A week had passed since Brooke returned to work and a pleasant routine had settled in between her and Lucas. They shared long conversations, laughter, gentle bickering and meals. So much so that Brooke even came to wonder if by wanting to help Lucas too much, it was not her heart that she was putting in danger. She knew that once Lucas no longer needed her, their paths would inevitably separate. She would have to leave this house with Lily and start a new life while Lucas would resume his. Trying at all costs not to fall in love, Brooke knew that she was lying to herself and that it was already too late. Lucas had marked her life forever and she knew that no matter what happened, she would never be able to forget him. Nevertheless, she was aware that her feelings would never be reciprocated and that Lucas would always love his deceased wife. Besides, an incident that happened today proved it to him.
Lucas : I forbid you to touch that piano, Brooke!
Sitting in front of the beautiful piano, Brooke jumps and immediately stands up when she hears Lucas' voice growling behind her.
Brooke : I'm sorry, Lucas. I was just cleaning and I couldn't resist the urge to play a few notes.
Lucas : Do you play the piano?
Brooke : Yes, my mother taught me. Why?
Lucas : Because my wife played too and this piano belonged to her. Since she died, it's been locked and I don't want anyone to touch it. Is that clear?
Brooke : Very clear, Lucas.
Seeing Lucas looking at her darkly, Brooke then sees him turn his back on her to go back to his room.
Three days have passed since their little run-in and although Lucas didn't hold it against her, Brooke wants to make up for it. That's why she's welcoming someone Lucas knows very well in front of the gate today. Someone who worked for him for years before the accident. Someone Haley called back at Brooke's request to ask her to take back her job as governess.
Brooke : Hello, Mrs. Lee. I'm delighted to finally meet you.
Debie : You can call me Debie, Brooke. After all, we've spoken on the phone several times. In fact, I was really surprised when Peyton called me to ask if I wanted to take my job back.
Brooke : I can imagine. It must be difficult for you to come back after Lucas fired you.
Debie : No, I don't blame him at all. It's just that I'm surprised at the change that seems to be happening in him. Haley also shares my surprise and even thinks that you are the cause, Brooke.
Brooke : I don't know if I have anything to do with this change, but in any case I do everything I can to make him feel better.
Debie : I'm sure of it, Brooke. Lucas is lucky to have you around.
Brooke : And I'm lucky to have met him too, Debie. Are you ready to go see him?
Debie : Yes, let's go.
Accompanied by Debie, Brooke walks to the house with her, then enters inside to go see Lucas in the living room. Both entering the room, Lucas can't hide his surprise at seeing Debie next to Brooke.
Lucas : Debie?
Debie : Hello, Lucas. How are you?
Lucas : It's more up to me to ask you that, Debie. After the way I treated you, you must have been very bad.
Debie : That's true, but it's mostly for you that I hurt, Lucas. It's been really hard for me to watch you wallow in your grief and push everyone away like that. Luckily, Brooke is here to take care of you now. She's the one who came up with the idea for me to come back. If you want me to take my job back, sure.
At first surprised, Lucas looks at Brooke for a moment with an indecipherable gleam in his eyes. Perhaps a mixture of deep gratitude and something else, which she is unable to define. Lucas breaks their eye contact to finally answer Debie.
Lucas : I would be very happy if you resume your post, Debie. This house is not the same without you, you know.
Debie : Then it will be with pleasure, Lucas. Besides, I'm going straight to the kitchen to prepare tonight's meal.
Lucas : Okay. See you later then.
After a last smile for Brooke and Lucas, Debie then leaves the living room to go to the kitchen. Left alone in the living room, Brooke and Lucas look at each other awkwardly for a moment, before Lucas finally speaks.
Lucas : Thank you for what you did, Brooke.
Brooke : Oh ... uh, I didn't do much, Lucas. Debie was ready to come back anyway. I just asked Haley to call her.
Lucas : Yeah, but that's already a lot for me.
Her heart pounding, Brooke sees Lucas cross the distance that separates them and stop right next to her. He then delicately takes her hand in his to place a tender kiss on the inside of her wrist. The contact of his fingers and lips immediately arouses an intense emotion in Brooke.
Brooke : Um... I think I'm going to go help Debie in the kitchen and then I'll pick up Lily from school.
Lucas : Very well. See you later then.
Giving Lucas a shy smile, Brooke delicately releases her hand from his grip and then turns on her heels to leave the room as quickly as possible. Feeling Lucas' gaze on her back, she understands that she had indeed fallen in love with him
Since Debie's return a few days ago now, everything has been going well, at least for Lucas, Debie and Lily. For Brooke, discovering her feelings for Lucas was like an electric shock. As she gets dressed in her room, she forces herself at all costs to convince herself that it's not for him that she's making herself beautiful. Once ready, she leaves the room to wake Lily up, before going to see Lucas on the ground floor. When she enters the living room, she is then surprised to see that Lucas is not alone and that a handsome man is talking to him.
