Sawyer had just confirmed what Brooke feared she had understood when she saw the photo. She remembered that name as if the evening at the bar had only been yesterday... She remembered the challenge. She remembered his burning eyes and especially that touch on her skin that stung just thinking about it.

At first shocked, Brooke turned pale and began to seriously panic internally... But also externally. Nervous, she paced frantically around Sawyer's room and then out into the hallway, gasping for more air.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Calm down Brooke! First of all, he might not recognize me at all, it was dark, it was late... And then, maybe when I see him again, he won't have the same effect on me at all! How ironic! After all, I'm probably the only one who's been raving about this guy for weeks!

As she was about to return to Sawyer's room to inform her of her departure, she stopped abruptly. The sound of a door slamming followed by a booming male voice instantly paralyzed her on the couldn't yet make out the words that were being spoken, but the voice was getting closer to her, it was obvious.

LUCAS : I know, Julie, but I was out running! Is she still here? And Peyton already left her alone with Sawyer?!

Without thinking, Brooke rushed to sit back down on the bedroom carpet next to Sawyer who was now playing with his doll. The footsteps got closer and closer and her heart raced faster and faster, her breathing became less easy. She deliberately looked away so she wouldn't be face to face with him when he will enter. Just a few seconds later, Brooke felt Lucas' presence in the doorway. He was silently watching. Brooke's eyes slowly moved up his body and down to his gray cotton sweatpants, the elastic of which hugged his hips. Although she dreaded reaching his eyes, that wasn't the only reason she slowly scanned his body. Superbly sculpted abs highlighted his bare torso and she reached his athletic pecs. Brooke swallowed. His shoulders were broad and defined and she hadn't realized he was so tall, the effect of the stool, no doubt. Brooke's gaze finally met hers. Certainly sharpened by his anger, Lucas's eyes were as captivating as he remembered.

BROOKE : ...

LUCAS : ...

Lucas' hair had grown since the night at the bar but there was no doubt, it was him. And he was also her new boss. The man in front of her tilted his head slightly to the side and raised a skeptical eyebrow. He had just recognized her. His face lit up for a moment before displaying a surprised, dazed and slightly nervous expression.

LUCAS : You!? Wh... What are you doing at my place?

Brooke was really struggling to find the words to answer her, fortunately the little girl came out of her concentration.

SAWYER : Daddy, you're home!

Sawyer started running towards her father to hug him but she stopped at the last moment by putting her hands on his jogging pants.

SAWYER : Ugh! You're all sticky! We'll hug later, okay?

LUCAS : Okay, honey! A double, then!?

They exchanged a knowing smile which had particularly touched Brooke then Lucas turned his attention back to her.

BROOKE : Sawyer is adorable!

LUCAS : Yes, that's true! But you still haven't answered my question... Are you... The new babysitter?!

BROOKE : Apparently. If that's okay with you too, of course.

She knew it would be better if he sent her home, that he wouldn't even consider the the biggest part of her didn't want this to happen at all. He seemed to be hesitating.

Lucas tried not to react and look detached but he couldn't tear his gaze away from Brooke. He noticed that she was troubled her and that reassured him a little since he was as upset as she was.

BROOKE : If it bothers you that it's me, I would understand that you would prefer to do without my services.

LUCAS : You don't want this job?

BROOKE : Yes, of course you do!

LUCAS : So let me make up my own mind with a trial period of a few days, what do you say?

His demeanor was already more relaxed, as if a part of him had relaxed even if there was still tension.

BROOKE : I say it's perfect, absolutely perfect!

LUCAS : And may I finally have the honor of knowing your first name?

BROOKE : My name is Brooke.

LUCAS : Brooke... That's nice! You already know my name... Well let's do it like that then... Don't take it personally, I'm just more demanding than my wife, that's all.

Brooke could feel that Lucas was of course insisting on the word "wife" as if to formulate a warning. She couldn't help but squint her eyes in order to try to detect if he was speaking to her or to himself.

