Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Tonight was the night.
Lucy’s show was starting in an hour, and I was freaking out.
I had a running checklist of things that needed to be done, both big and small.
Every single item was checked off, but I couldn’t help but worry that I’d forgotten something.
There were also small details that needed attention—such as the light that went out over one of the larger pieces.
Or the caterer running twenty minutes late.
I ignored the stress sweat that gathered beneath my arms as I did one last walk through of the gallery, checking all the photos again, sweeping up some trash I saw in one corner, and checking the small grouping of cocktail tables in the center of the space.
There was also a table set up against one wall that held appetizers, a charcuterie tray, and miniature desserts from what was now my and Davide’s favorite bakery.
The caterer had a small rolling bar cart angled in another corner with bottles of red and white wine. Champagne was chilling in the fridge as well.
As I did the walkthrough, I realized I hadn’t checked the bathroom. I hurried back there to make sure that the trash can had a fresh bag and there was plenty of toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels.
When I came out five minutes later, I ran face-first into a hard chest. I had to accept that this was my life now. It seemed I would forever be running into a certain hot artist, usually where I least expected it. It was my fate.
“Oof.”
Callused hands grabbed my arms, keeping me from crashing into the wall, and I realized I no longer cared that Elijah had turned me into a permanent klutz.
Not if it meant he was constantly touching me.
I didn’t even care that he hadn’t called my name when he followed me back here.
We’d agreed it was the only way to keep him from accidentally startling me. Yet, somehow, he rarely bothered.
“Sorry, Brown Eyes. I forgot to call out to you.” His smirk told me that was a lie. The sneaky man enjoyed surprising me and having to put his hands all over me to keep me from falling down.
“What are you doing back here?” I asked.
“Looking for you.” He pulled me closer and kissed me.
“Why? Is something wrong?” I could feel my blood pressure rising.
“Nope. Everything is great. The gallery looks fantastic. You did an amazing job organizing the show.”
I relaxed against him. “Oh, good. Then, what’s up?”
“I have a little present for you.”
“Now?”
“Well, I was hoping you’d use it tonight.”
“Tonight?” I asked, completely confused. What on earth could it be?
“Close your eyes,” he said.
I didn’t bother to resist. He was stubborn. He would stand here until it was time for the event to start, and even after it began, if he had to. I closed my eyes.
“Hold out your hand palm up.”
Again, I followed his instructions. A moment later, something small and metal was placed in my palm.
“Open your eyes.”
I blinked rapidly and looked at my hand. In my palm was a key. “What’s this?”
“A key to my house.”
“Uh, a key to your house?”
He grinned down at me. “I want you to spend the weekend with me. And at least a couple of nights a week. I thought it would be easier if you had your own key.”
“You’re giving me a key to your house?”
Elijah nodded, his expression amused. “Yes. You don’t have to keep asking.”
“Yes, I do, because I’m not sure how to handle it.”
“Why do you need to handle it?”
“This is the first time a man has given me his house key, and I’m not sure what the protocol is. Do I say thanks and go put it on my key ring? Do I jump up and down and squeal like a tween girl? I need some guidance here.”
He chuckled. “I’d settle for a smile and a kiss. And you in my bed tonight.”
I smiled up at him, closing my fingers around the key. “I can do that.”
Elijah lowered his head as I rose onto my tiptoes, and I pressed my mouth to his.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“Giving me another shot.”
“I’m glad we worked it out.”
His hands squeezed my sides, and his forehead rested against mine. “More like I begged, and you agreed.”
“It doesn’t matter right now.” I placed my hands on each side of his face. “As long as you keep showing me that being here with me is what you want, that’s all I care about.”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“So, this is where you disappeared to?”
I jumped and looked over Elijah’s shoulder at Davide. “I’ve only been back here for ten minutes.”
“Well, the caterer was looking for you, and she seems a bit frazzled.”
I glared at him. “You couldn’t answer her questions?”
“It’s not my gallery anymore,” he answered with a shrug and a sly smirk.
I rolled my eyes as Elijah released me. “Then, why are you here?”
“My bestie is having her show, and my other bestie is in charge of making it great.”
Just like that, my irritation vanished.
“All right,” I sighed. I held the key Elijah gave me in my hand, my fingers cupping it like it was precious. “Let me handle something, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you have plenty to handle,” Davide said, eyeing Elijah.
As Eli made a choking sound, I laughed. “Oh, my God. You’re such a perv.”
Davide shrugged as if to say what did you expect?
“You can put me to work, too,” Elijah said, his hand on my waist.
The next thirty minutes passed in a blur of last-minute tweaks and answering questions.
Then Lucy and Chris arrived. She looked fantastic in a black dress with a swirl of red that started beneath her right arm and curved beneath her breasts, across her torso to her left hip. She looked polished and edgy.
“You look gorgeous,” I told her as I hugged her.
“So do you.” She looked around. “It looks great! You did a good job getting everything together.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Chris came forward and kissed my cheek. “Hi, Grier.”
