Miss Match (27 page)

Brooke nodded mutely and walked back to her desk. But she couldn’t help obsessing.

“Don’t do this to me.”

Brooke plugged her laptop in, trying to shake the conversation with Luke out of her head.

“I think the reason you aren’t willing to try is because you’re scared.”

Eight years ago, Luke had told her he wanted them to date. And she had told him no, that their friendship was worth more than a high school fling. Then he had moved on to other women, rather quickly in fact, and she’d been convinced she’d made the right decision. But they weren’t in high school anymore, and Luke was changing.

Brooke booted up her laptop and brought up Luke’s profile.

“You’re worried because as soon as you let yourself care that much, you are no longer in control. And you can’t stand the idea of giving another human being that much power over you.”

Brooke looked around to make sure she was alone. The cubicles next to hers and Zoey’s were all either empty, or the matchmakers were distracted by work.

Brooke stared at Luke’s profile picture, chewing on her lip. She hovered the pointer over
run compatibility match
and clicked
.
A screen popped up.
Run match against database or specific client?
it asked.

Brooke lightly tapped her index finger against the mouse. She was crazy to do this.

She had to know.

She clicked
specific client.
A new box popped up and the cursor blinked. Brooke glanced over her shoulder, then quickly typed
Brooklyn Pierce.

Anther screen popped up.
This file is frozen. Do you still wish to run compatibility match?

Brooke hit
yes
.

A progress bar appeared on the screen. Brooke watched as it slowly filled with green. One of the matchmaker’s laughed, and Brooke jumped. Her cheeks burned. How would she explain this if she was caught?

She was only doing it for her own peace of mind. Just because she and Luke were compatible as friends didn’t mean they were compatible as a couple. When the database proved that, she’d be able to put the whole thing out of her head forever and focus on Antonio.

Her heart twisted as she thought of him. She needed to come clean and tell him everything, and then they needed to go far away from Luke and focus on their new lives together. She closed her eyes against the pain.

The computer let out a chime. Brooke took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

Luke’s profile picture was on one side of the screen, and Brooke’s was on the other. Blinking between their photos was a giant, green number.

Eighty-three percent.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

She needed to tell Antonio
about what was happening between her and Luke. She wanted to tell him.

She couldn’t tell him.

Brooke sat on his worn couch, pretending to read but really watching Antonio paint. Light streamed in from the floor to ceiling windows, and she was tempted to snap a picture with her cell phone. The stark white of the canvas and the splattered paint on his jeans against the backdrop of exposed brick held a kind of beauty that almost made her want to take up painting herself.
Why can’t I tell him? I should be able to tell him.

The compatibility test meant nothing. She never should’ve run it. She’d had numerous couples ultimately end up with one of their less compatible matches. A computer generated number was only part of what made a match successful.

I have to tell him.

Antonio dropped his paintbrush onto the pallet and turned to face her. “What are you thinking about, my love?”

“You,” Brooke said, forcing a smile.

He grinned, removing his painter’s smock. He sank onto the couch and pulled her into his arms. “Mmm,” he said, squeezing her tight. “You seem troubled,
mia dolcezza.
Tell me what’s on your mind.” He leaned down and slowly kissed her. “I want to help if I can.”

Brooke turned her face into his chest so he wouldn’t see the tears that threatened. She was as bad as her dad, thinking about Luke while promising her life to Antonio. It stopped here. She had made her decision, and she trusted that choice.

“I think we should move to Italy,” Brooke said.

“Really?”

“Yeah. You were right. It’s the best decision for us.”

Antonio let out a whoop and jumped up, pulling her up with him. He kissed her soundly on the lips. “You won’t regret this. We will have such a
fantastico
time in Rome. I already know what area of the city I want to look in for an
appartamento
. Oh, Brooke. We’re doing the right thing.”

“Yeah,” Brooke agreed, forcing a smile. “Please, though, I don’t want to tell anyone yet.”

His brow furrowed. “They’ll find out soon enough.”

“I know. But I want the focus to be on Toujour right now.” She looked down. “I need to find a way to tell Luke. He’s going to be crushed.”

Antonio’s gaze darkened. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

Brooke frowned. “I think he loves me.”
I know he does.

Antonio cursed, stepping away. “I knew it.”

Brooke grabbed his arm. “Nothing has happened between us, I swear. I’ve never so much as kissed him. But we need to get away. Please, don’t tell anyone yet.”

Antonio frowned, then nodded. “I can feel us pulling away from each other, Brooke.”

“We won’t let it happen.”

He leaned forward and kissed her again. “I love you. Italy will be our fresh start.”

Brooke smiled too. She wanted to feel elated. Any other girl would be thrilled to move to Italy with her new husband. But all Brooke could think about was Luke, and the ache in her heart that would never quite heal.

Why had he gone and ruined everything?

* * *

Brooke took a deep breath and knocked on her dad’s door. Antonio’s shoulder brushed against hers, a show of support that she appreciated. She wasn’t comfortable coming here now that Lexi had moved in, but when she’d asked her dad what he wanted for his birthday, he insisted all he wanted was for her to visit.

The door opened, and Lexi let out a shrill laugh. “They’re here, Daniel,” she called over her shoulder.

Brooke tried not to let her annoyance at Lexi’s presence show. Of course she would be here for the birthday dinner. “Hi, Lexi.”

“I’m so glad you could come.” Lexi shut the door behind them. “Let me take your coats.”

Antonio and Brooke both handed over the coats and followed Lexi into the spacious kitchen. Dad stood behind the stainless steel stove. Brooke blinked and set the present she’d brought on the counter.

