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Post by janice on Oct 1, 2008 2:30:03 GMT -5
“Good morning, Ms. Forrester.” Bryan peeked in her open door. “Are you ready for me?”
“Hi Bryan.” Felicia smiled at him. As she stood up from her desk and stepped out from behind it, she continued: “I guess as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m on the web all the time, but I admit I’m a bit nervous about this.”
Bryan took in every inch of her - her short black hair that framed her face - ruby red lips, the lace-up black leather bustier and matching miniskirt with three snaps up the front, the sheer black stockings, with black high-heeled boots. She absolutely oozed sex and sensuality and he wanted her.
“It’ll be great, Ms. Forrester. I think your designs are hot and they’re perfect for web exposure!” He smiled at her. “And Steffie says you’re an incredible aunt.” Bryan spoke with frank admiration.
Felicia smiled at him. “Felicia, please. And could we drop the whole ‘aunt’ bit? I know I am an aunt, but it really doesn’t fit my image, does it?” As she spoke, Felicia rummaged through the papers on her desk for some notes she had made about her designs on the FC website. “I have some definite ideas about how I want my section to look, but no idea how to go about it or if it’s even possible.”
As she bent over her desk, unwittingly exposing a substantial amount of cleavage from her strapless bustier, Bryan felt increasing warmth and desire. He replied: “Almost anything will be possible if we work at it.”
“Oh, here they are. Why don’t we go over these notes now and you can tell me what won’t work or might be a bad idea.” Felicia pointed to the small couch under the window on the opposite end of her office and walked over there.
As she sat down, Bryan joined her and she opened the folder she had found. Their heads were bent over hand-drawn sketches that detailed her desires for a web presence. Just as Bryan was leaning in closer to examine her notes, she turned slightly to look up at him and ask a question. “Can we emphasize monochromatic...” Her question ended abruptly as Bryan covered her mouth with his and kissed her passionately. Felicia responded, pressing her mouth hard against his and exploring his mouth with her tongue. Suddenly, she stopped and pulled away. “What do you think you’re doing? What about Steffie?” She was breathless from the kiss and from the desire she felt for him.
“I was kissing you. And you were kissing me. And Steffie has nothing to do with this.” He saw the anger that began to burn in her eyes. “Look, Steffie and I dated a few times. But neither of us felt anything. She’s my best friend.” Bryan saw the anger dissolve in Felicia’s eyes and put his arms around her. With one hand on the back of her head, he turned her face to his and kissed her mouth again.
This time Felicia melted into his kiss. She pushed her body tighter against his and pulled his shirt out of his pants, slipping her hands under his shirt and caressing his bare back. Then she stopped and pulled away again.
“Now, what?” Bryan said, his voice a combination of amusement and annoyance.
“My door!” Felicia whispered. She moved across the room, locked her office door and walked back to him, still holding the folder.
Bryan stood up to meet her, took the folder from her and tossed it on the low table in front of the couch. He drew her close to him and started kissing her again, slipping his hand under her bustier at the waist and moving it determinedly up her body until he was rubbing her breasts. Softly murmuring: “Too tight,” he withdrew his hand (to Felicia’s disappointment) and found the laces on the front of the bustier. He loosened them and slid the garment down to her waist. Then, kissing her and holding her close to his body with one arm; he teased her breasts with his other hand, squeezing and massaging them. He felt the nipples grow hard as he manipulated them and looked at her and grinned. “Well, Ms. Forrester!” Then, he lowered his mouth and catching one breast in his mouth, he bit the nipple playfully, while continuing to fondle her other nipple between two fingers. Bryan renewed his efforts as he heard her sharp intake of breath.
“Bryan,” Felicia caught her breath and tried to edge away from him. She quickly pulled the bustier over her breasts, but made no move to re-lace it and instead held it in place with her two arms wrapped around her body. “This is a bad idea. You’re what - Steffie’s age? 18? And I’m old enough to be your...”
“Aunt? Mother?” Bryan teased as he began to tighten the laces and re-tied the bustier as she dropped her arms limply to her sides. “Trust me - you look nothing like my mother or my aunts. Thank God! And I’m actually 23, old enough to know better and know what I want.” He placed one hand on her neck and caressed it, while with the other he traced the outline of her lips.
“I was going to say older sister!” Felicia said indignantly.
“You want me, too, don’t you, Felicia?” It was the first time he had used her first name and he said it with a slight growl in his voice that made her crave him all the more.
