6. Chapter 6
Paris was a nightmare. My sweet child had turned into a monstrous teenager, and I had no idea what to do with her. It appeared that Iris let her buy whatever she wanted, and Sophia went a little nuts with my credit card.
Rafe and I grew up with money, but we were never allowed to spend it freely. There was no fucking way I would have considered buying a pair of two thousand dollar shoes at the age of thirteen. So, when Sophia asked for Chanel boots, I told her that wasn”t going to happen. She sulked and whined. It was a scene that repeated itself several times in Paris.
She liked playing tourist—going to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Notre Dame—but what she really wanted to do was to buy things so she could go back to school and show them off.
I called Iris and asked her what the hell was going on, and she said, ”All the kids are doing that. Don”t be stingy, Gabe.”
This had nothing to do with being tightfisted and everything about being responsible. I wanted my kid to be more excited about seeing the fucking Mona Lisa than walking into Prada. Maybe Mama was right, and Sophia was being influenced by Iris, who lived and died by designer brands.
The time difference meant that I never got Aurora for more than a few minutes on the phone. I missed her. I ached for her. The phone-sex we had the night before I came to Paris left me raw. I knew it had hurt her feelings because I”d had to cut it short. Pump and dump, man.
I”d tried to call Aurora after Sophia went back to sleep but she didn”t pick up. I tried again before we left for Paris and got her voicemail. I texted her, and she replied with a: Have a wonderful time in Paris with Sophia.
I refused to believe she”d end us because I had to prematurely end our phone-sex session. It made no sense. Well, I was going to make time to see her once we were back in Savannah, and in all honesty, as much as I loved the kid, I needed a break from Sophia.
We got home early on Friday morning, and I went straight to work. When I called Aurora, I got her voicemail. It was starting to piss me off.
After my morning meetings, I called Aurora”s office and asked the front desk to connect me to her.
”Aurora Turner, how can I help you?” I heard her crisp voice.
”Well, for one, you can talk to me,” I stated.
There was a long pause. ”Hey. I”m sorry. It”s been crazy busy.”
”Or you”re avoiding me,” I tried to joke, but I could feel the fear of losing her in the pit of my stomach.
”No. Not at all. Are you back?”
”Yes. Can I see you tonight?” I paused and then added, ”Please.”
”Yes, of course. Can you come over to my place? I can cook dinner.”
”Yeah?” It was all okay, I thought, relieved. She wouldn”t suggest cooking for me if she was breaking us up. In any case, I wasn”t going to let her. She loved me, and I”d take advantage of that to keep her with me.
The past week, I”d missed her; hungered for her. There had been an ache inside me, not just for sex but for her. When I talked to her and listened to her laugh, her calm voice settled and centered me. No one had ever done that for me.
This was the first time since we started seeing each other that I”d had trouble getting a hold of her. Usually, she”d be there, available for me.
As I thought that, I felt something move inside me. Available for me? And what about when she wanted to reach out to me? Was I there for her?
But she never reached out to me. Why didn”t she? How come she never called, never texted? She responded, but she didn”t initiate. I didn”t mind it so much. Aurora and I didn”t fight or argue. It was always pleasant and easy. And I wanted to keep it like that. I wanted a smooth relationship with no bumps.
I said as much to Beau Bodine, one of my closest friends who ran a tech company that was headquartered in Savannah. We”d grown up together, and I thought of him as a brother. We often met for either drinks, dinner, or a meal—though it had become increasingly difficult with Sophia becoming needy and me trying to juggle having a girlfriend and a teenage daughter.
”Looks like you have it made. A woman who revolves around your schedule, I wish I had that. Every woman I date wants to take up space and time to where I”m keeping it to only sex,” Beau remarked when I told him how things were going with Aurora and how lucky I was to have an uncomplicated relationship with her.
”Aurora doesn”t revolve around my schedule.” I protested.
”That”s what it sounds like.” He browsed the menu even though we came to eat at The Olde Pink House often and knew it by heart.
