Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Are you almost ready?” Garrick called from the bedroom. I had barred him from the bathroom until I was completely ready. We hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other all day. Plus, we hadn’t seen each other naked yet. If I did, I might not be able to concentrate. Having him near me all night long played havoc with my dreams—naughty ones.
I answered over my shoulder. “Five minutes.” Checking the time, I confirmed I was early. “We’re not leaving for twenty more minutes. I promise I’ll be ready on time.”
“I’m dying to see you. Can I come in?”
“Patience is a virtue, Mr. Shaw.”
“That’s a line of bullshit someone said to make themselves feel better about waiting.”
Happiness filled me. I giggled like a schoolgirl. “You’ll survive. I promise.”
He exhaled with displeasure. “I’ll be in the living room. Hurry.”
“Patience.”
He grumbled a few words as he walked away. As our relationship progressed and things became more relaxed between us, more of his laid-back personality appeared. He wanted to be with me, see me. I liked that he needed to, considering his past.
For the last few hours, Garrick had been working in his office and checking in with his different teams. I heard him on the phone with Annie a few different times, as well. To pass the time, I’d checked in with Sawyer. Nothing much had changed except her mom was more alert. And the internal bleeding had stopped, which was good. Things were moving in the right direction.
I’d also checked in with Kurt. His reply had made me chuckle.
Kurt: Contemplating my next move. I think your dad is toying with me.
As expected, Kurt had stayed the night at my parents’, and their game had resumed this morning. My money was on Dad—he had been perfecting his chess game for years. Surely, the game was over by now.
I checked my dress and makeup one last time. The black dress was elegant, with a simple corset bodice that led to a strapless sweetheart neckline. Crystals embellished the drop waist and flowed out from there to the floor. I felt like a princess as I spun and the chiffon fabric moved elegantly. I left my makeup more natural, and my long blond hair hung in loose curls to hide my birthmark, considering the attention it had received at Kurt’s concert. “Lost” was still a big deal. The band was recording it and wanted to release it as soon as possible.
The gala was my first social outing with Garrick, and it made me a little nervous. After tonight, our relationship would be out. Public knowledge. It was odd dating someone for such a short time only to have it become imperative for the public to know you were taken.
After slipping on my black-crystal-embellished high heels, I took a deep, fortifying breath before heading into the living room.
Garrick paced the room on the phone. “Good. Yes. I’ll be prepared. Ring the bell when you’re ready.” He paused and looked my way. “I’ll call you back, Joe.”
He ended the call and stuffed his phone in the pocket of his tuxedo pants. “You are stunning. Maybe there is something to this patience thing.”
I gave a little twirl. “Do you like the dress?”
“You are exquisite.”
I felt the heat creep up my neck, a mixture of pleasure at his reaction and nerves. “Thank you. You clean up nicely yourself.”
Garrick stared at me, unmoving. “A week ago, when I first saw you, I never would have imagined you here in my apartment. You’re so much more than I ever dreamed.”
“When I got the flowers on my birthday, I never thought they would bring me to you.”
I watched him watching me, and the sexual energy between us exploded. I wanted him, wanted to feel his tender touch across my skin.
Finally, Garrick took a step toward me. “I got you something for tonight. It’s to remember tonight every time you see them.” From his pocket, he produced a small black velvet box and opened it. For a second my heart seized, but I realized they were earrings. Diamond teardrop earrings that sparkled with white fire. “The jeweler named this set ‘A New Day.’ I found it fitting.”
A New Day.
This was a new beginning. I ran my fingers across the stones, mesmerized by the sparkles. “They’re beautiful.” I looked up into Garrick’s eyes. “Thank you. I’ve never received anything like this. Ever.”
“A first for us. I’ve never given anything like this before.”
He’s never given something like this to anyone. I was different to him. I chewed on my lip as I took one earring out and admired it. “A first for a new day. I love them. They will be special to me forever.”
As I leaned up to kiss him, Garrick put his hand to my cheek. “You’re mine, Knoah. I’m not letting you go.”
“Please don’t.” Closing my eyes, I pressed a kiss against his lips.
