The edge of her mouth lifted, and her gaze warmed. Nick pressed his hands on the rock on either side of him, keeping himself grounded.
“The way I see it, when I tell you something, the ball will be in your field.”
And now she was speaking in riddles. “Lauren, you’re killing me. Can you cut to the chase?”
Her soft laugh escaped, and despite Nick’s resolve, the hope spread to his heart.
“Ever the businessman.” She rose to her feet and moved toward him.
Nick could only stare as she approached. When she stood in front of him, she wasn’t touching him, but his body was already reacting to her nearness, and he was pretty sure the temperature of the ocean breeze had gone up by fifteen degrees.
When she rested her hands on his shoulders, everything inside of him burst into flame.
“What if I told you that I gave away the Renoir?” she whispered.
He blinked. And his mind tried to connect her words and what they meant, truly meant. “Why would you do that?” he said in a rasp.
“To break the Ambrose curse,” she said, inching closer until her legs pressed against his.
She was too near not to touch. He moved his hands to her hips and pulled her even closer. “Why do you want to break the curse?” he whispered.
He loved her smile.
And he loved her next words even more.
“So I can be with a man who needs to learn that life is not always about business deals.”
Nick chuckled, then he was on his feet, pulling her against him. She came easily into his arms, and he didn’t wait another second before he claimed her mouth. Her lips were cool with the breeze, but her mouth was warm and welcoming. He moved his hands behind her back as he kissed her thoroughly, tightening his hold because he didn’t plan to let her go anytime soon.
Lauren kissed him back, wrapping her arms about his neck and pushing her fingers into his hair. She tasted better than he remembered, and he decided it was time to make new memories. He trailed kisses along her jaw, then down her neck, reveling in the warmth and smoothness of her skin. When he kissed her throbbing pulse at the base of her neck, he lingered, inhaling her wildflower scent.
She skimmed her fingers across the back of his neck. “So are we back together, Nicholas Matthews?”
Nick smiled against her skin. “Absolutely, sweetheart.”
Her laugh was soft. “I thought you’d put up a little more resistance than this.”
“Nope.”
She nestled against him, and for a moment they remained in that embrace.
“What changed your mind?” Nick asked, needing to know, deserving to know.
Her answer was one simple word. “Love.”
It was strange walking into the gallery, knowing her Renoir was forever gone from Freddie’s safe. Lauren had donated the piece to the Art Institute of Chicago, and she hoped that it might bring others happiness. She’d painted night and day when Nick had left her in Ambrose, so she had another dozen paintings finished and ready for display.
And until the moment she’d seen Nick at the Bensons’ wedding, she’d wondered if she’d be alone the rest of her life. Yes, she’d decided to do the one thing to break the curse, which would allow her to not fear a premature death of her husband should she ever marry, but she couldn’t imagine herself with anyone other than Nick. And if he wouldn’t take her back, then she might as well become a hermit. A prolific artist hermit.
But from the instant she saw a man walking away from the wedding party, she knew it was Nick, and she knew she had to let him know what she’d done. How much she needed him. How much she loved him. How he’d become her everything.
And now she had another evening ahead of her of shaking hands, accepting congratulations and compliments, and hopefully selling a few pieces. Knowing that others loved and appreciated her art fulfilled her in ways that nothing else could. Yet her life was much fuller with Nick, in ways that she could have never predicted. The weight of the curse was gone, and until it was gone, she hadn’t realized how crippling it had been, both emotionally and physically.
Lauren was the only other person in the gallery, and she could hear Freddie talking on the phone from his office, since the door was ajar. She wandered around the main room and gazed at the displays Freddie had carefully set up. Her older work was mixed in with her new paintings, and it made a nice contrast.
She paused before a painting she’d done specifically for Nick. He’d be stopping by tonight, and she wanted to see if he’d single it out. The scene was of a seashore, lit by moonlight, with two swans riding the crest of the incoming tide. She gazed at the image for a long moment, thinking of how being with Nick had made her feel like she’d undergone the transformation from the ugly duckling into a swan. Not in a physical sense but in her soul and heart.
After several moments, she moved to another display.
Freddie came out of his office. “Sorry I kept you waiting.” He pulled her into a hug, then drew away. “You look marvelous.”
“So do you,” Lauren said, although she was flattered by the compliment. She wore a floor-length black dress, with a slit that reached above her knee. The back dipped to her waist, and she’d had her hair done professionally in an elegant twist. Her usual pendant hung on a chain about her neck.
Freddie trilled a laugh. “Don’t try to deflect my compliment.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “That dress is to die for. I can’t wait to see Nick’s expression when he walks in.”
Lauren had filled Freddie in on her progressing relationship with Nicholas Matthews. And interestingly enough, Freddie hadn’t seemed surprised in the least and had only commented that he knew something was up when Nick had bought all those paintings.
“Speaking of the devil,” Freddie murmured, looking past Lauren toward the entrance of the gallery.
Lauren turned to see Nick opening the door, carrying a huge vase full of roses. He wore a black tuxedo and looked like he’d stepped out of a photo shoot for the sexiest bachelor of the decade.
