Page 98 of The Photograph

And talk to Aelin.“I’ll be there. Thanks, Cara.”

Chapter Twenty

Gabe

Aelin’s plump lips stretch into a smile. “Thank you for coming this afternoon, Gabe. And thank you again for your donation.”

I pull out her chair. “You’re welcome, baby.”

She peers up at the painted ceiling of the dimly lit private salons of the restaurant before returning her soft gaze to me. “It’s beautiful in here.”

When a server approaches our table, Aelin sets her menu on the table.

“What do you recommend?”

The young woman’s lips twitch. “What are you hungry for?”

“Anything with mushrooms,” she says with a grin.

I can’t stop watching her, basking in everything that is her, so fucking hard I could pound nails. After dessert, Aelin leans close, puts a hand on my arm, and glances over my shoulder. There’s no one there.

“What is it, baby?”

Her face flushes, her eyes dip to my mouth while her hand wraps around the back of my neck.

“This,” she whispers.

She licks her way into my mouth, moaning as if she’s been dying for the taste of me.Fuck.

Not here.I push her off gently. “Fuck, Aelin. Don’t kiss me like that here.”

She pulls back on a shuddering inhale while her hand flies to her mouth. “I’m s-sorry.”

No, it’s not...“Baby—”

“Oh, itisyou, Gabriel.”

I clench my teeth as Vanessa sashays past the velvet curtains toward our table with shark-like focus on Aelin.The woman has no shame.

“How are you, my darling? I’m so happy we don’t have to wait until Tuesday before our date.”

It’s not a fucking date.

She turns toward Aelin, all smiles and intent. “I’m Vanessa. Gabriel and I are … old friends.”

Aelin smiles. “Hi, Vanessa. I’m Aelin.”

As I’m about to tell my lying, cheating ex to get lost, Aelin’s cell rings. She excuses herself and walks a few steps away from our table to take the call.

“Hey, Cara, what…?”

She pales and moves further away.

Something’s wrong.When she lowers her cell and raises shaking fingers to her mouth, I brush past Vanessa to get to her.

Pulling her to me, I tilt her trembling chin up. “Baby? What’s wrong?”

Her gaze is brimming with tears. “He died, our father died. I need to go to Cara… Cara needs me, I—”

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