“Bryan, this is just a bad idea. Okay, Steffie and you are just friends. What about Phoebe? How would the two of them feel about us?” He leered suggestively at her when she said ‘us’ and she quickly backpedaled. “I mean this is wrong. We don’t really know each other. We’re feeling lust, pure and simple. Nothing more.” As he leaned in closer to her, Felicia felt the waves of desire crashing in her body. She started to back away, but he put his arms around her and held her in place.
“Steffie and I talk a lot. She says you’re the ‘wild’ Forrester, that you’re all about sex and seduction. That says lust to me. And what’s wrong with pure and simple lust? We want each other now. We’re not hurting anyone else. So...” With his last words, Bryan pulled Felicia to him and began kissing her again. She wrapped her arms around him and responded with passionate kisses of her own. Just as she was aching for more of him, his hands moved to the three snaps on her short leather skirt.
She wanted this so badly. God, she needed it. But, suddenly she struggled to pull away. “No, Bryan, not now.” She needed to clear her head. She hadn’t been this filled with desire for a man since meeting Nick Payne years ago. But Bryan was so young. And hot, and sexy, and he wanted her - a tiny voice inside her whispered. “We need to work on this website. I promised Brooke and Rick to make some decisions by the end of the week. Let’s concentrate on that now. And - we can get together for dinner tonight. Okay?” Bryan still had his hands on her skirt and the bottom snap was undone. “Please?”
“All right, dinner tonight. What are we having? Well, I mean besides each other” He held her with one arm for one more long kiss while with his other hand reached under the short skirt and explored, making her wet with desire. Then he released her and calmly picked up the folder.
Felicia laughed as some of her cocky self-assuredness returned with a bit of physical distance between them. “In your conversations with my niece, did she ever intimate that I was a cook? If she did, she was lying. We’ll have whatever carry-out you pick up and bring with you.” Then she remembered that Bryan was still a college student and possibly struggling financially. “If you go to Café Russe, we have an account there. As this will be a business meeting, we can charge it. If we don’t do any work on the website tonight, I’ll reimburse the company if necessary.”
He nodded and turned his attention to her ideas for the website. “I think you were asking about monochromatic. We can do that and it might be quite a dramatic effect in contrast to the rest of the site. But,” he moved over to the computer on her desk and called up his folders on the website, “we should insert a button here that will let visitors select what monochromatic scheme they want. I’m guessing you want to go with stark black?” She nodded at him and he opened the mock up he and Steffie had developed for Felicia Couture. He quickly changed the “technicolor”-inspired website to all black tones. As she leaned over and examined it, Felicia nodded excitedly. “But some of your customers may find ‘red’ hotter and more exciting than black. They punch here and...” Her designs were swathed in reds. “They can choose almost any color. But when they’re ready to order, we’ll set them automatically back to full color. What do you think?”
Felicia murmured affirmatively and the two of them worked on for another hour. Bryan glanced at his watch and stopped. “I have a class. You can tell Brooke we’ve made great progress.” He saved the work, closed the folder, stood up, and drew her close; kissing her and once again reaching inside the thong she wore underneath her skirt and stroking her. “Now, where exactly do you live?”
Felicia felt breathless and was grateful she had done the directions on her laptop while he was working at her desk. “This is my address and MapQuest instructions for how to get there from the college. Don’t forget dinner. I expect to be fed. I’ll provide the drinks.” She lowered her voice to a seductive and stagey whisper. “My bungalow is about half a mile from the family beach house. I have a private cove and beach.” She turned her back to him.
“Being coy now?” Bryan wrapped his arms around her waist, reached up and inside her bustier and teased her nipples again, and kissed the back of her neck. Just before he released her, he bit her neck. “See you tonight.” He unlocked her office door and walked out.
“Hey, Steffie! Is Brooke ready to see me?” Thorne walked purposefully into the office and smiled at his niece. He wondered if either of her parents had seen the outfit she was wearing.
“Hi, Uncle Thorne. Yup! She told me she wasn’t to be disturbed until you got here. I think she’s doing some homework for her class.” Steffie almost added that Brooke would probably rather be doing some bed work with the professor, but kept that thought to herself. She picked up the phone and pushed the page button. “Uncle Thorne is here.”
Thorne didn’t hear the response, but Brooke’s door opened a few seconds later and she smiled at him. “Thorne, hello. Are you okay?” She motioned him into her office and closed the door behind them.
