Chapter 26

Jack felt terrible that night when Brooke asked him to come up to her suite and he turned her down. Of course he wanted her, since day one actually. No, he wasn't trying to generate sexual tension, there was already enough of it between them.

They did make out like pigs, like Brooke said, but that wasn't funny either, especially at their age and because they were always at public places. He was getting the message from Brooke: she was ready and open, so it was getting more and more difficult to stop every time they kissed. He was holding himself back and he knew it annoyed Brooke. She was a big girl and knew exactly what she wanted. Yet he thought he had a reason to wait.

It wasn't that he was unsure of his manhood or his performance. He wasn't even afraid of Brooke being not only younger, but young. He thought she was definitely experienced and passionate, which made him kind of nervous, since he was somehow rusty after two years of loneliness.

But that wasn't why he was holding himself back either. The reason Jack was containing his impulses was that he wanted to feel love. He had never believed in sex without love, even though he had experienced it. All the times he had slept with some girl he didn't feel anything for, he sure enjoyed it at first, but then the morning after he felt unbearably empty.

And there was another thing, what he feared the most: he always compared these one night stands with the woman he loved. He did that zillion times when Sarah left him and he even used to imagine he was with her, sometimes letting his anger out and caring only of satisfying himself, without giving a damn for the woman beneath or on top of him. Of course he always felt like shit after that.

He didn't want to do that to Brooke. He didn't want to compare her to Kate, who had been a wild lover and shook him to the core every time they made love. Brooke was nothing like Kate, he knew, but he didn't want to think of her when he made Brooke his. And to avoid that, he thought, he had to feel love for her. Yes, she was special, but he knew he didn't love her. He cared for her and wanted her, but love was a strong feeling he didn't have yet.

Being direct as she was, Jack knew it wouldn't be long until Brooke asked him why he was rejecting her, physically. There was no way she could wait for him to love her, since that might take quite a time, if it ever happened, not to mention he couldn't explain those reasons to her. He knew he couldn't keep her distracted with dinners out, movies or plays anymore. He was thinking of that when Brooke came out from the airport. He got off his car.

– Hi sweetie! –Brooke said giving him an effusive hug and then kissed him shortly on the lips.

– Hey. ­­–he replied with a big smile and kissed her back. He was really happy to see her. – How was your flight?

– Long, kind of turbulent, but at least it was on time, sort of.

– Right. –Then he put her luggage in the trunk and opened the door for Brooke to get in the car. – You want to go to the hotel or you want to eat first? –he asked her.

– Actually there's a little problem with that. –she said, worried.

– With what?

– I'm homeless. I have nowhere to stay.

– Why? –he asked, surprised.

– They had no rooms available until Sunday. I checked on every single hotel I know here, but everything's booked. Seems like the whole world came to L.A. for Thanksgiving.

– Uh-huh…

– So, I was thinking I have no choice but to stay at some drive-in, so maybe we should go eat first and then you can help me with that…

Jack kept silent and thought for a moment, then he nodded and said: – Okay, I heard of a new place we can go, they say they have the best martinis in the city.

– Well, let's see, then. –she replied with a smile.

They went to that restaurant Marion had been talking about the whole week at the hospital. It was the latest hot spot in L.A., so it was crowded and there was an endless wait list to get a table. Jack thought he should've seen that coming, since Marion was the jet-setter type of girl who was always looking for the new "it" place.

– We don't have to wait Jack, let's just go somewhere else. –Brooke told him, noticing he was getting annoyed. Jack hated crowds, she knew.

Jack loved the idea of leaving but when he was about to, a man stood behind Brooke and gripped her shoulders.

­– Brooke? –the man asked.

– Marty! –Brooke replied, surprised.

Then the man, who was very good looking and a metrosexual type, held her tight and asked: – What are you doing here?

Jack was watching the scene and didn't like at all his girlfriend being hugged by another man.

Brooke broke the hug and flushed. – Um, trying to get a table. –Then she looked at Jack and held his hand, taking him nearer her. – This is Jack. Jack, this is Marty.

Both men shook hands and nodded, without saying a word. Then Brooke asked Marty: – What are you doing here?

– I own this place, with some other partners.

– Really? Wow! Congratulations.

– Thanks. But please, come with me, you don't have to wait.

Marty went right to the hostess and said something to her ear. Then he asked Jack and Brooke to follow him and gave them a table in the V.I.P. room. – If there's anything you need, please let me know. I suggest you try the Cosmo, I'm sure you'll like it, it's the best you've ever tasted. –Then Marty looked at Brooke with a mischievous smile. – Well, not like the Cosmos you have in New York, I must confess.

– Never. –Brooke replied with a smug smile.

– So, enjoy.

Mary walked away from the table and left Jack and Brooke alone. Jack looked deeply at her. – That was fast. Seems you know Marty well. –he said.

– I do. He's a fashion photographer. We've worked together sometimes.

– He took your picture?

– Yeah, that's how we met. He took my first portfolio when I was in college. We were both starting back then, so we were kind of partners. He took great pics of me.

Jack raised an eyebrow. – Really? I'd like to see those.

– I'll show them to you. All you got to do is come home with me.

– Then I will. –Jack snapped.

Brooke noticed he was somewhat annoyed. – Are you jealous? –she asked him with an impish smile.

Jack stiffened and looked away. – Of course not. Why should I be? –he retorted, casual, as if he didn't care, but he was indeed jealous.

Brooke interpreted his answer as a sign that she was thinking she had a place in Jack's heart which she obviously didn't. She didn't like the idea at all. – Okay, then. –she took the menu and looked at it. – I'll try the Cosmo.

Jack looked at the menu too and nodded. ­– Fine.

