Instead of saying the sassy innuendo on the tip of my tongue, I nodded and sipped from my cup. The nerves that consumed me earlier had faded in Elijah’s presence. They’d been replaced by anticipation.
I took a deep breath and smoothed my dress down my thighs with my free hand. Nine more hours and I would have Elijah all to myself, and we could talk.
I didn’t have time to obsess over Elijah the rest of the day. It was hectic even for a busy day. Davide already had another showing planned for Lucy before the sale of the gallery went through, and there were a ton of details to handle. This one was going to be even bigger than her last. The photos were amazing, and I had no doubt that they would create a lot of buzz. Davide wanted to make the show a big event. Something special. There would be catering and a limited bar.
He'd also decided that I would handle it all. Yes, I had to check in with him before I made a big decision like which caterer to use or the menu, but things like the type of wine we would serve or cocktails available were my decision. He was also going to allow me to choose the order of the photos and where to hang them. Granted, Lucy had a specific order for display in mind due to the theme of her photos, but it was still up to me.
I knew Davide would make tweaks if it didn’t turn out quite right, but it was still a lot of responsibility. It was one I was glad to have. This was what had been missing at my previous job.
I was still focused on my computer screen when Davide walked by me to lock the door and flip the handmade sign over to closed. It had appeared not long after Elijah and I started our fling. It was made out of metal and wood, somehow managing to look antique and industrial at the same time. I’d wondered where it came from until I noticed the initials “EDL” on the bottom right corner. It was the same signature I saw on Elijah’s pieces, and I realized that he’d made it for the gallery.
“All right. It’s time to call it a night,” Davide said. “Daddy has a date tonight.”
I blinked, my brain taking a moment to focus on him. “For the last time will you stop calling yourself Daddy? It’s disturbing.”
“Only because you’re sexually attracted to me.”
I laughed even as I rolled my eyes. This was what I loved about working here. Yes, there was stress, and it was busy, but Davide never took himself too seriously. He made me laugh more than any other boss I’d had. He also encouraged coffee breaks and gossip. Any work I did was acknowledged and appreciated. He never took credit for the things I did.
“Go have fun on your date,” I said. “I need to finish up this email, and then I’ll head out.”
“It can wait until?—”
I waved a hand toward him. “I’m almost done with it. It’s the last thing I need to handle.”
“Okay,” he drawled. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”
With a wave, he all but danced out of the gallery, singing tunelessly beneath his breath. I shook my head as he disappeared from sight. Who went on a date on a Monday night? Well, Davide obviously. The man had a more active social life than anyone I’d ever met.
I chuckled to myself as I got back to the email. I’d just hit send when a warm hand slid beneath my hair and curled around the nape of my neck. Warmth spread across my shoulders even as a shiver went down my spine. The calluses on his fingertips and palms rasped across my flesh as he stroked his fingers across the tense muscles between my neck and shoulder.
“Are you done for the day?” Elijah asked.
I nodded, tilting my head to look up at him as he moved to sit on the edge of my desk.
All day I’d been aware of him. His presence seemed to fill the gallery since he began coming in daily, but today was different. Instead of scratching at my skin and making me fidget, his proximity filled me with anticipation. Every time I caught sight of him or each time our eyes met, the tension between us grew. Even now, it was so thick it nearly shimmered in the air.
“Are you ready to go to dinner?”
“I just need to shut down the computer and turn out the lights.”
He pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll take care of the lights in the back rooms and meet you back out here in a minute.”
I went through the shutdown process on my computer and the printer. Then, I gathered my jacket, purse, and phone, and walked through the front area of the gallery, turning off the overhead lights. The spotlights over the paintings and sculptures remained on—partially for security and partially so anyone walking by could see the artwork we had to offer.
I was waiting by the front door when Elijah appeared from the shadows, shrugging into his jacket as he walked toward me.
“I made a reservation for us at the French restaurant down the street.”
I loved the food there. Rather than fine dining, the menu was more rustic and casual. Coq au vin and potatoes, roasted lamb with root vegetables, homemade breads, and desserts like clafoutis or apple galettes. The wine list complemented the food perfectly, and I loved the comfortable, cozy feel of the dining area. The chairs and booths were sumptuous and comfortable, the lighting was dim, and the tablecloths and napkins looked as though someone’s mother had sewn them.
At my silence, Elijah asked, “Is that okay? We can always go somewhere else.”
“It’s one of my favorite places to eat,” I answered.
“I could tell when you told me about it.”
I studied him in confusion. “When did I tell you about it?”
