Chapter Twenty-Five

An hour later, I was walking onto the set of Mae's fashion shoot. It had been decked out like a Western pioneer settlement complete with dirt and cacti and a prairie schooner. The background to the set was green, and I guessed they'd be adding in Rocky Mountains and sunsets later.

"Ah, good, you are here." Mae reached for my hand and squeezed. "I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to today, everyone is. Thank you so much for doing this."

"No problem." I smiled and nodded at her bump. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." She grinned and rubbed her belly. "Tired. This little guy didn't stop kicking me all night. I'm pretty sure he's going to be into soccer rather than hockey."

" Merde !" Eduardo said from my side. "Don't let Wolf hear you say that, he's already drawn up the kid's contract for The Vipers."

"Is it a boy?" I asked.

Mae laughed and steered me toward the hair and makeup ladies. "I have no idea, but Wolf is convinced that it is, and quite honestly, it's easier to go along with that and let him figure it out if he's wrong."

"I've always imagined myself with a girl," I said.

"You have?" Eduardo asked, his eyes widening.

"Really?" Mae said.

I laughed. "Don't be so surprised."

"It's just…" Mae said, and her gaze roamed down to my toes and back up again.

"That you didn't think I'd want to ‘mess up' my body?" I shrugged. "That I'd be worried about my career so would bypass having kids?"

"Well, yeah. I had so many warnings about starting a family and what it would do to my career and my following and I'm a singer not a supermodel."

I sat in the makeup chair and crossed my bare legs, bobbed the toe of my sneaker. "I want kids, and it was what my body was actually made to do. Being photogenic enough to make a living is a side gig."

Eduardo chuckled. "I love the way you see life." He set a kiss on my brow. "I'll go find some food for you."

"Thanks, I'm starving."

"I know."

The makeup artist smiled her hello and started on my foundation. I closed my eyes.

"Pippa Bentley, we meet again."

I opened my eyes. "Matthew? What are you doing here?"

"I said I'd do your shots, help Mae out. If she doesn't have to pay a photographer it means more cash for the charity, right?"

"That's so good of you." It was always nice to see Matthew. "I thought you'd gone back to New York."

"Tomorrow. Todd was happy to hang out here, show me his old haunts. Besides, last bit of freedom before we have to start changing nappies and warming bottles. You never know, we might get a baby, or babies!"

"Well, I'm super glad to be working with you again." I smiled.

"Same here." He nodded at the set. "And they've done this great, haven't they?"

"Yes, I like the vibe. Very Mae. Very her brand from what I've heard about it."

"Hey." Eduardo appeared holding a wrapped package. It seemed to be a bagel. "Matthew, right?"

"Yeah, good to see you again, mate."

They shook hands.

"You here for the day with Pippa?" Matthew asked, narrowing his eyes at Eduardo and nibbling on his bottom lip.

"Oh no." I unwrapped my breakfast. "I see an idea forming. What's going on in that devious mind of yours, Mr. Foster?"

Matthew laughed. "I was just thinking, perhaps." He waggled his finger at Eduardo. "For a couple of shots you wouldn't mind stripping off your t-shirt, donning a Stetson, and being all brooding and gorgeous over by that old wagon thing."

"You hitting on me, man?" Eduardo put his hands on his hips. "Wanna see me strip?"

Matthew laughed again. "No, my husband would kill me if I hit on another guy. But you and Pippa are amazing together, and having a Viper in a few of the shots, that would really blow up the launch for Mae and her charity."

"What do you think?" Eduardo asked me.

"I think it's a great idea and I'd love to be in a few non-paparazzi pics with you." I popped a chunk of cream cheese bagel into my mouth. "Really I would."

"So you'll do it?" Matthew clasped Eduardo's shoulder.

He was quiet for a moment, looked between us, and then frowned. "Have you two Brits just totally set me up?"

I giggled. "Don't do it if you don't want to."

"Would it make you happy, ma choue ?" he asked.

I thought for a moment, studying his chiseled cheekbones and glossy skin. Matthew had a good eye. Eduardo would look amazing shirtless in these shots. "Yes, today was always going to be special, but if we can do this together, the memories really will last."