“Wow,” Freddie said under his breath.
Wow, indeed. Lauren stared as Nick walked toward her with a smile.
“You’re early.” Her face heated at her lame statement.
Nick didn’t seem to mind. “I brought the decorations.”
When he reached her, she leaned in to smell the roses. Heavenly. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.” She met those hazel eyes of his, so warm and so intent on her.
He was still smiling. “You’re welcome.” Then he leaned closer and kissed her on the mouth.
Since their reunion a couple of weeks ago at the beach, Nick hadn’t held back in the PDA department. No matter where they were, he was never shy about showing his affection. And Lauren wouldn’t have it any other way.
Freddie cleared his throat as the kiss grew into something more than a peck. “I’ll take the flowers and find a good spot.”
Nick relinquished the flowers but didn’t stop kissing Lauren. In fact, once both his hands were free, he slipped them around her waist and pulled her flush against him. Lauren had little choice but to twine her arms about his neck to enjoy his deliciousness.
“There,” Freddie said rather loudly from across the room. “Now everyone will see the flowers the moment they enter the gallery.”
Lauren broke away from Nick, first to breathe and second to thank Freddie. “They look great there, thanks.”
Freddie nodded, his face a bit flushed.
Then Nick turned his head and lifted his chin at Freddie, as if he wanted him to leave the room. “Can you give us a moment, Freddie?”
What was he doing? Freddie was the gallery owner, and patrons would start arriving in ten minutes.
“I think we need to cool things down, Romeo,” Lauren said when Freddie returned to his office, because Nick had pulled her back in his arms.
“Not yet,” he murmured, placing a kiss right below her earlobe.
The brush of his chin against her ne
ck tickled, and Lauren shivered with the warmth spreading through her. If she didn’t break things off, then she was sure the patrons would notice her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “Nick, I’m serious.”
He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes.
Something about the intensity of his gaze made her belly heat and butterflies tumble around like mad. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He didn’t answer, but his gaze dropped to her mouth, then moved back up to meet her eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.
Lauren stared at him. She couldn’t explain the buzzing sensation moving through her body, and it wasn’t just what Nick had said, it was how she could see it in his eyes. Leaving no doubt. With her heart hammering like mad, she whispered back, “I love you too.”
He grinned and pulled her against him in a bear hug. The air practically whooshed out of Lauren, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Good,” Nick’s deep voice rumbled against her ear. “Because I need to ask you something.”
The butterflies were back, but Lauren didn’t have time to decipher what he was saying because he pulled away and grasped one of her hands. Then he knelt on the floor in front of her.
Her eyes burned with tears, and her throat went dry.
Nick hadn’t broken his gaze, even as he reached into his pocket and pulled out something round and glittery. When he held up a diamond ring, Lauren was pretty sure her knees were about to buckle.
“Lauren . . .” he began, his smile widening. “I love you more than life itself. And if you don’t say yes to marrying me, then I’m going to ask you every day until you do.”
She laughed, then she blinked back her tears, but it was too late. They’d already fallen.
He was watching her. Waiting.
She was pretty sure if it was physically possible, her heart would have pounded out of her chest from so much happiness. She leaned down and pressed a kiss on Nick’s beautiful mouth. Then she whispered, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Nick cradled her face and deepened the kiss while he moved to his feet.
Lauren wrapped her arms about his waist and kissed him back while her heart soared and her mind raced. This was really happening. She was an engaged woman.
Clapping interrupted their kissing, and Lauren smiled against Nick’s mouth as Freddie walked into the gallery.
“I’m so happy for you two,” he said, still clapping. “Congratulations.”
Lauren laughed and released Nick. She turned to embrace Freddie, the dear man.
Then Nick shook his hand, but Freddie said, “Oh no, you’re family now,” and promptly pulled him into a back-slapping hug.
“I’m opening the champagne right now,” Freddie announced and hurried away to do just that.
Lauren turned back to Nick, and he ran his thumb along her jaw. “I love you.”
She felt like her heart might burst. “I love you.”
He grinned. “Do you want to try on the ring?”
“Of course.”
Nick grasped her hand and slipped on the most gorgeous emerald-cut diamond ring she’d ever seen.
“I don’t even want to ask how much you spent,” she murmured.
“You’re worth every penny,” Nick whispered and kissed her temple.
Lauren sighed and tilted her hand so that the diamond reflected the lights of the gallery. “What will your mother say?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “She’s coming tonight.”
Lauren’s gaze flew to Nick’s. “What? Here?”
Nick only smiled. “Don’t worry. I think she’s had a change of heart.”
“Did you threaten her or something?”
Nick’s smile stayed innocent. “Nothing like that.” He linked their fingers and slid his other hand up her back. “I just told her that I was in love with you and that if you agreed, we’d be getting married soon.”
Laruen narrowed her eyes. “What was her response?”
“She’s coming around,” he said. “But believe me, our marriage will always be between the two of us. You and me. No one else. Okay?”
Lauren nodded. Was it possible to love Nicholas Matthews even more?
