“Wonderful!” He clasped her shoulders anddrew her close to kiss her cheek before releasing her and steppingaway. “Time to wake up now, Aida.”
She blinked and looked up at Gerald as hepointed to the painting behind her. “I’ll take this one.”
Aida glanced at the painting on the wallbefore smiling. “The artist is becoming one of my favorites.”
CHAPTER 37
Julian arrived as she was turning off the lights forthe night. Aida grinned as she ran over and threw her arms aroundhis neck. Lifting her off the ground, he crushed her against him.“How did your day go?” he asked.
“It’s a lot better now,” she told him. “Butit was good. How about your day?”
The joy on her face lit his heart in ways hehadn’t believed possible until recently. “I started doing somefreelance IT and analytics. It’s time I get back to work.”
“I didn’t know you were looking forwork.”
“If I’m going to live in this city, I’m goingto have to find a way to support myself. It’s not cheap here, youknow, and I doubt Kyle and Cassidy will put up with me freeloadingoff all of you.”
She laughed as she stepped back. “You’re notgoing to mind-meld our landlord?”
“Mind-meld?”
“It’s a thing, and you know you can doit.”
He laughed as he slid his arm around herwaist and pulled her close again. “No, I am not going tomind-meldyour landlord.”
She rested her hand on his chest and leanedagainst him. “We’ll have to go out and celebrate.”
“I’d rather go home and celebrate withyou.”
He couldn’t resist kissing her again butbroke it off when the door to the storage room opened and Nicolettestrode out. She froze when she spotted them, and Aida pulled awayfrom him.
“This is not the place,” Nicolette saidsternly.
“I’m sorry,” Aida apologized. “It won’thappen again.”
“Hmm,” Nicolette huffed.
“I have to get my things,” she said toJulian.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” he told her asNicolette continued to give him the eye.
Julian waved to Nicolette as Aida hurriedinto the back, and he walked out the door. Stepping outside, hedodged a couple strolling down the street as they enjoyed thewarmer air of the first day of May.
He walked to the end of the block beforeturning and heading back toward the gallery. He had just arrivedagain when the door opened and Nicolette stepped outside. She gavehim another stare before stalking down the sidewalk.
Through the windows, he watched as Aidafinished turning off the lights before walking over to the door.She had her head bent as she searched for something in her pursebefore pulling out her keys. She smiled at him as she set the alarmand exited the building.
“You sure you don’t want to celebrate?” sheasked while she locked the door. She pulled on the handle to makesure it was locked before putting her keys in her purse and turningto him.
“Oh, I intend to celebrate,” he said as hepulled her close and kissed her. “But I plan on it being just thetwo of us when I do.”
“That sounds like the best kind ofcelebration to me.”
•••
Julian woke to the weight of legs straddling histhighs. Still groggy, he couldn’t figure out what was going onuntil he realized Aida was on top of him. A lazy smile spreadacross his lips. When she passed out earlier, he assumed she wasfinished with him, but obviously, she wasn’t.
He went to grasp her hips when he realizedshe was muttering something.
