I know it's been a while for
this story. Sorry it's taken so long. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. Ohh...I've a new revision. The role of Bridget is now being
played by Ashely Jones. After seeing Ms. Jones on
B&B and seeing what a wonderful job she's been doing, she's my new vision
for Brooke's daughter in Love Story. When I get a chance, I'll have to create a
castlist for Love Story.
Love Story Chapter 36
Brooke opened the door to her hotel room feeling worn out by the antics of the
day. If she had one wish it would be that it was the day before when she and
Ian had spent the day together and the most romantic night that she had in
ages. Dropping the keys on the sofa and unzipping her jacket she threw it on
the chair. She smiled softly spying Ian’s present which she had ordered last
night for him. Picking up the package she headed to the bedroom they had shared
to find him standing by the window looking out side at the falling snow. Relief
washed over her. “Ian. Thank god you are here. I’ve been looking everywhere for
you.” She rushed toward him only to stop when he turned to look at her. There
was a coldness there in his eyes. “Ian.” She stammered. Her heart sank. “ Why
did you walk out like that?”
“ Like what?” he said coolly.
“ Like you weren’t coming back. I looked everywhere for you.” She stepped
toward him trying to close the distance between them. He however moved away and
headed toward the other side of the room.
“ I needed so air. It was a little too much fanfare with your daughter So…” He
turned away. His fist clenched with his short fingernails biting into the palm
of his hands. He couldn’t look at her. He had seen the look of disappointment
in her eyes when he had backed away from her. He didn’t want to hurt her. He
just wanted to… No! His inner voice screamed. Let her go. “ So. I cut out to
give you space.”
“ Give me space? I didn’t need it.”
“Your daughter was upset.” He turned toward her.
“ Bridget was just surprised.”
“ About us.”
“ About realizing her mother has a life of her own.” Brooke shook her head. “
But that doesn’t matter. We’ve talked and…”
“ It does matter.” He interrupted. She doesn’t approve of me. I saw it in her
eyes.”
Brooke stepped toward him reaching out to touch him.“ Bridget is young. It
doesn’t matter what she thinks because she wouldn’t have approved anyone in my
life.” She touched his cheek. Ian’s heart raced. He closed his eyes. Summoned
his strength and pushed her hand away. Brooke’s heart cracked. He was pushing
her away. “Don’t do this.”
“ Do what?”
“Push me away.”
“ Is that what you think I’m doing?”
“ I don’t know. But I know you are acting funny.”
“I’m not acting funny. I’m just being realistic.”
“ About what?” She demanded.
“ About your daughter. She doesn’t approve. That’s clear and you know what I
guess I don’t blame her. Look at us. She’s right. It isn’t going to work.”
“ We’ve been working. We’ve been relating to each other in ways that neither
one of use expected and you know. Don’t ruin things by pushing me away.”
“ Because we were fools to think that we could shut the world out. You and I
have very different lives.”
“ Which never bothered you before.”
Ian turned and played with a notepad on the nightstand. “ You need to go home.”
His world stunned her. She knew he had be upset but not to this extent.“ You
want me to go?” Brooke asked incredulously. Ian wasn’t the type to cut and run.
But now he was running away from her. How could he do this after all they shared?
“After all we’ve been through you just end it right now.” He didn’t answer.
“After what we shared last night. Last night was one of the most beautiful
nights in my entire life.” Unwanted tears filled Brooke eyes. She quickly
blinked them away not wanting him to see how much this was hurting her. “ It
meant more to me than you’ll ever know and I know that it meant something to
you.” He still said nothing. “ Damn it! How can you be such a coward!” She
struck out pushing hard against his chest. Ian didn’t move, he stood still as
rock. His arms ached to hold her. It was difficult for him to swallow. He could
hardly breath. Last night meant the world to him. It was the best night of his
life. She made him feel so much it overwhelmed him. He didn’t want to do this.
