There was a lot we weren’t sure of, and by the stiffness of Garrick’s body, it seemed he felt the same way. But walking away wasn’t an option. The thought of being without Garrick caused me physical pain. “All I ask is you keep me informed.”
“I will. Let’s head to bed and try to get a little sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
He held my hand as we headed to the bedroom.
Leaving on his shirt, Garrick got into bed behind me. After he shut off the lights, I lay in the crook of his arm. Again, it dawned on me how comfortable this felt. When Sawyer came back, I would not be moving in with her. From what Garrick told Joe, he thought the same. Plus, when he was with me, the nightmares stayed away.
“Maybe I shouldn’t go to the gala. It seems like a lot of effort to bring me.”
“No, I want you there. I want whoever is behind this to know you’re mine. It may not make a difference, but hopefully, when they realize you have security, it will.”
I was still getting used to how powerful Garrick was, financially and businesswise. To me, he was just a man I wanted to get to know more and build a relationship with.
“I don’t think I ever want to let you sleep anywhere but with me.”
His declaration hung out there. Ever. That was more serious than either of us had official vocalized. I turned to face him, bringing our faces close. Our breath mingled. “I want to stay with you at night, too.”
“You’re the first girl I’ve ever slept with through the night.”
Another confession. But this one made me feel more special, if that was possible. “Really?”
“Really.”
I couldn’t imagine Garrick keeping me at arm’s length like he had other women. I loved feeling like I mattered more than the women he’d previously dated. And that had me spiraling further down the rabbit hole and falling for Garrick.
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 em
ployees. 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.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Not quite an hour later, we pulled up to the hotel for the gala. Traffic had been a little heavier than expected, and now there were only about fifteen minutes until the event started. We were cutting it close; there would be virtually no time to change anything.
My chest tightened. This project had been mine to orchestrate. I would have been up at the crack of dawn, going through checklist after checklist to make sure everything was perfect. Garrick had offered to take Mickey off the account, which I didn’t want. I wanted to take the high road through all this. And her company did amazing work.
Though event planning had never been my life’s ambition, it was hard to have the decision taken away from me. Of course, I could look for another event planning position, but deep down, that seemed like the wrong choice.
What would I do now?
I needed some sort of plan to make sure I kept moving forward. Being in a rut was something I was familiar with, and I refused to ever go back to that place again. It only led to a toxic life.
“I am the luckiest man tonight.”
Garrick’s warm breath against my neck snapped me out of my thoughts. I touched my earrings absentmindedly, savoring the warmth I felt from the man beside me. He was my step forward as I figured everything else out. “Thank you. And I love my gift. I know I’ve already said it, but they mean the world to me.”
“As you do to me.” My heart kept melting around this man. Before I had too much time to think about it, Garrick asked, “Are you ready to see the event you conceived?”
“Yes.”
We exited the vehicle and made our way inside the lavish hotel. That was the only thing this event had going for it when it landed in Garrick’s lap—the location. Exotic tropical plants framed the doorway as we entered. Marble inlay archways created a European look framed with dark onyx statues. Gold flecks reflected in the tile, creating an almost shimmer like walking on crushed diamonds. I took pause for the briefest of moments to glance at the enormous chandelier that cast sparkles across the floors and walls. Definitely a fairy-tale location.
The bellman approached, and Joe intercepted him. We continued down the hallway when a familiar face came into view. “Kurt? You came!”
I hugged him before returning to Garrick’s side and grabbing his hand. A smile tugged at Kurt’s lips as he watched and fiddled with his cuff link. He looked sophisticated in his tux—the complete opposite of his bad-boy rocker vibe. “I did. Garrick called this afternoon while I was still at your parents. I wanted to surprise you if I could. Your dad had me by the balls all morning and then won within twenty minutes when I said I had to go. I swear he cheats at chess.”
“I’m so excited you came.” I would have someone to hang out with while Garrick handled business. “This is the perfect surprise.” Squeezing Garrick’s hand, I added, “A fantastic one. Thank you.”
In response, Garrick brought my hand to his mouth and gave it a small kiss. “You’re welcome.”
Kurt gave me a wink, completely at ease with Garrick and me. Though it shouldn’t matter, having his approval helped propel me forward.
The door opened, and Mickey came out in a short, black cocktail dress. She froze, and inside, I felt a little nervous. The last time we saw each other had been on less than pleasant terms. “Knoah. Mr. Shaw.” For a second, her eyes bulged out. “Kurt Hendrix?”
“That’s me. You are…?”
“Mickey Rapier, owner of As You Wish.”
Kurt raised his eyebrow at me, and I gave a slight nod to answer his silent question. Instantly, his stance changed and his mouth tightened—Protective Kurt had emerged.
I intervened. “It was nice seeing you, Mickey. Hope you are well. We’re going to check out the venue and will let you know of any changes Garrick wants.”
“Yes, of course. I hope everything meets your expectations, Mr. Shaw. It’s exactly as you requested.”
“I’ll let Ms. Knox be the judge of that.” The acid on his tongue burned me. I watched Mickey but saw nothing that would indicate she’d fired me to protect me from the Navarro.
When she looked at me, her icy demeanor dropped the temperature ten degrees. “Let me know if there are any changes.”
“We will. Thanks, Mickey,” I said.
With as much dignity as possible, she turned and walked away.
Kurt muttered, “Fucking bitch. You’re a better person for taking the high road.”
I shrugged. “It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason. It’s easier not working.” Oh, I hadn’t meant to say anything. From t
he lift of his eyebrow, I knew Kurt had picked up something in my tone. But now was not the time, so I changed the subject. “Let’s check out the ballroom.”
The room was exactly as I’d imagined. Long black drapes interspersed with emerald panels hung from the ceiling down to the floor. The tables had crystal trees as the centerpieces. A low light gave the perfect illumination creating that magical sparkling feeling along the walls. A light floral scent permeated the air. It was the perfect balance to add the extra bit of sophistication. The chairs were black with a deep emerald sash. It was stunning. “Do you like how it turned out?”
Garrick took in the room. “I do. You did an amazing job.”
“I’m glad.” Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief.
At the front of the stage, the microphone squelched as it was connected. Kurt and I winced at the sound. The band was one of two I had narrowed down for the gig, and they were setting up nearly thirty minutes late.
Garrick paid them no mind. “Our table is this way. Joe relocated us this morning. And Kurt’s with us.”
It would be the perfect location for a quick escape if needed. Quick escape. The thought bounced around in my head as I tried to keep my thoughts organized. So far, I managed to stay fairly calm. When it all finally sank in, I hoped I kept my rational thinking.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The party was in full swing an hour later. We’d snuck off about twenty minutes before for a photograph with the press. Posing for a picture was different knowing it would be in the paper the next day. Garrick had chosen the one where his hand lay possessively around my waist. There was no mistake in that picture that we were an item.
I took another sip of champagne and let the cool bubbles trickle down my throat. Garrick had disappeared with Joe about ten minutes before. I wondered what it was about, but I knew I would find out later. Kurt stood beside me, and I was thankful for his company—someone I knew and trusted amidst this sea of strangers.
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