“Here we are,” Freddie said, reappearing. “I think a toast is in order.”
From then on out, the time sped forward as the first patrons arrived. It was the busiest that Lauren had ever experienced, and both she and Nick were swept into conversations. But he was always close, always within sight. More than once, she felt his hand at the small of her back.
When Penny Matthews entered the gallery, Lauren noticed immediately. Her turquoise evening gown was hard to miss, and when their gazes locked, there was both a challenge and acceptance in her eyes.
Lauren stared right back.
Then Penny smiled, and Lauren knew it was genuine.
“Let me see the ring,” Penny said when she reached Lauren.
The demand probably should have bothered Lauren, but it didn’t. She’d proudly show off her ring from Nick to anyone, especially his mother.
Penny turned Lauren’s hand side to side, then nodded. “It’s lovely. My son did well.”
“I agree,” Lauren said.
The two women’s eyes locked again.
“Thanks for coming tonight,” Lauren said.
Penny nodded.
“Hello, Mother.” Nick’s voice rumbled near Lauren, and his hand slid around her waist.
“Nick,” his mother said with a smile. “Congratulations, you two.”
At that moment, Lauren saw the wistfulness in the woman’s eyes. And it struck her that after Penny’s divorce from his father, Nick had been the only man in her life. And now . . . she was giving that up, in a way.
Lauren’s heart softened yet again. Things might not be perfect with her mother-in-law to be, but they had the common ground of Nick, and that was all that mattered.
“I’ll just look around,” Penny said. “Have some champagne. You know, admire the artwork.”
Lauren smiled. “Enjoy yourself.”
As Penny walked away, Nick pulled Lauren closer and whispered in her ear, “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Any time,” Lauren said with a smile.
Then Nick stilled. “What’s that?”
She followed his gaze to where the painting with the two swans hung on the wall.
“It’s us.”
Nick moved his arm from her waist and linked their hands, then drew her along with him to examine the painting. For several long moments, he gazed at it. “I love it.”
“Good.” She squeezed his hand. “Because it’s for you.”
He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. “Do I have to buy it?”
“I’ll give you a discount.”
He chuckled, then his gaze grew more intense. “When can we get out of here? I’m tired of sharing you with people.”
She placed a hand on his chest. “Soon.”
The soon ended up becoming another ninety minutes, and by the time Lauren walked into her condo with Nick, she felt like she’d lived two lifetimes. So much had happened, but she wasn’t ready to say good night to Nick yet.
When she flipped on the living room light, she stopped so suddenly that Nick bumped into her. He immediately grasped her hips to steady her.
“What . . .” His voice died.
There, mounted on the living room wall above her couch, was the Renoir painting.
“Impossible,” she breathed. She moved forward quietly, as if she was afraid it might disappear if she made too much noise.
“Where did it come from?” Nick asked.
“I have no idea.” Lauren stopped in front of the painting. It occurred to her that it might be a replica, but gazing at it closely, she knew it was the same one she’d donated to Chicago.
“I wonder if there was a problem and the museum returned it?” Lauren mused aloud. “But how did it get on my wall?”
“Stay here,” Nick said. “I’m going to check the
back rooms for any intruders.”
While Nick was gone, Lauren continued to stare at the painting, wracking her mind with possibilities, but she kept coming up empty.
Nick returned and reported that he’d checked the closets, under the bed, but found nothing and no one lurking.
“I’m calling Sofia,” Lauren said. “She’s the only other one who knew about me donating the painting.” Thankfully Sofia answered the phone, and after Lauren explained that she had a priceless painting on her wall, Sofia simply exhaled.
“What?” Lauren asked. “What is it?”
Then Sofia laughed.
“She’s laughing,” Lauren said to Nick. “I think she’s gone crazy—me too.” Then she returned to her phone call. “Sofia, I’m putting the phone on speaker. Nick’s here, and you can explain what’s going on. How did you get into my apartment in the first place?”
“It wasn’t me, I swear,” Sofia protested, her voice coming through the speaker now. “It’s the curse, Lauren. It’s been fulfilled. The return of the painting is a confirmation of it.” She lowered her voice. I just didn’t want to share that part in case for you it was different.”
“In case the painting wasn’t returned?” Lauren clarified.
“Right.”
Lauren went quiet, thinking. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around it. “So you didn’t bring it over to my place?”
“I’m in Ambrose,” Sofia deadpanned.
“But . . . why would the museum suddenly send it back? Without my request?”
“I don’t exactly understand either,” Sofia said. “But it happened, and now you know.”
Lauren asked Sofia a few more questions, but everything was coming up a dead end. According to Sofia, Lauren should just be grateful the curse had ended once and for all.
“Oh, and by the way, I heard the good news,” Sofia said. “Congratulations to the both of you.”
Lauren’s mind did a one-eighty. “How did you know?”
“I follow Freddie on Instagram,” Sofia said. “It’s the only way a big sister can track her younger sister sometimes.”
“Smart woman,” Nick teased. “And thank you, Sofia. I hope you approve.”
Mostly Perfect Page 16