We went with our usuals: fish tacos for him and crab cakes for me. We got a glass of white wine each. It was a Friday afternoon, and we”d knock off work early. And I was a little jet-lagged to boot.
”My parents think a relationship with Aurora can”t last because of how close I live to Iris.”
He shrugged. ”But you”re not looking for a relationship, are you? You”re looking for someone to have sex with on the regular, and it looks like that”s what you have with Aurora, and it”s good quality sex, yeah?”
”I”m in love with this woman,” I snapped. I couldn”t believe he was being so callous.
Beau chuckled. ”Come on, Gabe, you don”t introduce her to your parents, you cancel more dates than you keep. I mean, you missed your one-year anniversary because Sophia had a meltdown. It”s clear where your priorities lie.”
”What”s wrong with prioritizing my child?”
”But that”s not what you”re doing, Gabe.”
”Explain to me then what it is I”m doing?” I barked. He was irritating the shit out of me as my parents were. I was a damn good father, and it was important for me to remain that way.
”You”re asking Aurora to prioritize your daughter.”
”Isn”t that what happens in such relationships?”
”I have no clue. I”ve never dated a woman with a kid…and wouldn”t want to. Since Trevor is now engaged, I”m hoping he”ll keep my Mama happy with grandkids.”
Trevor was Beau”s younger brother, and his new fiancée was a carbon copy of Iris. Good luck to him. But that”s what men in my social circle did. We married a woman who”d look good on our arm and be the best hostess, fuck us once a week, have a couple kids, and then Trevor would find a side piece, and everyone would be happy.
Iris had suggested why I couldn”t just have an affair like everyone else instead of getting a divorce when I”d told her we were done; that I was done.
But I wasn”t a cheater and I”d told Iris that; insulted that she thought so little of me.
We moved to less lofty topics centered on the health of our businesses and the upcoming social calendar so we could coordinate the few events we could attend together to be able to stand them.
”You going back to work after lunch?” Beau asked when we walked out of the restaurant.
”I think I”m going to stop by Tiffany and then go to Savannah Lace. Maybe I can convince Aurora to leave work early,” I decided on the spot.
”Tiffany?” Beau arched an eyebrow.
”Yeah. I should buy her something.”
Beau scratched his jaw. ”Don”t take this wrong way, man, but I”ve got to tell you. This relationship ain”t lastin”.”
”Why?” I demanded.
”Cause no woman is gonna put with your family drama in the long term,” Beau explained.
”I don”t have family—”
”You live with your ex-wife, brother. And you just told me that you had to end a fucking phone-sex session because of Sophia.”
I sighed. ”That”s not drama.”
”It is. And from what you”ve told me about Aurora, which isn”t a lot, and I don”t get women, but I can tell you she isn”t the type who”s gonna be swayed by a tennis bracelet. I don”t think she”s like Iris.”
”And how the hell would you know?”
”Cause I know people. Come on, when was the last time you bought something for this woman that had her light up?” Beau handed his ticket and some cash to the valet. I did the same.
I thought about it. ”I bought her chocolates from the airport in San Francisco.”
”Yeah?”
”She told me it was because she knew I thought about her when I was traveling.”
He smirked.
”I should”ve picked up something for her in Paris.”
Beau put a hand on my shoulder. ”Honest to god, do you want to make it with this woman?”
”What does that mean?”
”Do you want to marry her and have kids with her?”
”Whoa! I barely know her.”
”You”ve known her for a year,” Beau said solemnly. ”Stop stringing this woman along. If you can”t commit to her, then let her go. I mean, if buying her something in one of those light blue boxes is gonna make you feel better, go for it, but I don”t think she”d give a shit.”
”And what the fuck do you know.” The valet thankfully got my car first so I could leave because Beau was annoying the hell out of me. I felt like when it came to Aurora, literally, everyone I”d spoke about her to was certain it wouldn”t last, and not because of her, but because I was choosing my daughter over my love life. Well, if that was the case, then so be it.
