Hold My Hand

Author's Note: So this is a story idea that would NOT go away. I put the idea into words and then I was stuck on this story and I couldn't move forward. I decided to write out the first chapter and see what you all think. Is it worth continuing or should I put it away for another day? At the end let me know what ya'll think. :-)

Summary: AU Story - Brooke Davis is quickly becoming one of the "go-to" publicists in Los Angeles, the Hollywood elite has her number on speed dial. So what does the woman who has it all want most - a partner. B/L & B/J with H/N, P/J and other minor couples. Borrows a little from the movie Picture Perfect.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything OTH related… If I did the show would have gone a completely different direction. Story title is Hold My Hand by Hootie & the Blowfish. There's going to be some veiled celebrity references - clearly I don't own them either. ;-)

Chapter 1:

Bevin met Brooke at the elevator, "Good morning Miss Davis."

"Bev," Brooke smiled, "we have been friends since grade school - Brooke is fine. Miss Davis makes me sound so old."

Bevin blushed, "I just didn't want the other members of the secretarial staff thinking nepotism got me this job. I was trying to keep it professional while we're in the office."

"Fair enough Bevin, but you've been working for me now for the last six months. I would say you've earned it," Brooke headed to her corner office on the 19th floor. She handed Bevin her coat and purse, "Messages?"

"Only one, your 9am cancelled." Bevin frowned, "You know the meeting with George Clo-"

Brooke shhhed her, "What have I told you about using client or potential clients LAST names. We don't do it Bevin, we are a zero leak operation in this office. I run a tight ship, client information has never leaked from my desk and I intend to keep it that way."

"I'm sorry," Bevin said in a downcast tone as she looked at her tablet.

Brooke headed to her oversized oak desk and took a seat behind it, "Shut the door please." Bevin closed the door, "Did they say why they were cancelling? Did they want to reschedule?"

"They didn't give a reason and they didn't ask to reschedule," Bevin sat down in the wingback chair in the corner of the office and sighed, "There has been some inner office chatter that might shine light on the reason."

"I don't have time to prattle on about the gossip mill Bev, we've been out of high school almost 10 years." Brooke huffed. She watched Bevin bite her lip, "Alright, alright what is it?"

"The wife wanted to cancel, she didn't want to work with you."

Brooke laughed in an incredulous manner, "Why not?"

"Because you're attractive and unencumbered." Bevin bit her lip again, "Franny downstairs in accounting said this has happened a few times in the past."

Brooke shrugged her shoulders, "That's so sexist - I bet neither one of them would care if I had a penis." She thought this mess would stop when she hired someone who knew her and knew about her morality and ethics, but obviously that wasn't going to be the case. When Haley told Brooke that Bevin and Skills had moved out to California with their three small children seven months ago she had called her immediately and begged her to take the job. She knew she couldn't stop the office hens from clucking about, but she had hoped Bevin would be available to run interference and quash it.

Bevin smiled, "You're hot Brooke, but people that know you know that you would never go after another woman's husband." Bevin looked down at her table for the second time, "So it's true then - other clients have gone elsewhere in the past?"

Brooke put her head in her hands for a second and sulked, "It's happened twice since I've worked here. The last time the client's agent made it dreadfully obvious he just didn't want to work with me. We had one meeting, I thought it went well and next thing I know they put in a call to JJ saying they wanted to work with the firm, but I had to be excluded." Brooke shook her head, "I was told a few months later that the husband confided to his therapist that he thought I was beautiful and when the wife found out she closed ranks and protected her investment. I can't blame Victoria honestly, if David were my husband I would keep him chained up in the basement. Use him strictly for sex and trot him out for dinner parties and movie premieres." Brooke and Bevin giggled together for a few minutes, "Oh well. Moving on Bev, what's on my calendar for the rest of the week."

Bevin clicked on Brooke's calendar, "There are two lunches scheduled with Lucas Roe," Bevin tucked a few stray pieces of blonde hair behind her ear, "New beau?"

"Hardly," Brooke mused, "I would love to date him but there are two problems with that one. First he's trouble and there is an ex finance that is still very much involved in the picture and second he's a co-worker and it is best to keep your private life private and un-messy. A man I worked for in college once told me 'you don't get your meat where you get your dough,' and I've done my due diligence to live by that mantra everyday day." Bevin arched her eyebrow and Brooke added, "He's from the 23rd floor, he typically handles athletes - it's a rare occurrence, but sometimes we have to work together."

