First, I wanted to thank those of you who are reading and taking the time to review. Also, I realized I didn't disclaim like everyone else does on their stories so… I do not own anything related to One Tree Hill or any other show. Also, I don't hate Peyton and Lucas together. I'm just glad the freaking triangle is over.
Chapter 3:
"He said what?!" Peyton and Haley both squealed. As soon as Julian had left she called the girls to the store for an emergency session. Brooke was beaming and had an excited smile that reached every inch of her face. All she could do was nod to her two best friends. Peyton laughed at her friend who was adorable when she was this excited. "Wait a minute… he doesn't kiss on a first date? Are sure he isn't a Clean Teen?" Brooke threw her a glare that made Peyton sit up straighter in her chair.
Haley quickly asked "What did you say?" as she grabbed Brooke's hand. Peyton grabbed her other hand, "What time is he picking you up?"
Brooke let out a big breath, "8" and she screamed then covered her mouth with her hands and giggled. "Guys what is wrong with me? Am I that hard up for male attention that I'm squealing like I was in high school? Wait a minute… I am Brooke Davis, I did NOT squeal about boys when I was in high school!" Haley and Peyton laughed as Brooke groaned and laid her head down on her folded arms on the counter, "Geez… Sam's cooler than me."
Haley and Peyton wrapped their arms around her and offered words of encouragement, "Tigger you're amazing, why else would this guy go to all this trouble?" Peyton squeezed her shoulder, "Yeah, B. Davis. Clean Teen Julian is whipped."
"Sam! Sam! Quick red or black?" Brooke shoved two amazing dresses in front of Sam for her approval. Sam laughed, "You got it bad Brooke!" She ducked just in time to miss the pillow Brooke threw at her head from the other side of the bed. She ran her fingers over the silky fabric of the red dress and teased Brooke, "Red was your color in high school and you got plenty of action back in the day so…" Brooke threw another pillow at Samantha and this time it hit her in the back of the head. "So what you're saying is black!" Brooke screamed to Samantha as she scurried from the room laughing at Brooke's nervousness.
Sam returned with ice cream and plopped onto Brooke's bed. She handed Brooke a spoon and said with a mouthful of ice cream, "I can't wait to meet the guy who has you all in a tizzy. Why are you sending me off to Haley's? Shouldn't he have Sam's stamp of approval?" Brooke took just a bite of the ice cream and looked at Sam, "Oh sweetie, I'm not sending you off, I just don't like the idea of you here late by yourself." Sam scoffed, "Whatever! You're totally going to have sex tonight!"
"Whoa! Maybe I should come back later?!" Lucas poked his head into the doorway of Brooke's bedroom. Brooke and Sam both jumped, "Luke! Sam… shut up and pack for Haley's." Brooke gave her cat hiss to Sam's laughing back.
Brooke turned her full attention to Lucas, "Luke, it is great to see you but I'm getting ready for a date." Luke laughed with understanding and squinted at her with a serious expression, "and sex." He threw his arms up in defense as Brooke hit him with a pillow and they both laughed and sat down on her bed. He crossed his fingers in front of her and mouthed the word "truce." Lucas sighed, "I know about your second date, Peyton filled me in on the emergency summit. But I need to talk to you… I'll be brief." Brooke placed a hand on his shoulder, she was getting concerned. "Luke, you're starting to scare me. Is everything ok? Is it Peyton? Oh no! The baby?!" With Brooke's last question about Peyton and Lucas's unborn child, she jumped from the bed and Lucas could see the worry on her face.
He got up from the bed and gave her a quick hug, "No, Brooke, no. Everything is great actually. I didn't mean to scare you." He took a deep breath, " I actually met with a movie producer today, and he wants to make my book into a movie." Brooke was stunned for a moment, it had been a couple of years since the book was published and it was no longer generating any discussions. "Luke that's great! Wow! I had no idea… Congratulations!"
She pulled Luke into a big hug, "But why are you here and not celebrating with your girl?" Luke gave Brooke a tender smile, "Brooke Davis you're a big part of my book, and I wanted to ask your permission." Brooke was touched and immediately exclaimed with a large smile, "Veto power! I want veto power over casting of me!" Lucas laughed and said, "Agreed!" Satisfied Brooke grabbed the two dresses from the bed, "Ok now on to more important matters, Luke! Red or black?"
After a dozen outfit changes, Brooke decided on a black halter dress that was a little low in the back. As she checked her back's image in the mirror she imagined his hands touching her back. She started to get more excited as she made the finishing touches on her makeup. She began to doubt her choice when she remembered something. She laughed out loud and looked at her reflection with confidence, "This is guaranteed! He can't wait to kiss you!"
8:00. Brooke started to wonder if Julian would be late, since he obviously wasn't going to be early. Then she heard a knock on the door. Brooke took a deep breath then opened the door.
Julian was standing at the door wearing slacks, a coat, and the grin she had actually started to miss. Brooke immediately recognized his suit as one from the new Armani collection. She tried to think back to what exactly did Julian do to be able to afford such an expensive suit. As Brooke was giving Julian an appreciative once-over, Julian was admiring Brooke's beauty. She felt her pulse quicken as she saw the lust in his eyes and his smile showing his approval of her dress.
Brooke swallowed then said, "So, lucky second date?" She noted the nervousness in her voice, Damn, why did he have this affect on her! Julian smiled and whispered in her ear, "I can only hope so," as he placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her out of the door. Brooke couldn't help but shiver at his touch and curse her dress for not having a lower back. She secretly wanted to forget about dinner and return inside to her bedroom. Geez! It has been too long B. Davis!