BROOKE : That's a good thing and I guess Sawyer is very lucky to have such an attentive father.

Brooke stood up, trying to be as graceful as possible since Lucas didn't decide to leave the room. She walked towards him with as much composure as possible, and she ran a hand through her long, straight hair.

BROOKE : Well, we'll see you in the morning then, I guess?

And while she was now very close to him, she pouted with her mouth, a little embarrassed by this proximity.

LUCAS : Is it just me or are you nervous?

BROOKE : Nervous? Absolutely not, no.

Lucas didn't move an inch, blocking her path to the hall. Brooke decided to keep her gaze on his. Her eyes devoured his and a slight smile appeared imperceptibly on her full lips.

LUCAS : Why didn't you ever call me back, Brooke?

Brooke jumped a little at his question that had completely caught her off guard and she understood...

BROOKE : You mean you gave me your real number that night?

LUCAS : If you kept it, I wouldn't have to give it to you anymore... For Sawyer, you know.

Brooke couldn't believe her ears. Her confession was accompanied by a clarification of use... For a use that was now strictly professional.

BROOKE : I didn't keep it, unfortunately. You'll have to give it back to me, I'm afraid.

Proud of her completely false reply, Brooke placed her palm a few inches from Lucas's chest.

BROOKE : Can I?

Without saying anything, Lucas released eye contact, looked at her hand and then back into her eyes.

LUCAS : Of course...Far be it from me to hold you against your will. Sawyer, are you coming to say goodbye to Brooke?

SAWYER : Oh no, I don't want her to leave !

BROOKE : I'll be back tomorrow morning, my princess!

SAWYER : Promise?

Brooke glanced at Lucas who nodded and smiled at her to confirm.

BROOKE : Promise!

Lucas finally moved aside as Sawyer came over to give Brooke a big wet kiss on the cheek.

LUCAS : See you tomorrow, then?

BROOKE : See you tomorrow, Lucas.

Without wasting any time, she quickened her pace to get out of this house and this sexual tension as quickly as possible. She felt so shaken by what had just happened that she didn't even see Julie walking past her. Once outside, the feeling of relief she was looking for unfortunately didn't have much effect. And although she still forced herself to walk straight ahead in case she was still being observed, she was so hot.

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : What have I gotten myself into!? I'm going to become the nanny of a little girl I already adore who is none other than the daughter of a woman I idolize... One thing is for sure is that she doesn't have a maternal instinct as developed as her taste for aesthetics... Fortunately, her husband seems to compensate doubly on that level... Her husband... Her husband...

Brooke expressly repeated her marital status several times as if to convince herself of her inaccessibility. This husband who was none other than the famous Lucas she had met at the bar a few weeks earlier... The one who had quite openly made it clear to her that he found her to his taste while she was taking up a stupid challenge. The one who had just confirmed to her that he had indeed given her his real number that evening...

BROOKE'S THOUGHT : ...And who dares to tell me that he was waiting for my call! And me trying to act indifferent while my whole body reacts to his presence, his look, his body... I'm really in trouble!

LUCAS : So, sweetie, do you like Brooke?

Lucas watched Brooke leave through his daughter's bedroom window, thoughtful. His eyes scanned the entire back of her body.

SAWYER : I loooove her!

LUCAS' THOUGHT : Even if it's through my male eyes, I already love her too... That means I'm in trouble, really bad! Peyton and I are complicated, but I can't give up, not now... Sawyer doesn't deserve this. I accepted without batting an eyelid to welcome the wolf into the fold... When I could have made things easier for myself! The best decision would have been to accept what she herself offered... To do without her services. Instead, I'm playing hot and cold with her... What an asshole I can be! It's very cliché but if only it was my brain that could have decided ! Okay Lucas, you're going to have to resist, control yourself... And you're going to start with a good ice-cold shower!