Chapter Thirty-One Lena
Chapter Thirty-One
Lena
My texts started being delivered sometime after the night of my birthday. My heart flew into my throat when I opened the text thread and saw that little word delivered at the bottom of the page. And every day since, I’ve been on pins and needles, waiting for him to reply. Or to call me.
Anything.
But he’s been silent.
So I’ve continued as normal, sending messages and talking to him, sharing my thoughts and feelings, and every day, they’re delivered.
Why isn’t he responding?
“You must be excited,” Mom says as she sips her coffee. “You’re hardly speaking. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. I know this showing is going to be a huge success. I wish you’d let us scream about it. I wish you’d use your name.”
I shake my head and set my phone down, then turn my attention to my mother.
It’s the morning of the show, and we’re having breakfast together. Mom and Dad won’t come tonight because it would be a security nightmare, and I’m honestly okay with that.
I want it to be as low key as possible.
“You know why I don’t want to,” I reply. “We’ve been over this.”
She sighs, watching me.
“Mom, I need you to know that once this show is over, I’m going back to Montana.”
I already have my travel plans in order, I’ve alerted Bishop so he can arrange the detail accordingly, and I’ve packed up everything I want to take from my apartment.
I’m going home.
Her eyebrow climbs and her eyes narrow, but she doesn’t interrupt me, which honestly shocks the hell out of me.
“I’m proud of you, Mom. I know that I’ve never told you that before, but I am. You chose this life for all of us. You’ve been a good president. But I don’t want this life for myself, and I don’t have to choose it.”
“Lena,” she says with a sigh. “You would make an excellent First Lady. Howey plans to go into politics. You know what it takes—”
“Absolutely not.” I shake my head adamantly.
“I would never choose to marry a politician. Never. That’s not the life for me.
I can’t wait for your term to end so I don’t have to have Secret Service anymore.
I want Gideon, Mom. I love him with my whole heart, and being away from him for two months has only reiterated that for me.
I choose him, and the life on the ranch. ”
She slowly shakes her head and takes a deep breath.
“Of course, I only want what’s best for you. I’m a shit parent, Lena. We all know it. I’ve never denied it. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you and want wonderful things for you.”
“Wonderful things doesn’t have to mean the life you would choose,” I remind her.
I’ve never been this frank with my mother, and it’s only because of Gideon, and how he’s empowered me, made me feel loved, that I’m able to stand up to her now.
I know what I want, and I’m going to make sure my mother knows it too.
“I’m taking happiness in both hands and holding on tight.
Because let’s be honest, Mom, there hasn’t been a whole lot of that in my life.
My own best friend betrayed me so horribly, she was willing to get me killed. ”
Mom swallows hard, but I keep talking.
“Gideon is my happiness. I love him. And it honestly pisses me off that you gave him orders to stay away from me.”
“I was terrified,” she admits, sitting back in her chair. “You’d been in harm’s way, and I needed to blame someone.”
“It wasn’t his fault.”
“He was hired to protect you, Lena, not fuck you and fall in love with you.”
I recoil at the harsh words, scowling at her. “Don’t demean what I have with that man.”
God, I hope I still have it.
“It’s the truth.” She shrugs a shoulder. “However, with some time to calm down, I can see that you love him. He loves you too. So if the two of you can make it work, I won’t do anything to stop you.”
I blink at her in surprise. I expected much more of a fight over this.
“You’re giving us your blessing?”
“I’m shocked too.” She finishes her coffee. “Now, good luck tonight. Call me tomorrow and tell me all about it.”
“Okay. Thanks, Mom.”
I’ve never been so nervous in my life.
No one knows it’s my work.
No one will be looking at me, judging me. As far as anyone else is concerned, this artist can’t attend tonight.
I’m just here as an art lover.
“I hope you enjoy the showing.” Kylie, the owner of the gallery, winks at me. “I think it’s extra special. You look stunning, by the way.”
I glance down at the red dress I chose for tonight. It fits me like a second skin, and makes me feel beautiful. Maybe no one knows that I’m the artist, but I still wanted to feel special for tonight.
“I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.” My smile is shaky at best, and Kylie slips a glass of champagne in my hand. “Thank you. For everything.”
“It’s just some bubbly.” She winks and then slips away to work the room.