“Brooke, I’m not really sure what I have to tell you. But Allie thought it was important, so here I am.”
“Did the girls hear more than they admitted to me, Thorne? Hope and I had a long talk last night and she didn’t add anything.” Brooke was puzzled. Hope could be stubborn and willful as well as loving and thoughtful, but she was as honest and forthright a person as Brooke had ever known.
“No, if they told you what they heard started with your questions to Dad and ended with him talking about dinner with the four of us last night, that’s all.” Thorne frowned. “Allie isn’t an alarmist, Brooke. She thinks Hope knew something before the overheard conversation.”
“Why? What did Hope say to her?” Brooke sighed. What now? She remembered how adamant Hope had been last night that Stephanie was not her grandmother. She could have overheard Stephanie and Eric discussing her attitude. But that would have nothing to do with the divorce, would it? Unless the girls had heard some of the reasons for the divorce.
“Hope didn’t say anything, Brooke. Allie said it seemed like Hope was going to tell her something and changed her mind.” Thorne shrugged. “She said Hope opened her mouth, stared straight at her, then closed her mouth. That was it. I know it’s not much, but those two can read each other almost as well as Steffie and Phoebe do. My mother can be a cruel bitch, Brooke. But you know that. And you, Donna, and Morgan can deal with it. My babies can’t, Allie can’t, and as self-assured and poised as your daughter is, I don’t think Hope can either. I knew at least one reason Dad was divorcing Mother and I am thinking that Hope put two and two together. But she wouldn’t share that with Allie. Right now, Mother adores Allie and Hope would never want to hurt Allie. That’s my theory. And I thought you should know about it.”
Brooke smiled sadly at him. “Thanks, Thorne. I think you may be right and I will need to talk to Hope tonight. Your mother makes things extremely difficult for everyone, even herself.”
Thorne held his arms open and enveloped Brooke in a brotherly hug. “I know she does, honey. And I hated to come to you about this. But whether it’s this or something else, I don’t think Hope should carry the burden herself. And, now I have to get back to the Center.” He kissed her forehead.
“Bye, Thorne, and thanks again.” As he walked out, Brooke tried to focus on her class project. Her mind alternated between concern for her daughter and fantasies about Jared Baird. She struggled to jot down a few ideas to discuss with him this afternoon.
Felicia smiled to herself, arched her back and purred. She moved to her computer and started re-working a couple of designs. She nodded to herself - they were much better now. Maybe Bryan was going to be her muse. Well, he was definitely going to be something. Suddenly, she opened a folder that she hadn’t touched in over a year and started working furiously. Smiling to herself, she wondered if she could interest Brooke in a Maitresse line for Brooke’s Bedroom. She finished a couple sketches, printed them out, tucked them in a hot pink folder, and headed out the door. No time like the present to find out.
“Hey Steffie,” Felicia smiled to see her niece intent on the work on her computer. “Is Brooke very busy right now? I have an important new idea to discuss with her.”
Steffie glanced up at her aunt, smiled, and quickly saved her work. “She probably has a few minutes, Aunt Fifi. Hang on.” As she moved across the room to knock on Brooke’s door, Felicia studied Steffie’s outfit approvingly. It was part of her line - a snug lycra dress that stopped at her thighs in black cherry, with a high neckline, accented with a large keyhole that started at the throat and ended with a hint of cleavage, and long tight sleeves with matching stiletto heels and her long blonde hair in sexy tousled curls styled by the fingers rather than a comb or brush. It probably wasn’t the ideal look for the business executive Steffie hoped to become, but it was perfect for a young executive assistant in a fashion house. Still, Felicia had to wonder what Taylor must think of the outfit and her daughter wearing it. She grinned to herself.
“Felicia!” Brooke’s warm voice called from her desk.”I definitely have a few minutes for your ideas. And how are you and Bryan making out?”
Felicia chortled to herself at Brooke’s phrasing.. “I think we made a lot of progress, Brooke. We are going to continue working tomorrow.” And tonight, she added to herself. She walked into Brooke’s office, sat down opposite her, and placed the folder on the desk. “I’ll get right to it, Brooke. I know you’ve got a lot going on right now. I’ve been working on these sketches for some time. I was hoping you would consider a new division of Brooke’s Bedroom maybe called Maitresse.” She indicated the folder. Out of the corner of her eye she observed that Steffie who had started to return to her own desk, stopped abruptly at the word “maitresse” and moved closer to Brooke.
