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Dumbfounded, Gavin stared at the door of the restroom. Eleanor, with Connor clutching her hand, Charlie, and Lindsay had run after Brooke, but he had no idea what was going on.
Logan, who had also been staring at the door, rounded on him. “What the hell happened? Who was that guy?”
Tearing his gaze away from the door, Gavin told Logan what he knew about Bill.
“What the hell? Why didn’t Brooke tell me about it?”
“You know her—she insists on handling her own problems.”
Clearly frustrated, Logan sighed. “Yeah, I know. After Adam’s sudden passing, she struggled to get the estate settled, and since then...”
Gavin nodded. “She’s told me about it.”
Logan raised an eyebrow. “She has, has she? I’ve heard you guys only had a fake relationship. I didn’t realize that means you’ve also shared intimate details.”
“There is nothing fake about the way I feel about her.”
At that moment, the door of the restroom opened again. Eleanor and Connor came out. “Logan, Gavin, could you take Connor home, please?”
“Of course, Mom.” Logan took Connor’s hand. His voice dropped. “Brooke?”
“She’ll be okay in a minute. Probably just nerves. We’ll stay until she can leave.” She looked around. “Where is Blake?”
“He...uhm...escorted Bill outside,” Gavin said, but he didn’t elaborate in front of Connor. He crouched down so that he could look the little boy in the eye. “Are you still hungry?”
Connor nodded, his gaze shifting to the restroom door.
“So am I. What do you say we go and look for the biggest hamburger we can find?”
“What about my mom?” Connor’s lip trembled.
Gavin picked up the boy. “She has to stay to talk to all these people who want to buy her paintings, but by the time we would have had our hamburgers, she’ll be back.”
“And Uncle Logan is going with you, sweetie,” Eleanor said and kissed Connor.
Gavin had so many questions about Brooke, but he didn’t want to upset Connor any further.
Logan smiled at Connor. “Come on, I’ve just realized I’m also starving.”
Gavin handed the boy to Logan. “Just give me a minute. I’ll meet you outside.” There was one more thing he had to do before he could leave.
––––––––
Brooke finally felt human again. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so sick before. There was the time when she’d been pregnant with Connor, but that had been in the mornings only. And had she felt this bad? Didn’t seem possible. And on top of feeling sick, the upsetting incident with Bill Norton had just made everything worse.
Not to mention the fact that Gavin had appeared like a knight in shining armor, just when she’d needed him most.
She touched Lindsay’s hand. “Will you please thank Blake for me? I don’t know what Bill thought he could accomplish here tonight, but I was very grateful for your husband’s help.”
Lindsay smiled. “It was all Gavin. He saw the guy, recognized him, and asked Blake to help. You don’t have to worry about that creep again, Blake would’ve made sure of that.”
The door opened, and Michelle popped in. She’d been in earlier but had left when she’d seen how sick Brooke was feeling. “How are you doing now? Up to facing your fans again?”
“Yes, thanks for the apple juice. I’m much better now, Michelle.”
Her mom handed her a lipstick. “You’re still very pale.”
When Brooke looked in the mirror, she groaned. “Oh, my goodness, I look like a ghost. I can’t remember ever feeling this sick. Must be something I’ve eaten.”
She turned around in time to catch a look her mom shared with Charlie and Lindsay, but before she could ask what that was about, Michelle was ushering her outside.
“We have to talk about the two paintings you don’t want to sell,” Michelle said.
“I told you...”
Michelle chuckled. “Well, my dear, I don’t know what to tell you. The client is very, very insistent. He’ll probably contact you. But come on, there are journalists waiting to take pictures and talk to you.”
“Just a moment,” Brooke said, and looked back at her mom, Charlie, and Lindsay. “You guys are, of course, welcome to stay, but I’m really okay now. I’m so happy you’re here. I won’t even ask why you didn’t tell me you were all coming to the opening night. Let’s meet somewhere for lunch tomorrow?”
“But now that we’re all here, why don’t you come with us to Logan’s place?” Charlie asked.
Because she wasn’t ready to face Gavin yet. Brooke shook her head. “I’ll probably be here until late tonight, and the Airbnb is walking distance. Lunch, tomorrow? I’ll message you.” And with a wave of her hand, she followed Michelle.
––––––––
Connor had finally fallen asleep while Gavin read him a story. He’d kept asking about his mother, and it was only when Gavin settled next to the little boy with a storybook that Connor had closed his eyes.
As Gavin pulled the door closed behind him, he heard the women’s voices. Brooke. His feet carried him all the way to the living room even before he’d realized he was moving. He couldn’t wait to see her.
“...very happy with the exhibition,” Eleanor was saying.
Gavin looked around. “Where’s Brooke?”
The women shared a look. “Probably at the exhibition. She’s staying at an Airbnb close to the gallery. She was still talking to people when we left,” Eleanor said.
Gavin pointed toward Eleanor, Lindsay, and Charlie. “So what was that look?”
“What look?” Lindsay asked, winking at Charlie.
“You know what look,” Gavin nearly shouted. He inhaled deeply. “What’s wrong with Brooke? And where is she staying?”
Eleanor grinned. “Finally, he’s asking the right questions.”
