Page 21 of Getting Off

TBI Center Celebration Gala

Bellagio Ballroom, Las Vegas

Things moved fast. Lucas was used to getting results. It took five days after Brooklyn had walked out of his life for him and his army of assistants to organize and arrange this celebration event at the stunning Bellagio Hotel grand ballroom.

Still, as fast as that was, it felt like an eternity to him without Brooklyn.

Tonight, his foundation would present a check for the construction of the new traumatic brain injury center to the hospital. Celebrities were here. Politicians, local and state, were here. Prominent businessmen. Anyone and everyone important who could make it on short notice.

Why had Lucas insisted on throwing this event when he usually hated them? Simple. He desperately wanted to see Brooklyn again.

Nothing else mattered.

Beside him, Dylan pulled at the collar of his tuxedo and grimaced. “I hate these monkey suits.”

“You look good in it, though,” Lucas said distractedly. He was waiting impatiently for one of the attendants to text him when Dr. Brooklyn Foster arrived. Until she arrived, he would be on pins and needles. Hell, even after she arrived, he’d feel the same.

Not only would this be the first public announcement of his backing of the project, announcing dates for breaking ground and all of the usual ceremony, but it would be formally announced that Brooklyn was director for the new center.

He couldn’t take back what he’d done. From the beginning, he’d promised he would fund this project. And Brooklyn was still the best in Nevada to run it. He believed that in his heart. But tonight, he was going to do everything in his power to make things right with her again.

Dylan glanced around uneasily. “She here yet?”

“Not yet. Be patient.” But that was easier said than done, and he knew he was being a complete hypocrite. He wanted to see her so badly he could taste it.

This whole night was about her. Now he found himself desperately hoping she didn’t blow it off because she was so furious with him. Because she couldn’t forgive him.

Dylan had wanted to go to her and patch things up.

Lucas had wanted the same, but he wasn’t as naive as Dylan, who never seemed to lose hope for an instant, no matter what.

Brooklyn wouldn’t return their calls. They couldn’t see her at the hospital.

Both times they had shown up at her place, she hadn’t been home.

He didn’t know if she was crashing at a friend’s pad or what, but it was beyond clear that she was avoiding them.

Then again, he wasn’t a man who let what he desired slip away easily. And this time, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

He wanted Brooklyn. She belonged with them. He would do anything to get her back.

Lucas spent his time waiting, chatting with the celebrities or business leaders who approached him, but he was utterly distracted. He couldn’t remember a word any of them had said ten seconds after they went on their way again.

Finally, his smartphone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and nearly dropped it, he was so eager to read the notification.

It was a text from an attendant at the front door. Dr. Foster has arrived.

He texted back his thanks and met Dylan’s gaze. “She’s here.”

Dylan blew out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Damn. I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been before a race. I hate this feeling.”

“Same here.”

He moved to the edge of the grand ballroom, a good distance from the main entrance.

He didn’t want her to feel ambushed. She would know he was going to be here.

Dylan too. She had to be just as nervous as he was.

He felt bad about that. But not nearly as bad as he felt about letting her down.

He’d had a lot of time to think over what she’d said.

It seemed to take forever before Brooklyn appeared in the open doorway.

She was wearing a red evening gown that perfectly complemented her lean frame and those graceful curves.

Her hair was pulled back in a French braid, as it had been the last time he’d seen her at one of these events.

She had a simple gold necklace around her elegant neck.

It looked good on her, but he had to fight back the urge to buy her more.

Diamonds, gold, platinum, whatever she wanted, and as much as she wanted.

He had to keep his urges in check. As much as he liked to show his feelings and love by buying nice things for the people he cared about, that willingness to throw money at what he wanted, be it problem or solution, was what had landed them here.

He wasn’t going to make that mistake again. At least not until Brooklyn understood how much he loved her and gave him her trust again.

She didn’t see either of them near the far wall. He wasn’t surprised. There were hundreds and hundreds of people here, all milling about, and the grand ballroom was huge.

“She’s beautiful,” Dylan said simply from beside him.

