The Photograph

Gabe

I hadn’t realized she’d stayed that night. After my team left, I sat next to Ann who was curled up in her chair with her elbow on the table and her face in her hands.

I hate seeing women crying. “I’m sure Cynthia’s okay.”

She lifted her teary eyes to mine. “Thanks, Gabe. You can go back to Aelin and thank her for me. She’s been really wonderful…” She stopped when she saw my expression. “Did you kick her out after she organized food and drinks for us while she was on a date with you?” My most trusted ally frowned. “That’s cold, Gabe. Even by your standards.”

I was about to reply but her phone rang, and she sprang out of her seat. “Cyn? Oh, God. Are you okay, my love? I…”

I went back to the apartment where I found her asleep on the sofa. Her fists were curled under her chin and her face looked almost angelic. Then I remembered Michael. Broken and hurt.

The headlights of her car beaming across the room as her car leaves, snap me back, and I make my way to my car. Back at the penthouse, the first thing I see is her file sitting on the coffee table. There’s nothing about her life before she moved here.

****

A week later, my cell clatters on the coffee table. Aelin sent an update on the progress they’ve made as she does every week.

I lean back on the couch, shut my eyes, and remember Michael clinging to her fucking picture before he falls unconscious while the flashing lights of the machines in his hospital room go crazy.

I haven’t gone back to Holloway. I don’t want to fall into that damn sex haze she seems to exude. Whatever game she’s playing…Fuck. I set my dinner plate on the table next to her file.

Without a thought, I reach for the corner of the picture of her peeking out where she’s captured with her hair caught mid swing down her back, her hand on the door handle of her car while she smiles at whoever’s getting her attention.

So damn beautiful.My cock hardens to the point of pain.

****

At 7:00 AM on Sunday, after another restless night, I enter the Five Bells pub where I sit at a table by the window facing the entrance. A couple of families file around the breakfast buffet in the center of the restaurant while some patrons occupy the booths and tables set around the restaurant.

As I lower my mug of the second watered down coffee, Aelin walks in. Dressed in a

white tank top and maroon linen pants, she’s breath-stealing as she smiles at the server who greets her. The only jewelry she wears is the pendant I bought for her, and I get hard. Harder. The woman’s got me in a perpetual state of wanting.

When she finally spots me, she frowns, and I clench my jaw at her empty smile as she glides to my table.

She stops before the table with her hand in a death grip on her bag strap and tucks a strand of her hair she wears loose behind her ear.

“Hey, Gabe. What are you doing here?” After a quick glance at my half drunken mug of coffee, she turns her slight frown to me. “Is there a problem with the house?”

“No, I was hoping to have breakfast with you.” Extending my arm in invitation, I wait for her to sit across from me.

“Oh,” is all she has time to say before the server places a tumbler of water before her and refills my mug before beaming at Aelin

“Morning, Aelin. I’ll bring you your tea in a second. What are you having today?”

She lifts her smile at the young man. “Just the tea for me, thanks, Neal.”

I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s friendly with the male staff, but it pisses me off all the same.

The server turns to me. “Sir?”

“I’m good.”

Her back is ramrod straight. “How was your trip? Is everything under control?”

I nod while she sips her glass of water. “How are you, Aelin?”

As she’s about to reply, a little boy whizzes past our table, and Aelin jerks sideways spilling out a little bit of water over the table.

“Fantastic,” she mutters as she wipes off the mess while the kid plops himself down on a chair of the table next to ours. Seconds later, two women, each carrying a young child in their arms follow suit and settle at the table.

She leans back against her chair. “We just need Jen to work her magic on the gardens, and the house will be ready.”

“Danny, stop this right now or we’re all going home!”

We both whip our heads toward the shorter woman who scowls at the wailing boy. She grabs the little boy’s wrist and leans in until her face is inches from him.

“Danny. No. We’re all having fruit and if you eat it all and be a good boy, you can get a waffle, okay?”

After the waiter comes back with her tea—the eager fool pours it for her—she lifts her tight smile to me.

I lean in. “Aelin, I’m sorry for not calling you after our evening was interrupted, and—”

She throws me another smile that doesn’t reach her eyes while her slender fingers curl around her tumbler. “It’s fine, Gabe. Let’s focus on Holloway. If you want to come by next week, I’ll—”

“It’s not fine, it was a shitty thing to do, and I’m trying to apologize.” When her golden gaze dives into mine, I add, “I’m sorry and thank you for helping out that night.”

Her eyes soften. Which makes me hard.

“Thank you.” She twists toward the family’s table with a scowl.

Not a fan of kids?The Danny kid is quiet, in fact the whole table is quiet, all of them busy shoving apple quarters in their mouth.

Her lips are pinched, and her hand fisted next to her untouched tea. “Gabe, do you mind if we leave?”

That’s a lot of fucking drama.

“Please?” she whispers.

