“I take it you enjoy art,” Elijah prompted.
“I do. I went to my first art exhibit when I was in college. I don’t go to many because I just don’t make the time, but I have attended a few over the years. They’re a fantastic distraction,” she told him.
“I’ve attended a few myself.”
“So there was no arm twisting involved to get you to accompany me?” Sam asked lightheartedly.
“None whatsoever. In fact,” Elijah said, turning to face her more directly, “it’s my pleasure. One I hadn’t quite expected.”
The way that he was looking at her made her knees weak. His eyes were searching her face slowly before they landed on her mouth and Sam couldn’t hide her reaction from him.
After what had happened between the three of them almost a week ago, Sam had honestly been anxious to spend more time with Elijah and it didn’t even have to be horizontal time either. In fact, she’d hoped for a little personal time. Time for them to talk. Like now.
She hadn’t anticipated a one on one encounter, but she certainly wasn’t disappointed. After all, she had given Logan a hard time about how he got to go out on a date with Elijah but she hadn’t. Logan had punished her thoroughly for accusing him of dating a man and that had been worth doing again. Logan’s sensual brand of punishment was right up her alley.
It was a tad awkward because she did wish Logan was there, but she had set out to enjoy tonight.
She considered it an experience.
One she hoped wouldn’t end abruptly, or with anyone getting hurt.
They fell into step once again and as Sam took in an intricate sculpture on display, she opted to prompt Elijah to open up a little. What better opportunity than tonight when they wouldn’t be interrupted by anyone.
“Tell me about Beth,” she urged, hoping he wouldn’t pull away from her.
He didn’t.
“Beth is the love of my life.”
Sam noticed that he always referred to her in present tense.
“You met her through your work, you told me that,” Sam said encouragingly. She wanted to know more about the woman that had stolen Elijah’s heart. “What was she like?”
Elijah smiled and his entire face lit up. “She used to wake me up on Saturday morning so we could work in the yard. She loved to garden. It wasn’t necessarily my thing,” he said, glancing over at her, “but I did it because it put a smile on her face. You know those home and garden shows? She loved to go to them. We didn’t usually leave with a single thing, or even an appointment, but she loved going.”
“I don’t think I could get Logan to go to a home and garden show if I begged,” Sam said with a chuckle. They stopped in front of a small sculpture that required a little effort to make out what it was.
“And Beth loved movies. Any movie, she didn’t care. At Christmas, she would insist that we watch all of the classics. Every year.”
“What about you? Do you like movies?”
“Yes,” Elijah said softly. “I guess I do. I enjoy concerts more. And I’m not talking about the opera either.”
“So, you’re into music?”
“Yes. I’m a huge Eagles fan.”
“Logan loves the Eagles, too,” Sam told him. “We went to a concert in Vegas just a couple of years ago. I don’t think his smile faded once the entire trip.”
“And you? What do you enjoy doing? Besides attending art shows.”
“Aside from work,” Sam said, “I don’t have much of a preference. I’m spontaneous, I guess you could say. I enjoy going to the clubs, even if it is just to socialize. I also enjoy movies, music, and yes, I’ve been known to enjoy an opera or two.”
“Do you even realize how beautiful you are?” Elijah asked, staring back at her, his golden eyes sparkling.
“I do when Logan looks at me,” she admitted, a little stunned by the abrupt change of the subject. “And you.”
Elijah leaned in and kissed her. It was a soft, gentle press of his lips to hers and it made her insides tingle and her heart do a strange flip in her chest. When he pulled back, she just stared up at him.
“I want to know everything there is to know about you, Sam.”
“Ditto.” Sam smiled. And it was the truth.
She wanted to know everything.
And then some.
~~*~~
Elijah hadn’t expected to enjoy the art gallery. And he’d been hesitant about taking Sam out without Logan, for whatever reason. But now that they were there, his reservations had dissipated and the only thing he cared about was talking to the most beautiful woman in the room, the feel of her hand on his arm, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. It was more than he anticipated.