Chapter Gud Wife 458
Chapter 0458
Snapped out of her thoughts, Celeste shook her head. "No, of course not. I'm sorry, I just got distracted. Let me finish up a few things, and if you'd like, we can leave a little earlier. I wouldn't want you driving back to Westhaven too late."
She walked away to check in with a colleague, disappearing from Peter's sight. Left alone, he strolled through the gallery, admiring the remaining paintings. His thoughts were elsewhere, focusing on what lay ahead. He had unfinished business in Switzerland, but he didn't want to leave so abruptly. The situation with Alexia would take time to resolve, and he couldn't treat it lightly. For now, though, he decided to enjoy the evening and figure out
tomorrow when it came.
One painting caught his eye-one of Celeste's works. Peter wasn't sure if Theodore had purchased it yet, but he found himself captivated by the brushstrokes and colors. She had a remarkable gift, one that wasn't being fully realized. Teaching his grandson wasn't a bad thing, but her talent for painting was extraordinary and underappreciated. His mind wandered briefly to the image of her walking barefoot through her apartment, the taste of cinnamon coffee lingering in his memory. He found himself craving a cup of that coffee.
"Peter... We can go," Celeste's soft voice called out.
He turned to her and smiled. "Let's go. Are you sure you're okay with leaving?"
"Of course. I covered for my colleague yesterday, so she's covering for me today," Celeste replied with a small smile.
They walked toward the exit together. Peter held the door open for her, and when she climbed into his car, she found a bouquet of freesias waiting for her.
"This is for you," Peter said with a smile. "Did you know I love freesias too?"
After helping her into the car, he got behind the wheel and started driving toward her home. But after a while, he spoke up.
"How about we make a stop before I take you home?"
"Where are you taking me, Mr. Palmer?" Celeste asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Where we're going... it's a surprise.
"Alright... Just please don't scare me like you did yesterday, Celeste said softly.
"I won't, don't worry. This place is very close; we won't be taking much of a detour," Peter reassured her. Minutes later, Peter's car pulled into a scenic overlook. From there, the entire city stretched out below them, bathed in a sea of twinkling lights. Above, the sky was a canvas of stars, with the moon shining brightly in the absence of city lights. Peter helped Celeste out of the car, and she stood in awe of the view. While she admired the sight, Peter retrieved a few items from the vehicle, surprising her with a glass of sparkling rosé wine.
"I hope you like rosé," Peter said, handing her the glass.
She took it, glancing at him with surprise, then noticed a box of strawberries on the hood of the car. He took her hand and guided her over to where the box was. They leaned against the car together, staring out at the breathtaking view. Peter clinked his glass against hers,
"Celeste... Here's to seeing more of your paintings in the future."
Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she simply nodded, suddenly unsure of how to respond.,
"You looked beautiful yesterday, but tonight... you've left me completely breathless," Peter said, taking her hand.
1/2
Chapter 0458
"Peter, don't you think you're moving too fast? You only met me yesterday, and you're already saying things like this. How am I supposed to belleve any of it?"
"Celeste," Peter began, his voice calm but firm. "There's something you should know about me. Twenty years ago, I nearly died. It took me seven long years to recover. Since then, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that time waits for no one. While you're standing still, life keeps moving, and so does everyone else.