He didn’t want her to think that he didn’t care. “Yes, it did mean something to
“ But now you want me to go home? It doesn’t make sense.”
Ian closed his eyes. “ We live in two different worlds. Your life is in L.A and
mine is here. Not to mention how different our lives are. You work for some
fancy fashion company and I don’t know a damn thing about fashion. Your
daughter represents that life. We act like we can live in this dream world and
shut everyone out. Live for just each other. But we can’t. In the end…” He
stopped. He was getting so close to losing it. She pushed him to feel so much.
“Hell, if your car hadn’t gotten stuck we never would have met. You would have
been back home with your family. Then I never would have…” He stopped. “Fu(k!”
He yelled surprising Brooke who jumped at Ian’s fury. Turning to her quickly
his looked at her. His eyes turned dangerously dark. “ I can’t do this.”
Clenching his teeth he stalked toward her like a predator who intended to
capture his prey. “ It isn’t going to work. In the end we’ll both be hurt. I
know it.” Tears feel from Brooke’s eyes. “ It would kill me to see you walk
away.” He said honestly with hething breathes. His
hands slightly shook as he reached up to wipe from her eyes. “ Look at what you
are doing to me. I’m a grown man. I’m strong and capable of doing things that
ordinary men can’t do but just looking at you makes me weak. Weak enough to be
a fool when I should be stronger. But I can’t. I can’t let you go.” He gripped
her shoulders. Looking into the depths of her golden eyes. Before Brooke could
say anything his mouth caught her’s in a an intense
hungry kiss. Their mouths melted together. His tounge
stroked deeply into the crevious of her sweet tasting
mouth. He groaned she was so intoxicating.
“ Only a weak man would run away from this.” Brooke murmured just after he
lifted his mouth away.
He traced her swollen lower lip.“ I’m not running from you. I wanted to do what
was best for you and for me. When things end it will only be more painful for
the both of us.”
Brooke knew his words were true. It would wound her deeply but she didn’t care
at this point. She was going to do her best to hold onto her happiness wherever
it was. It was, with him.
“ It would only hurt if we gave up now.”
Ian lifted Brooke against him. She felt his pen*s pressing hard against her
stomach. He wanted her just as she wanted him. But it was more than sex. She
knew it. But, she had to be sure.
“ This is more than sex isn’t it?”
Cupping her bottom in his hands he looked her in her eyes. “ This is way more
than sex.” He said honestly. “ That’s why this is so dangerous. If it were just
about sex, I’d be able to walk away. I’d fu(k you and leave sated.” Rubbing his
face against her neck his inhaled her scent. “ But God knows that I can’t no
matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get you out of my blood.”
“ It doesn’t have to be. Not if we are honest with each other and don’t let
something silly as who we are stand in the way. I’m still the same woman who
got trapped with you. The same woman who went to
“That’s why I tried to push you away. The way that I feel for you …” He didn’t
finish. He couldn’t put his emotions into words. He just wanted to show her.
His mouth found her’s. He suckled her tongue into his
mouth. He wanted everything she had to offer. He walked them over to the bed.
Skimming off her sweater he make quick work of her bra. Groaning at the sight
of her naked breasts. His head tickled her as he lowered his mouth against her
nipple. Brooke arched her back against the heated sensual play that his mouth
created on her body.
“ Only…ahhh” Brooke felt herself get wet. His mouth
suckled hard. “ Only a fool would give up on us.” Ian continued his assault
swirling his tongue over her nipple. His assault continued as he moved down her
body caressing the curve of her ribcage down to her navel.
“ I didn’t want you to leave.” He whispered against her warm body. “Grace
called me a fool. She told me to hold on to you but I felt that I had to try to
let go.” He kissed her skin. Then looked up and gave the most wondrous smile
that she’d ever seen. “ I couldn’t have really let you go now. I know that it
can’t last forever but for now I want to pretend it can.” He opened her buttons
on her jeans and skimmed them down her legs catching them on her boots. Cursing
he pulled her boots of while he took his own sweater and knelt back down.