Charlie stepped closer to him and hugged him. “We don’t know what’s wrong with Brooke. She thinks it was something she’s eaten. We...have our own idea. I’ve texted you her address, although she may still be at the venue.”
He was still staring at Charlie, trying to read between the lines, when Lindsay dangled her phone in front of him. “An Uber driver is on his way. The rest is up to you. Don’t mess it up, okay?”
Just then, the front door opened and Blake stepped inside. Lindsay, hand on her tummy, got up and held out her arms. “I’m so glad you’re back. Everything okay?”
Blake hastened forward and embraced his wife. “Everything is fine. I was just reminded of the whole bad experience you had with Mark Taylor.”
“He’s in jail, and I’m safe because I’ve got you,” Lindsay murmured, hugging her husband.
“Thanks for your help tonight, Blake,” Gavin said.
Blake kept an arm around his wife as he turned to look at Blake. “You’ve got good instincts. You reacted when someone else wouldn’t have seen trouble was brewing. Brooke is safe tonight because of you.”
“I didn’t really do anything...”
Blake shook his head. “You saw the bad guy; you made the call. You did what your instincts told you to do, and because of that, we could intervene before he did something nasty.”
“The Uber driver is here,” Lindsay announced.
Gavin nodded. “Thanks.”
Logan stepped forward. “You hurt her. You’ll have to deal with me.”
Gavin nodded curtly. “I’ll make sure no one ever hurts her again, that I can promise you.”
Eleanor chuckled. “Of course, you will, dear. She’s special to you.”
As Gavin left, he gnashed his teeth. What the hell was so damn funny?
––––––––
Brooke stepped out of the gallery onto the pavement outside and lifted her face toward the sky. It was a clear night but because of all the city lights, she couldn’t really see the stars. Pulling her shawl around her, she waited for the Uber to pick her up.
Michelle was ecstatic about the exhibition, the paintings had all been sold, and Brooke had also received several commissions. She should be dancing for joy and with her family to celebrate a successful opening night. Instead, here she was, on the verge of tears.
Irritated with herself, she wiped her eyes. She had nothing to cry about.
“Brooke. Babe.”
She turned her head and blinked, but when she opened her eyes, he was still standing right in front of her. Gavin. And he’d called her babe.
“Gavin.”
“I have to talk to you. Have you eaten? We can go somewhere to eat or have a drink or just coffee...”
She took his hand. “Come with me. An Uber is supposed to pick me up. Let me just cancel it.”
Quickly she cancelled her ride, her fingers not quite steady. In silence, they walked the short distance to the apartment she was renting. At the door, she took the key out of her bag and handed it to him. There was no way she’d be able to unlock it.
When he’d opened the door, she stepped inside and switched on the light.
Behind her, she heard the click of the door being locked.
“Brooke...”
But she didn’t want to talk tonight. Turning toward him, she slipped her hand behind her back and slid down the zipper.
His eyes never left hers, and only when the dress dropped in a pool at her feet did he step forward and pick her up. Her arms went around his head, and she buried her face in his neck. Inhaling his scent deeply into her lungs, she began to undo the buttons of his shirt.
His heart was hammering away at the same frantic speed her own was beating. She had no idea what was going to happen afterward, but right now, she was going to make love to this beautiful man one more time.
––––––––
In the small bedroom, Gavin put her down slowly. A pale pink bra with matching panties was all she was still wearing. And a soft smile. A beautiful, welcoming, soft smile.
Without taking his eyes from her, he quickly got rid of his clothes. “Twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to touch you again like this.” He undid the clasp of her bra and cupped her breasts. “Have these missed me?” He chuckled.
Her breath hitched in her throat; her head fell back. “Sensitive, so sensitive,” she whispered.
His lips were on her neck, frantically feeding, exploring every inch of her soft skin while his hands gently loved her gorgeous breasts.
His mouth slid down her upper body, reveling in the satiny texture of her skin until he could fold his lips around a rock-hard nipple.
“Gavin.” Her cry broke on a sob. Her fingers were in his hair, urging him on.
They fell onto the bed, his mouth still feasting on her softness. His hands were free to roam over her body, finding every trigger spot he remembered.
And at long last, his fingers slipped beneath the satin of the last barrier where her heat welcomed him.
With a cry, her body tightened like a bow, and she reached the first crest. Beautiful, she was so, so beautiful.
But he wanted more, so much more. Eagerly, he nibbled, sliding over toned lines while his hands tried to get rid of the small satin triangle. But it wouldn’t budge, and with a swift flick of his hand, he tore it from her body.
“You can’t keep doing that!” she scolded, out of breath, and reached for him. “This is the second time.”
“I’ll buy you a dozen, but I’m not finished with you yet, babe.” He grinned, and with his eyes on her, his mouth closed over her heat. Inhaling her essence, he made love to her with his hands, his mouth, his body.
Only when the warmth of her skin nearly burned his fingers did he lift himself above her. “Look at me.” With her blue eyes dark with desire on him, he thrust forward.
When he entered her and she closed around him, the chaos of the last few weeks settled down at last. And in that instant, he knew why: he loved her. Deeply, irrevocably, passionately. Why had it taken him so long to discover something so obvious?
Like every other time he’d been with her, she quickly matched his rhythm. He was with her every step of the way until they crested together.