Double Daddy Trouble

“Then we still have a deal.” She grinned triumphantly. “Thank you for the information, Lee. I know what I need to do now.”

“Glad I could help.” He tapped the doorframe. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

“Right. Dinner.”

He walked out of Brooke’s office.

Thirteen

Brooke

Lee walked out of her office and Brooke still didn’t know how to take what he had told her. All this time she thought she was going to design their latest million-dollar product, when in fact they were trying to launch the most amazing foundation she had ever heard of. It was going to change lives. Make families whole. Help children and parents when they needed it most.

Who were these men?

She tapped her pen on the desk. She didn’t want to think she had pegged them wrong. That they gave because maybe they were generous, not because they were trying to seduce her. Maybe they gave because that’s how they showed they cared. They gave because it made them feel good.

She twisted her lips together, confused more than before Lee’s visit. What if there was something good about Lee and Tyler buried underneath their sexy exteriors? What if they were capable of caring beyond their global domination? What if they were good men and she had judged them because of something stupid Niall did?

Her head spun with the possibilities. But Brooke did what she always did when things were complicated. She walked to the new design table and picked up a charcoal pencil. There was one place where she could get lost. One place where everything else faded away and nothing else mattered. Her art.

A few nights later Brooke decided to venture downstairs after a long day of designing. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs when she saw Tyler in the front living room. His back was toward her. He held a glass of whiskey in his hand while he stared at the roaring flames in the fireplace.

She started to twirl and run up the stairs, but he saw her.

“You don’t have to run, Brooke. Have a drink with me.” Tyler watched her hesitate.

Brooke bit the inside of her cheek. “It’s late.”

“You’ve been working late the last few nights. I have barely seen you.”

She sighed. “I take my work seriously. And my freedom,” she added.

“Come with me. I want to show you something before you hide away upstairs again.” Tyler led her to his study. Lee had one on the opposite side of the house.

Brooke reluctantly followed him. Everything inside her told her she should climb the massive staircase, but her curiosity won out.

Tyler stood in front of the bar. He poured a glass of wine for her.

She clutched the glass as he handed it to her.

“How is the project coming along?” he asked.

She took a sip. It was soothing. The glass was probably worth more than her entire apartment.

“I don’t think I should discuss it with you.”

His eyebrows rose. “Afraid it may sway my decision?”

“Something like that.”

She sat on the leather sofa. The fireplace was lit. It was hard to ignore how warm and comforting the room was. The shelves were lined with books about art. Tyler’s collection was amazing. She could stare at the pieces he had in here for hours.

He sat next to her on the couch, the leather bowing under his heavy frame. He was more relaxed than usual. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows. She could smell the masculine scent of his cologne.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It had to be the wine, but she was seconds away from leaning her head on his shoulder. Instead she scooted closer to the edge of the couch.

“Something wrong?” he asked.