Julian guided Brooke out to a rental car. She placed her hand on his as he held her door open and she entered the car. She was pleased when she noticed his hand tighten on the door and he quickly licked his lip. Once he was inside and he wasn't looking at her constantly, Brooke began to feel more at ease. "So Julian… you wear Armani's latest, but drive a rental? Should I be worried?" with Peyton's stalker history, Brooke was only partially joking.
Julian laughed and reached over to squeeze her hand. He looked at her with understanding and an earnest expression, "Not at all Brooke Davis, not at all." He paused for a moment, "But I understand why you'd be suspicious, and I'm sorry if my eagerness and confidence," there was that grin again! "caused you any alarm." He looked at her and said with a lowered tone, "But, I won't apologize for being aggressive and fighting for what or who I want."
Brooke blushed and looked down to see their fingers were intertwined. She took a deep breath and asked Julian, "So… Julian what's your story? What do you do? Besides pursue women as a fulltime profession."
Julian laughed at Brooke's comment, "Remember I left you earlier today to go to work?" Brooke rolled her eyes and gave a little shrug at that comment. Julian then told Brooke he was in town for business and that he was based out of LA. Brooke felt herself involuntarily stiffen, Temporary. Of course, what did Peyton say, people always leave. Julian continued to talk, but Brooke was mentally checking out of her date. He would leave so there wasn't really a point in continuing this any further.
Julian grinned at Brooke, but she was lost in her thoughts and looking at the window. His grin quickly turned into a frown and worried about the beautiful woman sitting next to him. Shit Julian! You were too aggressive and now you've pushed her too far. Julian began to mentally check the conversation to see where he went wrong as he squeezed her hand and nodded his head outside. "Brooke… Brooke… we're here."
Brooke gave him a quick apologetic smile and looked in the direction he had nodded. She looked up to see a cute beach cottage. She looked back at him with a questioning glance. Julian gave her that grin again and left the car to come around to her side and opened her door. He offered his hand to help her exit the car and he placed his hand on her back as they walked towards the beach house. Brooke was pleased that he placed his hand higher this time and she could actually feel his hand on the skin of her back. The touch of his hand gave her goose-bumps and Julian's confidence was restored when he gazed down at her.
As Julian unlocked the door to the beach cottage, Brooke was looking around surveying her surroundings. "You know most dates are held in public places. If I knew we were going to be at the beach I would've worn something more casual." Julian looked down at her with a grin, "Don't let me stop you from getting more comfortable." Brooke blushed slightly as she watched his gaze run down her body. Brooke gave Julian her signature seductive smile and placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "I only do that on first dates." She leaned back and pat him on the shoulder before turning away, "Too bad this is our second."
Julian laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her and said softly near hear neck, "Too bad, but I can't wait to see what you do on our third." He loosened his arms from around her and straightened up but not before he gave her a soft kiss on the back of her head. He couldn't help but to breathe in the scent of her hair, while Brooke was enjoying his cologne and the feel of his arms around her. Brooke held his arms to stay around her and turned in his embrace. She looked up at him from underneath her lashes, "Why don't you give me a tour before I officially declare this date number three?"
Julian chuckled and squeezed her a little tighter then sighed, "Would it help if I changed shirts with each course? We could be up to like date seven before the night is over." Brooke laughed at him and pushed herself away from his chest. He flashed his grin at her and led her to a deck.
As soon as Brooke stepped onto the deck she could hear the ocean's waves. Julian had stringed lights around the deck, and there was a small table with candles. She looked around and saw flowers and a bottle of wine. Julian pulled out a chair for her and poured her a glass of red wine. Julian ran back inside and when he returned Brooke laughed at the pizza box he was holding. Brooke took a bite of pizza and said, "You know pizza is really better with beer." Julian nodded his agreement, "But beer also says casual like you're a pal." Brooke raised an eyebrow over the rim of her wine glass, "Well then, what does wine say?" Julian gave a big smile to Brooke and said, "Wine says sophistication and," Julian looked down at Brooke's lips, "seduce me."
Brooke gave a big laugh and patted his hand, "Sorry I don't speak alcohol. The only thing that says 'seduce me' is Gucci… and chocolate." Julian laughed and stood up from the table and went inside the house. A moment later he returned outside with a piece of chocolate cake. He presented the plate in front of Brooke with a raised eyebrow and smirk. He lifted the fork and broke off a piece of the cake and raised it to Brooke's lips. Brooke opened her mouth for the bite of chocolate cake, never once did she or Julian break eye contact.
Chocolate cake was definitely Brooke's aphrodisiac of choice. She savored the taste of the cake and the look in Julian's eye as he watched her enjoy the bite. Once she finished the first bite, Julian had another bite ready for her in front of her lips. Brooke gave a little laugh and asked, "Are you going to feed me this entire piece of cake?" Julian gently placed the forkful of cake in Brooke's mouth and said, "I could watch you eat this cake all night." He laughed and shook his head, Cheese, Julian, cheese! he chastised himself. He could feel his body tense as he watched Brooke swallow the second bite of cake and lick her lips. She raised her glass of wine and took a sip from the glass. Julian chuckled and leaned in close to her, "I think I just developed a cake fetish."
Brooke leaned in close and whispered "I think I did, too," before she kissed his lips.