Page 109 of Pink

“Probably not.”

After all, everything between them up until that point had been by the seat of their pants. They learned on the fly, right? She kind of liked it that way.

• • •

“It’s too big!”

“Now, just you wait one second here,” Gigi said, working the fabric of the wrap dress around and around Arely’s wiggling form. It was far too large for the girl, but for whatever reason—she was blaming the shimmery fabric—it was the one dress in the large closet of her hotel room that Arely just couldn’t say no to. A few more wraps, and a big bow at the back with the loose ends, and Gigi stepped back to admire her work. “See? Perfecto!”

Arely struck a pose with one little hand to her popped hip and another against her cheek as she kissed the air. “Pretty?”

“The most pretty.”

“Yes.” Arely pumped a small fist into the air. “Now we do the walk.”

Gigi laughed. “The catwalk, yep. Think you’re ready to show your dad?”

“He better like it.”

“I’m sure he will.”

Mostly.

She was sure Lev was gonna love the sight of his kid in a three-thousand-dollar dress that Gigi had turned into some hybrid romper. Topped off with bright pink lipstick, some blush, and even a wide-brimmed hat just because.

It was her idea to play dress up and model whatever look they came up with. Arely jumped at the chance, especially when she saw the closet full of things. Most of which probably wouldn’t follow Gigi back to her home in Milan, if that was where she decided to go after her work in New York concluded. At the moment, she didn’t know if she was leaving the states … or if she wanted to.

But that was a topic for another time.

“Wait, can I—the shoes, too!” Arely’s excitement came out in a rush as she pointed with all the ferocity she could muster at the sparkly, five-inch peep-toe pumps on the shelf to their left. The shoes had been a gift sent to Gigi from a friend the week before. She hadn’t even worn them yet. “I has to have shoes, Gigi.”

Gigi held back her smile, not wanting the girl to think she was making light of her seriousness, replying, “Well, obviously.”

Unfortunately, the shoes made walking just about entirely impossible for Arely. At least, not without the girl likely rolling her damn ankles. Gigi wasn’t going to have that. The quickest way to ruin the fun was by someone getting hurt.

Besides, she was pretty sure if she—even accidentally—hurt Lev’s kid, it would be the last time she ever saw the girl. And probably him, too. Maybe she was being a little dramatic but honestly, she wouldn’t blame the man. Clearly, it had been him and his kid for a long time. Lev was all Arely had when the rest of the world went away, and it was time to be tucked in at night. Even Gigi could see the absolute love between the two.

She pushed those thoughts aside to handle the overly excited little girl with very expensive shoes in her hand. Leading Arely out of the closet, she waited until they were just inside the suite’s bedroom door before taking the shoes back.

“Okay, we’ll put these on, but just to strike a pose and show your dad. Then, we’ve got to take them off, so they don’t hurt your feet.”

Arely sighed, her big blue eyes rolling at that. “My Auntie Nessa says beauty is pain.”

Gigi cocked a brow, almost impressed at the five-and-a-half-year-old’s confidence, but more concerned than anything. She was sure Nessa—who Gigi had yet to properly meet face to face beyond their first interaction years ago—hadn’t meant anything bad by saying the same type of thing that other women had been saying for decades. Thing was, that didn’t always make it right.

Kneeling down so the two of them were eye-level, Gigi rubbed away the little smudge of lipstick on Arely’s chin. How she even got lipstick there, Gigi didn’t know. “Hey, listen … nothing that makes us beautiful should hurt, you know? If it hurts, then it doesn’t feel good. And the best way to be beautiful is to feel beautiful inside first.”

Arely pursed her lips. “Yeah?”

Gigi shrugged. “Yeah.”

“Can I show my daddy now?”

“Absolutely.”

She helped Arely into the shoes, and then put her index finger to her lips, silently telling the girl to be quiet as she stepped out of the bedroom. Of course, making sure not to spoil the surprise by closing the door, leaving only a crack left, behind her.

Across the room, Lev was looking over the cart of food that room service had finally brought up. She only ordered it an hour ago. He shot her a curious look, and then the door to the bedroom, too.