Before Brooke could dismiss Steffie as she examined the sketches, Peyton walked in. “Felicia, I don’t know. These are good, really good. But your mother and” she edited herself with Steffie standing in the room, “others already think Brooke’s Bedroom is too risque. And we’re already planning a moderately-priced lingerie line. Can we handle a third?”
“Brooke, I know it’s pushing the envelope. But that is why you wanted me back here, isn’t it? This line could put us in direct competition with Agent Provocateur and Fifi Chachnil, not to mention others. I believe this would draw in a different customer than Brooke’s Bedroom or the moderate line.” Felicia was convinced her lingerie designs would be great for Forrester Creations. “Can’t we get Peyton’s opinion?” She ventured farther out on her limb. “And Steffie’s?”
Brooke grimaced. “What are you trying to do to me, Felicia? Taylor already has concerns about...”
Steffie interrupted her. “Brooke, I’m sorry my mother gives you a hard time about Phoebe and me. But we’re not children anymore. We have our own ideas and desires.” She inched closer to Brooke’s desk. “Could I take a look at the sketches, please? Your Brooke’s Bedroom stuff is gorgeous and Phoebe loves it. But I want something a little edgier and ‘out there’. Lingerie that fits this dress.”
Brooke laughed and held up her hands in surrender. “Did you two plan this?”
Steffie shook her head, stared at her stepmother and aunt as if making a decision and then spoke. “We wouldn’t do that.” At Brooke’s nodding acknowledgment, she continued: “Mom doesn’t know, but I used my first paycheck here to order outfits from Agent Provocateur and Fifi Chachnil. Wouldn’t you rather I wore Forrester? Now, may I please look at Aunt Fifi’s designs?”
Brooke handed the folder to Steffie who walked over to the conference table and sat down to study the sketches. As she quietly smiled and nodded at the drawings, Peyton spoke: “Brooke, I haven’t looked at Felicia’s ideas yet; but Agent Provocateur is almost mainstream as far as most women who follow style are concerned. I agree that the designs have a rawer sex appeal than the current Brooke’s Bedroom, but they are provocative rather than vile. You know that Maggie Gyllenhaal has modeled for AP, don’t you? And, to my mind, much of the shock value of AP is the advertising campaign rather than the clothes themselves. If we were going to imply bondage at all, I would prefer much more subtlety.”
Steffie had finished looking at the sketches and applauded. “These are terrific - I would wear most of these under my business suits.” She looked at Felicia. “I love this one,” as she held up one sketch. “What material were you thinking of?”
Felicia smiled at Brooke. “I was actually thinking of chamois or suede for that. If we can’t find natural material soft and supple enough that will take the dyes, maybe ultrasuede. I see offering it in up to three colors: black, fawn, and ruby red.”
Steffie handed Peyton the folder. “Be careful, Uncle Peyton. These are hot!”
Brooke frowned. She loved the designs and Felicia was right - she had persuaded her to return to Forrester Creations because of her work. “Okay, first - I don’t care if we all love it. Felicia, if your father says no, we don’t do it, agreed?”
“Brooke, I hope Dad will love this line. And I think he will as long as it’s not his daughters or granddaughters modeling it. But I agree. If Dad is opposed, I’ll try to re-work the designs so he will approve or we’ll shelf the idea.”
“Good!” Brooke smiled. “Now, about the name - Maitresse is okay, but I want something to catch the imagination even more. Any ideas?”
Peyton glanced up at the three women. “I like these, Felicia. I hope Eric agrees because you will reach a whole new market with this lingerie. And it will still be the clientele we want - the ones who wear Felicia’s or Morgan’s designs, but don’t feel Brooke’s Bedroom is right for them.”
“Okay, we go to Eric then.” Brooke liked the idea more and more. She hoped Eric would approve.
“And I have an idea for the name, but this might really be a tough sell.” Peyton paused. “Hearing Steffie call you Aunt Fifi, I was thinking of Maitresse Fifi. Unfortunately, that might involve us in lawsuits with both Chachnil and AP since AP has a fragrance called Maitresse. So, how about Brooke’s Bedroom Presents Notorious or possibly Scandalous? Or Introducing the Carnal Collection? And the introduction of the line would feature Felicia in a black leather one piece strapless suit and high heeled black leather boots that come up to the thighs. Ideally, I think she should have a riding crop in one hand, but we could forego that.”