And the hell with Beau. I went to Tiffany and bought Aurora a tennis bracelet, which I was certain she”d like.
I”d just parked my car and was on my way to Aurora”s office in downtown Savannah when my phone rang. It was Iris. I groaned but answered.
”Gabe, where are you?”
”Out.”
”You”ve got to come home. Sophia is in pieces.”
”About what?” I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
”It”s some boy…she”s crying and…”
”Iris, can you handle it. I”m in the middle of something.”
”Of what?”
”Just something.” I walked to the main door of the Savannah Lace building.
”You”re seeing her, aren”t you? She”s more important than your daughter?” Iris demanded.
I took a deep breath. ”I”m not seeing her,” I lied to keep the peace, ”I just have work. How about I get there in an hour or so?” That would give me enough time to drop Aurora”s present off, go see my kid, and then come back for dinner.
”Whatever.” Iris hung up.
Christ! My life was a mess. Was it supposed to be this hard?
”Mr. Rhodes,” Nova King, Nina”s executive assistant who saw me in the lobby greeted me. ”Does Nina have an appointment with you?”
”No. I just came to see Aurora. Is she in?”
Nova looked at her watch. ”She”s in a meeting. Why don”t you wait in her office, and I”ll let her know you”re here?”
”Thanks, Nova.”
I walked into Aurora”s office and sat down in one of her client chairs. I pulled my phone out and saw it was blowing up with messages from Sophia.
Daddy, are you coming home?
Mama is being mean.
This is so hard.
I can”t believe Ashley is seeing Jason. I was gone for one week.
I put my phone face down on the table, feeling utterly weary.
”Gabriel,” I heard Aurora”s voice from behind me, and part of my fatigue evaporated, just like fucking that.
I rose and smiled. Her beautiful face always made me happy.
”Hey, gorgeous.” I pulled her into me and hugged her close and just held her. ”Christ, it feels good to hold you. It”s been so fucking long.”
I kissed her, wanting to immerse myself in her. When I lifted my head, we were both breathless. She put a hand on the chest and stepped away.
”This is my place of work.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
”I bought you a present.” I pulled out the blue Tiffany box from my suit jacket pocket and held it out to her.
She looked at it like it was on fire.
”Gabriel,” she whispered.
I opened the box. ”Do you like it?”
She closed her eyes for a long moment, and I wished I”d picked up chocolates like Beau had suggested.
”It”s beautiful.” She closed the box. ”But I can”t take that.”
”Why?”
”Please.”
”Why the hell can”t I buy you anything, Aurora?” I demanded harshly. ”Is this your way of keeping me at a distance?”
She looked at me in shock and walked to the door of her office to close it. ”Please keep your voice down,” she mumbled.
”Well?” I didn”t keep my voice down. I was fucking furious. I”d missed her and wanted her while she was still playing games with me.
”It”s not that, Gabriel. I hardly wear any jewelry.” She held up her hands. She only wore earrings, small, delicate ones. ”And it”s so expensive I”d be afraid to wear it.”
”If you lose it, I”ll buy you another.”
She shook her head. ”I”ve told you before. I don”t want these types of things from you.”
”What do you want then?” I growled.
”You…time with you. I want your attention. That”s all,” she replied softly, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
Fucking hell, this woman twisted me around. I set the box on her desk and pulled her to me. ”I”m here. I”m with you. I think about you all the fucking time. I”m so in love with you, Aurora.”
”Really?”
”Yes.”
My phone pinged with a message, and she stiffened. I ignored the phone and kissed her softly. ”I”m here with you. Even when I”m not.”
Her eyes lit up at that. This was her love language—being there with her for her, as it was mine. That”s how she showed me she loved me by making time and room for me, and I had to do the same.
”So, what time should I come over for dinner?” I asked. ”And what are you cooking?”
”How about seven and duck?” she grinned broadly and warmed my heart. I loved how she made duck breast, and I knew she”d especially gone shopping to please me. She didn”t usually have duck in her freezer.
