Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning, I had no idea what to expect from Elijah.
Were we going to act like coworkers? Was he going to treat me differently? How was I going to act toward him? Was he going to bring the piece he’d made for me to the gallery?
As usual, I was overthinking, but it finally hit me as I was walking into the gallery that I needed to take my cues from him. I would be pleasant, but I wouldn’t act like he was anything more than my boss. I would let him take the lead. Elijah tended to take control anyway.
Even after making that decision, nerves shimmered in my belly, and there was a tiny tremor in my fingers when I unlocked the gallery door.
Since the day after he’d given me a key, I tended to beat Davide to the gallery.
He was never late, but he always strolled up five minutes before opening.
Though it was rare that we had clients come in during the first hour or two of opening, I liked to get to work early and settle in.
Sometimes, I wouldn’t do anything other than make a latte and check emails.
Other days, I would clean the bathroom and make sure that the pieces on display weren’t getting dusty.
I liked to have an extra fifteen or twenty minutes to make sure I had my shit together before unlocking the door for the public.
As I walked through the gallery, turning on the lights and my computer, I realized that it was chilly. I was in the back hall to adjust the thermostat when I heard the bells over the door ring.
It was still a quarter to nine, so I knew it wasn’t Davide. I had locked the front door when I came inside, hadn’t I? Moving quietly, I peeked around the corner. And saw a man standing less than a foot away.
“GAH!!!” I screamed, jumping back and clutching my chest.
“Fuck!”
Elijah juggled the two cups in his hand. Somehow he managed to keep them from spilling all over the floor. A minor miracle considering the small box wedged between his body and left elbow.
“Oh, my God. You almost gave me a heart attack,” I gasped, patting my chest.
“Ditto. I might need some mouth-to-mouth to recover.”
A snort escaped me. My hand flew to cover the lower half of my face when another snort followed.
“Mouth-to-mouth?” I asked, the question still muffled by my palm.
His blue eyes danced as he came closer. “Yeah. I’m having some trouble breathing.”
I shook my head but couldn’t suppress my laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
He stopped just in front of me, close enough that I could smell him. He didn’t wear cologne, but the combination of his deodorant or soap with his skin just did it for me. I loved the way he smelled.
“I brought you a caramel cream latte,” he said, holding one of the cups out to me.
“That’s my favorite.”
He winked at me. “I know.”
Though I rolled my eyes at him, I said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I took the cup and sipped it. There was a small coffee shop down the street, and they had the yummiest seasonal lattes. It was the place that Seth always stopped when he brought coffee for us.
I hummed at the sweet, creamy flavors on my tongue. “Hmmm. That’s good.”
I licked my lips when I lowered my cup and Elijah’s eyes locked onto my mouth. I swayed toward him, but he seemed to gather his thoughts. Elijah took a step back and sipped his own coffee.
“You look pretty today,” he said, his eyes moving over me.
My cheeks heated, and I smoothed a hand over my dress. The dusky pink color was flattering, and I loved the fit and flare cut. “Thank you.”
Silence fell between us as we stared at each other.
I gestured to the box still beneath his arm. “What’s that?”
Elijah glanced down as though surprised he held something. “Oh, right. It’s the piece I made for you.”
My blush intensified even as I smiled. “Do I get to open it?”
His expression was serious as he handed me the box and took my coffee cup. “You can be honest if you don’t like it.”
“I already love it because you made it for me.” My face flushed again. I must be red enough to resemble a lobster by now. “I don’t think anyone has made me anything since my grandmother passed away.”
“Then I’m glad I’m the first person to make something for you since then.”
I fumbled with the box, trying to open it with trembling fingers.
Finally, the lid opened beneath my hand, and I found a small scene inside.
He’d used two pieces of wood to create a ninety-degree angle and stained them a beautiful cherry.
Shapes made of thin, silvery metal were affixed to the base so that the back piece of wood created a backdrop.
I lifted the piece out of the box, surprised by the lightness.
Then I realized what I was holding. It was a sun with rays beaming from all around it in the upper left corner, shining down on a field of sunflowers.
The small pieces were layered in such a way that the scene appeared to be painted with metal.
