“No mix-up.” Tati walks back over to me. “She said it’s your account, and you’re paid. You can start displaying on Monday.”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
Only Tatiana, Todd and Davis knew I was trying to get a gallery spot.
“Oh, shit.”
“What?”
“Out of the three people, only one could afford the two months.”
“Davis,” we say in unison.
“Have you talked to him since that phone call?”
“No, and I’m not about to. He turned from my dream guy to Patrick Bateman from American Psycho.”
That might be a major exaggeration.
Not to mention, I’m fairly sure Todd wouldn’t be too pleased. I’m still unsure of how the scene will go down when Davis returns.
“Well, you could call him.”
“I can’t accept it.”
“Yeah.”
We sit there and sulk.
“Let’s go.” She nods toward the door.
“Where?”
“We’re going to go primp for your showcase. You might not be able to showcase at Tracker’s, but you have a show tomorrow.”
Tati and I leave the apartment, and I fixate on why Davis would do something so nice. The way it was left between us was far from nice. He hasn’t even attempted to reach out to me.
Is this a grand gesture for me?
* * *
Pop! Tati opens a champagne bottle, and the cork flies in the air. She pours it into two of the three flutes and hands me one. “To my best friend, who deserves everything she’s gotten these past few weeks.”
Our glasses clink.
“Thank you.”
A soft knock sounds at the door, and Tati scrambles. “I’ll get it. Go to your room, and make your entrance.”
“You’re crazy. Let him in.”
She opens the door, and the sound of Todd’s voice stirs tingles through my body. He crosses the doorway and stops in his tracks. His eyes roam up and down my body, and a smile slowly creeps across his mouth.
He crosses the room and hands me the bouquet of orchids. “Gorgeous, as always.” He bends down and kisses my cheek, igniting a rush of shivers. “I can’t wait to take you out of this dress,” he whispers before kissing my cheek again.
A blush rises up my neck. “You look handsome.” I kiss his cheek, rubbing the smooth skin with mine.
His dark jeans and T-shirt with an open jacket are enough to make me hot, but the smell of his cologne tops it off. He’ll be lucky if we get out of this apartment.
“Here you go.” Tati hands him the third glass of champagne.
“Thank you.” His eyes stay locked with mine. “Congratulations, gorgeous. You’re going to knock them dead tonight.” He clinks his glass with mine and sips.
He sets the glass down on the counter and holds out his arm for me to take. I slide my arm through his. Tati rounds the counter, and Todd holds out his other arm for her to take.
“Well, thank you, Mr. Hamilton.” She accepts his arm.
“Just so you know, Noodle’s my girl, though.”
I laugh.
Tati looks over at me. “That’s been evident for some time, Mr. Hamilton.” She unhooks her arm and scurries over to the door, opening it for us.
Twenty minutes later, the three of us stand in Art on Wells. Bette is pointing and directing the caterers on where to go and where not to go. I stop and look around at the art surrounding me. It’s all my art. My hard work is on display for people to see.
Todd and Tati leave me behind, sensing I need some time to absorb this moment.
I glance from my pictures to Todd escorting Tati around the gallery. He’s pointing to each one and offering her a brief description of each picture. Tears fill my eyes. This is it, what I’ve been working for.
A rush of cold air seeps through the sheer fabric across my back. A warm hand entwines fingers with mine, and I turn to find my mom. She looks up at me and smiles. The boisterous voices of the rest of my family follow. Before I grab another breath, I’m being crowded with hugs and kisses of congratulations.
“Mom.” I stop her before she moves away.
“Congratulations, Amelia.” Her bony fingers grip my upper arms, and she kisses each cheek.
“Thanks, Ma, but my photos.”
She must spot one behind me because her face pales. “Oh, my.”
She steps back, and I wait for the lecture.
“This is a little uncomfortable. I mean, he’s my future son-in-law.”
“Maybe you should go home.” I place my hand on her arm.
Her eyes lock on the picture. “It’s fine, Amelia. I’ll concentrate on your others.” She peruses around and notices ninety-nine percent are of Todd—naked. “Or I’ll eat some hors d’oeuvres, even though I could have made them better.”
She steps away, but I nudge her back.
“Mom, why did you say ‘future son-in-law’?”
She glances over to Todd and back to me. “He’s the one for you, Amelia. I’ve known since the first time you brought him to the house.”
“But I don’t even know if he’s Italian.”
I wonder if he knows if he’s Italian?
“I don’t care.” She pulls me into her arms. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I know I gave you trouble with this, and as uncomfortable as I am, they’re beautiful.” She kisses my cheek and walks off toward the food.
My dad passes by, squeezing my shoulder, and follows my mom. I know he must have played a heavy hand in persuading my mom to come around, and I’ll have to thank him later.
The rest of my family spreads out and investigates the pictures. Todd comes over, saying hello to everyone. He doesn’t look uncomfortable in the slightest.
Does he realize he’s naked?
“How was it?” he asks.
I know he’s talking about my mother.
“She approves.” I stare at her while she’s cozied up to my dad.
“Of your photographs? That’s awesome.” His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he pulls me to him.
“And you.”
