So while Tero waits for his wife to get here with Gabriella’s dog, I disappear into the master bedroom and lay her down after kicking the door closed with the back of my foot. And while she quickly settles in, turning to her side while gripping a pillow with her small fingers, I grab a spare blanket and throw it over her.
Seeing her so defenseless today renewed my vow to break her free.
To give her back the power to not let anyone hurt her.
Slipping in beside her, I spoon her body with mine and settle my face against the back of her neck. Her scent surrounds me with that soft vanilla with cherry fragrance that is both soothing and mouthwatering. It envelops me in comfort, and I close my eyes, letting her soft breathing lull me.
“I’m going to make this up to you, Gabriella.” I lay a tiny kiss at the base of her neck. “For not being here when you needed me the most.”
“I’m really not in the mood to go anywhere, Theo. Please take me back home.” The silly girl looks at me from the corner of her eye, glaring a bit. It’s been this way since she woke up in my bed two days ago after sleeping through the night, screaming at the top of her lungs and scaring everybody in the kitchen.
I rushed to her side at once, finding her huddled against the headboard with wide eyes staring at me. It took her a moment for realization to set in and her nerves to calm, more so when her dog’s barking caught her attention. Then, she launched herself out of the bed and ran to Meera, taking her pet back while thanking her.
“You got him for me,” she said, voice low and grateful. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure, Miss Moore.”
“It’s Gabriella...” her eyes went from Meera to Tero and then to mine, so many questions in her jeweled orbs “... and how did you get him? Where was he?”
“He was being held at a local vet’s office that attends to the precinct’s dogs.”
“Christ.” Gabriella kisses the furballs head, and he licks her cheek. The smile on her face is enough to bring a dead heart back to life, but then it drops and her brows furrow. “I’m sorry, but who are you? I know them, but we’ve never...”
“Never apologize, Gabriella. You’ve done nothing wrong.” Stepping forward, she holds a hand out toward my girl, which Gabriella takes after shifting her hold on the dog. “My name is Meera, and I’m Tero’s wife. I’m also the gallery’s event coordinator, and we were bound to meet very soon as I need your input for the show.”
“No can do, sweetheart. You’re kind of stuck with me for a while.” Today. Tomorrow. Until the end of time. “Does that bother you?”
“Would you believe me if I said yes?”
“Not when you’re smiling like that. No.” Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, I lean across the center console and lay a small kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Now, let’s get down. There’s something I want you to see.”
“Maybe another time? I really need to head home and check on—”
“Humor me.” Another small kiss, this time to the tip of her nose. “Please.”
“You get one hour.”
“Sure.” I’ll let her think that, but she’s not going home yet. If ever.
I’m not letting her go.
“Why is it that I don’t believe you?”
“No clue.” Not giving her a chance to further question me, I turn the car off and get out, rushing to her side. I open her door and hold a hand up—pausing her exit—while quickly opening my glove compartment. She’s looking at me funny, a small smile on her lips, but more than that, there’s curiosity when I don’t show her what I’ve grabbed.
For now, I tuck it into my pocket and then pull her out, leading us toward the main entrance. It’s a little after five now and I had the place closed for us, hoping she’ll enjoy the trip more with it being just the two of us.
And I’m right when she gasps after I usher us inside.
“Theo,” my name on her lips is a beautiful sigh—so sweet. “When did this go up? Has there been some interest?”
“Before I left for L.A., and yes. A lot, in fact.” With my hand on the small of her back, I move us deeper into the reception area where an announcement of the upcoming show has been set up. Her name is the largest of the three artists showing over the next six months, and I’m proud of her. She earned this. Everything good coming her way. “We’ve already started to build your set as no one else will be using that floor this year.”
“No one?”
“No. It’s yours.” Stepping closer, I use the tips of two fingers to turn her head in my direction. “I’ve had a special prop delivered for you, too. Meera brought it here today to test its placement.”
“What is it?”
“All I can show you is where it’ll go?”
“Why?”
“It’s a surprise meant for later.”
“Okay.” And there’s the sparkle I’ve missed over the last few days. This genuine excitement that glows—moves you when she smiles. A real one. When she’s content and feels at ease, there’s nothing more beautiful to me.
“Then let me show you.” I slip my hand into hers and pull her gently behind me toward the elevator, pressing the number three once the doors close. Her fingers play with mine while we wait to reach the top, gently squeezing the tips. However, the moment we reach our floor, I pull her back before the doors open. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No doubt. So perfect.
“Good girl.” Eyes still on hers, I press the hold button so the elevator doesn’t leave our floor and then turn her around, pulling the blindfold from my pocket. “Just remember I won’t let you fall.”
“What are you...oh!” She giggles, shaking her head after I put the blindfold in place and checking that she can’t peek through. “You came prepared for everything.”
“You could say that.” With my hand on the small of her back, I walk us into the large open space that will host her exhibit, making sure that the lights are dimmed before stopping at the center of the room. From where I stand, she will be able to see across the room and the covered display. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Welcome to a night in the jungle of sin.”
“Jungle of sin,” she repeats as I pull the blindfold off. I watch as she takes everything in—the dark walls and the greenery being brought in to mimic the Amazon jungle and its foliage. We’ve put up vines and lighting only in areas meant to host her pieces. Even the flowers brought in to stage the area for her approval add a layer of beauty to the debauchery that will be the final result.
“What do you think?”
“It’s stunning.” Her eyes are lit up in a way I haven’t seen in a while. So much happiness. Excitement. “This is going to look amazing, Theodore.”
“Theo.”
“I’m sorry?” she asks, and the way her brows scrunch up is quite adorable.
“I’m always just Theo to you, unless you have a sexy nickname for me? Those are always acceptable.”