Ian's Ultimate Gamble - Brenda Jackson [46]
"Why?"
"Because if our informer is right and Thurgood can be credited with stopping a major jewel heist, especially one with possible international connections, that feat would be a great-looking feather in his cap. Someone upstairs is trying like hell to make him look good."
"Yeah, like we don't know who that is," Brooke said sarcastically. "Personally I don't give a damn about him getting credit for anything. I just don't want Ian left in the dark about what might be going on."
"Call me if you notice anything. Brooke, and remember that this is hearsay from an informer. Nothing has been verified yet."
"Okay, and I understand."
Ian smiled, hanging up the phone. Talking to his mother always made him chuckle. It wasn't good enough for Sarah Westmoreland that she now had two married sons, she was still determined to marry the rest of them off in grand style sooner or later.
And today she was ecstatic because Durango had called and said there was a possibility that Savannah might be having twins. An ultrasound was being scheduled in a couple of weeks to confirm or deny such a possibility.
Ian shook his head. He hadn't gotten used to Durango being a husband, much less a father, but that just went to show that some things were meant to be.
Like him and Brooke.
He sighed deeply and walked over to the window in his office. It seemed that today Lake Tahoe was more beautiful than ever. Or maybe he thought that way because he was in such a good mood. And all because of Brooke.
Spending time with her had made him realize that what had been missing in his life was the same thing he'd turned his back on four years ago. But now, waking up with her beside him, gazing into the darkness of her eyes, enjoying a warm good-morning smile was what he needed in his life. But only with her. The time they'd spent together over the past week and a half had been wonderful. He couldn't remember the last time he'd smiled or enjoyed himself more. And then the memories of nights they'd shared in each other's arms could still take his breath away.
Over the years he'd tried to shove her into the past and replace her with more desirable women. However, he hadn't found anyone he desired more or who could replace her in his heart. Just the thought that in three days she would be walking out of his life was unacceptable. He wanted what happened in the past to stay in the past, and he wanted to move forward and reclaim her as his and his alone.
His smile widened when he decided that he would tell her how he felt tonight. He loved her. God, he loved her and would go on loving her. He sighed when that admission was wrung from deep inside of him. He hadn't counted on falling in love with her all over again, and if he were completely honest with himself, he would admit that he'd never stopped loving her. And just to think he'd actually assumed he could work her out of his system. More than anything, he wanted to make her a permanent part of his life.
He walked back over to his desk and picked up the phone. He planned on making tonight one that she wouldn't forget.
"Brooke?”
Brooke was on her way up to see Ian in his office when she turned, following the sound of her name being called, and glanced around. Smiling, she crossed the casino's lobby to give Tara Westmoreland a hug.
"Tara, when did you get here?"
"A few hours ago. Since Jamal asked that I coordinate everything for Delaney's party, I thought it was best for me to be in place a couple of days early. Ian's taking Thorn around, showing him some of the new additions, and I thought I'd just wander around in here and play a couple of the slot machines."
Tara gazed at Brooke with a lift of her brow. "But my question is what are you doing here? Did you decide to come up early, too?"
Brooke shook her head, chuckling. "No. I've been here for a week and a half now. I'm here on vacation."
"Hmm," Tara said grinning.
"It's not what you think." Brooke then rubbed a frustrated hand down her face before