Park Avenue Prince(57)

“That was the picture her grandfather gave her as a child—she loves it. It’s what started her obsession with art.”

Had Grace told me that? There was so much I was learning about her.

“She sold it so she could open the gallery. Handpicked the buyer because she wanted someone to love it as much as she did. Then the weasel up and sold it on within six months, can you believe it?” Harper turned to her husband. “She’s heartbroken about it. Almost asked her father for the money to buy it back, but of course, she won’t.” Why hadn’t Grace told me? “She’s so desperate not to be her mother, but this painting is emotional for Grace—it’s not about the money, never is with Grace.” Harper explained.#p#分页标题#e#

It was part of the reason I liked her so much.

It was part of the reason I was agreeing to weekends away in the country.

It was part of the reason I was pretty sure I’d still like her next Thursday.





Grace held open the door to her apartment while I carried in the two bags filled with presents we’d brought back from the restaurant.

“Thank you,” she said, grinning at me.

“You’re very welcome.” I paused at the door to kiss her on the lips. It was difficult to go more than a few seconds without touching her when she was so close.

“You have a lot of gifts,” I said as I put down the overflowing bags.

“I’m sure you don’t approve.” She poked me in the abs, but smiled before she went into the kitchen.

“Why would you think that?” I asked, following her.

“I know how you feel about material things.” She set down two glasses on the counter and filled each of them with seltzer. There were so many things to appreciate about this moment. The fact that she now bought the water she knew I liked. That she was making me a drink without asking, because she already knew what I wanted, even before I did. I’d spent a lifetime avoiding this kind of interaction but I found myself enjoying it.

“You know that it’s not that I think material things are frivolous. Just that they don’t hold meaning for me.” I certainly didn’t judge Grace for having a fully-furnished apartment and expensive clothes and accoutrements. It just wasn’t something I needed.

She handed me a glass and pressed her hand against my stomach. “It’s fine.”

“I haven’t given you a birthday gift yet,” I said. “I did go shopping—I took Angie.”

She tilted her head to one side. “I didn’t expect anything.”

“I got you something very small, for now. I want to get you something else—I think I know what, but I haven’t had time.” I pulled out the square package from the bag of gifts I’d brought in. “This one I wrapped myself.”

“You did?” She stood on her tiptoes and I kissed her quickly.

“You haven’t opened it yet.” I handed her the gift.

“I don’t need to. I like that you wrapped it yourself—that’s the best thing you could have said.”

We moved to her couch and I took off my jacket, laying it on the chair. She beamed at me as I took a seat next to her. Christ, I wish I’d bought her diamonds or a horse or something. She looked at me as if I’d just given her the moon.

“Go on then,” I said.

She tore open the paper like a five-year-old on Christmas morning and looked up at me when she saw what it was. “Oh Sam, I love it,” she said, flipping through the coffee-table book I’d bought of the Frick.

She ran her hand over the glossy cover. “That’s so thoughtful.”

My heart thumped against my ribcage as she curled her fingers around the top right-hand corner of the book and opened to the page where I’d written an inscription.

I want for nothing with you in my world.

She traced over the words in silence. Was it too much? Not enough?

She stared at the page. “I feel the same, Sam.”

I ran my hand over hers and lifted her fingers from the paper, drawing them up to my mouth, kissing the back of her hand. “I didn’t know what to buy.”

“This is perfect,” she whispered as I pulled her onto my lap.

“Harper asked me if I was sleeping with other women.” Grace’s face froze and her smile wilted. “I told her of course I wasn’t.”#p#分页标题#e#

I wanted to ask her if she could say the same. I knew she wasn’t, but I needed to hear it. We both stared at each other before she answered my unasked question. She sucked in a breath. “Neither am I.”

I tried to bite back my grin before she pressed her lips against mine, soft and certain. I cupped her face.