Several weeks had passed since the night Edmund had slept with Brooke, but he remembered it as if it were yesterday. Watching her and Jason grow closer was driving him to distraction, but he had no choice but to let her go. He had made his choice and he owed it to Maria to try and make their marriage work. He had no right to expect Brooke to remain faithful to a relationship that didn't exist. He wondered if she was falling in love with Jason and if they would get married. He didn't know what he'd do in that case and hoped it was something he wouldn't have to deal with. He walked into Brooke's office without knocking and saw that Jason was with her. Was it Friday already? He had lost track of the days.
"I'm sorry to barge in, Brooke. But can you look this article over for me? I'm not happy with the way it ends. I was hoping you could work your magic on it. Hi Jason," he said.
"Hi Edmund," Jason said.
"Sure. I'd be happy to. Give it to me and I'll read it,' Brooke said.
Edmund plopped in the chair on the other side of her desk and watched her read. Jason hated the way Edmund was so comfortable with Brooke. It was like they had no boundaries with each other. He always walked in without knocking and Brooke never acted surprised or bothered by it. It was obvious they had a close bond and Jason wondered if he would ever have that with anybody, much less Brooke. It was a formidable obstacle he would have to overcome, if he was going to win her heart.
He watched her as she read and knew she was one of the best magazine editors in the country. He also knew Edmund was a top-notch writer with a Pulitzer Prize. That was part of their bond; their love of journalism and chasing down a story together.
He was falling in love with Brooke against his better judgment. He knew she still loved Edmund and would probably always love him. Brooke had told him the story of their relationship and how she had loved Edmund for eleven years. But he was hoping she'd be able to love him the way he loved her someday. He didn't mind waiting. Brooke was worth waiting for. She was gorgeous, sexy, intelligent and funny. He loved every minute with her, whether they were working together or just sitting and talking at her house. He had come to relish the weekends he spent in Pine Valley and couldn't wait for Thursday nights when he jumped in his car and drove to her house.
When they were finished editing and Edmund had left Jason said, "Are you ready to call it a day?" "Yes," she said. "I'm tired. Do you mind coming to my house? There's something I need to talk to you about."