Page 161 of The Protégé

“Where are we going?”

“To prove thatyouare the center of my universe. That you’re the brightest constellation in my galaxy.” I winked with a smile. My woman didn’t know what I’d orchestrated for her tonight.

“You know that sounds cheesy and nerdy, right?”

“Yes, but you love it.” I kissed her hand.

I laughed as he led me up to an elevator. “How much did it cost you to reserve the entire restaurant and hire the extraordinary chef?”

“The price isn’t important. I recently purchased this building along with the Mudstacle Course. You can enjoy all the mud races you want.”

I beamed at him. “It’s only fun with you.”

“Then I’ll be there.” I smiled. “We’re creating unforgettable memories tonight.”

When we arrived on the top floor, Elena gasped. “Oh my gosh.” She placed a hand over her heart. “The view is spectacular. I’ve never seen the city skyline through glass walls. It’s mesmerizing at night. I can see parts of the Providence River over here.” She walked up to a glass wall and placed her hand on it, while the other hand still gripped mine.

She’d made tremendous progress compared to the first time I’d seen her tremble on the balcony of my office.

“You okay?” I squeezed her hand.

Nodding, she smiled. “Being with you has helped me heal that phobia. My legs don’t wobble like they used to. All I feel are gentle nerves swirling in my stomach. I can deal with that.” She rose and kissed me on the lips. “No matter what goes wrong in the world, you make me feel safe—my perfect lock. My irresistible thief.” She embraced me. “I love you, Orion.”

My stomach tightened at her confession. She’d said those words before. But right now, those words seemed more colorful, more powerful because they had survived a turbulence that almost destroyed us.

I tightened my arms around her, kissing the top of her head. “I love you too, Elena.”

She broke free from the embrace, walked around the room, and browsed the lounge area. Her fingers grazed the couches, side tables, lamps and plants, and then she ambled around to the other side of the wall and exclaimed, “Orion! There’s a telescope here!”

Her excitement was like a beam of sunlight into my heart. I watched as she walked around the compact telescope, which was around six feet tall.

“Watch this.” I pointed at the skyline. “Three, two, one.”

All the lights in the city went out.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

ELENA

I stoodthere speechless as I stared out into the pitch blackness of the city with a sea of stars twinkling at me.

“Have a seat.” Orion ushered me to a stool and swiveled the telescope to align with my position. “See what you discover.”

I looked at him, a man who had completely changed my life and my heart. “You shut off the lights to the entire city for me?” Tears welled in my eyes, sliding down to my face.

I couldn’t stop them from coming. No one had ever done anything of this magnitude for me. I could only imagine the work that had gone into this evening.

“I’d shut off the entire world for you, Sunshine.”

I would never ask him to do that. I would neverwanthim to do that. But to know he’d do anything for me made me love him even more.

A surge of emotion swirled in me, taking my joy to new heights. As I floated back to Earth, practicality and concern rose on me.

I gripped his arm. “What about the hospitals? What if someone’s having emergency surgery? What if someone’s givingbirth?” My eyes widened. “What about the nursing homes that need constant energy to support their residents? People need the pharmacy, don’t they? What about the police force? Crimes could increase. Slingshot, youneedto turn the lights back on!”

He laughed. “I’m sure the city will be fine for the next half-hour. Or even an hour. I’ve made arrangements. Don’t worry.”

“You have?” I couldn’t stop all the scenarios spinning in my head.

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