Hidden Desires (36 page)

"She's rude."

Bert blinked several times. "Harriet, rude isn't the end of the world." he leaned back in his chair in relief. "The way you're acting, I thought the worst!"

"Well, she doesn't want Brooke around and Brooke is insistent that this woman wants her. I don't know how she can think she does."

"Why does Brooke insist?"

"They had this kiss, apparently it was rather good."

"A kiss?" Bert asked puzzled. "Since when does a kiss allow Cayden to mistreat Brooke?"

"Brooke says she nearly fainted but honestly, a kiss isn't everything."

"She nearly fainted?" Bert asked with concern. "From a kiss?"

"That's what she says. I suppose this Cayden is a good kisser, but..."

Bert mulled it over. There was no excuse for bad behavior when it came to his baby, but Brooke isn't stupid. As much as he hated to admit it, she's an adult and can think for herself. He could recall a few kisses in his time that made him lose all sensibilities and he cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment. His daughter was usually a good judge of character, except for Grant. He'd never figure that one out. Maybe Brooke was in love? That could do all sorts of weird things to a person. Even acting rude.
Hmm.
He began to wonder if maybe Cayden was in love with Brooke and didn't know how to act. He could feel his own jumbled, whirlwind of emotions like it was just yesterday when he fell in love with Harriet. He smiled when he recalled their first kiss. "Have you ever nearly fainted from my kisses?"

Mrs. Hewitt blushed. "Bert!" she giggled.

"Well?" He asked with a smirk.

"Perhaps." Harriet said into her coffee cup.

Bert smiled smugly. "So then, you know what it's like. It's hard to ignore that feeling." he thought for a moment. "You say she insists Cayden wants her?"

"She says she has proof. Swears by it."

"You know Harriet, maybe Cayden's scared? Maybe Brooke nearly made
her
faint, did you think of that?"

Harriet's eyes widened. "Well, no..."

"It could be." he said seriously.

"Are you talking from experience?" Harriet asked with a sly smile.

Bert stood suddenly, picked up his pants and shook his head. "No! No... I was just saying... you know..." he explained badly as he ran from the room.

Harriet giggled.
I do suppose its possible. Maybe I'm getting all upset for nothing. Brooke is an intelligent young woman, and she says she knows what she's doing.... maybe I need to meet Cayden again. Yes, I think Cayden should come here for dinner very soon. I'll know if she's in love with Brooke then.

 
*  *  *

Cayden holed up in her room while Wade readied himself for work. She didn't want to talk to him and she knew he had a LOT to talk about. He was going to talk mercilessly about the previous day and she didn't want to discuss it. She had no idea what happened, how or why either. All she knew is that Brooke had her where she wanted her at any given time. It frightened her to know that Brooke was able to do that. No one ever made Cayden do what she didn't want to, not even her parents. They always let her decide for herself once she was old enough to make proper choices. It spoiled her, she was used to getting her way. Sure, she let Wade and Jodie
think
they got their way, but if she really didn't want to do something, she didn't. Now Brooke, she had Cayden doing things the tall woman would never do willingly.
Why didn't I fight harder? Why did I let her control me? Why didn't I just throw her out of the damned house?

The shop keeper waited for Wade to leave before she left her room, and then she went for more coffee. Dressed in gym shorts and a ratty T-shirt, she dropped into the sofa and sighed.
And that daydream... what the hell was that all about? I don't even like Brooke!
The tall woman frowned at herself, it wasn't true.
Yeah, so, I like kissing her, I like it too much.
She hugged herself as she remembered how it felt to kiss the blonde.
But I don't like her!
She argued against the feeling she experienced during, and after the kiss.
I'm just horny. That's all it is. I need to have sex, and this thing with Brooke will pass.
Satisfied with her observation, Cayden turned on the television to dismiss the whole thing.

Sometime later the phone rang and the tall woman was going to let the machine pick it up but a weird feeling made her get it. "Hello?"

"Oh, Cayden?" Denise asked, seemingly flustered.

Cayden felt almost let down hearing Denise. "Yeah, what's up?"

"I didn't know you were home today, I was all set to leave a message." She chuckled. "You confused me."

Cayden grinned, knowing that feeling well. "It's my day off on Sunday." she explained.

"Cool! I was just calling to see if you wanted to do something later, but since you're home now, you wanna get together?"

Cayden looked down at her clothes and frowned. "I'm kinda in my PJ's."

"So, it will take me a bit to get there, you want me to bring something to eat? There's a great deli right on the corner."

Cayden's stomach growled at the mention of food. She tapped her finger on her leg as she pursed her lips in thought. "Yeah sure, what the hell."

"Great! See you soon!" Denise said happily and hung up.

Cayden sat there in silence wondering what had just gotten into her.
Wade and Jodie say I shouldn't just sit in front of the television all day. Yeah, that's what it is. I'm sure it will be cool hanging out with Denise.
She stood up slowly and went to change her clothes.
It'll do me some good.

