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She held it against herself, then gave him the gentlest of smiles. "Thank you. I love the dress. I want to wear it for you. Especially when we show everyone the chariot race."
"The chariot race?"
"It needs a name. Like a Rodin statue. The Chariot Race."
He pulled her close to kiss her. "It's perfect."
"And actually," she said when he finally let her up for air, "our first test has two parts."
"Anything, Charlie."
She let out her breath in a sigh as if she were preparing herself. "I'd like to frame your drawings of me working on The Chariot Race and hang them on the lobby walls for the grand opening. I want your work to complement mine." She dropped her voice to a plea. "To complete mine." She waited three beats of his heart. "And I want the world to know we're a team."
His body felt hot and cold, but he'd said he could change. He thought of all the nights she'd exposed herself for him, all the nights he'd paraded her through crowds of people. And the truth was that she'd shown him something special in his own work. She'd shown him the magic with that reflection in her face shield and the halo of sparks around her head.
"We're a team," he said. "How many
drawings do we need?"
Charlie threw herself at him, crushing the dress, the box, and him. Giving him everything he'd ever wanted, all the love he would ever need.
EPILOGUE
Sebastian's sketches of Charlie were nothing short of genius.
Matt leaned in for a closer look. Sebastian had captured the fully completed sculpture in the reflection of Charlie's face shield. That small detail turned the drawing into a masterpiece.
Next to him, Daniel was grinning. "I'm glad Sebastian finally came out of the closet."
Matt laughed. "Don't let the press hear you say that or they'll be starting rumors it'll take years to put down."
"Sebastian wouldn't care. Hell, he'd probably love it."
Matt laughed his agreement.
Everyone had arrived for the big unveiling at noon, and the lobby of Sebastian's new building was a crush. The creme de la creme of San Francisco society had turned out for the grand event--and so had all of Charlie's students from over the years. Her mother too. The champagne flowed, white-coated waiters circulated with trays of hors d'oeuvres, and at twelve-thirty, there would be a buffet on the mezzanine level above.
The sun edged toward the fountain. The Chariot Race was covered with a drape of silk attached to a pulley by nearly invisible wires that would sweep it away at the appropriate moment. The building itself was incredible, the glass setting off an astonishing view of San Francisco's financial district, and the bright, cloudless sky above. The supporting columns were gleaming chrome, and even the polished marble floor could be considered a work of art.
"How the hell did Charlie get him to show his sketches?" Daniel shook his head in wonder.
"She told me it was magic."
Matt was happy for his friend. Charlie was a class act. A good woman was hard to find, as Matt well knew since the fiasco with Noah's mother. After Irene, he wasn't taking any risks. He had a hard enough time keeping Noah's nannies around, let alone a girlfriend.
"Have you seen Will and Harper?" Matt asked as they moved down the impressive line of Sebastian's artwork. Elbowed out of the way by a woman demanding a closer look, he stepped back before she punctured his foot with her stiletto heel.
"I saw Jeremy earlier." Daniel chuckled. "He said they're going to watch from the mezzanine above so they could be close to the real food as soon as it's served."
Matt smiled. Jeremy was great. Sure enough, he noticed three figures on the second level. Jeremy saw him and shook his arm at them so hard Matt feared he might topple into the fountain, but Will's hand was on his shoulder, his other arm around Harper. Will would never let either of them fall.
"What about Susan and Bob?"
"Over...there." Daniel pointed.
Standing by the fountain, Susan waved at them. Bob had his hand at her back and Matt thought his foster father looked a little overwhelmed by the press of people.
"Honey, I'm so glad to see you." Susan threw her arms around Matt in a huge hug. He remembered all the years as a pipsqueak kid when her hug was the only thing that made him feel safe. He would love her forever for that.
