It had started out almost a year ago; in the garage of Brooke Davis-Taggaro, the newlywed who found herself unhappy and alone already in the first five months of being married. They had only met twice before it happened. His brother was a big hot shot basketball player; the starting shooting guard for the Charlotte Bobcats who just happened by chance to live directly across the street from The Taggaro's in an upscale suburban neighborhood. They met for the first time at a formal party held by Nathan and Haley Scott. Brooke remembered it like it was yesterday.

She glided into the extravagant house wearing an emerald gown that clung tightly to her every curve; her head held high with confidence as almost nearly every head turned as she entered the glass double doors. Felix, her husband, smirked as every guy in there glared at him. Felix was proud of his arm candy. Brooke used to think that she'd never end up like her own mother as a trophy wife, but how she had been wrong. Felix made enough money that she no longer had to work…all she had to do was look pretty. Having once been a model, Brooke was used to all the looks she got. She just wished her own husband wouldn't treat her like a piece of meat. After being greeted by an enthusiastic Haley, Brooke drifted away from Felix in search of the bar. And that's when she first saw him. His tall, scrawny-but-toned figure slouched against the wall. His icy blue eyes looking down into the brown beer bottle he was swirling. Brooke noticed that he was slightly out of place, she could tell by the fact he was just drinking a beer and the simplistic clothes he was wearing ...not that that was a bad thing. He looked amazingly good with dark jeans with a black shirt under a black jacket. He had no expensive designer suit or watch like most of the other men there. He was brooding and probably needed a shave; his face was scruffy. Brooke smiled slightly to herself as she walked up to the bar and ordered herself an apple martini, speaking in a seductive, raspy voice in hopes to grab his attention.

"Hey broody, is that beer interesting? Or are you just one of those anti social kinda guys.?"

In that very second, his eyes flickered up to meet hers. They were an icy blue that seemed to be staring straight into her soul. Brooke noticed a tiny grin spread across his face as he let out a dry laugh.

"You know I've never been able to stand these things. I clearly don't know anyone…I'm just here because my brother invited me."

"You're Nathan Scott's brother? I figured his brother would be a little more, you know, muscular with dark hair." Her eyes were lit up in excitement as she poked fun at him.

His eyes rolled and he stopped slouching, adding at least 3 more inches to his already tall frame. He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, smiling when he heard Brooke giggle.

"Oh you're killing my already low self esteem. But you'd be surprised how many ladies like the scrawny-ass blond Scott Brother, I'm usually their second choice…but since Nathan's married I'm kind of their only other option."

Brooke wasn't used to a guy who would make fun of himself…after being stuck with Felix for the past two years, Brooke had just decided that most men were egotistical assholes.

Across the room she could see Felix's eyes wandering over to her, giving her a cold stare as she continued making conversation with the other Scott. Brooke walked out into the backyard, jerking her head at the blond as to signal him to join her. She sat down beside a crystal clear pool soon followed in suit by him.

"God their yard is gorgeous, such an amazing upkeep."

It was true; everything about it was green and overly colorful. Huge flowers planted all around, giving a sweet smell to the air. The hedges were nicely trimmed and everything.

"That'd be me. Lucas Scott: gardening extraordinaire. Well, I'm not actually a gardener…just for the time being. I gotta pay the bills somehow. The writing career hasn't taken off yet, so it's a part time thing now."

Brooke had figured that the yard had been done by some overly priced landscaper. Her jaw couldn't help but drop slightly.

"You did this?? Wow. Never thought a guy would actually be able to do something like this."

Lucas blushed slightly and laughed.

"I just do what Haley wants me to. There's no way in hell I'd be able to think of this whole 'landscape' thing up by myself."

There was a pause before Lucas spoke up again with his left eyebrow raised above his eye.

"Who are you? I mean, you know who my brother is…what I do for a living…and my name. It's your turn now."

Brooke wrapped her arms around her slightly as a cool breeze hit her bare back. Lucas took notice to this and took off his suit jacket, draping it over her shoulders. Brooke was taken aback by his gesture. He barely knew her and was already placing her comfort above his own. Hell her husband didn't even do that for her.