"So why the lunches then?" Bevin wondered.

"When he starts sleeping with someone in the building and he wants to keep it quiet," Brooke drummed her nails on the desk, 'I need a manicure desperately' she told herself before continuing, "he likes to expense the outings so his secretary puts them in the calendar as work lunches, plus it keeps the girls from speculating about his life outside of the office."

Bevin nodded, "Isn't that illegal."

Brooke gestured so-so with her hands, "It's gray - like a lot of things Lucas Roe does. Moving on please."

"You have a manicure scheduled for Thursday afternoon and I confirmed your flight itinerary for Friday morning." Bevin closed the calendar and awaited further instruction.

"Wilmington - for Quinn and Clay's wedding. How could I forget?" Brooke replied in a snarky tone, "Did you order them something nice from the registry?"

"Already taken care of," Bevin stood up and smoothed out her skirt. "The items will be arriving at the Riverwalk Hotel on Friday." Brooke opened her mouth to ask something, "It's already wrapped and," Bevin handed her a soft pink envelope, "I picked up a card as well. You just need to sign it."

Brooke beamed at Bevin, "Terrific. What would I do without you?"

"Buy your own gifts," Bevin cackled. "You got them cookware by the way."

"I will have you know that when Peyton and Haley got married I picked out the gifts myself," Brooke picked at her chipping nail polish, "Quinn is like a friend of a friend." She reasoned with herself, "She's Haley's older sister and Clay is Nathan's business partner. I feel like I was invited because it was expected, I would skip it if Haley wouldn't be mad afterward. I am so tired of weddings."

Bevin nodded in agreement and headed to the door, "I understand, open or closed?"

"Closed please, I have a few phone calls to make." Brooke fixed a few of the picture frames on her desk and got to work.

Brooke heard a knock at the mahogany door, "Come in."

"Hey there pretty girl." Lucas Roe said with a smirk, "How did your meeting go this morning?"

Brooke felt her cheeks burn, "You know they cancelled Lucas don't play coy, that's not your strong suit. The entire floor was a flutter with the news. Some days I really think I'm going to work up the courage to quit this hell hole and go out on my own."

"You can't do that," Lucas grinned, "Who would flirt with me all day if you didn't work here anymore?"

"Hmmm," Brooke rolled her eyes, "I don't know, maybe whatever girl you're seeing this week."

Lucas leaned against the door frame, "And what makes you think there's a new girl huh?"

"Two lunch dates in one week," Brooke tsked, "Who are you hiding from? Which floor does she work on?"

Lucas squinted with a cheshire cat like smile, "You know me too well Brooke Davis. Do you actually want to know?"

"No," Brooke responded quickly, "I have an idea I would love to run by you if you have the time."

"I would do anything for you Brooke, you know that," Lucas said with a sly grin, "What do you need pretty girl."

Lucas has been charming her with those blue eyes and that golden smile since she started at JJ's firm five years ago, "It would make me feel better if we actually had lunch sometime and I'm not talking about client lunches." Brooke propped her chin on her hands and smiled, "When I get back from North Carolina you should have lunch with me."

Lucas came in the office and shut the door behind him, he sat down in the chair across from Brooke and kissed her hand. "I would LOVE to have lunch with you sweetheart - but you're far too good for me Brooke. It wouldn't be fair to the man out there that truly deserves you. I am just too much of an asshole, you would end up hating me."

"I'm not that good Lucas," Brooke bit her bottom lip and kinked her eyebrow, "I can be bad, I spent my entire high school career being the sexy bad girl that mothers warn their sons about."

Lucas kissed her hand again, "I'm sure you were so bad pretty girl." He winked in her direction, "But I can honestly say I am a prick and I wouldn't want to risk this great friendship we have. You understand baby don't you."

Brooke laughed uncomfortably, "Of course, it was just a suggestion. I would hate JJ to audit your books and fire you over something so trivial."

Lucas opened the door and turned to leave, "Thanks for looking out kid, don't worry that pretty head about JJ. Where would I be without you by my side?"

Brooke poked at the bacon wrapped filet scraps on her plate and wondered when she could make her escape without being seen as rude. "Put your hands together ladies and gentlemen for the best man and the matron of honor - Nathan and Haley Scott." Brooke turned to the stage and clapped when she saw them. Since she wasn't a member of the wedding party and she had come stag she had been relegated to a table chock full of divorcees and the elderly.

