He turned back to face the mirror and she could see him churning something over by the way his mouth was set. “I had my second one done the day I left IT and set up on my own. The seagull, to remind himself, and show the world, I wasn’t a cog in the corporate machine anymore and that I was free.”
“That’s so cool.”
“And then I just kept going because I liked them and to prove that I can do what the hell I like with my money, my body, and my life.”
“So what was your first one?”
“My first one was a piece of shit I got a buddy to do on me when I was fifteen. A silver dollar, an act of rebellion. I thought it made me look tough.” He laughed at his own reflection and then their eyes met in the mirror. He pointed to his shoulder. “It was consumed by the octopus.”
She giggled. “Do we have plans for the day?” she said and sidled up behind him, hugging her arms around his tight waist. She hoped not because she wanted him all to herself one way or another.
“There’s just one job to do this morning and then we’re free.”
Free…if only she was, but her heart was well and truly stolen. She could never be free now, and she didn’t want to be. She wanted to be his captive for forever and a day. “Good, what’s the plan?”
“Wait and see.” He twisted around and placed a kiss on her forehead. “It’ll take less than an hour. What do you want to do after that?”
“What do I always want to do?” She bit his shoulder playfully, leaving a small pink tooth mark on the inky octopus on his skin.
“We can do that,” he said and caught her up against him.
“Do you know what I’d really like to do?” He gestured for her to continue. “Let’s go back to your cabin, just us.”
“Without the cat?” he said cheerfully. “I’m not sure Princess would forgive us.”
“Princess Aspen is doing just fine now, and she’s way too fat to cart around.”
“Want me to call Super to cat sit?”
“Mom and Dad are happy to pop in when I’m not there to make sure she’s okay. In fact I think Dad likes somewhere to go for some peace and quiet now and then—it might even give him an excuse to stay over. Mom and Sophie are arguing a lot.”
“Has she asked to come live with you again?”
“No, she hasn’t, not yet. But I’m afraid the answer would be no this time. We get along much better at a distance.”
He nodded and his voice took on a more serious tone. “So I don’t even get to stay over at your place on our last night?” His statement took her by surprise; it was as if the significance of their last day and night was preying on his mind, too.
“You know my rules on that,” she said quietly.
“Oh yeah, I remember, and no special treatment for me. It’s okay.” The spark of hope that he might suddenly conform to her rules and commit to some kind of future was quickly extinguished.
“So what do you think of my idea?” she asked.
He pulled away from her embrace and made for the drawer where he’d put his underwear. “The cabin’s occupied right now, but I could offer them a massive upgrade to leave for the night.”
Just for the night? said a small voice in her head. Yes, of course just for the night, she reminded herself. Time markers of their precarious last hours together were at every turn. It was getting exhausting and she knew deep down that her tears were bound to revisit her sooner rather than later.
“Do that,” she said firmly. It was their cabin in her heart and she didn’t like the thought of other people staying there. It was crazy, but being in a state of unrequited love was tipping the balance of her mind.
Chapter Sixteen
Matt thrummed his fingers with impatience against the steering wheel of the Porsche. He was eager to get to the trendy little street in downtown Passion Creek that was their destination, but because of the Arts Festival, the traffic was unusually heavy.
“Are you going to put me out of my misery?” Piper asked with a humorous tinkle in her voice.
“Only when we get there,” he said. “Which will be in about one minute if this Mazda in front of us doesn’t stop again.”
“Maybe this was a job for the chopper after all.”
“Not if we want to set straight off for the mountains afterward,” he reminded her. “And the drive up there is the best.”
“As long as it’s not in the dark, in the middle of a snowstorm with an injured cat in a box.” She laughed. “That was one hell of a night.”
“Sure was memorable.” he said and winked. He was happy that she seemed to be in a good mood. Waking in the hotel suite this morning to the realization that it was already the fourteenth had filled him with an emptiness he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Their time together had gone by so quickly…but anyway, this next part was going to be really good.
He pulled up outside a sleek modern building, sheets of glass forming its walls, strips of chrome seemingly holding it all together, and a swank rotating door set at the center of its façade. “Hermitage Gallery,” she read from the brushed steel sign outside. “Another one of your ventures?”
“Not exactly. Next door.” He killed the engine and opened the car door. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
He took her hand and led her to the end of the gallery building and then across a street to a square property on the corner made of red brick with large, blue-painted window frames. The road sign nearby was a matching blue color and as he followed her gaze to it, he felt uncharacteristically nervous.
“Madeira Road,” she said, and then looked at him for some kind of explanation.
“This way,” he said, and took her to the front of the building as he felt in his pocket for the key.
“It’s looking pretty deserted, Matt,” she said as they stood on the front step. The blinds drawn down over the broad windows gave nothing away.
“That’s because it is,” he whispered and pushed open the door to a rattle of an old-fashioned bell. It closed shut behind them and he couldn’t keep the excitement to himself any longer. “It’s deserted because it’s been waiting for you to step in and bring it back to life.”
“I’m sorry?” She shook her head and looked around her, wringing her hands slightly. He’d managed to take her by surprise that was for sure. “I don’t understand.”