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“Yes, Lily Pad.

“I want you to fuck me hard tonight.”

“Baby, that’s all I’ve been thinking about all night.”

That night, we broke the bedroom chair and cracked the headboard.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

VANESSA

For the next few days,Attikus worked at the museum and spent time in his home office. He took breaks and visited me a few times in my studio. We fell into a natural routine like a real married couple. Today, he was busy at the museum preparing for an upcoming business trip.

I was close to finishing the painting for the First Lady. All I needed was her face. She mentioned on the order form that the portrait didn’t need to look exactly like her. She wanted a unique version of her that was stylistic, which meant I could paint any woman as long as I added aspects of her. I had the figure and even a regal gown painted, but the face needed more time.

When I held my paintbrush, I couldn’t make myself start. The artist’s block had kicked in, and I needed to take a break. I looked at the time on my phone—one hour before Gigi and Ellen visited the store.

I washed my brushes and left them in a container to dry. Then I went into our bedroom to change out of my painting clothes and put on a floral dress.Our bedroom.I’d been sleepingwith him in his bedroom. The man was a sex god, but he was also attentive and tender with me afterward.

I hadn’t given him an answer about being his official girlfriend. We were a couple—whether it was as boyfriend and girlfriend or as husband and wife. On paper, we were married, but behind the scenes, we were dating. Everything blended together, and regardless of how I defined it, I waswithhim. Girlfriend and wife became the same thing. To an outsider, that might seem confusing. Perhaps one day, I’d want a real marriage. But for now, I was content.

Attikus was helping me carry an enormous burden, making my life easier. He’d discovered that Leo Rossi—the man I had hired to rescue my mom from prison—and his associates were part of The Trogyn. The girls and I had discussed them at our last gathering. It seemed everyone was working for this crime organization. How far was their reach?

Emmanuel was dead, and the trainer who hadblackmailed him was missing. Attikus had located the video used to threaten me and said the quality was poor. Regardless, they couldn’t prove it was me. The video showed I was defending myself from a violent man—a man who belonged to a wealthy family.

So now I didn’t have to worry about people knowing I was bothNessa Lambert and Vanessa Lam. Attikus’s legal team was prepared to defend me at all costs. He was doing so much for me, but I feared that something bad was about to happen. I didn’t want him to get hurt because of me.

Before I headed to the gallery, I stopped by the greenhouse to check on my plants. My heart burst with happiness at seeing the little sprouts in the trays and pots. The hanging pipes sprayed a gentle mist onto the plants. I could tell hidden pipes were built into the tables where the trays sat because I could hear the water traveling.

This life growing in his garden was like my feelings for Attikus—each day, it grew more and more. I was in love with this man. My heart raced every time I saw him. In the morning. At night. I didn’t realize love could be so powerful. It truly was transformative. I could see it in the colors I chose for my paintings. I could see the change in me—more hopeful about life.

ButI was afraid to tell him all this when his emotional state was unstable. He was under extreme pressure. He had a vendetta to focus on, an employee who was still missing, and a crime organization to destroy. And he was helping my mom and me. That was a lot for one person to take on.

Sighing, I exited the greenhouse, walked into the house, slipped on my purse, and grabbed the box with the twoterrariums I’d made for Gigi and Ellen. I slid into one of Attikus’s Land Rovers and headed out.

When I arrived, several patrons were in the gallery. I had a comprehensive collection of paintings in the back room for when inventory ran low. I’d have to produce more art soon.

As I entered my office and set the terrariums down, a thought occurred to me. What if I sold these here? I’d never been to a gallery that sold items other than paintings. I could organize a section in the front display to showcase novelty plants and pottery.

“Hey, Nessa!” Willow knocked on the door. “There’s a customer who has a question about the abstract painting.”

“I’ll be right out. Thank you.”

I approached the older woman and answered several questions about my journey as an artist. She purchased the abstract paintingA Drip of Timefor her new vacation home in the Cape. As the woman paid and signed the documents to pick up the painting at a later time, Gigi and Ellen entered.

“Hi, Nessa!” Ellen gave me a hug and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. “For you, from us.”

Gigi hugged me and glanced around. “Your gallery is gorgeous. Thank you for having us.”

They seemed exceptionally friendly compared to last week. Perhaps Attikus had spoken to them.

“I have something for you too. Have a seat.” I led them to a table where I usually discussed customized artwork with my customers. “Be right back.”

I brought out the terrariums and placed them on the table.

Gigi looked at them and gasped. “Those are gorgeous. Where did you get them?”

“This one is for you.” I gave Gigi a terrarium in a glass container shaped like an abstract canoe.“I made it.”