One Last Chance By: Sherelle Green

Chapter 2

"Now, Brooklyn, I know that you're upset, but trust me...it won't be that bad." Brooklyn was barely listening to Kaydence as she paced back and forth in her hotel room later that evening.

"How can you say that?" Brooklyn exclaimed loudly not caring that she was coming off a bit dramatic. "You know that man infuriates me to the point that I can't think straight."

"Brooklyn, calm down," Kaydence said as she placed a hand on Brooklyn's arm.

"You know I hate surprises. You know I hate being put on the spot. And you know I hate Wyatt for..." she paused when Kaydence grabbed both her arms.

"Honey, you're going to have to calm down," Kaydence said, her voice grew higher. "Remember you're doing this for me! You're my best friend and he's the best man. You can handle this and who knows, he may surprise you."

Yeah, he's good at surprises. That's what I'm afraid of. 

Brooklyn took deep breaths as she let Kaydence's words sink in. She then ran her fingers through her hair and sat next to Kaydence who had retreated to a nearby sofa.

"You're right Kay," Brooklyn said as she leaned in to hug her. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Umm..." Kaydence blurted out as she followed behind Brooklyn who was headed to the door. "Since we're doing this whole bonding thing, please keep in mind that you love me and try not to overreact." 

"What are you talking about?" Brooklyn asked as she swung open the door.

"I think she's referring to the fact that she texted me your room number," Wyatt said as he stepped around the two of them into the room. "I heard you in the hallway. Kaydence never could whisper."

"By all means, do come in," Brooklyn said sarcastically. She looked down at her outfit of short cotton shorts and a tank top and cringed. She didn't feel decently dressed for any male company, let alone Wyatt.

"Remember, you can't kill the bride," Kaydence said to Brooklyn as she tiptoed past her and shut the door behind her. Now alone with Wyatt, Brooklyn studied the ceiling, not believing that Kaydence had actually given him her room number.

"Two times in twenty-four hours," Wyatt said as he walked around seemingly checking out her hotel room. "That's got to be some type of record for us Hathaway."

"I just can't thank my lucky stars enough for gracing me with your presence," Brooklyn said as she clasped her hands together, making sure he heard every bit of sarcasm in her voice. "So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Instead of responding, Wyatt walked over to her unmade bed, lay on his back and closed his eyes. Brooklyn didn't know what irritated her more, the fact that looked downright sexy in basketball shorts and a white T-shirt. Or the fact that although they'd been apart for two years, he looked like he belonged in her bed. He slightly kicked his leg, which drew her eyes to his calves. Damn, he even has sexy calves. Stop! She thought as she slightly shook her head. Just remember...you hate him! What in the world was wrong with her? Calves weren't even something she normally found attractive, yet on Wyatt, staring at his calves made her stare at his knees, which then prompted her to observe his powerful thighs through his shorts. Shorts that were doing nothing to hide the imprint of his manhood that she'd bet weren't confined by any boxers this late in the evening.

She hadn't felt herself get closer to the bed nor did she notice that Wyatt had now opened his eyes. "Like what you see?" he asked causing her jump up as if she'd been caught stealing.

"Like what I see?" she repeated, quickly building her composure while forcing herself to keep his gaze. "You mean a selfish arrogant jerk! My tastes have definitely evolved since you Wyatt." 

"Feisty" he said with a slight smile. "I always liked that about you." 

She rolled her eyes and he continued, "I never got the chance to tell you how sorry I am for everything." His eyes suddenly grew serious. "I never meant to hurt you."

Brooklyn eyed him suspiciously. "Are you kidding me?" she asked. "When we worked at Plush Media, your entire mission was to get me in bed and steal my campaign idea. I'm sure hurting me was just a bonus."

"That's not entirely true," Wyatt replied now sitting upright in the bed. "When you started working for the company, I knew you would be my competition for the vacant marketing director position. I may have only worked there a few months before you, but I'm also two years older than you so I'd concluded that I deserved the position more. That meant I needed to have the best campaign."

"I trusted you," Brooklyn said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "When we exchanged campaign ideas, you convinced me that my original campaign wasn't good enough. And like a dummy, I truly believed you were giving me constructive criticism so that I would create a stronger campaign."

"I know," Wyatt said rising from the bed to stand next to her."It may have started off like that, but once I falsely presented your campaign to the company and staged it as my own, I realized I was completely wrong and I immediately sought you out to make it right." 

"Wow," Brooklyn said throwing her hands up with a slight laugh. "You dated me for months, we watched Kay and Justin fall in love with one another, we spent all that time together. But you didn't feel guilty until that moment?"

"I didn't mean to betray you..." 

"Trust me," she said stepping towards him and halting his speech with her hand. "You'll never get the opportunity to betray me again."

With each comeback, Brooklyn unconsciously moved closer to Wyatt. He took the final advance forward, separating them by less than a foot. She then saw the wild desire exude from his eyes, and she realized the mistake she had made. In their past, arguing had always led into passionate nights of make-up sex followed by zealous mornings of lovemaking. Still, she held his gaze unwilling to show any signs of weakness. Tread lightly, she warned herself after realizing that one misstep of the eyes and quickening of the breath would send him the wrong impression.

Crap! This is just how our relationship started before. But I'll be damned if it ends the same. Time to turn the tables on Mr. Lexington. 

Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, holding her hostage in his lustful embrace. When he leaned his face down to hers, she raised her hands and slightly pushed him away, denying the pleasure she was sure would ensue.

"Not this time, Wyatt," she said in a determined voice. As disappointment flashed across his face, Brooklyn shoved him back onto the bed he'd recently vacated.

"This time, it's on my terms," she said with a sly smile. Getting on all fours, she mounted him and dropped her mouth mere inches from his. Looking into his penetrating eyes, she willed her breathing to slow down.

"My game. My rules," she whispered as she placed a seductive kiss on his hungry lips and welcomed the passion she hated to admit she'd been longing for.