(Missed some? Read chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.)
Q: What did one heart say to the other?
A: Beat that.
— Laffy Taffy Joke #119
Gavin sighed as the elevator dropped him off at his apartment. It had been a long day. A long week. A long life.
He hadn't seen Lydia since she passed beyond the first class curtain on the flight back to New York. Not in the flesh, anyway. At night, her image haunted his dreams. During the day she filled his every thought.
His heart hurt for missing her.
Though he knew it was the right thing to do—for all of them—he wished he could take back that last night in Milan. The ultimatum he and Elliot had laid out was supposed to end their suffering. But instead, almost a week later, it had only multiplied his pain.
He couldn't take it any more.
Grabbing the cordless phone from the living room, he strolled into the den, loosening his tie and shrugging out of his jacket. He ditched his briefcase in the corner and collapsed into the welcoming chair behind his desk.
Eyes closed, he slowly massaged his temples with one hand, phone still clutched in the other. Thank God it was Friday.
And he'd waited long enough.
He punched the number into the phone and waited while the call connected. The phone had just double-beeped, signaling the call was about to go through, when his gaze fell on the display case next to his desk.
Still empty when he left for work that morning, now a colorful object caught his eye amid the plain velvet lining.
Heart pounding, he clicked off the phone and leapt to his feet. There, on the rectangular lift in the center where his book should be was a bright yellow box of Everlasting Gobstoppers.
"Lydia," he whispered.
Hope bubbled inside him.
He quickly hit redial on the phone, impatient for it to ring. When it did, he heard the faint refrain of "Lollipop Lollipop" coming from the back hall. As the phone continued to ring, the song grew louder and louder until it sounded just outside the door.
Then it stopped.
Gavin crossed to the closed door, phone pressed to his ear.
"Lydia?"
"Hello, Gavin."
Her voice came from both directions.
"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" he asked.
"Well, yes," she answered, "actually there was."
When she didn't elaborate, he encouraged her. "Go on."
"Oh, well, you see—" she drawled.
Movement caught his eye and he watched as the door handle slowly turned.
"—I think you should know—"
The latch clicked and the door opened just enough to clear the strike plate.
"—I still have a key to your apartment."
Gavin held his breath, but the door didn't move.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"No," she whispered, "there's more."
Slowly, like molasses in winter, the door inched open. He stepped to the side, allowing it to open completely. Lydia, beautiful and heartbreakingly hesitant, closed her phone met his gaze.
"I think you should know—"
She stepped forward into the den, not stopping until only inches separated them. Gavin reached out, needing to touch her, and traced his fingers over her cheek.
"—that I love you."
"Thank God," he groaned as he pulled her into his arms. "I don't think I could have lived without you any longer."
He found her lips and took that promise from her in a kiss. It felt like forever since he'd held her like this; since he felt hope for their future and all-around contentment. She melted in his arms like a wet noodle and he knew she felt all the same things.
Reluctantly pulling back, he also knew they needed to have a nice long talk before a nice long night in his king-size bed.
Grinning because he couldn't help it, he asked, "What took you so long?"
"I had a lot to sift through," she murmured.
Afraid she might have some lingering doubt, he ducked his head and studied her glowing hazel eyes. Open, honest, and centers glittering gold with absolute certainty.
Relieved, he agreed, "Yeah, I guess you did."
Lydia laid her head on his shoulder, and he breathed in the vanilla sugar aroma of her perfume. He'd missed that scent; even resorting to hunting down the brand at Macy's and buying a little sachet he kept under his pillow. Now he had the real thing.
The poor sachet didn't compare.
"I'm glad you finally came around," he confessed as he pressed kisses across her forehead. She tasted as sweet as she smelled.
"Hey," he accused, remembering how this whole reunion began, "not that I don't appreciate the gesture—" He turned into the room and gestured at the display case. "—but when did my book turn into a box of candy?"
"It didn't, silly," she admonished. But a tell-tale blush crept onto her delicate cheeks, suggesting she felt a little guilty. "The book is safely hidden away in my office at Ferrero."
Recognizing the career choice as the other major decision on her mind, he wondered if that meant she had made her choice. "Does that mean you took the creative position?"
She nodded. "I start on Monday. New position, new division, new title. I'm going to be Guest Designer, which means my name will appear beneath Ferrero's on every piece I design. That way, when I go out on my own I'll have some name recognition already."
Her words became hesitant at the end. Gavin could sense her concern, worried about his reaction. When I go out on my own, she'd said. Not if. She was afraid he would disapprove of her leaving the security of an established position for the uncertain future of an independent line.
She was wrong.
"Sounds like the perfect plan." He made sure he sounded as sure and reassuring as he felt. "But I know your name will end up plastered on billboards in Times Square, recognition or not. Talent has a way of rising to the top."
Clearly, he said just the right thing because she beamed and threw her arms around him.
"You're wonderful," she exclaimed.
"I know."
Without warning, she extricated herself from his arms and bounded over to the display case. "Your book will be home on Monday." She popped open the lid and studied the contents. "I just wanted you to know how I felt."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Gobstoppers," she began, blushing and not meeting his gaze, "they're Everlasting. Like your love." Finally looking up, she met his gaze squarely. "Like mine."
Her attention returned to the case. She slipped a hand inside and stroked the yellow cardboard with a reverent touch. When she wrapped her fingers around the box and removed it, Gavin joined her and covered her hand with his to stop her.
"Leave it."
She looked up, startled. "But your book—"
"—can find another home," he finished.
"Maybe they can share the space?" That smile he loved spread across her pink lips. "Our kids should learn to live together in harmony."
"Candy and a rare and seminal work of American history?" He shook his head in mock disgust. "She might corrupt him."
"He might elevate her," Lydia offered. "After all, she loves him very much. She wouldn't want to live without him, you know."
Gavin collapsed into his leather chair and pulled her down on his lap. "I wish you'd figured that out two years ago."
"I couldn't have." She looked at him, earnest and determined. "I didn't love you then."
"How could you not—"
"I didn't know you, Gavin. Not really."
Relaxing, she squirmed into a more comfortable position and settled against his chest. Her hands, however, did not settle. They roamed over his chest, making him wish the talking was over and his shirt would evaporate.
Lydia continued. "I only knew what I saw you to be: attractive, successful, and interested in me."
"Aren't I still all those things?"
"Of course. But now I know how much more there is to you. You're not just the glossy picture on the cover of GQ. You like the symphony and romantic dinners and you're the whole package, Gavin Fairchild." Her hand came to rest on his waistband. "And I love you."
"Good, because you're stuck with me."
"Like Bubble Yum on the bottom of my shoe?" she asked, wicked humor glinting in her hazel eyes.
"Like a wet lollipop on your window."
"Mmm mmm, yummy." She lifted up and nibbled at his jaw line, sending little sparks of electricity along every nerve in his body. "Can I have a lick?"
"Anytime," he ground out as her nibbles moved closer and closer to his mouth.
The last thing Gavin heard before her mouth met his was, "I love candy."