Brooke watched him with a smile on her face. He felt what she felt. It wasn’t
about sex. It was about them. Ian had wanted to push her away but because he
was just as scared as she was. Maybe they were wrong, maybe they could find a
way to make this work. She had meant everything she said to Bridget. Ian had
changed her.
He slipped his fingers inside of her panties feeling her wetness. “You are so
wet and, he groaned, so tight.” He tore at her panties stripping them off her
body. He dipped his head in between her thighs. Spreading her, he tasted her.
She was heaven, pure heaven. Brooke’s body twisted and desire as he licked
suckled her unto an orgasm. A scream rose from her mouth as her body moved
against his probing mouth. Ian grinned amused and hurried to hush her. Quickly
he flipped her over onto her stomach. Unbuttoning his jeans he pushed them down
he legs along with his underwear. He scooped up her bottom angling her as he
pulled her to her knees. He came to her quickly trying to bury the torrid
emotions building up inside of him. He found her entrance and slid inside of
her warm tight center. Brooke took him willing into her body inch by inch. He
filled her. Kissing her neck he moved her body against hers. Brooke stretched
moving to accommodate his large pen*s as he filled her. His hand clasped her
own and they moved together. Brooke could feel her moisture tighten around him.
Groaning an audible sigh her cried out. “ Oh God. Oh… Oh…” Ian moved pumping in
and out. Slowly and hard. The thoughts of her leaving him were gone. He had
tried to do the right thing. He had tried to do the honorable thing by letting
go before either of them got hurt.. Fu(k honor. He was a fighter. He had never
given up a battle before and he didn’t plan to give up now when he could lose
so much if he did. He wasn’t sure how their relationship would last. It was a
million to one odds that it wouldn’t. BUT, he was falling deeply in love with
her. He had no choice.
“ I need you.” He whispered into her ear.
Brooke heard the vulnerability in his voice. Closing her eyes she knew how hard
it was for him to admit that he needed anything from anyone. “ I need you too.”
This spurred him on as he made love to her until they both shook with intense
need. Then, he started over again. He wanted to savor every moment forever.
“ I just can’t believe them. Don’t they have any shame?” Bridget complained
when she hurt the distinct pounding from the next room.
Deacon hung up the hotel phone. He had called to make sure everything was on
track for the Lair.“ Bridget, leave your mother alone.”
“ Do you think that I can just stand there and listen to them?” She waved her
hand in disgust. “My mom said that her relationship isn’t about sex but that’s
what is sounds like to me. Sex.”
Deacon wrapped her arms around her. “Honey you’ve got to calm down.”
“ I can’t.” Bridget cringed. “She’s ruining her life.”
“ How by getting some from a man she likes? From the sounds of it, he knows
just what she needs.”
“Uggh.” She shook her head in disgust. “She’s not
being responsible. She needs to be home.”
“ For what? That company of hers. It’s find with Captain Arrogant in charge.”
“ Don’t call him that.”
“Why the hell not?” Deacon scoffed. “The guy’s an arrogant prick.” He shook his
head in disgust as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. “What I
never could get was why your mother fell in love with an asshole like him. He
never treated her right. I’ve seen the together. I’ve seen how he is with her.
He’s flirting. Giving her hope to believe and then he dashes it.”
“ That’s not true.”
“ You are blind Bridget when it comes to him. Let me ask you a question. How
come you don’t resent him?”
“ What? Why should I?”
“ Because when you were a kid and you needed him. He left. He left you just as
surely as he left your mom and for what?
Bridget was startled by Deacon’s comment. She hadn’t protected
Ian caressed Brooke’s warm body. His fingers edged up and down and naked spine.
“What are you thinking about?” he whispered.