It must have taken him forever to create this.
I couldn’t even imagine the intricate, detailed work he must have done to not only envision the scene but painstakingly cut and affix each piece.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, lifting it higher so I could get a closer look. My eyes shifted to his. “I remind you of a field of sunflowers?” I asked.
I meant the question to be teasing, but even I could hear the tremor in my voice, the vulnerability. He said I inspired this piece, but it was one of the most gorgeous, complicated works of art I’d ever seen. How could I inspire something like that?
“To me, you’re the sun shining over the meadow. I’m the sunflower yearning for your light so I can thrive.”
My throat closed at his words. “I—” My voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. I cleared my throat. “That’s a beautiful thought, but I…” I had no idea what to say.
“It’s true,” he replied, taking a step closer. His hands were full of the coffee cups, but his eyes were as warm and tangible as a touch on my face.
I bit my lip and nodded, still unable to find words.
“I’m glad you like it,” he murmured.
“It’s perfect.”
We stared at each other until I thought I would burst from the emotion swelling between us.
“I have no idea what to do,” I finally admitted, bursting the bubble growing around us.
“Let’s focus on what needs to be done here today, and I’ll take you out after work. We can talk then.”
I huffed out a laugh. “So, you’re going to give me a chance to obsess over it all day?”
Once again, his response surprised me. He closed the distance between us, shifting one of the coffee cups to rest between his arm and chest, lifting his hand to my hair.
“I don’t want you to obsess, Grier. I want you to stay in the moment with me.
Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Just be here with me today.
We can figure out the rest of it tonight. ”
I had to clear my throat before I could speak. “I can do that.”
His eyes dropped to my mouth. Heat suffused my cheeks at the intensity of his stare. “Good,” he murmured, his gaze still locked on my lips.
I leaned toward him, rising up on my toes, as his head lowered. Our lips were a breath away from each other when the bells over the door chimed.
“Grier, I have had a morning!” Davide called out. “I’m in dire need of a sweet treat from down the street!”
He cackled at his rhyme. I heard the click of his dress shoes on the concrete floor as he marched through the gallery.
A rueful smile spread across Elijah’s face as he handed me my coffee, backed away from me, and walked to the mouth of the hall.
“There’s a caramel pumpkin spice latte on your desk already,” he called out.
“You are an angel!” Davide exclaimed. “I take back every horrible thing I’ve ever said to you.”
I snorted because Davide never said horrible things to Elijah. At least not that I’d heard. Elijah chuckled as he looked over his shoulder at me.
“Coming?” he asked.
Maybe later.
Instead of saying the sassy innuendo on the tip of my tongue, I nodded and sipped from my cup. The nerves that consumed me earlier had faded in Elijah’s presence. They’d been replaced by anticipation.
I took a deep breath and smoothed my dress down my thighs with my free hand. Nine more hours and I would have Elijah all to myself, and we could talk.
I didn’t have time to obsess over Elijah the rest of the day.
It was hectic even for a busy day. Davide already had another showing planned for Lucy before the sale of the gallery went through, and there were a ton of details to handle.
This one was going to be even bigger than her last. The photos were amazing, and I had no doubt that they would create a lot of buzz.
Davide wanted to make the show a big event.
Something special. There would be catering and a limited bar.
He'd also decided that I would handle it all.
Yes, I had to check in with him before I made a big decision like which caterer to use or the menu, but things like the type of wine we would serve or cocktails available were my decision.
He was also going to allow me to choose the order of the photos and where to hang them.
Granted, Lucy had a specific order for display in mind due to the theme of her photos, but it was still up to me.
I knew Davide would make tweaks if it didn’t turn out quite right, but it was still a lot of responsibility. It was one I was glad to have. This was what had been missing at my previous job.
I was still focused on my computer screen when Davide walked by me to lock the door and flip the handmade sign over to closed.
It had appeared not long after Elijah and I started our fling.
It was made out of metal and wood, somehow managing to look antique and industrial at the same time.
I’d wondered where it came from until I noticed the initials “EDL” on the bottom right corner.
It was the same signature I saw on Elijah’s pieces, and I realized that he’d made it for the gallery.