His arm loosens, and I twist to look at his facial expression.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I reach up on my tiptoes and give him a tender kiss.
“I must be a catch if your mom approves.”
I laugh and playfully smack his chest. “You’re the biggest catch in the sea.”
“That’s cheesy, but I’ll take it.” His hand reaches around my back, and he brings me closer to him. Just as he’s about to kiss me again, the door swings open, and a slew of people file in. “Game on, baby. You got this.” His lips brush along my cheek, and he releases me.
Two hours later, a few people are lingering around. I’m eighty percent sold, mostly to women—Bette’s high-society friends, to be exact. My feet ache, and Todd’s using his best salesman tactics to sell the last few. Tati left because she was late on a deadline.
Bette’s heels click over to me. “This has been an excellent show, Amelia.” She hands me the paperwork. “I want you back in two months.”
My eyes spring out of the sockets, looking at the numbers. “Bette, these prices . . . they are higher than we agreed.”
She shrugs. “You underestimated yourself. You’re worth more than you think.” She pats me on the shoulder and clicks away into her office.
My heart races as the numbers ping in my head. Anxiety quickly replaces happiness. I have two months to take all-new pictures. I’m not sure I can do it.
The door opens, and brochures blow off the table, scattering along the floor. The assistants rush over to pick them up, but then they gawk at the figure walking right toward me.
He’s dressed in a black suit with the top two buttons of his white linen shirt undone. His footsteps are determined and set right at me. My eyes veer to Todd, who abandons the couple and steadily meets him in front of me.
“Lia.” Davis sighs.
Todd cuts him
off and stands in front of me, just like he did with Cam a few weeks ago.
“Now isn’t the time, Davis.” He holds his hand in the air.
“You can’t protect her. I heard you two were dating, but I wasn’t finished with Lia.”
“Oh, I think you are.” Todd widens his stance.
“Davis, you obviously heard I’m with Todd. Why are you here?”
I slide to the side, and Todd’s hand captures mine.
“I’m here to win you over.”
I shake my head. “No, no. That’s not about to happen.”
“You wanted a grand gesture. I left the premiere and caught a friend’s jet to get here before your show was over.” Beads of sweat line his forehead.
I squeeze Todd’s hand and wait for him to look down at me. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
He nods, and I release his hand.
“Follow me,” I say to Davis before guiding him into the back room.
I shut the door and venture over to my purse. I shuffle through it and pull out the envelope from Tracker’s Gallery.
“Here.” I hand it to him. “I can’t accept this.”
He glances over it and shakes his head. “I have no idea what this is.” He hands it back to me and I take it.
“It’s the letter from the gallery space you paid for. Like I said out there, I’m with Todd now. I can’t accept this gift.” I hold it firmly in my hand.
“I didn’t do it.” His voice lowers, as though he’s ashamed he hadn’t thought of it.
“What?”
“I didn’t buy you a gallery space.”
The envelope drops from my hand and cascades to the floor, knowing who did. I step forward. “Davis, I appreciate you coming, but we both know we’re not meant to be.”
“Well, I didn’t know that until this moment, actually. Otherwise, I would have stayed in LA.” His phone buzzes in his pocket, and his hand moves to grab it.
“Go back to LA, Davis. Fight for your ex-wife, because you love her.” From the pictures, it’s evident. He looks at her like Todd does with me.
And that reminds me that Todd is the one I should be with in this moment. “I have to go.”
“Wait. How can you just toss me aside? I thought we had something.”
I exhale a breath and step over to him. “I’m sorry you were in the middle, Davis. Todd’s always been the one, and it took you for both of us to realize it.”
I place my hand over his, but he retracts it in disdain.
“I’m not used to losing.” He shoves his hands in his slacks.
“I know you aren’t, but I wasn’t the princess you’re seeking. If I was, you’d have come back a lot sooner than now.”
He nods and purses his lips.
“I did a lot more for you than other women. I’m sorry if that wasn’t enough.”
It wasn’t.
“You’re a great guy. I’m just not the girl for you. I want more.”
I’m worth more.
He stands there silently, and I wonder what’s going through his head. He’s a good guy, but he’s just not ready to give up his career for someone, which means he hasn’t found someone important enough yet.
“Good luck, Lia.”
He stops at the door, and I panic that he’s going to fight for me one more time. But he simply opens the door and steps through it.
I pick up the letter, run through the door and stop cold, looking around the gallery. Half the lights are off, and no one is around.
“Everyone’s gone. I’m about to close up. We’ll talk figures on Tuesday.” Bette shoves her arms through her coat and swings her purse over her shoulder.
“Where’s Todd?”
She looks around the room. “I don’t know. I thought he was here.”
I dial Todd’s phone and fly out the door. His ringer echoes through the dark sky, and my eyes find him leaning against the wall.
“I thought you left.” I exhale the breath that was locked in my throat. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing myself against his body.
“Let’s go home,” he says, disregarding that he scared me.
Home. My heart lightens with the one word.
“Thank you,” I say.
“For what?” His smirk gives him away.
“Does Tracker’s Gallery ring any bells?” I tap his forehead and he chuckles.