I don’t have any friends here. Not that I have many friends anyway. I guess Javier, my trainer, could be considered a friend. And Kylie. But I’m here alone, and I wander around, pretending to check out the pieces hanging on the walls.
I wish Willow and Ryker were here. Aiden would get a kick out of this.
And God, how I wish Gideon were by my side. I ache with how much I miss him.
I notice that Kylie has put several sold stickers by my pieces, and that makes me happy.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
I glance up in surprise, and then feel my lip curl at the sight of Howey.
It shouldn’t surprise me that he’s here. One of the reasons I was attracted to him in the beginning was his love of art.
But I really don’t love that he’s here at my show. I hope he doesn’t buy anything.
“What do you think of this?” I ask him and sip my drink.
“Boring.” He shrugs, and I want to slam the heel of my hand into his nose. “I mean, the artist has talent, but it’s not my taste.”
Good. He won’t buy any of it. The thought of my work hanging in his home makes me nauseated.
“I like it,” I say with a shrug. “I love the mountains.”
“Figures. You always had simple taste in art.”
I fucking hate this guy. If Gideon were here, he’d tell Howey to fuck off.
“Well, I hope you enjoy your evening.” I turn to walk away, but he catches my elbow and spins me back to him, making me bump up against him, and my skin crawls.
I sense my detail step toward us, but I put my hand up.
I can handle this asshole.
“You’re going to want to take your hand off me.”
Howey smirks, and his eyes flick over my shoulder. “You gonna sic your guard dogs on me, little one?”
I smile back at him. “No. I don’t need to. Last chance, hotshot. Let me go.”
“Lena, I miss you—”
I stomp on his foot and shove my knee up into his groin, making him double over as I back away.
“When a woman tells you to let go, it means let the fuck go. You’re such an asshole.”
“That’s my girl.”
Oh, God.
That voice. I hear that voice in my dreams.
I spin, and there he is. He’s in a black suit that molds over that sexy-as-hell body perfectly. Holy shit, nothing has ever looked so damn good.
His steel eyes soften as he takes me in from head to toe, and without another thought, I pass my glass to Howey and launch myself into Gideon’s arms, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him for all I’m worth.
He catches me easily, those arms banding around me, and then his lips are at my ear.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Rebel.”
“You’re here.” I can’t believe it. “Oh my God, you’re here.”
We’re causing a scene, so I take his hand and pull him through the room and out the front door so we can talk outside, where there are no prying eyes.
“Wait, do I have to go back in there and kick that motherfucker’s ass?”
“Nah, I already did that.”
He smirks and frames my face, then presses his lips to mine again. This time, the kiss is slow and lazy, and when he licks into my mouth, I melt against him. My hands slide under his suit coat so I can feel the muscles over his dress shirt, and I moan.
“You never replied to me,” I say when we come up for air.
“I needed to say everything in person,” he replies, his voice gruff. “I had to get some shit in order. I needed to make sure that once I had you in my arms again, it was forever. Because the past two months have been hell, Lena, and I can’t do it again. Not for one more day.”
“Thank God.” I lean my forehead against his chest as relief washes through me. “I thought, once you saw the messages, that you just weren’t interested and didn’t know how to tell me to go the fuck away.”
“No.” His hand goes to the back of my neck, and he tips my face up. “No, baby. Those messages were a lifeline. I found them just when I needed them the most, and I’m so grateful that you sent them.”
I lick my lips and take a deep breath.
“Okay, I want to keep freaking out that you’re here, and I want to take you to my place immediately and get naked, but first I have to go inside and talk to Kylie real quick.”
“We have time,” he assures me. “We should go in and enjoy this show, baby. Fuck, it’s amazing.”
“I won’t stay much longer.” I drag my hand down his tie, reveling in how solid, how real, he feels under my touch. “Because I need to get you alone. Gideon—”
“I’m not leaving you,” he assures me. “I’m stuck to your side. Let’s go in and enjoy this night for you, and then we can talk.”
I nibble my bottom lip and then give him a nod, and he leads me back in. My detail is hanging back farther than they normally do, and I know it’s out of respect for Gideon and me.
I’m surprised to see that almost all the pieces have sold tags on them.
“Holy shit,” I whisper, and Gideon presses his lips to my temple.
“You’re so fucking badass,” he says into my ear, making me grin and my heart fill with so much love, it’s brimming over. “I had no doubt that this would be the case.”
He’s here.
He’s with me.
And he’s mine.