Chapter Twelve
Late Sunday afternoon, Everett's private jet touched down and Everett escorted Izzy off the plane. He could tell she was a bit wide-eyed at the process of having direct access to the waiting car and the speed with which they were able to get going toward his penthouse. While he’d gotten used to the ability, noting it through her eyes made him remember to be grateful. And thankful for the ability to take what had been an okay business and creating something bigger. "I have a surprise for you when we get home."
She turned her head from the window and met his gaze.
"I think getting me face-to-face time with the gallery curators is plenty enough."
He smiled, glad that a few emails had made her so happy. "It was my pleasure. I’m happy to have helped, Isabel."
She inhaled and he couldn't help but notice the movement before shifting his gaze back to her face. "I, uh, hope you don't mind but I've taken the liberty of having Jacob make some reservations for us. Places I think you might like to see, tickets to shows, that sort of thing."
Her hand moved to her chest to rub, and he frowned at the gesture. It was one she did often, without thought, and it just dawned on him the cause. "That makes you anxious?"
Her hand stilled its rubbing motion, and she lowered it to her lap once more.
"Ilovesurprises," she said, glancing at him, "but I worry that…that you're going to expect things in return that I can't give you."
He shifted on the leather seat and reached out to take her hand in his. "You know my intentions, Isabel. But rest assured I will never pressure you to do anything you don't want to do."
Her fingers were cold, and he lifted them to his lips to warm them before covering her hand with both of his.
"You want to stay married. That's…that's a lot of pressure."
He gazed into her beautiful eyes and wished she could see into his soul. Maybe then it would take her fear away. "I want a chance, it's true."
"Just a chance?"
A slow smile formed on his lips, and he brought her hand up to his mouth once more, this time to rub the softness against the five o'clock shadow on his chin. She felt like silk. "We've done things out of order, that's for certain. But I'd like an honest attempt to connect. For you to get to know me. Ask me questions. Don't just walk away because you think it's what you're supposed to do given our unique start. Can you do that? For me?"
She held his gaze a long moment, the outside world and holiday traffic and all that was the city fading into the background as Tomas took them home.
"I can do that. But just in case it doesn't work, we don't want to postpone things. You'll still have the paperwork drawn up? Ready to sign?"
He didn't like the request, nor the thought of them ending before they'd even had a chance to see where things could go. Izzy was one of a kind. Smart, funny, beautiful. Creative. He loved watching her move, her expressions, her liveliness and energy—after her morning coffee. "Would that take some of the pressure you feel off you? To know you can sign them and leave at any time?"
"It would."
His attorney had drafted something already but hadn’t included any form of settlement for Isabel. That’s why he’d told the man to do them again. "Consider it done," he said as a compromise.
"Thank you."
They rode in silence for a while, until Tomas made the turn into the parking garage. Everett squeezed Isabel's hand gently. "I think once we get inside we should change into comfortable clothes and order in. The next few weeks are going to be packed with activities, so a night at home will be a rarity. How does that sound?"
"To an introvert? It sounds perfect."
"I find it hard to see you as an introvert."
She held up the hand he didn't hold and nodded. "I'm an extroverted introvert, which means I love people but only to a point. I can hermit away with some music and canvas and paints and be perfectly satisfied with my own company for very long periods of time."
Tomas parked the car next to the elevator and they exited the vehicle. The ride to the top floor didn't take long, and once the lift doors opened, Everett made a point to watch Isabel's reaction.
"Oh. Wow. Everett, it's beautiful," she breathed, her gaze on the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city's skyline and the first twinkle of night lights as dusk fell.
She walked toward the windows, and he kept pace with her at her side, smiling at the various expressions crossing her face.
"This is…this is breathtaking."
"Maybe you can paint it while you're here," he murmured.