Of course, now that Brooke and Sarah were married to Brandon’s brothers, she wasn’t sure they’d be allies. They might have matchmaking plans in their heads about the third in their trio marrying another brother. It was like a bad Hallmark movie. Okay, if she was being honest in her own head, she could admit she loved those movies. She didn’t hate love at all; she just didn’t think it was right for her.
“Brandon’s here,” Chloe whispered. Brooke smiled, and Chloe wanted to call her a traitor.
“Does he have you all hot and bothered? I don’t know why you always run from him. You two could light up the city with the electricity that sparks between the two of you. And with him being an electrician, I’m sure he knows which wires to cross.” She laughed at her own joke. At least she found herself humorous.
Chloe sighed as she rolled her eyes. That only made Brooke smile even wider. She knew now that at least one out of her two best friends wasn’t going to be any help to her. She was doubting her other best friend would do her any good, either.
No matter how many men Chloe had dated over the years, she was normally finished with a guy by date number three. Brooke knew this about Chloe, and it had never been a problem. As a matter of fact, her friends had been impressed with her willpower. Sarah had been pretty similar, actually. Not Brooke. Brooke had been in relationships before. But she was also one hell of a tough woman, and no man had been able to be her equal until Finn. Now her bestie was happier than Chloe had ever seen her before.
“I don’t want him,” Chloe hissed. “I did have him, though,” she added very quietly.
Brooke looked at her again, and then her eyes widened in understanding. The girls normally didn’t keep anything from each other, and Brooke wasn’t a stupid woman. She was putting the pieces together.
“When?” she gasped.
“After Sarah’s wedding,” she admitted.
Now it was time for Brooke to be hurt and irritated. “Are you kidding me?” she said, one hand firmly planted on her hip. “You went this long without telling me and Sarah?”
If it had been simply anger in her friend’s gaze, Chloe wouldn’t have felt so scolded. It was the hurt that was her undoing.
“I’m sorry. I was hoping if I forgot about it, then it would just go away,” Chloe said.
“But we share everything,” Brooke said.
“I know. I know. But I didn’t mean for it to happen,” Chloe tried to explain.
“Oh, you just fell onto a bed and ended up naked and sweaty, then?” Brooke said. She was shaking her head at Chloe.
“No, I was very aware of my decisions that night. Plus, I was feeling sorry for myself, and he flirts very well, and you know—one thing led to another. It had been a really, really, really long time.”
“I can totally understand you sleeping with the guy. I just don’t get how you can keep it from your besties,” Brooke pointed out.
“I had to do the walk of shame for the first time in my life. That’s how I was able to keep it from you,” Chloe said as she threw her hands in the air.
“You know neither Sarah nor I would ever judge you,” Brooke said. “We’ve all done things that weren’t our proudest moments, but then we’ve also always had each other to talk to about it to make ourselves feel better.”
“I know. And I probably would’ve felt better long ago if I’d come to you guys, but I’ve been hoping he’d just forget about it.”
“You aren’t exactly a forgettable kind of woman,” Brooke said.
“And you are married to his brother. This is a mess,” Chloe said.
“If you really aren’t interested, then you have to be honest with him. I’m sure he’ll respect that,” Brooke said.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong, exactly,” Chloe told her. “He’s just always around. And now Joseph is pushing me hard to work on this kitchen, which means we’d be locked together for hours on end.” She was tapping her foot in agitation.
“I’m not sure if that’s a bad or good thing. I’m confused now,” Brooke said.
That made Chloe smile. “Welcome to my world.”
“One thing I know for sure is there’s not a chance of avoiding him, not in this town, so you either have to be honest with him and tell him to back off or tell him you need time to figure out what you want. I’m sure he’ll respect that.”
“Do you think a guy would even understand if we told him we have no clue what it was that we wanted?” Chloe asked.
That made Brooke smile. “Nope. He won’t understand it at all, but it would give you some breathing room. I really want to see you work on this project. The entire town is rallying behind it.”
“As much as I’m frustrated with Joseph, I want to do it. I’m just so stubborn I haven’t signed the papers. But I have done some preliminary drawings. I could make this kitchen efficient and amazing. And maybe it would get publicity for this place as well. Though I’m busy now, it’s the novelty of a new place in town. I want it to stay busy forever; then someday maybe it can even expand into more cities.”
“I think that’s a smart business plan. Just tell Brandon to back off and let you breathe, and all of it will work out just fine,” Brooke assured her.
“Is that how it worked with Finn?” Chloe asked.
“Finn and I were complicated from the day we met, but in the end it all worked out.”
“I don’t want to get married,” Chloe said.
“This isn’t the eighteenth century. You don’t have to get married if you don’t want to,” Brooke pointed out.
“I don’t want to fall in love.”
Brooke gave her a smile. “I don’t think you really get a choice in that.”
“You aren’t reassuring me,” Chloe said. “I’ve always believed love is a choice. I chose to love you and Sarah. And I’ve chosen not to love a man.”
“I’d say because we’re more sisters than besties. And as far as men go, that’s because the right one hasn’t come along.” She looked to the door. “Or he hadn’t until maybe now.”
“This isn’t love. This is just hormones. I’ll beat them,” Chloe said, more determined than ever before to prove herself right.
“Well, good luck with that,” Brooke said as she laughed.
“Look out the door and tell me what he’s up to,” Chloe said with a growl in her voice. Brooke was of no help at all.
“He sat down at a table. Marcy handed him the menu and appears to be going for coffee.” The normality of the moment snapped Chloe from her panic attack. She actually found herself smiling the tiniest bit as she tugged on Brooke’s arm to get her attention.
“You have to go find out what he’s doing here,” Chloe said. “Hopefully it’s nothing more than a coincidence, and he’s not looking for me at all.”
“Considering this is your place, I highly doubt he’s just here for the coffee and pastries. Though they are damn fine. I think I’ve gained ten pounds since this place opened.” She sent a glare Chloe’s way, as if that was her fault.
“I don’t make you eat the food,” Chloe pointed out.