I hold my gloves together and give him a small bow. “I appreciate every minute of the extra time and coaching. Johnson agreeing to jump teams might’ve been one of the best damn things that ever happened to my fighting career.”
“No shit. They’re going to be expecting a totally different fighter than the one who shows up. You’ve gone over Saturday’s schedule?”
I nod. “Yeah. And my office is ready. It looks like a locker room with the mats and equipment. It’ll work.”
“Good. Then let’s wrap it up here.” We head toward the cage where my sparring partners wait, and I shake out my muscles, ready to rock.
On my way out of the gym, my phone buzzes with a text.
I make two stops, and then I head home. It’s not until after I park in front of Curated that I realizehomeis now wherever Scarlett is.
Forty-Four
Scarlett
Gunter deliversmy dress on Thursday morning.
I’m practically giddy about Sunday because it means I’ll stop waking up in bed alone. Those brushes of Gabe’s lips on my forehead in the dark as he leaves make me want to pull him back in bed and find some other way to do his cardio. I promise myself that will comeafterthis is all over.
The garment bag’s zipper hisses, dragging me back to Gunter and the dress.
“Oh my goodness.” I gasp. The dress shimmers like liquid gold.
“You like?”
I turn to Gunter, my mouth open. “You’ve outdone yourself. This isstunning.”
“I hoped you’d think that. It’s elegant and sophisticated without being overdone, and yet daring enough to make every woman in the place jealous.”
The confidence Gunter has in his designs has always awed me. “You’re not wrong.”
“I never am, darling. And you’re going to look radiant in it. Here.” He unhooks the hanger and holds it out for me. “Run along. Try it on.”
I take it from him, marveling at the weight of the dress on the hanger. I expected it to be heavy, but it’s unbelievably light.
“What is this material?” I ask the talented man standing in my apartment.
Gunter winks. “Magic.”
I slip into my bedroom and carefully step into the dress. “Holy shit,” I whisper as the silky fabric glides over my skin, leaving a shiver in its wake.
“I’ll zip you up, darling,” Gunter calls.
I come out of the bedroom, and the only way to describe his expression isbeaming.
“Yes.Absolutely, yes.Divine.”
My cheeks hurt from how big I’m smiling. “I know, right?”
“Come, come. Let me do you up.”
I give him my back, and he manages the zipper.
When I turn around to face him again, he shakes his head with a lopsided frown. “If only your mother could see you like this. She would have loved what you’ve done, Scarlett. She’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
“You think so?”
“Without a doubt. If she’d known it was possible to be as happy as you look, she would have wanted exactly that for you.”