“Ooh, I like that!” Steffie exclaimed. “Maybe I could do that.”
Brooke and Felicia glanced at each other and laughed. Brooke spoke: “Peyton, if you have time to spare from Fiscal, maybe you could assist our marketing department. I’m not sure we can sell Eric on that at all, but I love the idea. And, Steffie, do you really hate your aunt and me that much? Your parents would kill us.” Steffie opened her mouth to protest, but Brooke shook her head. “Yes, you’re an adult. But we’re too young to die.”
“I love that concept, Peyton. And I’d love to do it. But if me appearing would make Dad withhold his approval, I’ll let someone else do it. And I know who would be perfect - Juliana.”
Brooke made another face. “Oh, good. We’re off the hook with Ridge and Taylor. You tell Rick.”
“Tell me what?” Rick walked into Brooke’s office smiling. “Mom, I wanted to tell you and Uncle Peyton that we have the results from the test marketing groups for the high end makeup. They loved it so it’s definitely a go. It should be on the shelves by the end of the month. And as soon as the lab is ready, we can get moving on the skin care and fragrance. I’m getting calls from more retailers who want to offer the mineral makeup. Now what does Felicia have to tell me?”
Peyton jumped into the conversation. “Rick, look at these sketches. We’re thinking of adding them to the Brooke’s Bedroom line. What do you think?”
“Wow! Sexy!”After his initial positive reaction, Rick shook his head. “They don’t fit the Bedroom line. Sorry. Who did these? Juliana would look great in that one.” He pointed to the sketch Steffie had singled out earlier. “In black or red.”
Steffie choked on her laughter and said: “I need to get back to my office and get some work done.” She hurried out of Brooke’s office.
“What does Steffie find so humorous?” Rick was feeling a bit defensive.
“Let’s give you the whole story, honey.” Brooke gestured to the conference table, told Steffie to hold her calls and the four took seats around the table.
“First, Rick, I did the sketches and I think they would be a great asset to Forrester Creations and a big moneymaker.” Felicia smiled at her younger brother.
“Felicia, they’re great! But they’re not Brooke’s Bedroom. I’m not sure if they’re Forrester Creations.”
“Rick, Forrester is losing a huge market to other edgier lingerie designers. We already agreed that these would not be part of the regular bedroom line. But Peyton had an idea that should work.” Brooke smiled at her oldest child. She was very happy that he was not afraid to speak his mind. She just hoped that he would also keep it open in this case.
“Rick, what we’re thinking is that we introduce this as a new division of Brooke’s Bedroom. So, far, we’ve come up with three names.” Peyton handed the pad he’d been jotting notes on to his nephew.
Rick read the proposed names and nodded. “Okay, this might work. I like all three names, but I think I like Brooke’s Bedroom Introduces the Carnal Collection most. I still have two questions: Have you run this by Dad? And what did you need to tell me?”
Brooke shook her head. “Felicia just brought me the sketches and the ideas today. We need to have our plan together before we go to your father. But, if we can’t persuade Eric it’s a good fit, then we drop it. As for the other, Peyton suggested that Felicia could introduce the line dressed all in black leather - leather strapless suit and thigh high high-heeled boots, maybe with a riding crop. But I don’t know what your father would think of that and Felicia won’t do it if he objects. Steffie said she would do it and...”
Rick erupted with laughter. “Oh, boy! Can I be the one to tell Ridge his daughter is going to dress up like a mistress of bondage?”
“No, you may not. Because she won’t be doing it.” Brooke spoke calmly. “But we do need someone who fits the role and...”
Realization spread across Rick’s face. “You want Juliana to do this? Who came up with that idea?”
“It was me, Rick. I think she’d really attract customers, but don’t worry. I never should have suggested it. We won’t ask her.” Felicia reached across the table and squeezed her brother’s hand.
Rick shook his head slowly. “I don’t want her to do it. But it’s not my decision to make. If you’re serious, then ask her. But she and I will discuss it.” He took a breath. “Not for me, but because of Cedric and Gwynneth. Now, I really need to get back to work.”
“I’ll walk with you, Rick.” Peyton got up from his chair and handed the folder back to Brooke. “Keep me informed, Brooke, and if you want me to go to Eric with you, I will. Financially, it’s a sound idea.”
When the two women were alone, Brooke said: “Have breakfast here with me tomorrow, Felicia. We need to move quickly on this and I want a complete business plan when we go to your father.”
