• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

"We just found out a few days ago, so we haven't told anyone yet," Tara said, smiling over at her husband. Brooke could see the love they shared shining in their eyes.

"Well, I think it's wonderful, and this calls for a celebration, don't you agree, Ian?" Brooke asked, glancing over at him.

He smiled. "Yes, but not tonight since we have special dinner plans."

"Oh." Special dinner plans? This was certainly a surprise to her.

"Meet me at six o'clock in the conservatory, all right?" he asked.

She nodded. "Sure."

Ian then checked his watch. "I hate to run but I have a four-o'clock conference call." He turned to leave.

Brooke knew she needed to tell him about her conversation with Malcolm. "Ian, can we talk for a minute'?"

He turned back around and smiled. "I'm in a hurry now, sweetheart, but we'll have time to talk later. I promise." And then he was gone.

Brooke looked down at herself as she stepped into Ian's private elevator. She had decided to wear a pair of chocolate-colored tailored slacks and a short-sleeved beige stretch shirt. Although he'd said it was a special dinner, he had not hinted at how she should dress. Assuming that it would only be the two of them, she figured casual attire would be okay.

It seemed that today the elevator moved a lot faster than it had that first ride up to Ian's special place. Before she could take a deep breath it had stopped at the conservatory.

The door automatically swooshed open, and there he was. waiting for her. Heat suddenly filled her and he took a step back when she took one forward. Over his shoulder she saw a beautiful, candlelit table set for two. "I hope I'm not too early."

"And I'm glad that you are." he said, and then he leaned down and captured her lips, using his mouth, lips and tongue to churn her brain into mush.

At that moment nothing mattered, not even the thought that all he probably intended for tonight was a chance for them to say goodbye before things got too hectic because of Delaney's birthday party. And if that was his intent, she was fine. She had no regrets about the time she had spent with him these few days.

He released her mouth but kept her close to him, in his arms. "I think we did stand beneath a shooting star that night," he said in a low voice, tracing the tip of his thumb over her lips. "There hasn't been anything but nonstop passion between us since then."

She smiled, thinking of all the times they had spent together since that night, and inwardly she had to agree. "There's always been a lot of passion between us, Ian," she reminded him.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss on her lips. "Yes, things were always that way, weren't they? Do you know that you spoiled me for any other woman?"

"Did I?"

"Yes. I tried to forget you but I couldn't, Brooke."

She sighed. This didn't sound like the goodbye speech she had been expecting. This was a confession. She decided to follow his lead. "I didn't even try forgetting you, Ian. It would have been useless. You were my first lover and a girl never forgets her first."

He grinned. "Sweetheart, the way I see it... or perhaps a better word is the way I felt it, I am your one and only. Do you deny it'?"

"No. I couldn't stand the thought of another man touching me."

Ian pulled her into his arms. Hearing her admit such a thing touched him deeply.

"Ian?"

He pulled back and looked at her. "Yes?"

"I don't understand why we're talking about these things," she said, contused.

He smiled. "Let's eat and then I'll explain everything."

"Okay, but there's something I need to tell you."

He leaned down and brushed another kiss on her lips. "We'll talk after dinner."

Ian led her over to the beautifully set table and seated her. "Would you like some wine?" he asked, his voice so husky it sent shivers all the way down her spine.

"Yes, please." She watched as he poured the wine in her glass and then in his.

"I had the chef prepare something special for us tonight," he said.

"What?"

He chuckled. "You'll see." And then with the zing sounding