When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(73)

“Did he?”

She didn’t answer him. “See? You need to know. And right now, you want to know if I’m telling you this to make a point or if he did. And if he did, what did we talk about? Why are you just hearing about this now? Did I keep it from you as some sort of revenge? Or did something happen between the two of us?”

Luca stayed silent.

She put a hand to his chest. “If two people are starting something that isn’t casual, they don’t keep secrets . . . ever. Because when you do, trust is lost. And trust is everything.”

Luca covered her hand with his, his head lowered.

“I’ve had a really long, exhausting day.” And if he stood there much longer, she’d likely melt into him, and all her bravado would fade with a single kiss.

Luca gathered both her hands in his, kissed them. “I’ll make this up to you.”

“And I’ll give you a chance to do that. But tonight, I want to sleep.”

He kissed her hands again, placed his palm on the side of her face, and then walked away.

Brooke blew out a breath before turning to her pantry.

One more glass of wine wouldn’t hurt.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


It hurt.

One eye opened and the thorns of a thousand roses stabbed the back of her brain.

The clock on the bedside table told her it was after nine in the morning.

So much for getting a jump start on all the things she needed to do.

She closed her one eye and willed her head to stop pounding.

Her phone buzzed beside her.

A text message, likely the noise that had woken her in the first place. She reached for her phone, found a message from Chloe.

I heard you’re home. Yoga?

The thought of lifting her ass in the air in a Downward Dog made her stomach lurch.

I’m dying.

Chloe’s reply was a question mark.

Brooke sent a wine emoji.

Her phone rang.

“I’m seriously dying. You can have my shoes,” Brooke said.

Chloe laughed. “Gio has the best cure for wine hangovers. I’ll be up in ten minutes.”

“I love you.”

Chloe kept laughing and hung up.

If she didn’t move, she might see the next hour of the day.

A knock on the door preceded Chloe’s voice. “Brooke?”

“Back here.”

Chloe was quietly chuckling as she walked in the room. She pointed her thumb behind her. “There’s still a half a bottle back there.”

“I had a running start from the plane.”

Chloe sat on the side of the bed, placed the glass of whatever Gio’s cure was on the table.

Brooke forced herself into a sitting position.

“Did the job go bad?”

She shook her head. “We nailed the job.”

“Why then?”

“Antonia.”

Chloe opened her lips. “Oh.”

Brooke looked at the glass on the bedside table, noticed the brown color of the liquid inside, wrinkled her nose at it.

“It works. Trust me. I learned early. It’s two gulps and just breathe.” Chloe handed it to her.

Brooke placed her nose to it.

“No. Just drink it.”

What was the worst that could happen? She’d toss anything in her stomach up? She thought that was going to happen anyway.

“Cheers.”

One gulp.

Two gulps.

She tasted wine and pepper and something else she couldn’t identify.

“That’s awful.”

“Breathe.”

Brooke closed her eyes and did as instructed. After four deep breaths she opened them.

At least she didn’t think it was coming up.

“I’m okay.”

“We’ve all been there.”

Brooke shook her head slowly. “Why do we do this to ourselves?”

“Because men have a hard time connecting their actions to their brains sometimes. Luca told me you’re upset.”

“I’m glad he figured that out. I’m more hurt, Chloe. I really like your brother. I want him to be different.”

Chloe placed her hand on Brooke’s leg. “He feels shitty.”

“Good.”

She smiled.

“I want to be the modern, confident woman here, but damn it’s hard.”

“Sometimes a woman simply wants the man in her life to only have room for her. I don’t think you’re asking too much of Luca to keep it honest about Antonia.”

Brooke placed her hand over Chloe’s. “Thanks.”

There was a knock on the front door.

She and Chloe exchanged glances.

“Want me to get that?”

“Yeah. I need to get rid of what died in my mouth.”

Chloe left the bedroom and Brooke moved into the bathroom.

When she was done, she walked into the living room to find Chloe standing over a bouquet of spring flowers.

A huge bouquet.

“I’d say that Luca is trying.”

Brooke’s heart started to thaw. She reached for the card.

You are the only woman in my life.

L

“He had them delivered?”

Chloe nodded.