Divine in Lingerie (Lingerie 9)

Why did Bones give me the key to a shop?

I walked to the front door and inserted my key, expecting it not to work. But it slid in perfectly, and after a turn, the door opened.

I stepped inside and my shoes tapped against the hardwood floor. The walls were plaster-white, and the large windows allowed natural sunlight to enter the large, open room. I took a look around and didn’t see any distinguishable features that answered the question lingering in the back of my mind.

On the table was a single note, along with two sets of keys. I picked up the letter. In handwriting I’d never seen before, Bones had written his message.

* * *

I know you said you wanted to do this on your own, but you know I never listen to you. I wanted to leave you with something, something that would bring you joy every single day. I hoped I would be the man to take care of you, to give you the life of luxury you deserve. So let me do this. Let me have a piece of you forever.

This is your gallery.

Upstairs is your apartment. I’ve left the paperwork of ownership on the coffee table. The gallery and the apartment are both yours.

And I got you a car.

Yes, I know you’re pissed. But you look cute when you’re pissed, so that’s fine with me.

Take it all, baby. And be happy.

* * *

-Griffin-

* * *

He didn’t say he loved me, but I knew that would be too hard for him. I wasn’t sure when he’d written this letter. Maybe he stopped by here after he left the house. I wiped away the tear that had dripped down my cheek and carefully folded the letter before I placed it in my purse. On the table were two keys. One was for the apartment upstairs, and the other was for the car. I hit the black button and heard the car outside release two quick honks.

I looked out the window and saw the white SUV at the curb.

Of course, he got me an enormous car I didn’t need.

I wasn’t angry about any of it. In actuality, I was touched by the gesture. I’d never needed his money, but I was more than happy to receive such a meaningful gift. Time would pass and our lives would change, but I would never forget how I opened this gallery and who was responsible for making it possible.

Now it would seem like he was always with me.

I left the gallery and ventured upstairs to the apartment. It was a two-bedroom place with a nice living room, full kitchen, and two bathrooms. The living room had a large window that looked across the city, and sitting there were an easel and a stool. A stack of blank canvases leaned against the wall, and all my art supplies were waiting for me.

He must have moved everything here.

I examined the plush couches and the coffee table then noticed the large painting on the wall.

It was the painting I’d made of him. He was standing beside the water in Lake Garda, only his backside visible. He looked across the water, his powerful shoulders wide and intimidating. It was quiet, cold, and beautiful. It was a snapshot of the night we met, the night that changed my life forever.

He got it for me. He knew I would want to look at that painting every single day.

To remember the man I fell so madly in love with.

The best way to combat the pain was to keep busy. So I worked in the gallery downstairs, added a new coat of paint to the walls and set up the floorplan to display my paintings. I wanted my work to have an elegant atmosphere since my paintings were rich with emotion. I wanted people to connect with my artwork, so they needed to connect with the gallery just as much. Instead of making it dark and moody, I brightened it up, hung two chandeliers in the center of the ceiling, and added a few art lights. I didn’t know anything about wiring through the roof, but I didn’t let that stop me. I had the money to hire a professional, but I needed something to do. The longer it took, the better.

I’d just unrolled a new rug to go in the center of the room when my phone started to ring.

My heart always hoped it would be Bones, but I had to remind myself it never would be.

I would never talk to him again.

I pulled out my phone and saw my father’s name on the screen.

Anger, ferocity, and disappointment flashed through me in a split second. The logical part of me knew my father was just trying to protect me, but I wasn’t logical at the moment. I was an emotional wreck, devastated that I’d lost the love of my life. My father was the only man to blame for this heartbreak. I considered not answering, but I knew there was never a time in my life when my father didn’t take my calls.