“Hey, Chris.” I stepped back. “Would y’all like a drink?”
“Oh, hell yes,” Lucy agreed.
As I got them something to drink, I glanced up as the bells above the door rang. I was surprised to see Nick, my favorite bartender, walk in, looking adorable in a pair of dark wash jeans and a black button-down shirt.
Before I could separate myself from Chris and Lucy to greet him, Davide appeared and gave him a big hug and a kiss. My mouth fell open at the sight. For all of his talk of dating and hooking up, I’d never seen Davide openly show affection to the men he was with.
“Who’s that?” Lucy asked.
“His name’s Nick. He’s a bartender at a Latin American restaurant that Davide and I like to go to for happy hour.”
“Are they dating?”
“I don’t know. Last time I brought it up, Davide said he wasn’t ready for a man like Nick.”
“What does that mean?” Lucy asked.
“He said Nick was the relationship type, and he’s not. It wouldn’t be fair for him to hook up with Nick when he wasn’t interest in anything more.”
“Well, it looks like he changed his mind.”
I nodded. I fully intended to ask Davide about it as soon as I could get him alone.
My chance arrived sooner than I expected. Davide walked over with Nick and introduced him to Lucy and Chris.
As they drew Nick into conversation, I grabbed Davide’s arm and dragged him away with a quick, “We’ll be right back. I just need a little help with something.”
We ended up in the storage area in the back.
“What’s going on?” I asked Davide.
“What do you mean?”
I gave him a flat stare. “Don’t play dumb.”
“I don’t have to play.”
I gave his arm a little shake. “What’s going on with you and Nick?”
“Is there any way we can talk about this later?” he asked.
“Nope.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Last time we talked about Nick, you said that you weren’t ready to go there. Spill.”
He sighed. “Let’s just say that seeing you and your hot guy made me realize what I was missing out on. I decided to give the whole relationship thing a try. If a straight guy without a clue can figure it out, I probably can, too.”
I had to laugh at his obvious description of Elijah. “All you have to do is pay attention,” I said to him. “And you’re very good with details.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“How’s it going so far?” I asked.
He glanced away, a flush spreading across his cheeks. That said everything I needed to know.
“That good, huh?” I teased.
“Shut up.”
I laughed and gave him a hug. “I’m glad you aren’t hiding anymore, D.”
With a heavy sigh, he hugged me back. “I am, too. Now, I’ve heard the bells over the door ring way too many times. We need to get back out there.”
“You just want to make sure that Lucy and Chris haven’t run Nick off or given him the third degree.”
“And?”
I laughed and hooked my arm in his as we walked back out.
The show went off without a hitch, and nearly every piece sold. Two hours later, I was exhausted, and my feet were killing me.
I kicked my shoes off once the last guest left and got to work cleaning up. By the time I was done, it was nearly ten-thirty, and I wanted nothing more than to go home, take off my make-up, and fall face down on the bed.
“Go home.”
I looked up from where I’d been sweeping the floor to see Davide standing next to me. “I’ll go soon. I have a few more things to do.”
He reached out and took the broom away from me. “I’ll handle things. Go. Home.”
When I started to argue, his gaze shifted behind me. “Take her home, Eli. She’s dead on her feet.” He looked back at me. “And take tomorrow off. Both of you.”
“D, I’m fine. I can—”
“Elijah, get her out of here.”
A hard arm went around my waist, lifting me off my feet. “Come on, Brown Eyes. You have your orders.”
He carried me over to my desk where my shoes and bag were.
“Eli,” I said.
“You’re obviously exhausted. Let’s go home and get some rest.”
I sighed but relented. “I’m not sure I have the energy to drive home and then to your place.”
“Good thing you’re not driving. You’re riding with me to my place.”
“I don’t have any of my stuff.”
“I have some of your toiletries at the house.”
I stared at him in confusion. “How?”
“Well, there are these things called stores. They carry products that you can purchase.”
I smacked his shoulder. “You know what I mean. Did you go buy my stuff?”
“Yep. I took pictures so I could make sure to buy the right kind.”
I laughed at the mental image of him taking pictures of my face wash, shampoo, and the like, but it was also so sweet.
“Okay, fine. Take me home,” I said.
At my words, he grabbed my face and kissed me hard.
When he released my lips, he murmured, “I like the sound of that a lot.”
“The sound of what?”
“Me taking you home. I wish it could happen every day.”
My heart fluttered in my chest. “Are you talking about living together?”
“Yeah.”
“Uh—” Wow, this was quick.
“I know it’s too soon. That’s why I gave you a key. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do everything I can to change your mind as quickly as possible.”
He knew exactly what to say to make me melt.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.
A little while later, as I rode in the passenger seat of his truck, he held my hand. I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said, imagining what it would be like to go home with him or to him every day.
I might not be ready to move in with him yet, but I could see how that future would look and I wanted it more than anything.