“Thanks, Brooke. Look, it’s already 3:00; I think I’m going to pack up my notebook and go home. I’ll sit by the ocean and work on a few designs.” After the excitement of her lingerie idea subsided, her body was actually aching for Bryan. She needed to get out of here.
“Fine, I’ll see you at 8 a.m. Okay?” Brooke smiled as Felicia groaned and nodded.
Felicia left Brooke’s office and was hurrying past Steffie’s desk waving as she went. “Hang on a minute.” Steffie put her caller on hold. “Aunt Fifi, I’m talking to Bryan. He said that you guys made a lot of progress on your web presence today. And that the two of you really ‘clicked’. I’m glad you like working with him. See you tomorrow.”
Felicia nodded and blew a kiss to her niece as she raced out the door. She was sure anyone who looked at her could read their whole story on her face. She was happy that she didn’t run into anyone else on her way to her office. Once there, she grabbed her computer, her portfolio, her purse and left the building. Once she was seated in her car, she noticed the message light on her cell phone flashing. What if Brooke was calling her back to her office? She debated for a second and then retrieved the message. “Hi, Ms. Forrester.” Bryan’s teasing and self-satisfied voice filled her car. “So, did you hear what I told Steffie? We did ‘click’, you know. Tonight we’re going for fireworks. See you soon.”
“Steffie, can you come in here for a minute?” Brooke decided Felicia had a great idea in getting out of the office a bit early. She would talk to her about Clark right now, call and confirm that Jared Baird could see her a bit earlier than they had scheduled, and head for the school.
“Hey, Brooke, what’s up?” Steffie entered the office with her ever-present Blackberry 8830. “Do we need to meet about Brooke’s Bedroom or the Beauty line on the internet now?”
“Close the door and come over here, Steffie.” Brooke was sitting on the small sofa in the corner of her office. “Sit down. This isn’t exactly business.”
“Look, Brooke, if this is about what Mom said to you yesterday...”Steffie began.
“It’s not that, Steffie. I can handle that and I do kind of understand your mother’s feelings. I’ve already told you and Phoebe to be patient with her. There’s no need to discuss it further.” Brooke sighed inwardly as Steffie visibly relaxed. Her stepdaughter would not be happy with this conversation. “What I do want to talk to you about are your obvious feelings for Clark.”
Steffie tried to appear both surprised and nonchalant, but an involuntary blush betrayed her words. “What do you mean, Brooke? Sure, I like Clark. I like almost everyone who works here.”
“Steffie Forrester, don’t try and con me. I’ve watched you with him.” Brooke looked sternly at her. “Clark is old enough to be your father and he is very involved with Jackie Payne.”
“Now, you sound just like Phoebe.” Steffie was indignant. “Wasn’t grandpa old enough to be your father? What does age have to do with it? And I don’t want to...”
“My past relationship with your grandfather is irrelevant, Steffie. I don’t want to hear that again.” Brooke spoke quietly, but her eyes were grim and determined. “What would your parents think? Neither of them would want you working here anymore. And, as I said, Clark is in love with Jackie.”
“Brooke, I am sorry. I know I never should have mentioned you and grandpa.” Steffie tried to size up Brooke and anticipate her reaction. When she couldn’t, she decided to plunge ahead and admit her feelings for Clark. “I don’t want my parents to know. You know that. And they won’t. I like Jackie and I would never do anything to hurt her. Brooke, I like Clark a lot. But mainly, he’s hot and I want him. I don’t want to marry him or date him. I want sex with him. That’s all.”
Brooke wasn’t shocked, but she wasn’t sure what her reaction was. Steffie was a young woman, an adult; and she certainly need no one’s approval for any relationship. But Brooke knew this would be a disaster. She spoke tentatively: “Stef, you make it sound simple. Love, sex, romance - none of them are ever simple. Honey, you’re getting in way over your head. And this could hurt a whole lot of people. But this isn’t a good time or place to discuss this. I want to..”
“There’s nothing for us to discuss, Brooke. I love you and I respect you, but I am an adult. I know what I want and it’s Clark.” Steffie reminded herself of the defiance she had displayed at 12 when Brooke refused to buy her the revealing bikini she wanted. She lost that round, but not this time. How could she explain to Brooke the feeling and desire that seemed to engulf her body when she was near Clark?
