Page 119 of Muddy Messy Love

Forcing my feet to move, I float over to the granite pedestal standing against the back wall beneath the shiny brass letters of “Benedict Kane.” But the pedestal isn’t alone. On top stands an intimately familiar sculpture, and below sits a placard embossed with golden words.

High Heart Symphony

Artist: Avery Masters

Medium: Terracotta, glaze, and copper

He didn’t.

The “Lee” from my name is missing, and for that tiny but potent detail, I could kiss Cole’s feet. I can’t believe he did this. As if I’m not enamoured enough.

I’m still glued to the terrazzo, staring in wonder, when firm hands slide over my shoulders from behind. Immediately, I relax into the familiar touch. “You bought it,” I say without looking away.

“Of course I did.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Cole’s tone implies it’s the stupidest question I’ve ever asked. “It’s us—an excellent investment—I’m madly in love with the artist. Should I continue?”

I twist to face him and find his dimple in full bloom. With a smile, I shake my head and silently resume admiring my clay baby. The one I feared long gone. “And you put it here…in the foyer?”

“Everyone should see how talented you are.”

“You realise we’re naked, right? And possibly engaged in…” I tilt my head to better assess the connecting points of our bodies and feel my cheeks flame.

Cole’s deep laughter bounces through the foyer. “No one knows it’s us.”

Arching a brow, I glance up at him. “It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out. My name’s there, and thanks to your insistence on public displays of affection… Not that I’m complaining.”

Cole leans in, dragging his lips along the shell of my ear. “They know nothing,” he says, and the hot, gritty words shiver down my body. My toes curl, and a bubble of joy rises from my belly, bursting free as a giggle.

This is what happy feels like.

I turn to face Cole and slink my arms around his neck. “I never thought I’d see it again.”

“It was never going anywhere,” he says. “I bought it before the show even started.”

My mouth falls open. “But there was no sticker until the end of the night.”

“As requested. I didn’t want you to think it prompted the other sales. It would have sold three times, by the way.”

“Really?”

He nods, then bops my nose. “Really.”

I press up onto my tippy-toes to level our height. When I say the next words, I want him to feel their sincerity. “Thank you. I love you so much.” I plant a gentle kiss on his cheek, conscious of Chantel and whoever else has wandered in, but Cole threads his fingers through my hair and crushes my lips to his.

“Pride looks good on you,” he says once we part.

I smile. “It feels good.” In fact, it feels like a whole new fucking world. I nudge my chin back towardsHigh Heart Symphony. “When did it get here?”

“First thing this morning.”

I narrow my eyes. “Huh, the early meeting. Liar.”

Cole winks. “Sometimes lies are for the greater good.”

Secret smiles and silent words pass between us, and my heart swells so huge it could hang in the middle of Federation Square on Valentine’s Day. But Cole soon breaks our trance with a smack to my bum. “You’d better get to work now, Angel, before I have to reprimand you in my office.”

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