“ Mmmm.” She looked up. “ I was thinking how glad I
am that you didn’t walk out that door.”
“ Like you were going to let me.”
Brooke sat up holding the sheet around her. “A long time ago I would have fought
you tooth and nail not to leave. But not anymore.” Her head was bowed so that a
curtain of her hair fell to cover her face. “I’ve done some stupid things and
even some manipulative things in the past to keep Ridge. I made of fool out of
myself.” Ian lifted her head with his two fingers to see her eyes. “ I promised
myself that I wouldn’t beg anyone ever again to stay with me. Ever again. Not
even you. I deserved better. So to answer your question, I would tried to get
you to see that what we have is special. But I wouldn’t have begged you. I need
someone in my life who’s willing to fight for me.”
Ian heard the pain in her voice. He had shacked her more than she had been
willing to let on when he pushed her away. He sat up cupping her face. “I’m
sorry that I scared you the way that I did. You shouldn’t have to beg anyone to
be in your life. That’s not what I wanted.” He moved his head so close to hers
that their lips almost touched. “I just didn’t want either one of us to be
hurt.” He said honestly. “Especially me.”
His honesty touched her. “ I don’t want to be hurt either.”
“ I’m sorry if I hurt you earlier. I’m also sorry that in your past that Ridge
hurt you the way that he did. I never want to hurt you that way. Never”
Brooke kissed his lips gently.“ I never want hurt you the way that Sasha hurt you.” She whispered. Ian pulled to her close to
him as she closed her eyes. They both suffer scars from their past but with the
love of each other maybe they could get past their distrust.
She lay sprawled overtop of him. Naked, glorious and the most beautiful thing
in the world. Ian wrapped his arms around her sighing heavily but being careful
not to disturb her slumber. He chuckled to himself how quickly she had fallen
asleep. “How in the world are we going to make this work?” He whispered. He
didn’t know but he’d figure it out. She couldn’t stay here forever so that
meant. That meant coming up with some sort of compromise. There was still the
issue of Ridge. He knew that she loved him and still might love the man. After
all, they had been married, shared children. The bond of Rick and Bridget was
one that wouldn’t go away. Especially with Bridget here pushing for her mother
to go home. But and Brooke shared was something special. He felt it in his
bones. It was so right. With her he was more confortable
than he’s ever been with anyone, including Sasha. The
way she said that she didn’t want to hurt him had touched him. He couldn’t
remember the last time someone had wanted to protect him like that. Sure his S.E.A.L
buddies but this was different. In his relationship with Sasha,
he had been the protector, the provider. Little did Brooke know the havoc she
was creating his heart. Still, he smiled. He could no sooner walk out of her
than cut off his right arm. All he had to do was to figure out how to work out
their differences.
The knock at the door awoken Ian from drifting to sleep. Glancing at the clock
he realized that it was 3 p.m. He was going to be charged with staying another
day but that didn’t matter. He was going to have to start heading home or get
caught driving in the storm that has already started. Glancing at Brooke, he
hated waking her. A knock came from the door again. Groaning, he slipped out of
bed and pulled on his jeans. Closing the bedroom door behind him he went to the
“ Is my mother in?” She asked looking flustered.
“Ahh.”
“I could hear you two earlier so don’t bother to lie to
“ I wasn’t about to lie but I did want to try to …”
“ What protect her image. You can hardly do that in your present state of dress
can you.”
Ian wasn’t used to being spoken to in such a tone. “ No. But I suggest don’t
take that tone with her when you speak to her. She’s had a rough time. Do you
got that?” His face became dark and the smiling man she had met in the elevator
eariler that day disappeared.
“ You have no right to talk to me like this.”
Ian leaned forward. “You don’t know me and I don’t know you too well but we do
have something in common. We both care about your mother.”
“ I care about my mother. Though I’m not too sure about your agenda.”
“ There isn’t one.”