“Steffie, we will discuss this some more. I want you to book a Path to Indulgence for both of us at Ojai for tomorrow. Schedule it to immediately follow my breakfast meeting with Felicia. We can spend the day cleansing and renewing our bodies and we will deal with this infatuation of yours.”
“Brooke, this is not an infatuation.” Steffie was feeling frustrated that she could not make Brooke understand the passion she felt for Clark. But she was also intrigued by the idea of the treatment at the spa. She could imagine telling her friends about it - Maureen’s mother had recently undergone a day treatment at Ojai, but she said the Path to Indulgence was too expensive. “Why can’t you or Phoebe understand how I feel? Weren’t you ever hot for someone you didn’t love?”
“Make the appointments for us, Steffie. If they say they’re booked, tell them we will pay the premium for treatment tomorrow.” She smiled fondly at Steffie. “Yes, I have felt physical passion without love. Honey, I do know what you’re feeling.” Brooke recalled one of Storm’s friends from law school when she was a senior in high school. “But you could be hurt badly. I am not telling you what to do. You are young, but you are an adult and I couldn’t do that. So we will both have our turn to speak tomorrow. And we’ll have fun and pamper ourselves, too. But, promise me one thing.”
Steffie was already looking up the number for the Ojai on her Blackberry. It would be a great day - body, skin, and face treatments at one of the most exclusive spas with her favorite “mother”. “What do you want me to promise?”
“Just this, sweetie - I know I can’t stop you, but don’t take any action until we really talk about this, okay?” Brooke spoke casually, but Steffie saw the worried and caring look in her eyes and loved her for it. “One other thing, Steffie, and this is up to you. Do you want to tell your mother and father what we are doing tomorrow? Or shall we just say we are working off site?”
“I promise I will wait until we’ve really talked, Brooke, but I won’t promise you it will change anything.” Steffie spoke firmly. “I don’t want to tell my parents what we’re doing because they would figure it was more than just work. I can’t share this with them and I don’t want to hurt Mom if she knows I’m confiding in you. She makes me so angry, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“Okay, then, an off site for us tomorrow.” Brooke smiled as she recognized the timid knock on her door. “Come in. What about Phoebe?”
Phoebe walked into the office, looking like a female Robin Hood. She was wearing another one of her own designs - a leaf green tunic that came to her mid-thigh over pale green tights. She had dark brown soft-soled ballerina shoes on her feet and a matching rope belt cinched her waist. “What about me?”
Steffie glanced at Brooke and said: “Is it okay? You know Phoebe and I don’t have secrets.” When Brooke nodded, she turned to her twin and answered: “We are both going to have the Path to Indulgence treatment tomorrow at Ojai.”
Phoebe grinned. “So, Brooke knows how you feel about Clark?”
Brooke was surprised, but Steffie shrugged. “She said I was obvious. I don’t think anyone else knows/”
“Brooke can read you almost as well as I can, Steffie.” She glanced at Brooke. “Listen to what Brooke says, okay? And have fun tomorrow.” There was not a trace of envy in her voice and Brooke was overwhelmed by the love she felt for “her” twins and the closeness they shared.
“Phoebe, do you want to come with us? Steffie could book the Peace, Love and Happiness treatment for you. It includes an art class. The three of us could have lunch together.”
Phoebe’s face lit with excitement, but she studied Brooke and Steffie. “Wouldn’t that interfere with your plans?”
“Not at all,” Brooke said. When Steffie nodded in agreement, she said: “Steffie, make the reservations, please. I’ll talk with your sister for a few minutes and then I have to get to the college.”
After Steffie left the room to make the reservations from her desk, Phoebe looked anxiously at Brooke. “Are you going to talk her out of this thing with Clark?”
“When was the last time anyone talked your sister out of anything she wanted to do? But we are going to discuss this all day tomorrow. That’s why I didn’t ask you to take the same treatment as the two of us.”
“I want the treatment with an art lesson. And I don’t want to see my sister hurt, Brooke.”
“I don’t either, honey, and I’m really afraid that’s where this is heading.” Brooke studied Phoebe’s concerned face. “We’re just telling your parents that we have an off site. I am going to tell Clark that you have a special art lesson tomorrow, okay?”
Phoebe nodded and hugged her. “Thanks, Brooke. I hope Steffie will listen to you.”