Brooke : Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to bother you!
... : Don't apologize, miss. You're not bothering us at all. I'm Julian Baker, Lucas's partner. And you are?
Julian extends his hand to greet her. Brooke takes her hand, smiling politely.
Brooke : I'm Brooke Davis, Lucas's caregiver.
Julian : Oh, I see. Lucas didn't tell me he had such a pretty woman under his roof. Otherwise I would have come much sooner.
Julian keeps Brooke's hand in his a little too long, Lucas then cuts off their exchange with an annoyed look.
Lucas : And that's exactly why I didn't tell you anything, Julian!
Julian : Why? Are you jealous?
Lucas : Absolutely not! It's just that Brooke is too good to be one of your conquests!
Heartbroken to hear that Lucas doesn't feel jealous, Brooke is nevertheless happy that he defends her like this.
Julian : But maybe I just want a serious relationship Lucas.
Lucas : You, a serious relationship? Let me laugh!
Julian : Everything has to start somewhere! That's why I'd be happy to invite you to dinner one of these evenings, Brooke. If you want of course.
Hesitating for a moment, Brooke ends up accepting, thinking that going out with Julian might make her forget Lucas.
Brooke : Yes, why not?
Julian : Great. In that case, I'll leave you my card. Don't hesitate to call me.
Brooke : Noted.
Shyly taking the card that Julian hands her, Brooke can then see Lucas give her a black look of disapproval.
Julian : Well, since everything is settled, I'll leave you now. I have work to do. I'll come see you soon, Lucas.
Lucas : Yeah, that's it.
Julian : I hope to see you soon, Brooke.
Julian gives her one last smile and a wink, before turning to hurry towards the front door to leave. After hearing the door slam, Lucas immediately speaks up to reprimand Brooke.
Lucas : Can I ask what you're up to, Brooke? I told you Julian is a ladies' man!
Brooke : Why are you friends with him then?
Lucas : Julian is not a friend, at least he's not anymore! We're just partners now!
Brooke : Oh really? Why?
Lucas : That's none of your business! What I can tell you, though, is that he's not someone for you!
Brooke : If it's none of my business, then it's none of your business who I'm dating!
Lucas : Fine then! Do as you wish! But don't come complaining later if things go badly! We can't trust Julian Baker!
Brooke : I'm old enough to make up my own mind, Lucas!
Lucas : Really? Like with your ex-husband?
Unable to believe that Lucas said that, Brooke then looks at him for an instant with her mouth open. Hurt that he could use the confidences she had made to him in this way, she lets her anger explode.
Brooke : How dare you say such a thing when I confided in you? I thought we had gone beyond the little barbs and low blows!
Seeing that he had deeply hurt her, Lucas then takes her hand to apologize.
Lucas : I'm sorry, Brooke. I should never have said that.
Brooke : And yet you said it! Why?
Lucas : Because I don't want you to get hurt.
Brooke : Oh yeah? And what exactly are you doing now?
Lucas : I know, Brooke. Forgive me.
Lucas kisses her wrist again, Brooke's anger immediately subsides, giving way to bitterness.
Brooke : Do you think I'm not capable of taking care of myself, Lucas? And that my failed marriage didn't teach me a lesson?
Lucas : Of course not, Brooke. You're the strongest person I know.
Brooke : If I'm so strong, then why am I always so weak in front of you?
Lucas : What do you mean?
Brooke : Nothing, Lucas. Anyway, I have to walk Lily to school. She has to be ready by now.
Turning to leave, Lucas then regretfully lets go of Brooke's hand, before she leaves the room with a broken heart.
After taking her daughter to school, Brooke went back up to her room, taking care to avoid Lucas. Having almost revealed her feelings to him, she then picks up her phone, determined to call Julian.
Julian : Julian Baker, I'm listening.
Brooke : Julian, it's Brooke. I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Julian : Not at all, Brooke. I was waiting for your call impatiently. Are you still willing to have dinner with me?
Brooke : Yes, that's even why I'm calling you.
Julian : Very well. In that case, we could meet Saturday night. I'll pick you up at 8 p.m.
Brooke : Okay. That's perfect. See you Saturday then.
Julian : See you Saturday, Brooke. I can't wait to be there.
Hanging up the phone, Brooke can't help but think about Lucas again and feels bad. She is heartbroken to know that he is unattainable and that nothing will ever happen between them.