“It’s just dinner, Brooke. It’s not like I’m taking you out drinking and dancing.”
“Maybe now I want to go drinking and dancing,” I tease.
“Who’s going drinking and dancing?” Harper chimes in as we pass her desk.
“No one,” Saxon and I say at the same time.
Harper slumps back down in her chair, clearly disappointed, as Saxon pushes the button for the elevator.
“Well?” he questions.
“Yeah, dinner would be nice,” I reply with a sigh.
“You deserve to celebrate, Brooke. I think you’ve forgotten what a big deal you being here really is.”
“You’re right. It has been a big deal, and it’s been a great week.” The proud smile on my face is as wide as it feels, I’m sure.
“It has been a great week,” Saxon states quietly with a small smile playing on his lips. He is studying my face, and I’m not aware how close he is standing to me until I feel his warm breath flow over my face. We’re standing here staring at each other, yet it doesn’t feel awkward like it should.
The elevator dings and we’re shaken out of our moment, Saxon taking a step back from me.
“I have to discuss a few things with Bill and then I’ll meet you in your office to continue on with the payroll from yesterday,” Saxon says as he holds the elevator door open for me.
“Sure,” I say as I enter the elevator. I turn around and just as the doors are closing my eyes meet Harper’s. She has a weird look on her face. I tilt my head, looking at her as the elevator doors close, and I quickly consider pushing the button to open them again and see what that face is for.
Sitting down behind my desk, I decide to call my mum. She calls me every day, most days twice, and I might surprise her and get in first this time.
The phone rings only a couple times before Mum answers. “Hello.”
“Hi, Mum.”
“Brooke? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Mum. I just thought I’d call you today.” I laugh.
She laughs. “Okay, darling. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“That’s good. How is everything going down there? How’s Saxon?”
“He’s good. He’s taking me to dinner tonight, actually. Wants to celebrate my first week.”
“Really?” Her interest is piqued. “That’s lovely, Brooke. Are you spending much time with him?”
“Pretty much all my time is spent with him.” I laugh.
“That’s wonderful. Let him look after you, Brooke,” she says softly.
“What do you mean?”
“You are both going through the same thing and really don’t have anyone else. I mean, your father and I don’t understand what you’re going through like Saxon does. Rachel, she doesn’t get it. I know Saxon is controlling and protective but… just let him.” She sighs deeply.
I’m not sure exactly what she means or what she wants me to say. “I don’t think I have a choice in the matter, Mum. It’s Saxon.” We both giggle at how true that is. Saxon will do what Saxon wants to do. “How do you think I came to be here in the first place?” I laugh, remembering him telling me to get a shower or he was going to shower me himself. I smile. I have no doubt he would have, too.
“And it was the best thing you did. Let him in, Brooke, let him take care of you. You don’t always have to be the strong one.”
I don’t know what she’s insinuating, and I can’t be bothered trying to work it out right now. “Okay, Mum. Well, I’ve got to get going, but I’ll come over tomorrow.”
“Okay, darling. Enjoy dinner and I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you, Mum.”
Saxon and I spend the afternoon going over the payroll details of all the staff. I feel like I’m grasping most the concepts he is showing me, but I have a feeling he is getting all the easy stuff out of the way first. I have no doubt this is to build my ego, and I appreciate it. It’s working.
“Had enough for today?” Saxon asks as I place the last piece of paper on the pile.
Placing my reading glasses on the table, I stretch my arms above my head. “Yeah,” I yawn. “I’m starving.”
“Come on, let’s go then. I’ve booked us a table at Chenzo’s.”
“Oh, I love that place. I haven’t been there in ages.” It occurs me to me I haven’t been anywhere in ages. Going back to all our favourite restaurants is something I’m going to have to deal with at some point. Going back to all our places, I guess. I can’t stay locked up in my house forever, and there aren’t many places in the city Nate and I haven’t been.