“ Good then. So, you don’t mind if I see my mother.” Bridget intended to brush
past him however he seemed to grow right there in the door frame. His arms were
folded over his muscular chest. Bridget’s eyes traveled down his body to his
navel to a patch of hair that went down his is particaually
buttoned jeans. It didn’t take a genius to miss the bulge in his pants in which
Bridget will floored. The man obviously wasn’t wearing any underwear, worse yet
he wasn’t aroused but she could clearly see the defenation
of his pen*s.
“ Oh God.” She turned bright red. “ Don’t’ you have any class at all?”
“ No.” Ian growled. “What I do is NONE of you business. If you can’t deal with
it, that’s too damn bad. I’ll get your mother.” And with that, he slammed the
door in Bridget’s face.
Ian’s ire was up. The little girl was too damn snippy for him. The way she had
looked at him as if he were trash not good enough to touch her mother. Shit! He
rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He didn’t understand why the hell he cared
what she thought but she was Brooke’s daughter, there had to be some qualities
in her somewhere. Stalking to the bedroom, he gently shook Brooke awake.
“ Brooke.”
“ Mmm.” Brooke didn’t open her eyes. “ Come back to
bed.” She used her foot to push the bedcover aside.
He hardened instantly. Damn, she was a woman after his own heart, not to
mention all the other places.
“ I would but I don’t think your daughter wants a first hand show on how much
her momma likes my cock…”
“ Bridget!” Brooke gasped cutting off Ian’s remark. Sitting up she looked
around. “ I forgot all about her.” Brooke bounded off the bed and looked for
her panties which were under the bed. Ian watched her finding it interesting
how her breast bounced as she pulled on her panties.
Brooke caught the look and gave him a scalding look of her own. “ Don’t look
amused. I shouldn’t have forgotten it’s just you have a way of…” He reached out
and grabbed her pulled her so she fell on top of him. Her pointed nipples
brushed against his naked chest.
“ Making you forget?” He pulled her head down to his to kiss her sweet soft
lips.
“ Yes.” She pulled away and put on a bra and a robe. “ I need to talk to her.”
Brooke headed out the bedroom. “ Bridget….” She looked around. “ Where is she?
Ian pulled on a t-shirt and pointed to the outer door.
“ She’s outside. Why didn’t you let her in?”
“ Because she was getting upset and using a snotty ass tone. Some daughter
you’ve got there.”
“ Don’t. Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“ Bridget’s been through a lot. Just give her time to warm up. Please.” She
reached up to kiss him on his check. “ For me?”
God, she had a way of wrapping him around her little finger. He may not be to
fond of her daughter but she was Brooke’s kid. He had to at least give her a
chance. “ Alright. But if she takes that shitty tone with you. I’m throwing her
out on her butt.”
Brooke opened the door. “ Honey come on in.”
Bridget stepped into the room frowning at Ian. She turned to her mother and
ignored Ian.
“ Mom.”
“ Honey I’m so sorry I got caught up and I…”
“ I can see what you got caught up in.” Bridget said with bitterness.
Brooke blushed slightly. “ Well. I was happy to work things out with Ian.”
“ Work things out. Mom there is nothing to work out. You need to get ready and
come home.”
Brooke took her daughter’s hand and tried to lead her to the couch but Bridget
wouldn’t let her.
“ I mean it. You used this time to get your head straight after your divorce.
You’ve used that time to start this…” She waved her hand in front of her. “This
fling or whatever you want to call it.” Bridget spat looking at Ian with hatred
in her eyes.
“ Bridget that’s enough.” Brooke said standing next to him.
“ Doesn’t it matter to you that I came all this way. I was worried about you.’
“ Of course it does.”
“ No it doesn’t.” Tears filled Bridget’s eyes. “ All my life I’ve worried about
you. It’s been one scandal after another. You are so used to me being worried
about you that you don’t give it a second thought.”
