Like a teenager, Brooke was impatient all day long... She had an appointment with Lucas tonight. To make the time go by faster, she helped her mother at the hair salon all morning. In the early afternoon, her friend came to help out and Brooke was no longer of much use.
LYDIA : Don't you have anything more interesting to do on a Saturday, Brooke!?
BROOKE : Are you trying to tell me that I'm in your way, Lydia!?
LYDIA : No, I love it when you're here, sweetie! I was just wondering... Because at your age, I...
BROOKE : Stop it Lydia, you're still very young too!
LYDIA : Except that in the evening, I'm completely exhausted... Especially after a day of work! And you, what's planned?
Brooke obviously couldn't risk saying anything.
BROOKE : I go out with the girls...
LYDIA : Lucky you... To a nightclub? Or a bar? What are you going to wear, you already know!?
And then, Brooke remembered Lucas' words... "I'd like to see you wear red"...
BROOKE : You know what Lydia!? Thanks! I found something much better to do than help you!
LYDIA : You're welcome! But then you're abandoning us, is that it!?
BROOKE : Oh, you're the one who pointed out to me, just a minute ago, that I could have done something else!
LYDIA : I know and I'm kidding! Go on, run and don't come back until the salon is closed!
Brooke kissed him quickly and greeted her mother who was coloring a customer's hair... Direction, a small shop that she loved and in which she should find her happiness. And that of Lucas especially...
As Brooke spotted a few outfits in the store, Bévin, the saleswoman and owner approached her.
BEVIN : Hey Brooke! It's been a while, I'm so glad to see you!
BROOKE : Hi Bévin! Yes, I passed my exams, I didn't know how to come before!
BEVIN : From the way you say it, I guess you passed them!? Anyway, with your talent...
BROOKE : Yes, I'm happy... I have one year left...
BEVIN : Don't wait until then to come and bring me some of your creations! I'm still insisting but honestly I could exhibit them here, it would make you known... I love what you offer!
BROOKE : You're a sweetheart! I promise to think about it... But I'm here for something else, actually!
Bévin narrowed his eyes a little while waiting for the rest of his sentence. At the same time, a ringing announced the arrival of a message on Brooke's cell phone.
BROOKE : Do you mind?
BEVIN : No, go ahead! I'll take care of the customer in the cabin and I'll be right back!
Brooke hurried to take her cell phone and look at the sender of the message. As she hoped, it was Lucas.
LUCAS'S MESSAGE : Meet at the bar of the Venitian Hotel... 9 p.m.? We'll have all night to ourselves...
Shivers of excitement and impatience ran through Brooke's body. She smiled like an idiot in front of her screen.
BROOKE'S MESSAGE : Well received ... One night is still not enough.
She waited, hoping that he would answer her quickly ... Which he did even faster than she had hoped.
LUCAS'S MESSAGE : A lifetime will not be enough either ... So one night! But let's start with that ...
BROOKE'S MESSAGE : 9 p.m. then, I can't wait to be there ...
LUCAS'S MESSAGE : I'm counting down the hours ... See you later, my pretty girl.
Brooke's smile was still frozen on her lips when Bévin cleared his throat next to her. Brooke hadn't even seen her.
BEVIN : You, you met someone and that's why you're here ... So what do you need ...? Irresistible underwear?
Brooke doesn't contradict her but doesn't say more either.
BROOKE : A dress... red!
BEVIN : Passion, femininity, desire but also danger, heat and fire... You, you want to attract his attention.
BROOKE : In fact, I already have all his attention... But I want to make sure to keep it and drive him completely crazy.
BEVIN : I see! Come on, go to the cabin, I'll bring you something to mark this man forever!
Hours passed and Brooke couldn't relax... Stress and excitement were mixed together. She had never been to a hotel to sleep with a man... Much less a married man. Especially since Lucas was relatively well-known and being at the bar in the open could even be dangerous. She couldn't help but have a little hint of apprehension... How were things going to go? Would he take her straight to the room because he wanted her so much...? Or on the contrary, would he take his time to build up the excitement and desire? But soon, she no longer had time to ask herself a thousand and one questions... She arrived in front of the hotel. It was 9:05 p.m. She had deliberately been a little late. She was more comfortable knowing he was already there... Well, if he was there. She entered the large hall and then headed towards the lounge bar. Her pulse raced, her hands were sweaty. The atmosphere was warm and even a little hushed... The clientele was well-off and the place bourgeois. Despite the bar being well-filled, Brooke saw him directly. He was sitting on a high stool, a little sideways. He was drinking a sip of wine when his gaze met hers. Brooke could swear she could see his pupils dilate. While advancing with the most confidence possible despite her feverishness, she looked him over. Lucas was wearing a magnificent light gray cotton suit with a black check pattern... He was very elegant... And at the same time terribly sexy with his white shirt unbuttoned down to the bottom of his neck... Almost Italian style.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : And I'm the one who has a date with this incredibly handsome, virile and classy guy... And I'm the one he's waiting for.
