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CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
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Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Gavin stands with me against his chest and nods toward Lucas and Kel who are both smiling. They know exactly why we’re leaving and with that realization, my cheeks heat.“Have fun.” My sister practically sings and I can’t help but laugh as she hugs me and whispers in my ear.“It’s good to see you so happy, Sophie. See you soon.”Gavin takes my hand and tugs me out into the cool Chicago night air and immediately pushes me against the hood of his car. He dips his head and begins to run kisses down my throat and neck.“Oh, please take me home Gavin,” I beg and pull his head back with my hands so I can see the depths of his brilliant blue gray eyes.“Home,” he drawls, skating fingers down my face to grasp my chin. Those eyes of his fill with tenderness and it melts me into a puddle before him. I nod and smile shyly.“Take me home.”It feels like it takes hours to get back to the penthouse and then also for the short ride up the elevator. Gavin keeps his arm around my waist the entire wa
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
“Mr. Thomas?” The line to my office phone lights up the moment I am sitting. I press the retrieve call button and the rough voice of an older man, a man I’ve done business with more than a few times comes over the line.“Ah, Gavin Thomas, it’s good to get in touch with you. You were out of sync for a bit there. Everything OK lately?”I press the phone to my ear and boot up the computer while I speak with him.“Good to hear from you, Keith. Yes, an emergency came up, but I am back now and looking to know exactly how the Hellman deal went. I’m surprised no one has filled me in on the status, but since you were with me from the beginning of this deal, you’d surely loop me in, right?”Since coming into the business only six or so years ago, I’ve learned that people rarely keep their promises or word. But, write them into a contract and clients have no choice but to be upfront and straight with you. So, when I had an opportunity to purchase and turn over a small but thriving mobile techn
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
“Cancel them. I have a personal matter I have to attend to. Give my apologies and see when they can possibly reschedule. Tell Clay to go ahead with the contract after I’m gone. I have no reservations on that.”He quickly nods and writes something into his tablet.“All clear?”“Yes, of course. I hope everything turns out OK for you, Gavin.”Inwardly I am hoping the same thing. I just have to keep Sophia safe.***Spencer shakes my hand and sits across from my desk the moment he enters. The grim set of his mouth tells me this is just as bad as I initially thought.“Mr. Williams was spotted just outside of the Garment district this morning. He was seen at a hardware store buying cable ties, duct tape, and rope. He was also seen in the lot of Ms. Jones’s dance studio. I was tailing him for a good three hours before we lost the tail.”I force myself to take deep breaths and not panic. I start stating facts in my head: Sophia is with Farah at her apartment today, she texted me earlier and s
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER SIXTY
SophiaBy the time I look up from my notebook, it’s almost six at night. I sit up in bed and worry my lower lip with my teeth as I look down at what I wrote to Jeremy. When dad brought me and Kel home from the hospital, my mom had already left for some grande photoshoot in Milan and I was still reeling from the sense of emptiness I’d felt when my world bottomed out. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t even sleep because every time I closed my eyes I saw Jeremy’s face. His aqua blue eyes that used to always soften when I needed a hug or smiled when he told me a joke. His face when he mouthed I love you, Squirt just before he was wheeled into surgery. Dad was at his lowest point, seeing both his daughters hurting and having no way of stopping the pain we were feeling. But then, he gave me this journal.“I know it’s not the same but if you write to him, tell him how you’re feeling and share with him, it might take some of this away. Just try, pumpkin. Please.”In that moment, sitting next to m
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
The sand warms my feet as Gavin leads me toward a small cliff just south of the lake below. I recognize the set in the land as where we had a picnic only weeks ago.“I love that you brought me here, Gavin. It feels like this is our beach, our spot away from everything and everyone,” I say, catching his hand in mine as we walk.Gavin looks down at me and he smiles gently.“Just ours, Sophia. I brought some food and that wine you love. I thought we could have a picnic before the sun sets.”I wrap my hands around the back of his neck and draw his mouth to mine for a light kiss.“I think that sounds wonderful.”I watch as Gavin sets a sky-blue blanket across the flattest spot along the ridged cliff and sets a basket down by his feet. Then, he reaches for my hand.“When did you prepare all this? We left so quickly,” I ask, sitting beside him and leaning back on my hands. He sets two plates of fettuccine Alfredo with basil and I gasp in surprise.“Oh, Gavin. You remembered.”I can still sme
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
His deep, concerned eyes are all I focus on as he tells me to breathe. In and out, one… two… three. By the third, I feel the panic ebb away from my mind and I close my eyes.“Would it make you feel better if we go somewhere tonight, baby? I don’t want you to ever be reminded of that man when you’re with me. Just tell me what you want to do and I’ll make it happen. Your safety and peace of mind is all I care about.”His voice is filled with concern and his own fear. I can’t stand to think that our time together will be haunted with the pain and loss I’ve endured at the hands of that man.Somewhere deep inside, one word comes to my mind. No. For so long I was afraid and unable to move on, to move forward in fear that I couldn’t overcome the abuse I’d suffered. But I am stronger. I am strong. Through dancing and my sister, my friends and the love Gavin has freely given me, I’ve built a life for myself and I won’t allow Bryce to take that away from me.“No. Gavin, take me inside. I know
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Somehow, I wake easily from an untroubled sleep that feels as if I’ve slept a full twelve hours since the last time I woke last night. Out of habit and need, I reach out for Gavin’s warmth, but instead I hear his voice out on the terrace overlooking downtown Chicago. It has been one of my favorite parts of Gavin’s home. I never would have dreamed that I would feel so comforted here, but I do. My pleasant thoughts are interrupted when I hear the aggravation in my man’s voice.“I know the contract is huge, Carly. I know. But this is of priority. Cancel all of my meetings today and that is final.”He pauses, bracing both his hands on the banister in front of him. He flexes his neck side to side and I can tell he’s been on this call for longer than he’d like.“Thank you. I’m sorry to snap at you, I just need this done. OK, I will see you tomorrow.”As he lowers the phone from his ear, I wrap the sheets around my torso and shuffle my feet towards the open door of the terrace. Gavin lets
Afraid to Love Again CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
“Farah, you should have seen the girls there! All skinny blondes and no curves- made me even more nervous than I already was.”“You’ve got the talent. You just have to believe in yourself.”Well if that doesn’t sound familiar…“I know. I have to go, I’m meeting Kel in a bit.”She’s quiet for a moment and I’m not sure why.“OK, see you later.”I click off and open the glass doors to a small bakery and pastry shop called Hidden Sweets. There are several wooden tables set in the front when I walk in and I don’t see Kel or Lucas right away. The white marble counter top draws me deeper into the bakery and then I see Kel, her blonde hair wound up in a messy bun and Lucas pressing his nose in her neck as they stand with another girl behind the counter.“Hey.” I walk over and feel a surge of warmth seeing such love and affection between these two.I’m so happy for their happiness.“Hey! This is Jenna, she owns the bakery!” Kel practically bursts in excitement.I laugh and outreach my hand to
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