Brooke reacted as if she had been slapped. Ian watched the color drain from
Brooke’s face. Bridget, he was sure knew what she was doing and how much she
was hurting her mother. He wanted to throw her daughter out for hurting her. He
stepped forward but Brooke stopped him with her gentel
touch on his forearm. She shook her head at him. “ She’s very angry with me
right now.” Brooke moved to stand in front of her daughter. “Your feelings mean
everything to me Bridget. You know that. I didn’t know you were going to be
this worried about me. Bridget you’ve hardly spoken to me on the phone the last
two months because you were angry with me. So I didn’t think that you’d be
worried like this. I’ve already apologized to you. I appericate
you coming all this way but I’m fine.”
“ So come home.” Bridget grasped her mother’s hands. “ Come home now.”
“ I can’t. I’m not ready.”
“ Because of what happened with Thorne?”
“ No. I’ve finally forgiven myself for that. This isn’t about him or anyone
else but me. And what I’ve found here.”
“ With him?”
“ Yes. With Ian. He’s a wonderful man Bridget.”
“ Hard for me to tell. You know nothing about him.”
“ I know enough. I know what’s in my heart and his.”
Bridget turned away. She looked at Ian’s impassive face and wondered what her
mother saw in some old mountain man. ‘ Your heart has fooled your before. Have
forgotten? How many time have you tried to get over the love you have for
Ridge…”
“ This isn’t about him Bridget.”
“ Its always about him. He may not admit and you won’t either. But I know how
this story ends and this time you are with someone who I don’t even know or
trust. He could be some gold digger out for your money. Just look at the way he
dresses. He’s probably never seen the inside of a fancy restaurant or know what
fork to use. Are you saying that this is the type of man you want to have some
relationship with? My God mother. Are you so desperate for any man that you’ll
lay down with someone beneath you?”
“ That’s enough.” Ian thundered.
“ Ian please!” Brooke cried.
“ No. I’m not going to let her stand there and say whatever she want to hurt
you.” He moved next to Brooke. “ Listen little girl. I’ve listened to all that
I’m going to from your spoiled little mouth.” Bridget gasped. “ I don’t know
you but I sure as hell don’t like you right now. Your mother said that she was
sorry that she didn’t contact you but that isn’t good enough for you. She told
you she isn’t ready to go back. But you still aren’t listening.” He inched
closer to Bridget causing her to back up in fear of his anger. “ But you are
going to listen to me. You can think whatever you’d like about me. That I’m not
good enough or I want your mother’s so called money. I don’t give a rat’s ass
on what you are thinking. You aren’t old enough or lived a tough enough life in
L.A to have an opinion as far as I’m concerned. But I won’t stand here and let
you talk to your mother anyway that you want. So from now own you are only
going to talk to her with a respectful tone or else.”
“ Or else what?”
There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “ Or else I’m going to turn you over
my knee and tan your butt the way your mother should have.
“ What?” Bridget’s eyes widened. “ Can you believe what he just said to me. He
threatened me.”
“ He didn’t.”
“ He did.”
“ But I guess you can’t see that can you mother?” Bridget looked at Brooke and
Ian with distain. Bridget and left the room.
“ Bridget..wait.” Brooke watched with tears in her
eyes.
“ For what mother?”
Tears fell from Brooke’s eyes as she reached out to Bridget but then pulled her
hands back. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“ You don’t care about what said to me.”
“ You deserved it.” Ian said angrely.
“ Ian. Please.” Brooke eyes implored him. “ Ian frowned but he saw her pain.
She loved her spoiled daughter.
“ Listen. Why don’t I go out and get some fresh air or something so you can
talk.”
“ No. You don’t have to go. Please stay. There isn’t anything that I can’t say
in front of you.”
Bridget scoffed.
Ian glared at Bridget.
“ Bridget. Ian shouldn’t have said that to you.”
“ The hell I shouldn’t have.”
