Comfort of a Man (Arabesque) Read Free

anger. It’s just not fair.”
    Toni moved over to Brooklyn’s bed and draped a supportive arm around her. “I know it doesn’t look like it right now, but I’m sure everything is going to work out.”
    Brooklyn laid her head against Toni’s shoulder, tired of searching for the light at the end of the tunnel.
    “Why don’t you get ready for bed? We have a full day of shopping and plays ahead of us tomorrow.”
    “You know what?” Brooklyn said, drawing herself up and standing from the bed.
    “What?” Toni eyed her suspiciously.
    “I think I need a drink. I’m going to the Atrium Lounge.”
    “You want me to come with you?”
    “Nah. I think I need some time alone to think.”
    “Come on, Brooklyn. This is supposed to be a fun trip. There’s plenty of time to think about our problems when we get back to Atlanta.”
    “I’ll just have one drink.”
    Toni jabbed her hands to her hips.
    “Just one drink. I swear after that I’ll put all my problems behind me until we return home.”
    Toni held her gaze. “You promise?”
    “Scout’s honor.”
    “You were never a Girl Scout.”
    Brooklyn smiled. “A small technicality.”
    Toni laughed and gave in. “Okay. Go ahead and haveyour one drink. And tomorrow not a peep out of you about Jaleel or Evan—or Macy.”
    “Deal.” Brooklyn turned and snatched her purse off the bed and left the suite.

Chapter 2
    T he moment Brooklyn entered the Atrium Lounge, she felt out of place. It wasn’t that the music was too loud or that the place was overcrowded. It was simply that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to a bar. Could it have been as far back as college?
    Maybe Maria was right. Maybe she’d turned into a prude. She frowned and removed the clip from her hair and shook it to tumble about her shoulders. Brooklyn D. Douglas was no prude.
    “Good evening, miss. What can I get you?”
    Brooklyn looked up at the bartender’s friendly face. “I’ll have an apple margarita.”
    “Excellent choice. I happen to make a mean one.”
    She flashed him a smile. “Don’t hurt me now.”
    “If the lady will allow me, I’d like to put her drink on my tab,” a smooth baritone floated from behind her.
    Brooklyn’s protest crested her tongue as she turned around, but the words vanished when her gaze met a familiar pair of gray eyes.
    The man smiled. “Mind if I join you?”
    The voice inside Brooklyn’s head finally spoke up and told her to close her mouth and stop staring. “Sure. If you’d like.”
    He chuckled and slid onto the bar stool next to her. “Imagine my surprise when I saw you walk through the door. I never thought our paths would cross again.”
    “Oh?” She played it cool.
    “You do remember me from the Broadway Joe Steakhouse tonight, don’t you?”
    How could she possibly forget? “Oh, yeah. I remember now.”
    He eyed her with a lopsided grin.
    “One apple margarita,” the bartender announced, placing her drink on top of the lounge’s logo napkin.
    “Thank you.”
    “No ring,” the man said from beside her. “That’s a good sign.”
    She glanced at his hand. “You’re not wearing one either.” Her gaze lifted to his handsome features. “Or is it in your pocket?”
    He laughed. The flash of his white smile made him more stunning.
    “I promise you. I’m not married—never been married.”
    “Well, I can’t say the same.”
    “Oh?” He took a sip of his own drink. “A good experience, I hope.”
    Brooklyn shrugged. What the hell? “It didn’t exactly leave a sweet taste in my mouth.”
    His gaze lowered to her lips. “What a shame.”
    A sweltering heat wave consumed her. “Why is that? Are you looking for a wife?”
    “Not tonight.” His gaze leveled with hers.
    Brooklyn reveled in a pleasure that traveled clear down to her toes. The man’s eyes cast her under a hypnotic spell—one she wasn’t too sure she wanted to break. “So, what brings you to New York?” she managed to ask. “Business or