“Excellent.” She took a forkful of the roasted beef and pureed celeriac that the chef had ready and nodded thoughtfully. “I like this. However, and I hope you received’t be offended by this, I feel I would like pizza higher.”

Patrick chuckled. “I can see why.”

“Not you, although.” Emma shook her head and gave him a teasing smile. “You had been in all probability raised on these items. Have you ever ever even eaten pizza?”

“Hmm, perhaps a couple of times…” Patrick picked up the joke. “It often has caviar on it, proper?”

“Positive, positive.” They grinned at one another. Patrick was glad that issues had been again to regular between them, with the awkwardness of the almost-kiss now handed.

Nonetheless, as they completed dinner, made one other flip across the gallery, after which returned to the helicopter for the flight again to Chicago, Patrick didn’t attempt to kiss Emma once more. He didn’t even maintain his arm out to her. He wasn’t positive if she needed that. And when he lastly dropped her off at her residence below a chilly, clear night time sky, he settled for a pleasant smile and a thanks for the night collectively.

It could have been sufficient for Patrick. Sure, he nonetheless needed to kiss Emma, however her hesitance again on the gallery had been a transparent signal that he shouldn’t push her. The night had been nice, kiss or no kiss.

However then, simply as he was about to show and make his approach again to the taxi for his personal journey residence, Emma grabbed his arm. Slowly, she lifted onto tiptoes and pressed a light-weight, heat kiss to his chilly cheek. Instantly, a wave of sensation traveled via him, from the place her lips had touched all the way in which right down to his toes. It was only a kiss on the cheek, however it was nonetheless among the best kisses Patrick had skilled.

Slowly, Emma drew away and gave him a shy smile. “Good night time, Patrick. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night time, Emma.”

On the journey residence, Patrick couldn’t get that kiss out of his thoughts. He saved picturing Emma rising onto her toes, her darkish eyes glowing as she pressed her lips to his cheek. He had all the time thought the perfect feeling on this planet was buying a brand new portray or cashing in a very profitable funding, however now he knew that he’d been unsuitable. The perfect feeling was getting a easy kiss on the cheek with Emma outdoors of her residence on a chilly October night time.

Patrick was actually beginning to stay up for Friday.

CHAPTER 11

EMMA

Emma may hardly focus at work the subsequent day. Thank goodness she was forward with all her assignments, or it may need been an actual downside that her ideas saved drifting to Patrick.

One second, she was replaying their nearly kiss within the artwork gallery, or the way in which it had felt to stroll arm in arm with him, or his deep chuckle when she mentioned one thing that amused him. The subsequent, she was interested by Aurora. Then she was daydreaming concerning the go to to Patrick’s residence and the glimpse she would get into his life — and maybe the chance to kiss him once more, correctly this time. After which she was again to interested by Aurora and the way it wasn’t honest of her to kiss Patrick in any respect, not when she was about to steal from him on behalf of his nemesis.

By the point 5 o’clock got here, she was so drained from her pinballing ideas that she packed up and went residence with out ready to journey the elevator with Patrick. In truth, she hadn’t seen him in any respect that day. Emma felt a stab of regret that she hadn’t gotten to spend any time with him, then one other stab of guilt about what she needed to do.

At this fee, she was in all probability going to break down from stress earlier than she had an opportunity to steal the portray in any respect.

Again at residence, Emma shucked her winter gear and stood in entrance of the Aurora forgery. It was nearly completed, which was good since she now had a timeline for when her mini-heist would occur. All she wanted to do was a couple of ending touches on the colours within the skyline. Emma knew it wasn’t an ideal reproduction of the unique. She had a life-sized picture of it, printed on good high quality paper, pinned to her wall beside the forgery. If Patrick spent numerous time with the portray, he would acknowledge the variations rapidly — particularly with the additional touches Emma had made. Once more, she needed to hope that this portray wasn’t notably particular to him.

Emma sighed. Over the previous couple of weeks, Aurora had grow to be particular to her. There was one thing concerning the portray that spoke to her. To start with, she’d discovered it comparatively simplistic, however the extra time she spent mixing colours and deepening shadows, the extra she loved the portray. The lady regarded so courageous, so hopeful, so small in entrance of the backdrop of the ocean and the sky. Emma couldn’t assist feeling a little bit like her, dealing with off towards powers past her.

The truth that she preferred Aurora solely made the considered stealing it worse. Emma didn’t know what Aleksander deliberate to do with the unique, although she suspected he would find yourself promoting it. Or, she hoped he would. Absolutely, Aleksander wasn’t spiteful sufficient to destroy it.

Emma took up her brushes and set to work on the ultimate touches. As she painted, her thoughts continued to spin from Patrick to Aleksander to Aurora to her plans to steal the portray. By the point she went to mattress, she was exhausted, however she nonetheless struggled to sleep.

She went via the subsequent few days nearly on autopilot. She noticed Patrick a couple of instances, which all the time lifted her spirits, however primarily she was targeted on finishing her work, perfecting her plan, and ensuring the forgery was as skilled as she may make it.

Lastly, Friday rolled round. Emma left work a little bit early and hurried residence, her coronary heart in her throat. She would have preferred to assume that her nerves had been simply concerning the heist she wanted to tug off, however she knew that her emotions for Patrick had sophisticated what she needed to do considerably. If solely Patrick had been a jerk like Aleksander, this may need been simpler.

Emma become a darkish purple costume, did her hair in a half-up, half-down model that contained her curls effectively sufficient, and placed on a little bit make-up. Then she steeled herself and thoroughly packed her forgery right into a portray case. She was fortunate it was a comparatively small portray, though the case nonetheless felt cumbersome and unwieldy below her arm.

Patrick had supplied to select her up, however Emma had declined. She wanted to reach alone in order that she may sneak the portray into his constructing with out his noticing. So, as an alternative, she hailed a cab and gave Patrick’s handle. Within the again seat, the portray resting on the seat beside her, she watched Chicago roll by. The modest buildings of her a part of city rapidly gave option to glowing residential buildings that regarded so stunning and costly that Emma would have anxious about strolling close to one for concern of damaging it.

When the cab pulled up outdoors Patrick’s constructing, Emma paid and tipped the driving force, then fastidiously slid out, the portray below her arm. As she entered, she got here up towards her first impediment, a doorman, simply as she’d observed whereas scoping out the constructing a couple of weeks in the past.

“Good day, ma’am.” The doorman smiled at her politely. “Can I enable you?”

“Sure, please. I’m right here to see Patrick Daniels. May you direct me to his residence?”

“I’ll simply have to buzz him and ensure he’s anticipating you.”

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