“But..” Brooke interuppted. “ He didn’t mean it. It’s
his way of saying how he feels.”
“ But I can’t.”
“ You are my daughter. I love you but no. You can’t go around thinking that you
can say whatever you want without there being some sort of consequences.”
“ You are taking his side.”
“ No. I’m just saying how I feel.” Brooke pulled back Bridget’s golden hair to
look into her eyes.
“ I explained it to you how I felt about Ian and you ignored me.”
“ For good reason. I don’t know him. How would you feel if I wanted to stay
with a man that I didn’t know. You’d do everything in your power to get me to
come home.”
Brooke looked away. “ Wouldn’t you?”
“ Yes. I probably would. But things are different. I’m different.”
“ And I’m worried about him.”
“ There isn’t anything to worry about.”
“ Really because from where I’m standing it doesn’t make sense. What am I going
to tell Rick? Or dad?”
“ Tell them I’m fine. I’m healthy and I’m happy.” Brooke said taking a look at
Ian.
Bridget shrugged. “I’m sorry but that isn’t good enough for me.”
‘ Then what will be?” Ian asked. “ What do you need to feel better swore afadavids that I’m not insane.”
“ We are talking about my mother. I don’t just trust anyone with her.”
Ian might have barked at her and told her what she could do with herself if he
hadn’t see a glimmer of fear in he eyes. But he did. He sighed. Spoiled or no.
She was very much so worried about her mother. Damn, he couldn’t blame her. He
crossed his hands over his chest. He wasn’t about to let Brooke go but he knew
that Bridget wasn’t going to go either. They were at a stalemate. “ So what are
you going to do?” He asked the teen.
Bridget sighed looking at her mother. Brooke was stupporn
and nobody could make her do anything that she didn’t want to do. Giving Ian a
steely look she crossed her arms over her chest.
“ I guess since my mother come home then I’m going with you.”
“ You did what!”
“ Listen, don’t get mad.”
“ Don’t get mad. Bridget you mad some insane decision about going to this man’s
house without clearing it with me.”
“I didn’t think you’d mind.” She lied.
‘ Of course you did.” Deacon said.
“Deacon. This is my mother. I can’t let her go off.”
“ Why not? Damn it. She’s a grown woman. From what I saw of this guy he’s
alright.”
“ Well, he isn’t to me. I don’t know him. Who knows what he could be doing to
my mom.”
“ Well if last night it anything then we know.”
“ Deacon! This is MY mother. Not some stripper in Vegas that can run off with
any guy. I’m worried about her.”
Deacon didn’t want to do this. It meant taking off more time. “ Listen honey. I
know you are worried about your mom.”
‘ For good reason. This isn’t like her. This whole affair. I know that she’s
had some relationship and a few rebounds but its been in L.A with someone I
know. This isn’t the case. What if you are wrong? What if my mom’s wrong and
this guy does something to her. I can’t take that risk. Please. Come with me.”
“ I’ve got to work Bridget. Not everybody is born with trust funds.”
“ I know and if this wasn’t about my mother I’d agree with you but I don’t this
time. I’m really worried about her.”
Deacon sighed before he looked at his beautiful wife. Her blond hair, her pouty lips and the sad look in he eyes. God, she knew she
was killing him. “ Alright.” Bridget smiled. “ But only a couple of days. I’ve
got a job Bridget and I can’t afford to lose it.”
Brooke packed away the rest of her clothes in the brown leather duffel bag that
Ian supplied her with. Looking over her shoulder she watched as Ian did the
same. However he was very stoic and distant. Brooke closed her eyes. How could
it have gotten so bad in just a short amount of time? “ That’s everything.”
Brooke said putting the last of her items in her bag. He looked up at her and
the cold look on his face disappeared. Brooke was relieved. Ian saw the worry
on her face. He took her hand and pulled her into his lap.
“ Are you sure that you want to do this?”
