To Sir, with Love - Lauren Layne Page 0,79

draw with Hugh’s pieces, no,” Sebastian clarifies. “But with Gracie Cooper originals, on the other hand, it took some restraint to limit myself to these two.”

It takes me a second to register the meaning of his words, and I look up. “Wait. You bought these? Why?”

Sebastian’s eyes are warm as they look down at me. “I should think it would be obvious.” His voice is quiet, meant for my ears only, and as though sensing they’re no longer a part of the conversation, Hugh and Doug Frey tactfully shift away to mingle with the rest of the guests.

I feel flustered. And confused. And anticipatory, like I’m on the edge of something life changing but missing a key piece of the puzzle.

“The Central Park one, I guess I understand,” I say. “But the other, that’s—”

“You and your mystery man,” Sebastian finishes for me before glancing around the room curiously. “Speaking of, where is he?”

Horrified to realize I’d forgotten about the big meeting after Sebastian’s surprise arrival, I quickly scan the men in the room. There are plenty of suits. No pink roses. My heart sinks, but I remind myself he could simply be running late, or gathering his courage…

“He’ll be here,” I say stubbornly, still peering through the crowd, because I need to believe it. Because every part of my heart believes that this is my night, that this is my man, that—

“Gracie.” Sebastian says my name quietly, the ache of it wrapping around my heart and pulling me back around to face him.

I meet his eyes, and the tender expression makes me furious with frustration and longing. How dare he do this now, how dare he make me wish—

A flash of pink catches my eye.

I drop my gaze to his chest. To his suit pocket, where a single perfect pink rose is tucked, a simple, sweet beacon calling me home.

My mind whirls, and I shake my head in confused denial at the flower. “How did you—I didn’t tell—the only person who knew about the pink rose…”

Oh my God.

There’s only one way Sebastian Andrews could know what to wear tonight. Only one reason he’d want both paintings, the one of him and me and…

The other one of him and me. Of me and Sir.

Because they’re one and the same.

My eyes close as all the pieces slowly fit together. The overlaps between the two men. The revelation that Gary isn’t Sebastian’s biological dad, which means that Sebastian’s real father could be dead… just like Sir’s.

The pink flowers today, a hint, a promise. The other woman, the complicated one he couldn’t bear to lose. Me.

I open my eyes and slowly lift my gaze to his, where he seems to be holding his breath, his heart and hope in his eyes.

“It’s you,” I say softly. “It’s always been you.”

“Yes.” He whispers it, his hand lifting toward my face, hesitating. Then, very gently, he sets his fingers to my cheek, his thumb catching a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “Yes.”

“When did you know?” I ask as his fingers trace over my cheek tenderly.

“Your cat’s name was the first jolt. That Gracie’s and Lady’s cats were both named Cannoli caught me off guard. Then you passionately defended gelato, which was familiar. After that, I went back and read every message, and I could only hear your voice. Then that night at dinner, you told me all about—”

“You,” I say with a smile. “I told you all about yourself.”

“You told me about us.” He smiles back, the palm on my cheek more sure now, his eyes warm as they touch on my every feature, as we see each other finally, as we fully are. His gaze drops to my mouth, his head lowers.

“Wait.” I put a hand to his chest, lightly. “Why not tell me at dinner? Why this whole thing?”

“Well, because I was ninety-nine percent sure, but since my heart was on the line as well, I wanted that last one percent. And I knew that if Lady asked Sir to the art show, I’d have it. And because…” That same flicker of vulnerability I’ve seen before, the one that tugs deep at my heart flits across his face, and he glances down, embarrassed. “I’m not the easiest guy to love. Not by a long shot, and I wanted—” He takes a deep breath. “I wanted you to love both Sebastian and Sir. Because I’m a selfish ass, and I wanted you to love both sides of me, as much as I love both sides