Page 130 of Tangled Up In You

“Yeah?”

He opened the door and poked his head in. “You okay, darlin’?”

She gave him a weak smile. “I’m great. Should we go get dinner?”

“Sophie—”

“Really, I’m fine. I’m going to take a quick shower.”

“No, Sophie, please,” he said as he moved to her. He held her face in his hands and kissed her.

This familiar action brought a fresh round of tears to her eyes as she responded to his kisses.

“Please don’t cry, sweet girl. Please. Those tears break my heart. And Jesus knows I deserve that much, but I just can’t take it,” he told her.

“What do you want, Gavin? What do you want from me?”

“Give us a smile,” he replied.

“Gavin—”

“Smile at me now like you did downstairs. God, that felt good—seeing you happy like that. You’re so beautiful.” He paused and considered her for a moment. “Does it mean anything to hear me say that to you, Sophie?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice a hoarse whisper. “It still means everything to me, baby. You still mean everything to me.”

“And you’re all that matters to me, darlin’. Don’t think that’s changed, okay? You’re still the thing I love most in this world. No matter what else is going on, you’re all that I hold dear.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he affirmed. “And I need you to not give up on me, on us. I know I’m fucking up. Believe me, I know I’m an insufferable bastard. But, please don’t let go. Please.”

She nodded. “I won’t let go. I promise.”

“Okay, then let’s clean up and then go out to dinner. Anywhere you want.”

“Anywhere?” she asked with a smile.

“Anywhere.”

“Okay, you might regret that. See, I’ve never, in all the times I’ve been to Paris, had a good look at the Eiffel Tower at night. Will you take me somewhere we can see it?”

“I’d do anything for you, darlin’,” he said.

Sophie nodded and smiled weakly. In the past, she would have believed this unreservedly. Things were no longer so simple.

76

SOPHIE

Gavin had told Sophie he was taking her on an adventure and that she’d better dress warm. She was glad for her DKNY gray wool and down-filled mid-length coat when they were let out of their car at the large open square of the Place du Trocadéro. She gasped as they were greeted with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower. She had seen it in passing, of course, but seeing it unhurried now and with Gavin was exactly what she had wanted. This location on the north side of the Seine offered enough distance to get a full view of the iconic amber-hued structure and surrounding city lights. They weren’t alone, as there were other tourists sprinkled across the square, but it still felt like the night was all theirs.

“Here, let’s make a spot on the stairs,” Gavin said, leading her to an unoccupied area.

He opened the large bag he’d carried with them and placed a blanket on the stairs. Next, he pulled out a still-warm baguette, a container of soft and hard cheeses, another with fresh and dried fruits, and one more with an assortment of olives. He also had a small box of dark chocolate truffles. The final but most essential item was the red wine and glasses.

Sitting there, she was mesmerized by the combination of the cool, fragrant air and the wondrous glow of the tower. “It’s like magic,” she whispered to him, and he smiled. “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”

“All the time,” he replied, looking at her.

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