“What’s inside?” Al asks.
“Come in and see this,” Vito says, and we all turn on our cellphone flashlights and follow him inside.
It’s a dark room, sort of like a cave. There are some old bricks in one corner, and then a pile of what looks like paintings. Vito walks over and picks one up. He blows the dust from it.
“Holy shit, Aves. This is a painting by the former owners of the property. I’d heard the husband was an artist, but I never did figure that out. You just solved two mysteries,” he says with a laugh as he starts examining more paintings.
“I like that one,” Ava says as she points to a vista scene with butterflies.
“Then that one will come home with you,” Vito announces.
“Really?” Ava says.
“Yep. Where should we hang the rest?” he questions.
“I know where,” Ava says without missing a beat. “Come on.”
Everyone follows her up to the manor house. She leads us to that dark wood back hallway with the secret door to the library.
“Here,” she declares as she spins and motions around us.
“Actually, that’s a really good idea. I’ll get my parents’ art friend to take a look first, but I think we should definitely display them here,” Vito agrees as he holds the butterfly painting.
“It’s a beautiful painting,” I murmur.
Bray leans in so only I can hear him. “Not as beautiful as you.”
And just like that, my broken heart starts to heal.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Bray
The last three days have felt like a dream. Everyone assumes we’re together, but we haven’t come out and said anything. Most of our friends jetted off to other locations to continue their vacations, but Carly, Ava, and I are on our way back home. Ava fell asleep somewhere over the ocean. Carly took the middle seat so we could spend time together.
It wasn’t long after Ava’s eyes drifted closed that Carly put her head on my shoulder, and her breathing slowed. I look down and see her eyelids have drifted closed, too. I pull the blanket up over her and kiss her forehead.
I make a silent promise to try hard to get over all my issues with having a serious relationship. Lanie was right. I have some work to do on myself when we get back, if I’m going to be able to do this.
I pretend to read for the next hour, but instead I just keep looking at the same sentence over and over while thinking about the last week. I finally fall asleep when we have less than an hour left on our flight. I dream of a dark-haired beauty who stole my heart.
When I wake, the plane is starting to deboard. I get Carly and Ava up, and we gather our things. The airport is busy as we go through customs after grabbing our luggage. Ava happily chats about her adventure the entire way back home. When we reach the apartment building, I help Carly bring her bag upstairs. Ava settles in front of the television, and I help Carly haul their luggage into the bedrooms. When we reach her bedroom, I turn and quietly close the door.
My lips descend on hers instantly as I cage her against the back of the door. We kiss like we haven’t seen each other in a week.
“I’ve got to get Ava some food,” she protests as her lips trail over mine.
“I know, but I can’t stop touching you. How are we going to do this?” I ask.
“Cautiously, after Ava goes to bed,” Carly says.
“When do we tell her?” I ask.
Carly pulls back and bites her lower lip as she contemplates her answer. “I…give me a few days to think about this, OK?”
I nod. “OK. What about the others?” I ask.
“I told Cam we kissed,” she admits.
