's the scariest thing of all.