Page 35 of And Everything In Between (Love By Any Means #3)

The warehouse was quiet when he arrived.

Big, industrial doors were drawn shut, and the lights were already low except for the spots above the covered car in the middle of the floor.

She had no clue what she was walking into.

He made sure of that. The final touches had been completed hours ago.

The custom paint job dried to perfection, gold Forgiato rims mounted, and every stitch of the crushed velvet interior hand-selected for the Monte Carlo.

No detail was missed. The car was sleek, deep purple, with gold metallic flakes that caught the light like cinnamon dust. He thought she was crazy for that color combo, but he got it.

The curves were exactly what she’d inspired him to sketch.

This would be his first major build for the show, and it was hers in every way that mattered.

It was why the network had him fucked up wanting to scrap it.

He checked his phone, they were five minutes out, then took a breath and adjusted his shirt, nerves buzzed low in his stomach as he wondered if she would like it.

Truthfully, it wasn’t that. He knew she would love it.

His nerves came from the feeling underneath.

The need for her to see how serious he was.

He needed her to feel the same. Because if she uttered the words, those three small but powerful words, he would move heaven and earth to build a life for her that encompassed nothing but love, support, and commitment.

There’d be nothing that got to her that didn’t come through him.

The sound of tires crunching gravel made him turn.

A sleek black Escalade rolled up to the bay.

He didn’t move right away, he let his heart catch up.

He saw the door open, then a flash of oiled legs.

When she stepped around the door, that burgundy dress hugged curves he’d memorized in the early mornings and the latest of late nights.

She stepped into the light, hair cascading to one side, with a walk that made him clear his throat and adjust himself.

He knew, just like the first night she walked across the lot, that this was it.

There wasn’t another soul on this earth for him.

He was gone. And he’d be that way for the foreseeable future.

Paige smiled, stepping toward him slowly, unsure, her eyes scanning the warehouse.

She wanted to run to him, he’d given her a perfect day, but her heart was beating rapidly from excitement, this was the best she could give him in fear of passing out.

“What is all of this? You’ve been cutting up all day. ”

Giovanni paused before answering. He took her hand, pulled her in close, and kissed her temple, then her forehead. That was his thing, and she loved it.

“I wanted to show you what you did. What you inspired. But first we eat, slow dance, and celebrate you doing big shit. Us doing big shit. But especially you.”

“That sounds perfect.”

He led her over to the small candlelit table, pulled out her seat.

She took a seat and looked up at him with so much love that he couldn’t help but grab the sides of her face and kiss her perfectly painted lips.

She was gorgeous. A light that couldn’t be dimmed.

He’d put anyone six feet under who tried to snuff it out.

“I’m in love with you. Paige. And I was trying to hold on to that until later, but you looking at me like that, it… I needed to say it.”

Tears pooled in Paige’s eyes as she looked away. This day had been a lot; she’d got the job she wanted, had the man, a what a man he was. And he was in love with her. Her emotions couldn’t handle much more, or she’d be bawling over dinner.

“You did it baby. How does it feel?” he asked, sitting down across from her. He needed to put some distance between them before the agenda got scrapped. She smelled good enough to eat.

“It feels a little unreal. But I worked hard for my promotion. I deserved it, and I did while dealing with my dad. I earned that shit.”

He inched closer, eyes locked on hers, “And what else? Tell me everything.”

“And things have been up since the day I met you. I don’t know what we did to deserve this. But I’m happy.”

“I gotta say I agree. I had to take my chance, and it paid off.”

“I’m in love with you, too,” she finally said, the words feeling both terrifying and like the most natural thing she’d ever spoken. “I think I have been since you stopped traffic for me. I’ve been scared to say it out loud.”

Giovanni reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I didn’t need you to say it. I felt it, and that was enough. But it feels good to hear it. I know that was hard for my Thug Misses.”

“So that’s going to stick huh? Your little joke.”

“Yeah, that’s what you are, and I like that about you.”

“You make me want to be."

Their plates arrived plated perfectly, with filet mignon, asparagus over rice. Giovanni nodded at the server, then poured her wine.

“You earned every bit of this,” he said, eyes on her. “You survived the shit life threw at you. You alchemized it. You got promoted. You got your daddy straight. You got me straight. You are a blessing, and you need to know that.”

He stood, circled the table, and pulled her gently to her feet.

The music turned up a little, it was Forever Mine, the song they slow danced to on the first night. He held her close, her head resting on his chest, and they moved together in slow steps.

“You made me eat all of my words.” A laugh escaped as they continued to sway. He was singing in her ear, it was off-key, but she sounded the same the minute she joined him.

