Page 132 of The Photograph

Please, don’t break my heart.

At the first knock, a beautiful blonde woman opens the door and I shift back while we stare at each other.

“H-hi … is Gabe here?”

The stunning tall blonde woman scans over me quickly before a big grin splits her face.

“Hon, you’re definitely not from Pearls Cuisine.” After a brief pause, she nods. “Ah. I get it.”

What…?

She peruses over me, slower this time while I strangle my purse.

Before I have a chance to get out of my frozen state, she grabs my wrist and pulls me inside. “Isn’t Delia the best?”

Who? What?

She waves her manicured fingers up and down in front of me. “I could never pull off that ‘fire under ice’ you’ve got going, but you can, hon. You’re gorgeous. Come in, Gabe’s working.” Her rolling chuckle lights up her perfect face. “When is he not, right?” She leans in. “You’re in for a fucking good time. Pun intended.” More of her girly chortle. “The rope thing is different, but…”

My heart stops and crashes in the bottom of my stomach. I clear my throat while pain, sharp and sudden brings tears to my eyes and I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I…”

On automatic, I turn on my heel toward the door.

****

Gabe

I disconnect the call that took longer than I expected, send an email to Erica, and walk back to the apartment. A few steps from the door, I stop and inhale the subtle fragrance in the air before shaking my head.I’m so fucking obsessed with Aelin, I’m having olfactory hallucinations.

Thinking of her makes me hard as I close the door behind me and make my way to the living room where the smell of Chinese food assails my nose.Fuck, Kerry’s still here.

She stands up as I walk further into the room and stops before me. “Ker—”

Her hand lifts to my face and her fingers are cool on my jaw. “It’s okay, big guy. I was worried about you, but your new girl stopped by and —”

“What new girl?”

Her expression sobers and she frowns. “The doe-eyed brunette pin-up girl with boobs up to here and the long legs, she—”

Towering over her while tension fills me, I can’t keep the snarl out of my tone. “Aelin was here?”

She nods. “She didn’t say her name—”

“What did you tell her?”

A frown crosses her brow, and she narrows her eyes. “Not a fan of that tone. I didn’t tell her anything. She was here for a minute, then she left.”

I rake my hands through my hair.Aelin was here. What did she want?I whip my eyes to Kerry who studies me with a scowl. “Sorry, Ker. What did she say?”

“Nothing. She said nothing.”

When she twists her mouth, I clench my jaw. “What?”

“She looked kind of upset. Gabe—”

Already by the door, I reach for my car keys on the console. My breath punches out of my chest. The pendant lays on the cream table.Aelin.I pocket it and race out of the penthouse.

Once in the car, I bark at my phone. “Call Aelin.” The call goes straight to voicemail.Baby, please, pick up.Thank fuck, the streets are near empty at this time.

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