 
*  *  *

Brooke opened the bathroom door in time to see her father run by, blushing and holding his pants up high. She snickered and made her way into the kitchen where she smelled bacon and coffee. Her mother was sitting at the table with a far away look in her eyes, and she prepared herself for the impending conversation. "I saw dad was pretty flustered, how much did you tell him?"

Harriet jumped a little in surprise. "Oh, good morning honey," she said happily and got up to make Brooke breakfast.

Fred came trotting into the kitchen and made himself comfortable by curling up on Brooke's foot.

"Mom, you don't have to cook for me, coffee is fine. You didn't answer me, how much of last night's conversation did you share?" The blonde reached down and brought the dog up onto her lap.

"I told him what I needed to tell him." The older woman replied, setting a cup down in front of Brooke.

"Hmm, well, why was he holding his pants? He only gets like that when sex is involved."

Harriet colored slightly. "Oh, that. Never you mind dear, it wasn't you."

Brooke grimaced "Nooo, mom... you guys and sex... blech." she made a sour face and stuck her tongue out.

"Your mother's not a virgin Brooke." Mrs. Hewitt teased.

"You only had sex once, and I thank you for it."

Harriet giggled. "Okay dear. So what are the plans for today?"

"I don't know. I was thinking about calling Bev, maybe having lunch or something."

"Bev? Isn't she the odd woman you work with?" Harriet asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Mom, even you know not to judge a book by its cover. Yes, she appears a little odd, but she's a wonderful person."

"Yes, you're right, I only met her that once... it wouldn't be fair."

Fred, sat up and put his tiny feet on the table in search of something to nibble.

"Mom, is there any bacon left?"

"Now, Brooke, he only has two teeth in his head, how do you expect him to chew it? It's not good for him anyway."

Brooke rolled her eyes. "And I suppose cookies are? He makes do." She argued even as her mother handed her a piece of bacon.

"You're not here a week and you've already spoiled him." Harriet said with a soft smile.

"He's 84 years old, he deserves it." Brooke countered, breaking of a little piece and watching Fred gnaw on it happily. "Mom, what are you going to do when he ... you know..."

Harriet stood up and smoothed her housecoat nervously. "Don't talk like that. He's perfectly healthy."

"Dad will go apeshit."

"Brooke, I said stop talking like that." The older woman said sternly.

Brooke kept quiet, but thought about it anyway. If anything was to happen to Fred, her parents would lose it. "What if we get another dog, you know as a playmate for him." Brooke figured, having another dog as backup wouldn't hurt.

"A playmate? Honey, Fred can hardly walk let alone chase a puppy around the house. No, not a good idea."

"I suppose you're right." The blonde agreed out loud, but still schemed on the inside.
You wouldn't mind a friend would you buddy.
she thought, while kissing the old dog on the head.

C
AYDEN CHANGED HER clothes, and set up a new pot of coffee. The more she thought about having Denise over, the better it sounded. After her early morning revelations, Denise would be a good distraction, maybe even a solution.

The tall brunette came to the conclusion that all of this Brooke nonsense was just her hormones talking. Maybe, there may be an opportunity to test the theory with Denise. Sure, she knew it was wrong, but if she just pushed Wade's and Jodie's reprimands into the back of her mind, there was a good chance that she could get away with a little nookie. The way she figured, she was horny, and solo sex wasn't cutting it for her. It was only natural to want another's touch and if she got it, she'd be satisfied, and Brooke would no longer be an issue. As soon as she gave herself the once over, the doorbell rang. Gathering her nerve, Cayden went forth to conquer.

 
*  *  *

Denise set the bags of food down on the kitchen table, then gave the tall woman a hug, unaware of Cayden's agenda. She was slightly surprised when Cayden kissed her hello, but not disappointed. She kissed her back, and only pulled away when she remembered that it was Cayden who said she wasn't interested. Giving the tall woman a suspicious look, she backed away and began unpacking the food. "I got bagels and stuff, I hope you like lox."

Cayden's belly grumbled, and she decided that food was first and foremost on her list of things to do. "I love lox."

La La galloped, full force, into the kitchen at the sound of bags, scaring Denise. "What the hell is that?"

"That's my room mate's cat. You said lox and now you must feed him."

"God, he's big! Does he like to be touched?"

"Loves attention, but if you start, you're bound to him all day."

Denise tried to avoid the cat and watched curiously as Cayden reached for plates and coffee mugs. The tall woman was dressed rather sexy, and she smelled really good. Her eyebrow raised as she wondered if Cayden wasn't trying to get in her pants. Not at all an unwelcome idea, but Denise was sure that after her talk with Jodie, that Cayden was after Brooke. Then again, Denise wasn't familiar with Cayden that well, and the tall woman may just act this way all the time in her own home. She decided to just let the morning progress and take it as it came.