"Then I'll do it." Eduardo plonked himself in the chair next to me and drew a circle around his face. He winked at the other makeup lady. "Do your thing, madame, and make me beautiful for the camera."

I had never had so much fun on a shoot. Matthew controlled the entire thing with such professionalism and slickness that he made it appear easy, when in truth I'd seen total breakdowns on sets before when even small things went wrong. It wasn't a breeze by any stretch of the imagination.

All the staff Mae had hired were good fun and relaxed and clearly knew her well. A few were a little starstruck, not just with me but also with Eduardo who was always going to be a big deal in Orlando and around a bunch of hockey fans. Not that you'd know it. He was charming and relaxed and cracked jokes in his sexy accent that had the girls both swooning and laughing.

Wolf appeared briefly, kissed his wife, and gave Eduardo a thumbs-up. He put his hands together in a heart sign and mouthed ‘thank you' to me.

In that moment I had a wonderful feeling of belonging, of doing the right thing, of making a difference, and when the shoot ended, I wondered if I was beginning to find peace with the turn my life had taken. I may have lost a fiancé and a best friend, but decent, solid people were quickly filling their spaces.

"The range of shots to choose from is great," Matthew said as Eduardo and I were preparing to leave. "And it's always appreciated how quickly you change outfits and moods, Pippa, you're such a pro."

"So are you." I squeezed his arm. "Stay in touch, okay? I'm looking forward to being an auntie."

He laughed. "You can only be an auntie if you promise to come up to New York and visit us." He nodded to Eduardo. "You, too, we've got space in the apartment for visitors."

"You'll need plenty of room for us." Eduardo took my hand. "And thanks for today, it was fun."

"You're a natural, Eduardo. If you get bored with hockey, hit me up and I'll find you some work."

"Ah, hockey is in my blood and it is the beat of my heart." He pressed his hand over his chest. "But right now, I need to take care of the other thing in my heart, my woman. Come on, ma choue, I have a treat planned for us . "

"You have?"

" Oui, a special one."

"See you, Matthew, take good care," I said.

He kissed my cheeks, each in turn, and then his cell rang. "It's Todd." His face lit up. "I need to take this."

We drove to Kissimmee, a place I'd never been to. It was all wide roads with colorful verges and huge adverts for various theme parks, rides, and restaurants.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You'll see." He reached over and squeezed the top of my leg. "Not far now."

After a few more minutes, a large sign grew up from rocks and flowers. It had a rhino, elephant, and lion carved into it along with the words Animal Kingdom .

I laughed. "Are you taking me to a theme park? I'm a bit old, don't you think?"

"You're never too old for Disney, but no, not the park, the hotel."

"The hotel, why?"

"You, ma choue, ask too may questions."

"Because I'm slightly suspicious of what you have planned, Eduardo."

He chuckled and pulled up in front of huge hotel with a thatched carport. "You will enjoy it, I promise." He turned off the engine.

A valet opened my door, and I stepped out. "I haven't brought an overnight bag if that's what you're thinking."

"I have thought of everything." He tossed his keys to the valet and winked at me. "Do not worry about a thing."

"Mmm."

We walked into the vast lobby. It smelled of incense and petals and was deliciously cool.

"Mom. Mom. It's Eduardo Dubois, from The Vipers!"

Eduardo lifted his hand in greeting to a young boy and steered me toward check-in.

"I'm not sure how much peace you'll get here," I said.

"Once we get to our room, we're not coming out." He kissed my temple then smiled at the receptionist.

He quickly checked in and took the key. "Oh," he said, holding up one finger. "Can you please send a bottle of chilled champagne and a bowl of strawberries to the room?"

"Of course, sir." She nodded.

"Please can you sign this, Mr. Eduardo?"

The small boy, along with what appeared to be two brothers in matching Lion King t-shirts, stood at our side.

"Sure thing, kid. What's your name?" Eduardo squatted and took the offered pen.

"Malcolm, and these are my brothers, we're triplets."

"Wow, that's cool. You all like hockey?"

"Yeah, we play every Saturday and Sunday and Wednesday evenings."

"No way." Eduardo signed the notepad. "That's a lot of practice when you have school."

"Practice is better than school," one of the other boys said.

