Ian's Ultimate Gamble - Brenda Jackson [47]
As if she understood completely, Tara smiled and took her hand. "Come on. Let's go someplace and have some girls' chat time."
"A strawberry, virgin daiquiri, please," Tara told the smiling waitress.
"And the same for me," Brooke tagged on. Not wanting to jump into a conversation about her and Ian just yet, Brooke asked, "And how do you plan on surprising Delaney?"
Tara chuckled. "Jamal is flying her here straight from Tahran. She believes that he's coming here for an investors' meeting with Ian, Thorn, Spencer and Jared, so seeing me and Thorn, Jared and Dana won't give anything away. She also thinks that Jamal is flying her to France to celebrate her birthday once she leaves here."
She paused when the waitress returned with their drinks. "Most of the family and other invitees will begin arriving that day or the day before. It's going to be up to Jamal to keep Delaney occupied while everyone checks in."
Tara smiled. "One good thing is that everyone is being housed in a separate part of the resort than where Jamal and Delaney are staying. That should minimize the risk of her running into anyone."
"And when will Delaney arrive?" "Tomorrow."
Brooke took a sip of her drink then asked. "You don't think her seeing me here will give anything away, do you'?"
Tara's smile widened. "No. She'll assume, like the rest of us. that you and Ian have finally made amends and are back together." Tara then lifted an arched brow. "Well, is that true, Brooke?"
More than anything. Brooke wished she could say yes. But she couldn't. "No. The only thing Ian and I have managed to do while I've been here is to bury any hostility we've felt and become friends. I feel for us that is a good thing. I care a lot for Ian."
Tara chuckled. "Of course you do. You still love him." Brooke's cheeks tinted in a blush. "Am I that obvious?"
"Only because I'm in love with a Westmoreland man myself. They seem to grow on you, and once you fall in love with one, it's hard as the dickens to fall out of love... no matter what."
Brooke had to agree. From the first Ian had grown on her and once she fell in love with him that was that. Four years of separation hadn't been able to cure her of being bitten by the love bug. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Wish I could answer that." Tara leaned in closer and reached for Brooke's arms, squeezing reassuringly. "We all know how smart Ian is but unfortunately he has a tendency to analyze things to death. But I'm sure once he sits down and considers things rationally, he'll reach the conclusion that you are the best thing to ever happen to him."
Brooke just hoped Tara was right. But then, there was a lot Tara didn't know, like the real reason Brooke was at the Rolling Cascade. Even if Ian was able to put behind him what happened four years ago. how would he feel if he ever found out that she was now here under false pretenses?
"Don't look now but here come our Westmoreland men," Tara said, breaking into Brooke's thoughts. "I swear they are like bloodhounds on our scent. I doubt there's anywhere we could hide where they wouldn't find us."
Brooke glanced up, and her gaze collided with Ian's as he and his cousin Thorn moved toward their table. Her pulse began beating so wildly that her hand began shaking and she had to put her drink down.
Surprisingly, it was Thorn who pulled her out of her chair to give her a huge hug. Thorn, who used to be the surliest of the Westmorelands, had definitely changed. It seemed that marriage definitely agreed with him. She remembered that at Dare's wedding Thorn and Tara hadn't been getting along any better than she and Ian. Then a few months later she'd received a call from Delaney saying Thorn and Tara were getting married. She had been invited to the wedding, but in consideration of Ian's feelings, she had declined the invitation.
"Did Tara tell you our good news?" he asked Brooke once he released her. Brooke glanced over at Tara and raised a brow. "No, what news is that?"
"We're having a baby," he announced, grinning broadly.
Brooke rushed around