I pulled back, and Garrick searched my face. Opening his mouth, he started to say something when the doorbell rang. He put his forehead to mine. “That’s Joe. We need to get there early for the walk-through and get situated. Annie has arranged some time with the press for our photo in the event section.”
This morning I’d voiced my concern about being in the spotlight. It made me nervous. This would not be as overwhelming. “Thank you for arranging that. As time goes on, I’m sure I’ll adjust.”
“I will do everything in my power to make you more comfortable.”
And this was what made it impossible not to fall for him—hard. Hand in hand, we walked to the door. Joe was dressed up in a tux, as well. This morning, I’d met him briefly along with a few of the other team members when we discussed the security measures. He was all business and professional, yet easy to relate to. I liked him.
“Ms. Knox, you look lovely.”
“Thank you, Joe. You look handsome, as well.”
We followed Joe to the elevator as he spoke with Garrick. “There’s been a development. The new personnel Mickey Rapier has hired are tied to Nicholas Navarro.”
My head whipped around. “What?”
Joe nodded to my question. “They arrived at the gala this afternoon as her new employees. How do you want me to handle it, Mr. Shaw?”
Mickey has ties to the mob? When? For how long? “Do you think this was why she fired me? Was that who she snuck out to see every week?”
Had her rendezvous been with a mob leader? Garrick knew all about Mickey and what we had suspected. The thought of working for someone so deceitful put a sour taste in my mouth.
For a moment, Garrick contemplated before answering. “Potentially. But why? If she were helping Navarro get close to you, it would be easier if you were still employed there. She’d be able to send you somewhere on a job with no questions asked. I’m not sure what her part is in this, if any. Joe, let’s look deeper into Ms. Rapier.”
“I’ve already started making inquiries.”
I swallowed hard. “Do you think she was protecting me?”
“I don’t know.” The look in Garrick’s eyes said he doubted it, but at least he didn’t discredit what I asked without giving it some thought.
My mind was racing. What if somehow Jessica had been tied to the mob or Navarro? What if this had nothing to do with me but was just a string of coincidences? From the outside, Hastings appeared normal. Something was off with him, but normal. Being tied to the mob would have never crossed my mind. Jessica seemed normal, too. What if she wasn’t?
This was a lot of trouble for Garrick. At some point, he might get tired of it.
The elevators opened and Garrick motioned for Joe to give us a moment. His hand cradled my face. “I know this is less than ideal, to put it mildly. Believe me, you are worth it.”
Throwing my arms around his neck, I hugged him to me. No what-ifs. “So are you.”
Something changed between us at that moment as we stared into each other’s eyes. Intensified. I wanted to give a piece of myself to Garrick. The next time the opportunity presented itself, I wouldn’t hold back.
Garrick pushed the button and the doors opened onto the garage level. The limo waited for us, the only vehicle in what was normally a full garage. “Where are the other cars?”
“We’ve blocked off the parking here for the time being. We’re going to relocate our cars here since it’s more secure.”
More secure. Again, the cloud of what we were facing hung over us. Tomorrow, I would focus on those details. Tonight, I wanted to enjoy my time with Garrick. Focus on us. Yet I knew I would have to face Mickey at some point, and it would not be pleasant.
With his hand at my waist, Garrick led me out. The small amount of contact drove me nuts, eliciting the need to want him to touch me intimately. Diligently, Joe stood beside the limo door. Garrick said, “Let Navarro’s people continue working with Ms. Rapier. Monitor them. Make sure we have eyes on Hastings the entire time. I want to determine his interest in Knoah.”
“Yes, sir. Everything is in place. If Navarro shows?”
“Let him in, too. It’ll give us a chance to observe him on neutral ground. It might help us understand if the hit was meant for Jessica or Knoah or was unrelated.”
The limo door opened, and I scooted in. Garrick followed closely behind me. Hit. The word made me feel a little nauseous. Jessica or I was targeted. A light shiver ran through my body.
Of course, Garrick noticed. “You’ll be safe. I swear it.”
I believed him. “Thank you for doing all this. I wish I understood why it was happening.”
“Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too.”