”Excellent. And for dessert, I can eat you,” I murmured and enjoyed watching her eyes turn glossy with arousal. ”I”ve missed being inside you.”
She lay her head on my chest and hugged me tight like she”d never let me go, and everything felt right in my world.
There was a quick knock on her office door, and it opened before Aurora could respond. Luna Steele walked in. Luna came from the same society as I did but she was no socialite. One of the most sought-after architects in Georgia, she was a few years older than Aurora. She was her mentor, boss, and friend.
”Hi, Gabe.”
Even though Aurora struggled, I held her to me. I knew this was a workplace, but fuck it, I hadn”t had my hands on my girl for ten days.
”Luna.”
”Aurora, the client is here.”
She looked at me, and I stepped away from her. ”Go, have your meeting, and I”ll see you later.”
She picked up her laptop and hurried out. Luna stayed with a challenge in her eyes.
”Yes?”
”You”re hurting her,” she simply said.
My jaw tightened. ”Luna, I don”t think your friend would appreciate us discussing her.”
”She won”t.”
”My relationship with Aurora has nothing to do with you.”
”I”m her friend, one of the very few she has, maybe the only.”
”I don”t know what you want me to do.” I picked up the Tiffany box and put it in my pocket.
”If you love her, stop hurting her.”
Luna didn”t back down.
”I do love her, and I”m not hurting her.”
”She”s too much of a sweetheart to say anything, and she”s shit scared of losing you. But when you always put her second to your kid—”
”Stop right there,” I snarled. ”You don”t get to talk about my daughter. You crossed a line.”
Luna nodded. ”I know. But it had to be said. You take care of yourself, Gabe.”
She walked away, leaving me feeling like an asshole. Why was it that everyone in my life was blaming me for loving my daughter? I was a thirty-six-year-old man who knew myself and knew how I wanted to live my life, and as long as Aurora didn”t have a problem with it, Luna and the rest of the world could go fuck themselves.
”Come on, Sweetpea, I told you I have dinner plans.” I was exhausted being with Sophia. Her moods were all over the place, and she was clingy and needy. According to Iris, it was because I was not paying attention to her. I called bullshit on that. I”d just spent a week with Sophia in fucking Paris, carrying shopping bags for her.
Her eyes filled with tears. ”Please, Daddy.”
I ran a hand through my hair. ”Why don”t you come with me?” I suggested.
”To her place?” Her eyes went wide.
”Gabe, I don”t think that”s such a good idea,” Iris piped in.
We were on Iris”s porch, watching the sun go down. I had a half hour to get to Aurora”s place, which was a twenty-minute drive.
”Aurora is making dinner,” I ignored Iris, ”it”s your favorite, duck breast with orange sauce.”
At least here, she couldn”t say Iris did it better because my ex couldn”t cook for shit. We had a cook that we now shared.
She looked at Iris, who was shaking her head.
”Sophia?” I asked. ”Look, I”m going to go one way or another. It”s your choice.” Enough was enough. I wanted to be with Aurora, and this would be a great way for her and my daughter to engage on Aurora”s turf.
”Give me ten minutes to get ready,” Sophia said with a big smile.
”Great. I”ll be at my place. Just come by, and don”t take too long.”
I called Aurora as I walked through Iris”s garden to mine.
”Gabriel,” she answered, sounding so sad that I realized she thought I was calling to cancel.
”Hey, baby. I can already taste the duck. Would it be okay if I brought Sophia along?” I was asking, but really, I was telling. ”It would be good for you both to spend some time together.”
She didn”t hesitate, and my heart filled with something warm and pleasant. ”Absolutely. Does she like duck? Should I make something else?”
”She loves duck with orange sauce. It”ll be a big hit.”
”Ah…does she like chocolate? I”m making souffles.”
My mouth watered. Aurora was a damn fine cook. ”Baby, she”s going love it all.”