“Me, too, Phoebe. And now I need to get out of here. I will call Clark from my car and explain that you won’t be in the studio tomorrow. I think it might be best if you and Steffie spent the night with me. Do you think you can handle that?” When Phoebe nodded, Brooke picked up her packed briefcase. “Great, then I will see the two of you at the house tonight. We’ll take a swim and have carry out for dinner.” Brooke hurried out the door.
Brooke had called Jared Baird from her car and he assured her that he would be pleased to meet with her at 3:30 rather than 4:00. As she pulled into a visitor’s parking space outside Morrill Hall where the English Department offices were, her body tingled with excitement. She scolded herself: You are going to discuss your class project with a faculty member, Brooke Logan. He has a baby daughter and is married or committed to someone else. You don’t need or want a romance anyhow. You need to deal with Steffie’s libido and Hope’s problem (whatever it is) and you need to do well in this class. Concentrating on calming down, Brooke found herself at his office door. As she put up her hand to knock, the door opened and an exquisitely beautiful young woman stepped out. In spite of what she had just thought, Brooke’s heart sank. This must be Miranda Ariel’s mother.
“Oh, excuse me.” A gentle, yet confident, voice spoke. “I’m sorry - I didn’t hit you with the door, did I?” As Brooke shook her head, the other woman continued. “You’re Brooke Logan, aren’t you? The CEO of Forrester Creations?”
Brooke nodded weakly, but found her voice. “No, you didn’t hit me. I am Brooke Logan. Should I know you?”
A happy laugh as delicate as the tinkling of fine crystal greeted the question. “Oh, no. I’m just a student here. But I love the new designs you have by Morgan Forrester. They are beautiful and romantic. Anyway, excuse me again.”
Jared Baird was observing the exchange and came from behind his desk. “Good afternoon, Ms. Logan. I am ready for our meeting. Ms. Logan is taking my Advanced Seminar, Joanna. And Joanna is not just a student. She is one of the most promising doctoral candidates I’ve ever met.” He glanced at Joanna. “I’ll see you next week at this time for a review of your new chapter, right?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry I burst in on you today, but I was really excited about this idea.”
“Not a problem and I think your new approach is brilliant.” He smiled and turned to Brooke. “Shall we begin?” Joanna moved down the hallway and he closed his office door. He motioned Brooke to a chair at the small round table rather than his desk and sat down next to her.
Brooke was decidedly uncomfortable. “I’m afraid my idea for my class project may seem dull and silly after a doctoral dissertation.”
“Ms. Logan, I don’t compare one student to another.” He sounded almost angry, but seeing her discomfiture, he became kinder. “You were quite knowledgeable at the first class and dressed me down pretty well for my assumptions. I must do the same now. I enjoy hearing the thoughts of anyone who enjoys literature and we all have something unique to offer. Now, what is your plan for your project?”
Brooke swallowed and then spoke: “You wanted us to choose three 20th Century or even contemporary writers and compare their style, subject matter, everything to one classical writer?” At Baird’s nod, she continued. “Must it be writers that we are studying in class?”
“Well, not necessarily, but you will still be responsible for all the assigned readings. It might be a great deal more work.” From the determined look on her face, he saw that didn’t faze her. “Who did you have in mind?”
“I wanted to use e. e. cummings, Sylvia Plath, and Diane Wakoski and compare them to Elizabeth Barrett Browning.” Brooke finished and looked into his eyes.
“An interesting assortment of poets. And it will make for a very challenging project.” Jared Baird looked at that lovely face and those enchanting eyes and smiled. “I think it could be an excellent piece of work. I would like us to have several meetings as you are developing your thesis and project. Is that a problem?” He wondered to himself if this was truly necessary or if he was making an excuse to see her more often.
“No, not a problem at all. I love these poets and I have some ideas on how I want to proceed. But I am a bit nervous about getting started. I would appreciate your advice, Professor Baird.” Brooke was thrilled - they would be spending more time together. She knew he was just interested in her project, but she was still ecstatic.
“Actually, Ms. Logan, aside from my Freshman Survey classes, my students call me Jared.”
“And I’m just Brooke, Jared.” Her heart was racing as she stood up to leave. “Thanks for your time.”
Jared walked her to the door and as he reached around her to open it, it seemed as though his fingers lingered momentarily on the small of her back. It took her breath away. “Brooke, I think we should have a latte after class again this week to explore your progress.”
She nodded at him and held out her hand to shake. He took it and was about to shake her hand, then suddenly cradled it tenderly in both his hands, turned it over and gently kissed the palm.
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