Maya didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “He means well,” she said to Brooke in a hushed tone. “Seth’s just so used to controlling everything, and now that Daddy’s not here, he thinks he has to be my protector and my brain, and . . . I love him to death, but he’s driving me crazy.”
Brooke squeezed her tighter before pulling back and giving Maya a reassuring smile. “He loves you to death, too. But maybe I can convince him to show his love in other ways than all this hovering.”
“Yes, please,” Maya said gratefully, grabbing Brooke’s hands. “Let’s find a way to make him feel involved without having him be so . . .”
“Involved?” Brooke rejoined with a knowing smile.
Maya nodded. “Exactly.”
Neil came up beside them, sliding an arm around Maya’s waist and kissing the side of her head tenderly. “Let me take you to an early dinner?”
Maya smiled up at him gratefully and nodded, and Brooke’s heart twisted just a little in jealousy. Yes, she was a very self-assured woman. Yes, she could take care of herself, support herself, the whole enchilada, but sometimes after a long day when you were aching, it was nice to know that someone else was there. To share a cocktail with and let the day’s tensions fade away.
She missed that.
“Maya!”
Brooke glanced over to see an unfamiliar man headed their way, but from the way Maya’s face lit up, it was obvious she knew him.
“Grant!” She rushed toward the man and wrapped both arms around his waist in a friendly hug. Brooke appraised the man with interest—he was handsome, in an easy, likable sort of way. He was unusually tall, but carried his height well, his movements smooth and easy as though he was accustomed to maneuvering all six-plus feet in whichever way he pleased. He had medium-brown hair that Brooke imagined would glint a bit red in the sunlight, warm whisky-colored eyes with thick lashes, and a good smile.
A great smile, Brooke amended as he grinned down at Maya.
Maya returned the happy smile. “What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in weeks, and I see you outside a hotel of all places.”
“I was just on my way home from the office,” he said. “What’s your excuse?”
“Oh my gosh,” she said, laying a hand on his chest as though it was second nature. “I haven’t seen you in so long, you might not have heard.” Maya reached for Neil’s hand, tugging him forward. “I’m getting married!”
It was hard to say which man disliked the other more. Neil, for his part, clearly hadn’t missed the easy familiarity with which Grant and Maya greeted one another, and it didn’t seem to be sitting well. And there was no mistaking the flash of agony on Grant’s face at Maya’s pronouncement.
“Seth told me the good news. Congratulations,” Grant said, his flat tone indicating he was feeling anything but celebratory about Maya’s announcement.
The men silently shook hands, and the unspoken challenge there was like déjà vu from when Seth and Neil had first met.
Maya looked at Neil lovingly. “Neil, babe, this is Grant Miller. He’s my brother’s best friend. Well, and one of mine, too. We grew up together, so he’s practically like a second brother.”
Neil nodded in acknowledgment of this. Grant said nothing.
Maya finally seemed to realize that something was amiss but was clearly clueless as to how to fix it as she looked helplessly between the two men. Brooke stepped forward and extended a hand to Grant. “Hi there. I’m Brooke Baldwin. The wedding planner.”
Grant’s smile returned, not quite as bright as it was when he’d seen Maya but friendly nonetheless. “Ah yes. The damned wedding planner. I’ve heard all about you,” he said with a little wink. “Speaking of, where is the magnanimous Seth?”
Now it was Brooke’s turn to be confused. Seth had talked to his friend about her?
“He’s on the phone,” Maya said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “As always. Neil and I were just about to grab an early dinner. You should come!”
“Thanks, but I have plans later,” Grant said, in what Brooke would have bet money was a smooth lie.
“Ah,” Maya said. “Who’s your latest lady?”
He clucked her playfully under the chin. “Nobody you know, Miss Nosy.”
Maya giggled, Neil frowned, and Brooke was suddenly feeling a little bit parched for a drink herself, preferably of the alcoholic variety. There was always drama in the wedding-planning world, but so far the world of Manhattan’s rich and famous had