People were talking in low voices and the melody of a jazzy background sound rocked their conversations. While Brooke was only about a meter away from him, Lucas stood up to face her, his smile was enigmatic.
BROOKE : Good evening...
She stared straight into his eyes, perched high on her heels. Lucas let his eyes slide down Brooke's body.
LUCAS : Wow! I knew you'd be gorgeous... But now... I have to say you're downright stunning!
BROOKE : You're not bad either, I have to say...
LUCAS : I wanted to show you how seriously I take all this... So, what can I offer you to drink?
BROOKE : I'll have a glass of white wine.
LUCAS : Good. The choice of a woman of character, generous, warm and philosophical at times...
Lucas motioned to the waiter and gave him Brooke's order. He pulled out a stool for Brooke to sit down. When he sat down on his stool, Brooke felt him so close to her that her skin shivered... Lucas inhaled Brooke's perfume and brushed her thigh. He rested an elbow on the counter but his other hand couldn't resist resting on Brooke's knee.
LUCAS : This dress suits you perfectly... I could look at you forever and never get tired of it, I think...
BROOKE : Glad you like it...
Lucas shook his head and seemed to think for a few moments as if searching for words.
LUCAS : I expressed myself badly then... You, in this dress... It's perhaps the most beautiful sight in the world.
Brooke rolled her eyes as if she didn't take his sentence seriously. But the red rose to her cheeks.
WAITER : Here you are, miss!
BROOKE : Thank you very much!
LUCAS : You will put that on my bill, Rooftop room, please!
WAITER : Ok sir. Don't hesitate if I can do anything else for you.
BROOKE : Rooftop room huh...!?
LUCAS : I told you... I want this night to be exceptional.
She smiled, a little embarrassed, but it had to be said that these were not unpleasant sensations. Lucas rolled his fingers over Brooke's knee joints, his palm was warm, caressing but patient.
LUCAS : Brooke, I have a question to ask you... Maybe you'll find it... Let's say, unexpected...
BROOKE : Everything that happens to us is unexpected so I'm not going to worry about that anymore... What's your question?
LUCAS : You and me here, sitting at this counter... It reminds me of the night we met... It's less noisy and less crowded than that night, of course!
BROOKE : And you're a hell of a lot more elegant too! Even if I already appreciated your style that day...
LUCAS : I return the compliment but that night... You were already as irresistible as you are today.
BROOKE : I was ashamed, Lucas!
LUCAS : You were incredibly touching and you had me captivated from the first second... So, I was wondering... What impression did I make on you, that famous night in that bar?
BROOKE : Um... I guess I already found you very, maybe too attractive... But also a little too impressive.
LUCAS : Impressive, how?
BROOKE : It was like you found it amusing to see me struggle with this stupid bet!
LUCAS : If you knew how nervous I was despite appearances... I was amused by the situation at most. Giving you my number was my only chance to see you again... But I must have come across as an asshole, right?
BROOKE : Let's just say you didn't reach the peak of my esteem that night... Despite the attraction, I mean...
LUCAS : Did you feel it too...? It was strong, wasn't it? Our skins touching, our looks...
Brooke tilted her head, looking at him mischievously out of the corner of her eye.
LUCAS : I only wanted one thing after that, to join you on the dance floor!
BROOKE : To do a battle or show me your dancing skills?
LUCAS : I would have preferred a tight dance... To feel your skin, to run my hand through your hair... I thought about you every day since that day... Until fate put you back on my path... I want you to know that it was the first and last time I did that... To flirt with a stranger. But now, I won't take the risk of seeing you leave without having the courage to hold you back...
Lucas' hand asserted itself at the same time and moved up along the sensitive skin of Brooke's thigh. She tilted her head, glancing around the room... No one seemed to be paying attention to them.
LUCAS : Thank you for your honesty, Brooke and thank you for trusting me...
BROOKE : You're welcome... Any other questions?
LUCAS : No, not any more. I don't ask myself any more questions, everything is crystal clear... My future, my plans, my choices and my decisions... I see clearly. But what I still see most clearly... Is that I can't wait any longer to make you mine...