It took forever for the plates to arrive and Brooke had two martinis in between. She knew how to hold her liquor, but she was close to get drunk because she had an empty stomach, was kind of jet-lagged and definitely tired, so the martinis quickly got to her head. Jack was in a better mood now and found really amusing how Brooke was getting loose.

They finished their dinner and prepared to leave. Marty told them the dinner was on the house, in spite of Jack's vehement refuse. They finally left the restaurant. Jack drove away and took the road to St. Sebastian.

– You know? I really like Marty, but…

Jack cut her off and said: – I think he really likes you, way too much, if you ask me.

– I knew it!

– What?

– Someone's jealous.

– I'm not jealous, but I mean, he could be less obvious at least. He kept staring all the time. I felt watched.

– Oh come on! He's just a friend. I hadn't seen him in ages.

– I don't think that'll change, believe me.

– Oh really? –she asked, playfully. – Anyway, before you went paranoid I was saying I really hated his place. And I've definitely had better martinis. –she affirmed.

– I totally agree. You can blame Marion for the suggestion.

­– Marion! How is she? I haven't spoken to Patrick lately.

– They're fine. Patrick's traveling a lot, for the book and everything.

– Right.

Brooke looked at the window and saw St. Sebastian's building in front of her. – We're going to your work?

Jack giggled. – No. Didn't you say you're homeless and no hotel would take you?

– Yeah, but I'm not sleeping in a hospital. I'm not that desperate. I prefer to sleep in your car. You'd lend me your car, right?

– Of course, but you're not sleeping in it, either.

Jack passed St. Sebastian and kept driving. Six blocks after, they arrived to a nice condo. He pulled over and took a key chain from the glove compartment. Then he took Brooke out of the car and went to the trunk to get her luggage. They went to the fourth floor and Jack used the keys to open the apartment 408.

– Come in. –he asked Brooke.

The apartment was furnished with excellent taste, totally Jack's. – This is where I'm staying, huh? Who lives here? –she questioned.

– Nobody. I used to live here.

Brooke walked in and scanned the apartment. – You miss her?

– What? –Jack asked, confused.

– Your wife. You miss her?

– Why you're asking me that, Brooke?

– I just want to know. It's okay if you miss her, I understand. I guess that's why you keep this place.

Jack stared at Brooke. He still found amazing how shrewd women were. Brooke had definitely sensed that the apartment had a story. It did, it was the apartment where Sarah moved in to when she married Jack, where they spent a little of their marriage and where Jack lived after she divorced him, before the plane crash. Yet he knew Brooke was referring to Kate, the wife she knew about. – She never came here. Never knew about it. I keep it because… as an investment, I guess. It's near the hospital and sometimes I come here to be on my own, get some air…

– Well, it's perfect. Thank you, Jack. –she told him, honesty in her voice. Then she checked with curiosity the main room, the kitchen, the bathrooms. She could feel Jack in every corner and realized there was no sign of a woman in there, so he was telling the truth, she thought.

Jack was watching her get in and out of the rooms. The drapes were open and the moonlight illuminated the place. He realized they hadn't turned any light on. Brooke's features looked beautiful under the moonlight. That made him smile.

– You know? I was thinking… maybe you should stay here every time you come. I don't see the use in paying hotel rooms with this place available. –he said, whilst Brooke sat on the bed.

When she heard that, her eyes glinted and she cast him a big happy smile. – You mean it?

– It's not very cozy, but you'll have everything you need and you can make yourself comfortable. –he told her.

Brooke stood up and approached him. She placed her hands around his neck and caressed the back of it. She looked in his eyes and then kissed him deeply. Jack placed his hands on the low of her back and corresponded. Soon their tongues were entangled and their lips sped up. Brooke could feel his body stiffen, which aroused her even more. Then his hands went from her back to her waist, almost to her hips and then up to her ribs. Brooke broke the kiss when she couldn't hold her breathing anymore. – Why don't you make me comfortable? –she said to his ear, panting.

Jack looked at her beautiful eyes, which read she was eager for more. He kissed her again and for a second he thought of forgetting about everything and just make her his right there. But then he thought twice, when he felt Brooke was trying to unbutton his shirt. He broke the kiss and took her hands in his. – You better get some sleep. –he told her softly.

– I'm not tired. Come on baby, stop rejecting me, I know you want this too. –she begged kissing his neck and making him shiver.

– I'm not rejecting you. But this is not a good time. –he said feebly, his eyes closed.

– Why the hell not? –she asked back, now biting softly his ear.

– Because I'd be taking advantage of you.

– Why? 'Cause you got me into your apartment? –she said to his lips, kissing them softly.

Jack was close to lose his will and get seduced by Brooke, but he made a tremendous effort and put himself together. – No, because you're tired and a little drunk. –he said, holding her tight, immobilizing her.

Brooke felt her blood boil. She felt ashamed and mad at the same time because she was being rejected again. She looked down and felt Jack's hand clearing her hair away from her face to meet her eyes. She wasn't able to look up at him, so she moved aside and walked to the window. – I'm not drunk. But yeah, I'm kind of tired. –she said flatly.

Jack knew she was mad at him, but he really thought he would be taking advantage of her if they had sex at that very moment. He approached her and turned her around to meet her face. – I'll see you tomorrow, okay?

– Okay.

Jack put the keys to the apartment in her hand and kissed her softly on the forehead, then gave her a tiny quick kiss on the lips. – Night, babe.

Then he left the apartment closing the door behind him without looking back, knowing that if he did, he could not resist Brooke anymore.

Before getting in his car he looked at the window and saw her watching him. He waved and smiled sweetly at her. That softened Brooke. She couldn't be mad at him anymore. She waved back and saw him drive away. Fuck… Why doesn't he want to get in my pants? She thought. Then she had another thought. She needed a cold shower and a long sleep.