Force: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

I ask when I realize I’ve been standing here staring at her for a touch too long.
An adorable blush hits Brooke’s cheek as she looks from me to the boys, who are now watching our exchange quietly. It might not be my finest moment, but I’m not opposed to using the fact that we have an audience to my advantage. “Don’t leave me hanging here, babe.” I push when she doesn’t answer.
“Say yes, Ms. Brooke,” Calvin calls out, causing a round of little voices to shout their own agreements.
“I don’t know, guys.” She sighs, but I can hear the amusement in her voice. “I kind of have important plans with my Kindle later today.”
“No!”
“Don’t be a bore!”
“Go out with him!” Each of the boy’s clamor to be the loudest voice as they join in with her game.
“Okay!” She finally relents on a melodious giggle, holding her hands up in front of herself in mock defense. The smile that lights up Brooke’s face as the kids crowd around her is magnificent. She’s a vision. Long blonde hair that frames the stunning face I’ve spent years trying to get over. A face I never could.
“I can’t believe you ambushed me like that,” Brooke says on an amused chuckle when we’re safely in my truck a few minutes later. It took a little persuasion, but I managed to get her to agree to leaving her Jeep at The House. I told her it was because where we’re going is a surprise, but in reality, I just want to be near her.
“I’m not above using underhand tactics to get what I want, Brooke.”
“Hmm.” The soft murmur is her only response, but I can see the smile edging her lips, even though her gaze is trained out the passenger window.
“The flowers are beautiful too. I’m surprised you remembered.” Shifting in my seat, I want to tell her I’ve never forgotten a single thing about her. Not that Peonies are her favorite flowers. Not that she takes her coffee with way too many sugars. Not how her kisses taste like strawberries.
“I remember a lot of things.” Silence hangs thick between us after that. I’m terrified to say the wrong thing and have this tentative truce we’ve developed shatter. She doesn’t ask where we’re going, or how long it will take. She seems comfortable to be along for the ride.
“Have you gotten out much since you moved here?” I ask when we find ourselves stuck in the late afternoon traffic for the second time. I regret asking the question as soon as it’s out there. My mind flashes back to her and that guy she was out with. Had she been on a date? Just the thought of that has me white knuckling the steering wheel.
“Some. Chase hasn’t been in town much, but we’ve managed to get dinner a couple of times.”
"Your cousin?” I ask, kicking myself for forgetting her cousin is a wide receiver for the LA Sharks.
“Yeah. He was drafted by the Sharks right out of college,” she tells me, pride evident in her words. “He’s been living out here for two years now.
“I remember seeing that. He's doing great things there; they’re on fire this season. His parents must be proud.”
“Everyone is.” Brooke’s face lights up as she talks about her family. Twisting in her seat so she’s facing me, she tells me all about her siblings and cousins and all the things they’re doing now.  I’d grown close to all of Brooke’s family when we dated in high school. Her parents and their group of friends were super close. Coming from a broken home like mine, it had taken me a while to get used to how they all were with each other, but they easily accepted me into the fold, and I got my first glimpse of how a real family should interact with each other.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m hit with a pang of homesickness. A burst of longing for how things used to be. Not just with Brooke, but with all of them. I regret so many things, losing her being the biggest, but losing the family comes a close second.
Brooke’s sweet voice fills the truck as we finally start moving again. The love she has for her family shines through each of her words, cementing my thoughts from last week. I want back in there. And I’m not sure how much longer I can go without leaning over and kissing her breathless.
“Where are we going?” Brooke finally asks when I pull the car into a space outside an isolated non-descript building a few miles out of town.
“You still hate surprises, huh?”
“Maybe,” she says, and I can practically hear the smile in her voice.
“Well, lucky for you, we’re here.” Climbing out, I make my way around to open Brooke’s door. I don’t think twice before taking her hand in mine and guiding her toward  the black glass door in front of us. I pretend I don’t hear the small gasp that she breathes out, but it’s obvious that we both just felt the bolt of electricity that the skin on skin contact elicits.
“What is this place?” looking up at the small brick building, I see her searching for a sign as to what this place is. She won’t find anything. This is one of the best kept secrets in California.
“Well, if it isn’t Tucker fucking Neal.” A loud voice booms from a concealed speaker somewhere the eye can’t see. “And who is the beautiful creature with you?”
“Open up, Zeus, and I’ll introduce you.” Brooke’s adorably confused face looks up at me as I speak.
“What on earth...”
“Trust me, babe, Zeus needs to be experienced. Explaining him will not do him justice at all.”
The sound of locks twisting pulls Brooke’s attention off me right before the door is swung open and we’re greeted by a very large, grinning like a maniac black man.
“You’re like a real-life Barbie doll!” Zeus exclaims as he grabs ahold