“She’s ours,” he murmured back. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

Dylan shook his head. “Hey, usually I’m the cock-eyed optimist, but this time…I don’t know. I don’t want her to go back to what she was before. She wasn’t happy then.”

“You’re right.” He took a deep breath and gathered his courage. “Now, let’s go see our girl and help her realize that.”

“I hope you brought kneepads,” Dylan shot back. “Because I got a feeling we’re going to be down on our knees and begging.”

Lucas smirked. “If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.”

Dylan glanced at him, frowning. “In front of all these fat cats and glitterati? You got balls, and I admire that.” He rubbed his chin as he watched Brooklyn take champagne from one of the servers and move around the edge of the crowd. “I doubt she’d appreciate us making a big scene.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But she’s worth it either way. Whatever she wants.”

“Yeah.” Dylan punched him on the shoulder. “Whatever she wants, man. I’m right there with you.”

Together, they made their way through the crowds of men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns. He nodded absently to the people who called out to him, but he didn’t look their way. He was a man on a mission. He refused to be distracted or diverted.

Brooklyn Foster appeared even more beautiful up close. Those big blue eyes widened when she spotted them. He saw her take in a quick breath, holding her champagne glass up as if it were a shield.

He hated that the mistake he’d made had come between them.

He’d charged in like a white knight, thinking that he’d known what was best. Then he’d refused to see her side of things, believing she would come around to his way of thinking.

It had been arrogant. He’d made a mistake and risked everything they’d had together.

He’d risked love and happiness because he’d been too damned determined to give her what he thought she wanted, even though she had warned him not to get involved.

But now he had one last chance to make this right.

“Brooklyn,” he said softly as the two of them stopped in front of her. He had to resist the powerful urge to sweep her into his arms and simply kiss her until she realized exactly how much he loved her, needed her. “Thank you for coming.”

“I didn’t have a choice. I’m the new director for the trauma center after all.”

“You look amazing,” Dylan said. “You’re going to be perfect for this.”

She gave him a distracted smile. “Thank you.” She hesitated. “I thought long and hard about turning it down. But I can do a lot of good, so at the end of the day, this isn’t about me.”

Now was the time to make his play. If he didn’t, he would lose her.

He reached out and took her hand. Nothing more than that. He held her slim hand in both of his, looking her right in the eyes.

She seemed surprised, but she didn’t draw away. His heart soared because that was the second sign that he might be able to repair what he’d done. The first had been her showing up here at all, but the second was just as important. She wasn’t pushing him away. Not yet.

“I’m a fool,” he said simply. “I have no excuses. You told me not to get involved. I didn’t listen to your wishes. I failed you, Brooklyn. I can’t tell you how deeply sorry I am.”

She blinked and bit her lower lip, watching him with those pretty eyes he loved so much. That blue that melted his heart, especially when he saw joy and happiness there.

“I throw money at problems,” he continued. “That’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. But this time, that was exactly the wrong thing to do. I was furious that Gibson was going to stop you from having your chance at your dream. I wanted you to be happy.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but he suddenly felt a burst of fear, as if what he’d said hadn’t been enough. If she spurned him now, he knew the three of them would have no hope of making a future together. This wasn’t something money could fix. It was about feelings. Emotion. Love.

That was it. He needed to take the biggest risk possible and tell her how he really felt. He had no other choice.

“I love you,” he said before she had her chance to speak. “With all my heart. I love you. I love Dylan, and I love you. For me, it’s that simple. I’m not a perfect man, but I will do everything in my power to try and make you happy. I promise that.”

She was watching him with wide eyes. Dylan was watching him with eyes just as wide.

He knew he’d surprised them with the brazen declaration out here in the open where anyone could hear, but he didn’t care. Dylan knew already, but it was long past time that Brooklyn knew as well. As for the rest of the world? They could hear it loud and clear.

He loved Brooklyn Foster.

Brooklyn’s mind was reeling. Tonight had been overwhelming to begin with, the big event, the stress of knowing she’d see Lucas and Dylan again, the ache in her heart at how badly she missed them…

But now, Lucas had just poured his heart out, not giving a damn if any of the people around them overheard him.