“Maybe?” He shrugs.
“I appreciate it, but with the restaurant and everything, you can’t afford it. I can’t accept—”
He places his finger to my lips.
“You can and will accept it. It’s an investment.” He winks that blue eye filled with softness and love.
“Thank you. I could never repay you.”
“I can think of some things,” His hand grazes down my back before he grips my ass.
I smile. “Take me home.”
“I’d love to.”
I’ve waited years for a man like Todd to come into my life. I have an urge to pinch myself to make sure my wish really has come true.
He swings his arm around my shoulders, and I tuck my hand around his back. We roam down the dark streets, and I’m thinking we should have gotten a taxi. He stops at the light to wait for traffic.
I twist in his arms, and I brush my hand along his light stubble. I can’t hold it in any longer. I don’t care if I say it first or that we’re surrounded by garbage and filthy sewers.
“Have I told you that I love you?”
He smiles down at me, and his lips capture mine. “I love you more,” he whispers.
I swat at him.
A loud laugh erupts out of him, and he tugs me tighter into his chest. “You’re the first and last woman I’ll ever love.”
EPILOGUE
Amelia
I trudge up the steps of Todd’s new apartment above his restaurant. My head hurts from the banging I woke up to this morning because he’s renovating the place. It’s convenient for him, but I wasn’t happy when he moved away from me.
The keys jingle in my hand, and I search out the one he gave me the day he moved in. I insert it into the lock and twist the door open.
Todd’s whizzing around the kitchen, chopping, pouring, and mixing. I watch him doing what he loves.
Soon, I itch to touch the man I love. I slowly sneak up on him as quietly as I can. He’s stirring something in the pot, and I reach my arms around his stomach.
His hand covers mine, and I plant a kiss to his back.
“I made you dinner.”
“Yum.” I peek to the right of his body and spot something new.
Todd’s been experimenting with new dishes for his menu. If they make it past me, then we take them to my family. They’ve been kind enough to trade out their typical Italian dishes on Sundays for Todd’s. My grandma is having a big say in what stays and what goes, but she is a little disappointed he decided not to serve her gravy recipe.
He twists around, and his palms cradle my face. “Jim’s coming over tonight.”
“Okay.”
Jim’s still sober, and he’s been helping Todd with the renovations on the weekends when he’s not working. It warms my heart, witnessing their relationship blossom. They’ve almost seemed like father and son recently. It shows that good can come out of bad. Carol hasn’t returned, and she had divorce papers sent to Jim. Todd was positive that would send Jim into a tailspin, but thankfully it didn’t.
“He’s bringing dessert.”
My lips turn down. “I was thinking I’d be dessert.”
“Oh, baby, you know I never get full—especially of you.”
I hit his shoulder. “Isn’t that the truth?”
He slaps my ass, and I jump from his arms.
“Go get comfy.” He points to his bedroom where I’ve occupied more than half of his closet with my stuff.
We haven’t decided to fully move in together yet, but I stay here every night. The biggest problem is I don’t have a studio here. It’s only a one-bedroom apartment, so I ha
ve nowhere to store my equipment. Not to mention, I’ve been interviewing new models. Todd’s too busy to continue to be my only one.
I slide my pencil skirt down my legs and put it in my dry-cleaning bag. I’m still at Bette’s, but she’s hired another assistant for the menial tasks of walking her dogs and bringing her coffee. She hasn’t been so evil since my showing.
Todd saunters into the room and makes a beeline for me. His fingers begin unbuttoning my blouse.
“Shh . . . Jim’s here,” he whispers.
I swat at his hands. “Stop it.”
“You should have undressed faster.” His fingers quicken, and he slides the blouse off my shoulders.
He groans at the sight of my breasts tucked into the sheer black bra he picked out last week. His forehead falls and rests on mine. “Why did he have to come tonight?”
“He’ll be gone after dinner.” I spin around and dig through the drawer for my jeans.
His arms wrap around me and his hands move upward, cupping my breasts. “Will you slip into something sexy after he leaves?”
My head falls to his shoulders, and his lips manipulate my neck.
“You’d better leave before this goes too far.”
“Promise me.” His arms tighten.
“I promise.”
“Love you, babe. Hurry up.”
Todd leaves the room, and I overhear him and Jim carrying on about the World Series. Between them and my brothers, it’s the talk over every dinner. So, I take my time in getting ready, giving them a few minutes together.
I turn on the television for the distraction, and TMZ is on. There, on the side panel, is Davis Morgan, and he’s back with his ex-wife. Part of me wants to wait for the story, but the headline says it all. So, I click it off and get dressed to join my man in hosting our guest.
The three of us eat dinner, and Jim leaves soon after. I hope Todd’s lingering touches on me didn’t make Jim feel uncomfortable, causing him to leave. Tonight, Todd can’t seem to keep his hands off me, not that I’m complaining.
I sit on the couch with my legs spread out in front of me. Todd rounds the couch and hands me a glass of wine.
“Thank you.”
I take a sip and he sits down, grabbing my feet in his hands. He rubs them back to life after my long day in heels, and I realize that, months ago, I imagined this same scene.
Seeing You Page 21