Haley reached for the microphone first, "My father only had daughters so I'm sure you can imagine how rough that was for him when we were all younger but now that we are all married, he finally got his wish and he has three sons. So let me be the first to officially welcome you to the family Clay."

Nathan cinched his arm around Haley's waist and spoke next, "Clay you have been my brother for years man, but marrying Quinn made it legal. So let's raise our glasses to Clay and Quinn."

Brooke stood up, excused herself from the table and headed outside in search of the bar. "Not a fan of weddings?" A voice called out behind her.

She turned around and caught sight of the speaker, he was tall - even though she was wearing a pair of black 5" Jimmy Choo ankle strap sandals he towered over her. He was at least 6'3" with dark wavy hair cut in a shaggy style and deep chocolate colored eyes. His rugged jaw was covered in a scruffy beard and he was smiling from ear to ear. "I beg your pardon?" Brooke said in a confused tone.

"I have noticed you a few times tonight and you just appear aloof, as if you would rather be anywhere else." The stranger said matter of factly, "So I deduced that you are just not a fan of weddings."

Brooke rolled her eyes, "I'm a little jet lagged honestly and I am sitting at a table with a bunch of people I don't even know. I love weddings for your information, I always have. Finding that special person to walk through life with, it's a beautiful fantasy. A soul mate, that's the dream isn't it? I would settle for someone sincere, that always holds my hand." Brooke smiled, "Now that's the dream." Brooke touched the delicate emerald green chiffon dress she had selected for the event.

"Hand holding," the man simpered, "one of the most under appreciated forms of intimacy out there."

Brooke put her hands on her hips, "Are you mocking me?"

"No ma'am," he laughed. "I wouldn't dare." He reached out and pulled one of Brooke's hands into his. Before she could protest he pressed it against his chest and said, "Her hand gripped his, and even amid the fear and danger he marveled at the feeling that came with the contact." He let out a husky breath, "If we die holding hands in this way, will we enter the next dream together?"

Brooke felt her pulse quicken under his tender hand, "That was lovely," she swallowed dryly, "What is it a quote from?"

"It can't be one of my own?" He grinned down at her and continued to pull her closer to him.

"No," Brooke said in an exasperated tone, "it sounded rehearsed."

"I wish I were that clever," He dropped her hand and continued, "It's from a book called The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell. It's a sci-fi fantasy novel."

"It sounds like a love story." Brooke answered.

"There's a little bit of a romantic element." He rubbed the gruff on his cheek, "It's like Romeo & Juliet set in a dystopian society, the lovers are from two rival guilds and they fall for each other." He catches sight of Brooke's confused face and stops rambling, "So yeah I agree with you, hand holding is a lost practice."

Brooke giggled, "So stranger do you have a name?"

"I do, but first I am going to tell you yours." He led her over to one of the wrought iron benches and sat down.

"How do you propose to do that?" Brooke wondered with a dimpled smile as she sat down and crossed her legs towards him.

"It's easy really," He paused, "I have always just had a knack for names and you darlin', your name is Brooke."

Brooke straightened up next to him and quickly surveyed her surroundings, "How did you-"

"Calm down, I'm not a stalker or a serial killer I swear. Nathan sent me out here to find Haley's single friend Brooke. I was trying to be cute and clearly I failed." He reached for her hand again, this time to shake it, "I'm Julian Baker - nice to meet you."

"Brooke Davis, it's my pleasure." She let out an uncomfortable giggle, 'Nathan was referring to me as the single friend now?' she said to herself before speaking, "and I'm relieved you aren't here to murder me."

Julian looked at his watch, "We better get back inside, the first dance is in a few minutes."

"Can't we skip it," Brooke pouted, "I would rather sit out here and get to know you better."

"As tempting as that sounds, I can't skip it darlin'," Julian winked, "I'm singing it."

"You're the wedding singer?" Brooke replied in an unintentional snarky tone.

"Ouch," Julian laughed, "Clay and I are friends, Quinn asked me to sing tonight and I didn't want to cross her, seeing as she's the bride and all. So let's go, I need something beautiful to focus on."

Brooke laughed as Julian pulled her to her feet, "Shouldn't you be focused on the bride and groom."

He spun her into his arms and whispered softly into her ear, "I should be, but with you in the room it's going to be difficult."

So what do you all think? Should I continue or scrap it?

Hit review and give me your thoughts. :-)

Thanks again for reading!

Krystal