“Happy birthday,” Brooke said. “If I’d known you were cooking, I would’ve insisted we go to a restaurant. I thought you were ordering in.”

“Hey, Sugar Bee.” Dad stepped away from the stove and gave Brooke a one-armed hug. “It’s good to have you here.”

“I’m not sure I’m in the right place,” Brooke said. “I haven’t seen you in a kitchen in at least twenty years.”

“Lexi taught me how to caramelize almonds for the salad. I wanted to give it a try.”

Miranda had been a professional chef, but Brooke had never seen Dad make the effort for her.

“Have you had a good birthday?” Antonio asked.

“A fantastic one. Lexi and I took the twins to a movie this morning, and tomorrow Shandi’s bringing Jason by. I’ll have gotten to see all my kids for my birthday, which means it’s perfect.”

Brooke looked away, studying the flecks in the granite counter top. She wasn’t sure how her dad’s improved efforts to be a good father made her feel.

Soon they were all eating around the kitchen table. Brooke begrudgingly admitted that Lexi actually seemed like a very nice girl, cheating with a married man aside.

After dinner, they played a few games in the sun room, and then Antonio and Lexi got into a spirited debate about impressionist painters. “Let’s leave them to it,” Dad said, nudging Brooke with his shoulder.

Brooke looked at Antonio, who was still deep in conversation with Lexi. Brooke reluctantly nodded and followed her dad into the living room, sinking next to him on the leather couch.

“How’s wedding planning going?” Dad asked, flinging an arm over the back of the couch.

“Okay.” Brooke swallowed hard, gazing at the print of a Monet painting on one wall. She’d never seen it before. It must be one of Lexi’s. Brooke had told her mom about Italy a few days ago. It was time to tell her dad, even if they were keeping it on the down low for everyone else. “Antonio accepted the position with the gallery. We’re moving to Italy at the end of February. It’s going to make wedding planning a bit more complicated.”

Dad patted Brooke on the knee. “Well now.” He cleared his throat and looked away. “I can’t say I won’t miss you. But if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Brooke eyes brimmed with tears. She quickly blinked, pushing a few down her cheeks.

“You are happy, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

Dad frowned. “Antonio isn’t here right now, Brooklyn. I can hear him and Lexi still arguing in the sun room. What’s going on?”

Brooke shook her head. She didn’t want to have this conversation with her father. “Nothing.”

“You can’t lie to me. I know you too well.”

Brooke laughed. “We’ve barely had a relationship since you left Mom.”

“That hasn’t been my choice.” He frowned. “I haven’t always been the best dad or role model. But you’re still my little girl. And I know something’s going on.”

Brooke fiddled with a throw pillow. “Luke isn’t too pleased about the move, that’s all.” Not that she’d worked up the courage yet to tell him they were definitely going.

Dad snorted. “Of course he isn’t. Boy’s been in love with you since high school.”

“Dad.”

“What? It’s true. He loves you the way sugar loves to cause tooth decay.”

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Wow, romantic.”

Dad took her hand in his. “Why haven’t you given that boy a chance?”

She pulled her hand away. “He’s not relationship material.”

“That’s Nadeen talking, not you.” He sighed. “I blame myself for that. I gave your mother plenty of reasons to hate men.”

“You gave Shandi and Miranda plenty of reasons too.”

“I know I’m not great at relationships, and I know I’ve given you a lot of baggage because of that. I’m sorry.”

Brooke glanced at her father, surprised to see tears in his eyes. “Then go back to Miranda, Dad. Try to work it out for the twins’ sake. Don’t do to them what you’ve done to me and Jason.”

“That ship has unfortunately sailed. But we aren’t talking about me—we’re talking about you and Luke. And Luke’s been putting up a front so you don’t see how much you’re hurting him.”

Brooke clutched her mug in her hands.
Eighty-three percent.
“Don’t say that.”

“Brooklyn, I’m only going to say this once—Antonio will never make you happy. Not really. He’s a great guy. But not for you. Luke’s the guy you love. Even the tabloids see it.”

Tears dripped onto Brooke’s pajama pants. “I don’t love Luke like that.”

“Yes, you do. And Brooke—he’s not me.”

Brooke gasped, her eyes flying to her father’s.

Dad nodded, his own eyes sparkling with tears. “I know I hurt you badly. And I know your mother and I turned you sour on relationships. And then me and Shandi. And now me and Miranda. But don’t let my past rob you of your future. Talk to Luke. Give him a shot.”

The talking in the sun room stopped, and Brooke quickly wiped at her eyes. “Sounds like they’re done arguing,” she mumbled. “I’d better go check on Antonio.”

Dad grabbed her hand as she rose. “Don’t write Luke off. And don’t make your choice out of fear.”

Antonio and Lexi appeared in the living room, both laughing. Brooke quickly went to his side. “Have a good conversation?” she asked.

He nodded, leaning down to kiss her. “I think I’ve finally convinced Lexi I’m in the right.”

“Hardly. I agreed to disagree on the subject.”

“Ready for dessert?” Lexi asked. “I made Daniel’s favorite.”

Brooke nodded. But all she could think about is the conversation with her father.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Luke sat on the floor
outside Brooke’s apartment door, nervously tapping the box against his leg.
This is a stupid idea. I should leave before she sees me.

If he wanted to give her a meaningful gift, Christmas would’ve been the appropriate time. But he hadn’t thought of this idea until after the holiday.

He heard the ding of the elevator, saw the number for Brooke’s floor light up above the elevator door, and tensed. It could be someone else on this floor. But it could be her. If he took the stairs, he could still leave before she saw him. Then a horrifying thought occurred to him—what if Antonio was with her?