"Well, I'm an only child…married to that guy who's been staring at us this entire time…I used to be a model before tying the knot, now I'm just a housewife…and I'm Brooke Davis. Or Brooke Taggaro now."

She never liked the sound of Brooke Taggaro, it just didn't flow. But then again her marriage was practically planned anyway. Her parents had forced her to go on a blind date with Felix. He proposed on only the fifth date. The rock was huge, which was a plus of course. And Felix somehow managed to get tears to glisten in his buggy black eyes, but Brooke soon learned that he did this whenever he sealed the deal. Being a model in New York City, Brooke had become accustomed to expensive designer clothes, fine wines, and rich men….and she wasn't about to throw that away for all that 'love' bullshit. As far as she was concerned the saying 'money doesn't buy happiness' is something the rich tell the poor to keep them from rioting.

On this hazy Tuesday morning, Brooke was glancing out her balcony window, eagerly waiting for his arrival. Soon after the party across the street, Felix hired Lucas as their gardener. Brooke and Lucas started out just talking when Felix was at work. She would be on the front porch, getting him water whenever he needed it. Then Lucas would come over when Felix was on business trips or they'd see each other at Nathan's house frequently. Then, a few months later, things escaladed.

"Felix, don't you dare hang up on me! You promised you'd be home this week!!! Rattling around this stupid house all by myself is not what I signed up for! No, no, no, don't hang up on me. I'm not done yelling at you!" She then heard a frustrated sigh before a click coming from Felix's line. Brooke was furious, neglected, hurt, confused, but mostly lonely. She couldn't remember the last time Felix had been home for an entire week. Her hazel eyes came across a tanned, toned, and shirtless Lucas Scott who had just wiped his glistening brow with his forearm as he carried two heavy bags of topsoil into the shed. Brooke raised an eyebrow and slowly walked into her shed after tossing her phone off to the side. Her hips swaying back and forth as her stilettos clicked against the concrete with each step she took. Lucas turned around with a soft smile on his face.

"Hey Brooke. How are you?"

Brooke clicked the automatic garage door button and waited for it to close before answering him.

"The best you've ever had."

Brooke smiled to herself just thinking about that entire situation. Lucas had been completely taken aback when she had unzipped her dress. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing. I mean, his bosses wife. Wow. But he didn't stop her either. The thing that stuck out the most of that memory was the post sex, when the two of them were lying down in the shed; their heads propped up against the bags of soil like pillows.

Lucas' rough fingertips were slowly playing with a strand of Brookes hair as they laid on the ground, bodies entangled together. Her head was lightly resting upon his chest, slowly bobbing up and down with every breath Lucas took.

"That was just…..wow." He said with a tiny grin spread across his face.

Brooke laughed as she softly kissed his bare chest.

"Well, glad you had a good time. Because this can never happen again."

"Why not?"

"The only reason I did this was because I was angry at Felix. Now, thanks to you, I'm not angry anymore." That was the easiest explanation for it. Brooke wasn't even sure why she had just committed adultery. If this was wrong then why did it feel so right?

Lucas frowned. "You should be angry, I mean the guys never around. He's probably off having his own affair."

Brooke stood up and began getting redressed. Her tight red dress slowly re-covered her naked body. "Oh, I seriously doubt that. Felix wouldn't do that. Sex is the only way he shows any form of emotion or affection towards me. You know, instead of talking and listening and spending time with me."

Her smile faded away quickly as she became dead silent, not knowing what to say next. Lucas took notice to the deep sadness in her eyes and felt his heart break a little for her. He slowly leaned forward and met his lips with hers. His icy blue eyes snapped shut as he slid a hand up to the side of her face. He started off slow, but quickly deepened their kiss. After drawing away, Brooke's eyes lingered shut for a couple seconds.

"What was that for?"

Lucas blushed slightly and shrugged his shoulders

"Thought you needed a kiss."

Brooke heard the rumble of his truck pull into her driveway and she quickly sat up in bed, clad in nothing but black lingerie. After hearing the car door slam shut, Brooke counted down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….and then the door burst open. Her lips curled into a sly grin as she watched Lucas approach the king size bed.

"Right on time….as usual"

Luke laughed softly before climbing on top of Brooke; the bridge of his nose rubbing against hers.

"I hate to keep you waiting princess."