"Well, I can't blame you for thinking that, but you've got to get your studies done, too." Eduardo turned the page of the notepad and scribbled a number. "If you want to come and watch a Vipers' training session, give this number a call, the secretary will sort you out some passes. Would you like that?"

All three boys nodded vigorously.

"Yes, we would love that, Mr. Eduardo." Malcolm beamed. "Thank you."

"No problem, I'll watch out for you. Now you all have a great time in Animal Kingdom, right?"

"Is that your girlfriend?" One of the boys pointed at me.

" Oui , and isn't she beautiful?" Eduardo slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

I was aware of eyes on us; lots of attention was now coming our way. "We should get going," I whispered.

"She's smart, too," Eduardo said to the boys. "Much smarter than me, so when she says we have to go, we have to go."

"Bye, Mr. Eduardo."

"Bye."

"Thank you."

" Au revoir ." Eduardo held up his hand, and we walked to the elevator.

We traveled up to the top floor and stepped into a long, quiet corridor with leopard-print carpet and pictures of various African animals on the walls.

"Ah, this is the room," Eduardo said. He tapped the key on the door that had a big wooden shield shaped like a tear attached to it. It was at the very end and faced the corridor. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will." The floor was polished wood, the soft sofas a gaudy zebra print, and the walls were adorned with glossy jewel-colored dinner plates. The four-poster bed was enormous and the drapes around it diaphanous, reminding me of mosquito nets.

"Come this way," Eduardo said, tugging me toward the balcony. "This is what I really want you to see."

His childish enthusiasm had me giggling. "I'm sure the view is wonderful." I eyed the bed. "But you know…"

He flicked the lock on the huge glass sliding doors. "Believe me, I know I haven't made love to you yet, I know that with every breath I take, and it will happen soon, but first… ma choue, what do you think of that?" He swept his arm over the huge Florida savannah stretching before me. It was like being dropped in Africa.

"What…is that?" I rushed forward and gripped the railing of the rustic wooden balcony. "Are they…?"

" Oui , they are."

I blinked in the sunshine, my mouth hanging open. "They…they can come right up to us, can't they?"

"And then you can feed them." He held up a box that had Giraffe Treats written on the side.

"You remembered." I rushed to him and slipped my arms around his waist. "You remembered giraffe are my favorite animal and you booked this…thank you, thank you so much. I didn't even know it was a thing. A room with giraffe right outside."

"You do not have to thank me, seeing your smile is enough." He swept his lips over mine. "Now come, let's see if any will come over for a treat."

Within minutes, two graceful giraffe wandered from the skinny trees and were at our balcony. I was face to face with them as I offered forward half a lettuce.

"Have you seen their eyelashes," I said. "So long. It's like they've got false ones on."

"And their black tongues," Eduardo said, also holding out lettuce. "Wow, I never realized."

"I love them." The one I was feeding let me gently stroke its neck, over a large brown splodge. "This is such a treat."

"Want your photo with one?" he asked.

"Oh, yes please, I'll send it to Aunt Mary. She'll love it."

He went to get his phone and left me alone with the two huge, gentle creatures. For the second time that day my heart swelled with joy, there was nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be.

"Smile." Eduardo held up his phone.

I posed, not my model pose, my natural pose. Aunt Mary could tell the difference.

"A selfie." Eduardo turned and snapped a shot of himself with the two giraffe and me in the background.

"You'll have to send me those." I handed out the last of the lettuce. "They'll be great."

"I agree." He nodded to the left and right. "This is the only room in the hotel you can do this from. And they don't even need to advertise it, it's always fully booked just from word of mouth."

"So how did you manage to get it?"

He laughed. "I am very persuasive."

"True statement." Realizing the treats had all been consumed, the giraffe wandered off in their lazy, long gait.

"Aw." I pouted.

"The staff will deliver more lettuce in the morning so you'll see them again." Eduardo laughed. "And they'll be around for you to see whenever you're on the balcony."

Knock. Knock.

"Ah, that will be our champagne." Eduardo grinned, and a sexy glint crossed his eyes. "And such good timing as the sunset is approaching."

Champagne, giraffe, and a sexy Frenchman; I'd had quite the day, and this was going to be quite the evening.