By Marcie
Brooke was sitting in her office staring off into space. It had only been a week since Edmund went back to Maria and the pain was still fresh and intense. When he had told her she thought she wouldn't survive, but somehow she had. Work kept her busy and Jamie's games and Tad had been a life-saver. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of how often he had been there for her this past week, just to listen or hold her while she cried. She hadn't been able to eat much and she felt nauseous much of the time. She'd forgotten how physical the pain of heartbreak was. She also had trouble sleeping and felt exhausted.
She turned and looked at her computer screen, which was still blank. Just then the door opened and Amy walked in. "Miss English there's a man here to see you. He's the police chief in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and he wants to talk to you about a case he's working on," Amy said hopefully. She had been worried about her boss recently.
"Oh, okay. Send him in," Brooke said tiredly. She was hoping for some kind of distraction and this might be just what she needed. A very handsome, graying man stepped through the door. He looked at her in surprise and held his hand out to her. They shook hands and he said, "I'm Jason Grant, police chief from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I didn't realize the owner of Tempo Magazine was so beautiful."
Brooke laughed and said, "You don't need to flatter me."
He said, "I'm not flattering you, just telling it like it is."
She showed him the chair on the other side of her desk and went and sat across the desk from him. She felt lightheaded again and leaned her head on her hands.
"Are you alright?" Bo asked with concern.
"Nothing a little food won't help. Why don't we go to BJ's for lunch and we can talk there? It's not far from here," she suggested.
"Great. Let's go. I'll drive," he said.
When she stood a wave of nausea washed over her and she staggered. He rushed to her side and took her arm. "Whoa, there. Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's been a rough week and I haven't been able to eat much. It's nothing to worry about, I'll be fine," she said weakly.
He put his arm around her and they walked to the door. Just as Jason opened the door Edmund breezed in. "Oh, I didn't know you had company. I'm sorry," Edmund said while giving Jason the once over.
"It's okay, we're just on our way to lunch. Jason this is Edmund Grey my partner. Edmund this is Jason Grant. He's the police chief in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," said Brooke.
"Nice to meet you," said Jason shaking Edmund's hand.
"Same here," said Edmund. "Are you two going somewhere?"
"We're going to get the beautiful lady here something to eat before she falls down," Jason said.
"Why, what's wrong with Brooke?" Edmund asked. He looked at her closely with a concerned look on his face. "Brooke are you sick?"
"No. I'm fine Edmund, really. I just haven't eaten anything yet today and we're going to talk over lunch. Jason wants to talk to me about a case he's working on."
"Can I tag along?" said Edmund.
"No," said Brooke.
"No," said Jason, almost in unison.
Jason did not want this clod barging in on his lunch with Brooke, who wasn't wearing a wedding ring and was about the most beautiful woman he had seen in a long time.
"Okay," Edmund said. "I'll hold down the fort here." He was hurt that she didn't want him along and didn't like the way this Jason character had his arm around her like she belonged to him. He was probably just imagining things, but it seemed like Jason was looking at him like he was daring him to try to come between him and Brooke. He reminded himself again that his beautiful wife Maria was finally home with him and the children and he needed to forget he had ever loved Brooke.
"Bye Edmund," Brooke said, touching his arm and bringing him out of his reverie.
"Bye." He watched them leave and then went and sat in Brooke's chair. Her scent was still there, the perfume he loved so much. His mind wandered and he thought about the night three weeks ago when they had given into temptation and made love. She was incredible in bed and when they had started kissing that night when they were working late at her house, he didn't want to stop. They had made love several times that night and he hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since then. Her body was small and perfect and he knew every inch of it, just like she knew his. He shuddered thinking about it.
He had been so sure Maria was the love of his life that when she came back he hadn't been able to think about anything or anyone else. And he had been so hurt by Brooke's betrayal, he had just buried his feelings for her. But now he realized he still loved her as much, maybe more, than he had ten years ago when he first met and fell in love with her. He picked up the picture on her desk, the one she had taken last Christmas of her and Jamie. He looked at her face and thought about how beautiful she was and what a great kisser she was. "Stop it Edmund. You're married to Maria. Stop thinking about making love to Brooke," he said out loud. He got up and left her office.