“I did, didn’t I? I wasn’t going for the shit. When you looked me in my eyes and said you weren’t gon fall in love with me, you shook something. I said, ‘Okay bet.’”

“That’s so crazy. I said I’d never turn in my player card.”

He laughed, “Yeah, I need that, before you leave today.”

Now it was her turn to laugh.

“You said you wanted to show me something,” she murmured against his chest.

“I do.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back, keeping one arm around her waist as he guided her toward the center of the warehouse. “Remember that sketch I sent you?”

He moved the cover back with one clean motion.

The car glinted under the lights. A sparkling purple, bold and unmissable. Custom gold wheels. The hood curved like her hips, the front grill sharp and commanding. On the headrest, embroidered in gold thread, were two initials: P.B.

“I built this for you,” Giovanni said behind her. “If you ever begin to wonder about where you stand in my life, I want you to look at this, drive this, and feel me here.” He touched her heart and then her stomach.

“I’m firing on all cylinders about you. I want that to be clear.”

She turned to him slowly, overwhelmed.

“Gio…”

“I love you.” He’d never been clearer about anything in life. “You made me want to move differently. Build differently. Be different. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I got a past. I got habits. But I've got room for us. For you.”

“You built this for me?” she asked, voice shuddering.

Paige stepped back from the car, overwhelmed.

Not just by the gift, but by what it stood for.

This wasn't just custom paint and wheels - this was Giovanni seeing her completely, understanding her in ways she was still learning to understand herself.

She pressed her palm to her chest, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

She’d anticipated needs, solved problems, and carried weight. But here was a man who’d spent months creating something just for her joy. No strings. No expectations. Just… love in action.

“You like it?”

She turned to look at him—really look at him. This man who'd stopped traffic for her, who'd sat with her father during dialysis, who'd built her a library in his man cave. Who saw her independence as strength, not a wall to tear down.

“I love it. This color is so rich. Look at the curves. Baby.”

“Baby what?” he questioned with his hand behind his ear.

“You're the fucking best. Keys, please?”

Giovanni leaned in and kissed her and put the keys in her hand. Her back hit the side of the car. And with the scent of vanilla and paint still fresh in the air, as she leaned close and let her lips graze his ear. “Next time you build a car for me, make sure there’s room in the backseat.”

He didn’t pull away. Just let the heat simmer between them. “Mmm. My baby always ready for daddy.”

She tossed her head back in laughter. But he didn’t find shit funny. He knew she didn’t have any panties on; she never did. She could read his mind, “No. No. Not until I get to test drive my new ride.”

“Ok, I’ll chill. Look at the front.”

She walked to the front, her finger trailing the car as she made it around. ‘HERS’ was on the license plate and the grill that looked like hers made her squeal in delight. “Let’s go, I gotta drive it.”

They slid into the car, and he roared as it came to life. “Paige don’t be driving this shit all fast. It’s got a big block in it. You know y’all women can’t drive as is.”

“Hush and sit back because I don’t know what that means.

” Paige kicked off her heels. Giovanni leaned back in the seat and let her take them on a ride around town.

The windows were down, he was relaxed, she sang, he sang.

When they got to a red light, he came in close, kissing her ear and neck, distracting her.

“Pull in over here,” he said. Paige carefully pulled into an all-night dirty soda food truck. And they hopped out. His baby loved treats and snacks. There was no way he could end this night without satisfying her sweet tooth.

“This is what I love about you. We just do this. Spontaneous. On the cuff. I don’t know. You’re perfect.”

“What I tell you about that?” he asked, pulling her close, whispering in her ear. “You feel that?”

“Nah, you always ready for big momma. Get me a treat first, and then we can go. I’m tired too, I’ve had a full day.”

“Damn right. I’ll be back.”

Giovanni came back with two drinks ten minutes later. They leaned against the car; the warm night was perfect for a cool drink on the hood of a classic car. She took a sip, cold fizz popping on her tongue, and watched him the way she always did, like she couldn’t believe he was real.

“What?” He couldn’t even look at her, afraid of what he’d do if he did. His best bet was to continue admiring the moonlight bouncing off her new baby.

“Nothing,” she said, timidly. “Appreciating the small things. The moments you create. You do that without even trying.”

He nodded, slowly, because he felt it too.

She slid closer, resting her head on his shoulder, her voice a hum against his skin.

She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. But with the keys in one hand, and Giovanni’s fingers laced in the other, she finally felt like she was in the driver’s seat of her own life.

She had her man, her Monte, and her momentum.

And she wasn’t letting go of any of it.