Without waiting, she darts toward the door. I throw a bill on the table and follow her out of the pub and catch her arm from behind. Her face is pale, her eyes shine too bright, and her hand strangles the strap of her bag.What’s going on?

“Aelin, what’s wrong?”

After a big inhale, she nibbles her bottom lip. “I…” She clears her throat. “It’s nothing. I just had to get out of there,” she whispers with her eyes downcast.

Who the hell hates kids that much?Pulling her to the side of the eatery, I try to keep my anger out of my voice. “Not a fan of kids?’

She lifts her eyes brimming with unshed tears.No, that’s not it.“Aelin?”

Her face is flushed as she dips her chin and clears her throat again. “I have a … condition.”

“A condition?”

She breathes out a trembling sigh and raises her wet gaze to mine. “It’s called misophonia. Hearing people chew or slurps triggers … anxiety.”

Shit.Tension rolls off my shoulders, and I make my tone gentle. “So, hearing the kid yell wasn’t the problem?”

I don’t know how, but she winces and it’s cute as hell. “No, the yelling I can take. It’s the whole family deciding to have crispy apples for breakfast.” She takes another deep breath. “I can usually find ambient noise to focus on. But it’s quiet today, and once it starts, I… uh, I—”

Her chin quivers while she gives a little shrug. She’s genuinely going through something.

“Come here.” When I pull her to me, her heartbeat drums fast against my chest and her breath is choppy against my neck. She loops her arms around my waist, and I hold her until her breathing evens out.

Falling into her eyes, I touch the soft skin of her cheek. “Better?”

She nods. “I’m sorry your apology was cut short. But thank you for taking the time.” Her lips stretch into a smile. “Doesn’t this feel like déjà vu?”

I grin back at her. “What? Me chasing you down the market to apologize?”

Her eyes soften and she tilts her head to the side. “Is that what you’re doing? Chasing me?”

“Yes, until I catch you.” My voice is harsher than I intended and when she curls her arms around my shoulders, I pull her closer.

“I’m not running,” she whispers.

Hanging on to Michaels’ face in the hospitaland step back. “How long will you be?”

****

At the market, I follow Aelin to a stall slightly removed from the main path full of crystals of all shapes, and groan.I can feel my balls shriveling.

She beams at an older bald man who twirls his artistically curled moustache between his forefingers. “Hi, Tom, how are you?”

After a quick nod to me, Tom says, “I’m well, beautiful.” He gives her a small pouch. “I have it right here.”

When she looks up at Tom like he just handed her the moon, I edge closer as she opens the small bag. It’s a brooch with an intricate pattern made of thin filaments of crystal woven into the shape of an omega.

Her eyes on her palm, she whispers, “It’s even more beautiful than the original design. Please thank Mareen for me. It’s absolutely stunning.”

“Will do,” Tom says as she hands her credit card.

I touch her extended arm. “Aelin, let me.”

She turns to me with a frown. “No.”

After mouthing‘oneminute’to Tom whose chest shakes with silent laughter, I tug Aelin behind the stall and away from the growing crowd. We stop near an oak tree where she faces me with narrowed eyes.

I cup her cheek. “Let me treat you, Aelin.”

Her expression softens which makes me hard. “Gabe, I’ve designed and ordered this a couple of months ago. It’s my gift to myself.” Before I can reply, she rolls on her toes to kiss the corner of my mouth. “But thank you, it’s a lovely gesture.”

Forcing my shoulders to relax, I dip my chin. By refusing me now, she’ll expect something bigger. Shinier.Smart move.

An hour or so later, I park beside her car in her driveway and tense. A bespectacled man in a suit is standing at the bottom of the steps of her house. He stubs out his cigarette against the parapet before stuffing it in a tissue he slides in his back pocket. Whoever that schmuck is, he’s been waiting for her. If he has money, he didn’t put any on his car.

I step close to Aelin, who frowns when she sees him, so I wedge myself between her and the smoker.

“Chris,” she breathes out and hurries to the other man. He wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her on the other side of the steps.Out of earshot.

Standing by my car while they talk in hushed tones, I memorize his plate, dive my clenched fists in my pockets, and wait. The man kisses her forehead before walking away and she waves at the departing car.

“Friend of yours?”

She jumps slightly as I touch her shoulder. “More than that.”

Fucking Christ. She’s already lined up her next prey.

When she looks at me, something in her expression bothers me. She doesn’t look angry. Just sad. But the woman is a master manipulator. Time to make my move. I stroke her cheek.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

She leans into my touch. “I would love to.”

Such a tempting mouth.“Good, I’ll send my chauffeur to pick you up at 7:00 PM.”

Her grin widens and she loops her arms around my waist. “Why don’t you come over at 8:00? I’ll cook.”

Tucking her hair behind her ear, I peck her nose. “Get inside, baby. I’ll see you tonight.”

In the car, I voice dial my cell. The investigator picks up on the first ring.

“Drummond. I need you to look into someone for me.”

After giving the P.I. instructions, I disconnect the call.

I’ll have her once. Just once.