“ No. I don’t. But your daughter is pretty stubborn. Just like someone else
that I know.” He traced Brooke’s lower lip. “ So if she wants to get to know me
I guess she will.”
Brooke nodded. “Thank you.”
“ For what?”
“ You could have said no.”
“ I wanted to. I don’t like the idea of people coming to my home uninvited.
Especially people who have already made up my mind about me.”
“ So why did you agree?”
“ I don’t know Princess. Maybe because I know how much your daughter means to
you.”
“ She isn’t the only one.” Brooke said running her fingers though his hair. “
You mean a lot. Maybe this won’t be so bad. Bridget will get to know you.”
“ She has and she doesn’t like me.” He growled.
“ You weren’t exactly warm and welcoming.”
“ She was rude to you.”
“I know.”
“ Then why did you excuse it?”
“ Why did you agree to let Bridget come to your house?”
Ian frowned not knowing what to say. He shrugged for a moment before he played
with her hair. It was so beautiful. She was so beautiful. It was worth it,
having her daughter and her husband come to his house if it meant he’d have
more time with Brooke. “ I guess if I were in her shoes, I’d be worried too.
I’d want to know who my mother was spending her time with.” Brooke smiled.
“ You are so sweet.”
He closed his eyes loving the feel of her hands playing in his hair and
massaging his scalp.
“ You say that now. Just because they are coming with us doesn’t mean that my
life or my past is an open book to them.”
“ I know.”
“ Nor do I plan to defend myself to her.”
“ I know.”
“ Or you.” Ian fingered the soft black sweater Brooke now wore. “ What you and
I have is special. I won’t allow her to say anything about us.”
Brooke nodded. She leaned down and kissed her passionately.
Grace finished packing the boxes up. “ That’s everything that you ordered plus
some.”
“Thanks.” Ian said.
“ I’m glad that you listened to me for once in your life.”
Ian nodded a moment before he touched Grace lightly on her hands. “ I’m glad
that I did too. I really would have missed out on someone special.” He said
looking at Brooke as she headed toward his SUV.
Bridget shivered as the snow fell all around them. “Honey are you alright?”
Brooke asked concerned about her daughter.
“ I’ll be fine as soon as we get into the truck.” Bridget said as her mother
opened up the door to the SUV. Bridget slid into the back seat as her mother
cut the truck on.
“ Ian shouldn’t be too long. He’s added a few extras to the grocery list.”
Bridget nodded. “Deacon had one more phone call and then he should be on the
way.”
“ He doesn’t mind coming.”
“ Well. It wasn’t on his list of things he wanted to do but he changed his
mind.”
This surprised Brooke. More and more it seemed there was more to Deacon that
what met the eye. Brooke turned to look at her daughter. “ I know that this
hasn’t been one of our best days but I am glad that you are coming with me.”
Bridget was surprised. She rubbed her gloved hands together to try to stay
warm. “Really?”
Brooke nodded. “ I know that it seems surprising but I’ve got a lot of hopes
for the next couple of days.”
Bridget’s look of hope disappeared. “ Oh. Because you want me to like him.”
Brooke sighed. “No. though I’m hoping you’ll see what I see in Ian but it’s
really about him. It’s about you and me.”
“ Us?” Bridget was confused.
“You and me honey.”
“ Mom we don’t have a problem.”
“ No. I think that we do.” Brooke turned to look at her daughter. “ Lately we
haven’t communicated with each other. There has been disagreement and I know
that you’ve been disappointed by my actions. Some I can’t make up for. Others I
won’t apologize for. But there are some things that I’ve done in the past that
hurt you and I’m sorry for them. I want this time together to become an
awakening for the both of us. For us to get to know each other as not only
mother and daughters but maybe as friends.”
Bridget felt tears in her eyes. Honestly it was something that she wanted to as
well. “ I can’t promise you that I’ll see Ian the way that you do. But as far
as you and I go. I’d like to try.”