14. Daddy Wilson

Right now, I should be panicking that my daughter almost caught me kissing her best friend. I should be riddled with guilt. The absolute last thing I should have done was encourage a situation where I was forced to interact with both Wren and Avery. But nothing about being with Wren felt wrong.

What felt wrong as hell was being without her for the last two days.

Maybe I needed time to prove to everyone that we were right for each other, but I’d make it happen. And part of that was allowing Avery to see me with Wren. To realize that my smiles weren’t because of a painting but because of a woman.

I climbed into the black SUV behind the woman who had me tied up in knots and let the driver shut the door behind us. Needing to be close to her, I slid across the leather bench and settled so my leg was resting against hers and my hand was splayed over the dark fabric of her skirt.

I wanted to touch her. Hold her hand. Rub her shoulder. Wrap my arm around her. I craved the feeling of her body against mine.

She pressed her teeth into her bottom lip, but she didn’t look away from the privacy screen separating us from the driver .

I, on the other hand, couldn’t look away from her. The smooth skin of her cheeks and the curve of her neck where her pulse fluttered. In this moment, with her warm body next to mine, I was at ease. It was surprising, since a relationship with Wren would bring entirely to much chaos to my life.

As strange as it was, my typically tense muscles instantly relaxed when she walked into a room.

And damn she’d looked good when she’d walked into Erin’s office, with the tight black fabric of her skirt clinging to her hips and legs and the white button-down molded to her breasts. I was pretty sure my tongue rolled out of my mouth when I caught sight of her. I’d had to avoid looking at her, or Erin’s endless amount of shit would never stop.

She’d been trying to set me up with Wren for about a year now. Though I’d been concerned about the age difference, Erin swore it was unimportant. It wasn’t until this week that I began to see her point of view.

The leather cracked as Wren shifted beside me.

“What are we doing?” She frowned at my hand on her leg, although she didn’t remove it.

I wanted to surprise her and talk about my plans once we were there. But much like me, Wren didn’t do well if she wasn’t in control. I could only imagine that surprises were not her thing.

“I’m taking you to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum.”

She sighed. “That isn’t what I meant.” She pushed my hand away, but I gripped her leg, unwilling to let go. “I meant you and me.”

I wished there was an easy solution to our situation. I wanted more of her time, her passion, even her glares, but I wasn’t blind to all the potential obstacles in our way.

However, there were some simple truths.

“I’m enjoying the company of a woman I want to get to know better.”

Her eyes shot to my face, wide and full of questions.

“Because if we were to give this a chance, I know we could be something special. ”

She stared at me. Her lips parted like she was going to reply. Instead, she swallowed and shook her head.

“And what are we telling Avery? She almost…” Wren shut her eyes.

“She didn’t.” My chest tightened at the dread in her tone. “And honestly, we don’t have to tell her anything.”

Anger flashed in the deep black depths of her eyes, like maybe my response was not what she was hoping for.

“I don’t mean ever. But for God’s sake, Wren. I don’t run out and tell my daughter every time I sleep with someone.” I winced at the harshness of my tone. Snapping at her was the last thing I wanted to do.

Eyes narrowed, she lifted her chin. “The difference is that she’s my best friend, and I usually do. So I’m not sure this can be a thing.”

A retort lingered on my tongue, but I swallowed it back, determined to smooth things over.

“I understand that.” Even though my heart took off at a sprint at the idea that this was over before it had even begun. Was it possible that while this felt so right for me, it didn’t for her? “If this was just a fun fling for you…” My stomach soured. “Then we can leave it at that.”

I lifted my hand from her leg.

“That’s not…” Her words trailed off, but I couldn’t look at her. I needed a few seconds to compose myself first, otherwise she’d see that my chest now had a gaping hole in the center of it.

“I don’t think Avery would understand.” She let out a slow breath. “And my parents definitely wouldn’t.”

A wave of guilt washed over me at the reminder of Heath. I might not tell him everything, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hide a relationship with his daughter from him for long.

With a clipped nod, I locked my own emotions away and turned back.

Her shoulders were pulled back, her fists clenched. She was posed for an argument, but there was no part of me that wanted to fight with her. Three days ago, I’d told her to stop me if this wasn’t what she wanted. Now, that was what she was doing, so I’d respect her and pull back.

“We can keep things strictly business, then.” Even saying it felt like a blasphemy. “All we’re doing is touring the museum so that you have an understanding of what I’m working to build.”

She straightened beside me. “What?”

“Your new project.” I cleared my throat. “I asked Erin to assign you to my account so you can help me build a collection and find a space to start my gallery.”

Between one blink and the next, the woman who had me in knots stepped aside and the businesswoman came forward. “You’re looking for a curator?”

For some time, I’d hoped Erin would take the role, but her heart was at the auction house. She loved the challenge that came with buying and selling. The thrill of a good bidding war. She cared little for matching up collections or showing off the art in a setting that could speak to people. Until this weekend, I wondered if I’d ever find a person who loved pieces the way I did. Who was passionate and knowledgeable. Someone I could trust with my vision.

“No, Wren. I’m not looking. I’ve found who I want.” In more ways than one. Even if she wasn’t ready for me yet. “So if you’re interested, I’d love for you to work with me.”

She opened her mouth, as if to speak, then closed it again.

“Erin knows I’ll be taking more of your time, especially in the offseason, and she’s fully on board.”

She shook her head once, scrutinizing me, but she didn’t respond.

My heart lurched. An hour ago I was confident that not only did Wren want me but that she’d want this job.

But suddenly I wasn’t sure she wanted either.

“I didn’t know you wanted to open a gallery.” Head lowered she picked at a piece of lint on her skirt. Fidgeting, I’d learned, was a nervous tic of hers.

“Until I get better security, I’d rather the extent of my collection remain between me and a select few people I trust.”

“That makes sense. ”

“How do you feel about curating and running a gallery?” For now, she could do what I needed while still maintaining her position at the auction house, but two years from now, when I was ready to open, she’d be too busy to do both. I’d assumed that she’d be interested in running her own place, but I’d also thought she’d be interested in pursuing a relationship with me, so clearly, I couldn’t read her as well as I thought I could.

“That’s my dream job.” Her voice was soft, but my body reacted as if she’d yelled it. The words buzzed through me, lighting me up from the inside.

I hadn’t been wrong after all.

I pressed two fingers beneath her chin, forcing her to look at me. When her dark eyes met mine, the air around us electrified. Reminding us both that this thing between us couldn’t be ignored.

“I’d love to do it together. As a team.”

“Teamwork makes the dream work.” A hint of a smile teased at her lips.

I ran a thumb along her jaw, eliciting a shiver. In that moment, I was sure of two things: Wren was fighting her feelings for me as hard as I used to fight my feelings for her. And that with some persistence, I was sure I’d get to call her mine.