“Not at all, beautiful.”
“What?” Surprise colors my tone and my head turns, meeting his eyes. Christ, you created this man to tempt and destroy. He’s the literal definition of lust. A weakness I’m all too eager to indulge in.
Striking amber eyes meet my green ones, and my knees grow weak. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” A lie. They tremble and my hand shoots out, gripping onto the lapels of his black suit jacket to steady myself. “I must’ve stepped on a crack.”
“Then let me help you inside.” His own hand comes around my waist and steadies me, holding me tucked against him for a second before walking me inside. I feel flushed, the hand now on my back causing goose bumps to rise across my flesh. I’m attuned to his movements, to the ease in which he touches me and guides me through the packed dining room where Elise sits near the back and center at a round table.
For some reason, being here in this moment feels right, a sensation I’ve been weak to fight against since opening Elise’s gift, and more so after slipping on the delicate dress. Moreover, while I’m tempted to wave at her—to get her attention because nervousness seems to be the predominant emotion waging war against me—I don’t. Instead, I follow his lead without questioning the end destination.
Maybe he wants to have brunch with me. Maybe he just wants to make sure I don’t stumble again and—
“There you are, Mr. Astor!” Elise stands from the table, giving him a wide smile that makes me frown. How do they know each other? But more importantly, I don’t like the tightness around her eyes when she sees he’s with me. She walks toward us, hips swaying from side to side while flicking her blonde hair over her right shoulder. Her smile is for him, though. Her body language screams look at me. “You’ve kept me waiting long enough, don’t you think?”
“My apologies.” At his words, I move to step aside, but his hand on my back grips my dress. “I lost track of time rescuing a damsel in distress.”
“Did you, now?” Her tone is sugary sweet, but there’s that tightness again. The tick of her right eye. “What did my girl do?”
“I’m standing right here.” If there’s one thing I hate, it’s people talking about me as though I’m not in the room. It’s rude and disrespectful, more so when I didn’t ask to spend my birthday talking business or having someone set up plans without my permission. “Now, introductions please.”
Both turn to look at me; one with amusement, and the other with a sour expression. I meet her hard stare head on and raise a challenging brow. I may be a softie at times, choosing my battles, but stubbornness is a trait I inherited from someone—they had to have been a master class teacher on the subject.
Elise giggles after a few seconds and reaches for my hand, pulling me to her side where she throws her arm casually over my shoulder. “This little girlish gem you helped out is the painter I’ve been talking to you about, Theodore. Meet Gabriella Moore.”
The urge to roll my eyes is strong, but I bite the inside of my cheek instead while looking away. Christ, that introduction made me sound like someone’s little sister and not the professional artist I am. I take back my interest in hiring her.
“I know who she is, Miss Scott. You did send her bio and picture with a few samples of her work to my assistant last week.” His tone isn’t as friendly as it’d been a few minutes ago when we’d been outside, and my brows furrow. I flick my eyes to Theodore and while I find an annoyed expression, the second our stares connect, his eyes soften at the corners and lips tug upward into a small smile. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to bump into you today, Gabriella.”
“Likewise.” And I find myself grinning back while holding up a hand with my fingers extended. “Definitely a top five in my first impression file, Mr. Astor.”
“Theodore, please.” But then his brow arches, and I find the action sexy. I truly need Jesus today. “Is that so? Just top five.”
I nod nonchalantly. “You’re sitting at a solid three.”
“Maybe by the end of today I can slide into the top position?”
“Once we sign that contract, I’m sure she’ll be more than happy I set this up.”
At Elise’s words, I frown and turn to look at her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?” she asks, but her attention is on Theodore. Her body language is flirtatious, twirling a piece of blonde hair around her finger while cocking a hip out. I’m reminded of the halls of my high school and every time a girl crushing hard stood near her obsession. And she’s older than me. “But let’s all sit down and order. We have much to discuss.”
“Lead the way.” Theodore waits for her to turn around and then winks at me before tilting his head in her direction, silently asking that I walk ahead of him. The simple act makes my cheeks feel warm and I quickly follow Elise, trying to calm down my blushing before taking a seat to her left. Not that it lasts long because Mr. Astor takes his place beside me while leaving two empty chairs between himself and Elise, something that makes my friend frown. “My assistant, Tero, will also be joining us this morning. He’ll be here shortly.”
His explanation doesn’t appease her, but she keeps that smile bright. “Of course. Should we wait, or—”
“I’m here.” All eyes turn toward a younger man, more in my age range than theirs, that takes one of the empty seats while placing a portfolio bag atop the other beside him. He’s pale with nearly-white blond hair, but it’s the eyes that are striking in a shade reminiscent of pastel blue. So clear. So expressive. “My apologies for the delay. I was stuck behind a small fender bender that forced the two-lane road to become a total standstill.”
“No worries. We were all running a bit behind schedule,” I answer while picking up my menu, perusing the choices even though my eyes keep coming back to their fry up, which I’ve had more than once. It’s just what I need after the rough night and...
That’s when I notice that for once, I’m not nauseous after taking the prescribed sleeping aid. I have no stomachache or a migraine. No dry mouth with a sensitivity to light.
Did I confuse the Melatonin for the harsher stuff? Normally food would be the last thing on my mind after waking from a deep sleep like that.
“...isn’t that right, Gabriella?”
“Run that by me again, please.”
Elise’s nose flares a bit. “That we are interested in taking the opening night for the summer series the Astor Gallery hosts every year. It’s going to be your first public appearance, and what better way than to come out—”
The blood in my veins pulses with ire. “No.”
“Were you not aware of her request?”
I ignore Theodore’s question and instead narrow my eyes at Elise, who has the audacity to seem taken aback. “Bathroom, now.”
“Gabriella, let’s—”
“Elise, I will not repeat myself. You have two minutes.” Turning my attention to Theodore, I give him a forced smile. “I apologize, but it seems my friend has given you the impression that I will be attending the show, and that is not feasible. I am anonymous for a reason and will stay that way. If that isn’t something you’re interested in, please let me know and I’ll apologize ahead of time for wasting your time.”
“No apologies needed. I thought ahead and just have a standard contract with me today. But once we agree on the terms, I’ll have it ready for your signature in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Smart man.” At my words, his lips quirk up at the right corner into a devilish smirk that both comforts and simmers the anger within. Without conscious thought, I find myself leaning over and placing a hand on his forearm, and his muscles tense beneath. They flex and my chest rises and falls rapidly, his scent pulling me in closer by an invisible thread that dominates my senses and bends my will. “Your rank just moved to number two.”
“Would you believe I was a Boy Scout?”
“Not really.” Theodore just doesn’t seem the type to go camping and work toward badges while following directions. The aura surrounding this man is confusing: good and bad. Holy and evil. “Unless you were the one giving orders.”
