AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“God. Don’t call me that,” I say with a wave of my hand.
This gets a small smile from her. It sends a spark of excitement through me. “What do you want, Aiden?” she says.
I grin wider. “I want to know where I can dump all that crap in my office. I need to clear it out, it’s bugging me.”
“Crap?” she repeats. “You mean the various supplies we need in order to run this foundation?”
“Yes, that.” I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe.
With a sigh, she stands from her desk. I quickly scan her body when she’s not looking, my gaze lingering on her hips. When she straightens and walks toward me, I flit my gaze back to her face, smiling confidently.
She brushes past me and into my office. I follow her. She stands for a few seconds, glancing around. Finally, she says, “I can see how it’s a bit distracting.”
“Thank you,” I say, holding my hands out. “It’s overwhelming, all this stuff. Where can I move it?”
She shoots me a sidelong glance. “There’s a classroom that’s rarely used down at the end of the hall. We can store most of this in a corner or something.”
She steps forward, reaching down to grab a few canvasses leaning against the wall. As she twirls with them, on her way to the door, I catch a flash of color and recognize them from the other day.
“Wait,” I say, stopping her. “I actually like those. Can I put those up in here? There’s nothing on the walls.”
She pauses, her mouth partway open as if a rebuttal is on its way.
“Besides, shouldn’t you be displaying the students’ work? Those are beautiful pieces.”
“Um, well …” she stutters, and I can see a familiar blush creeping up her cheeks. Like the blush from the bar last week.
I shoot her a puzzled look.
She sighs, a small, embarrassed smile playing across her lips. “They’re mine, actually.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Yours?” I repeat. “As in, you painted those?”
She nods.
“They’re incredible.” I reach for the one closest to me, pulling it from her hand. It’s a vibrant meadow filled with greens, reds, oranges, and yellows. It’s summertime in the most colorful way. It’s somehow nostalgic and new all at once. “I didn’t know you painted.”
She shrugs.
“You’re … very talented.”
I glance up at her, and that blush has only deepened. If I was trying to flatter her, I’d be pleased with myself, but I’m honestly too shocked to even be thinking of that. These paintings are beautiful. And she made them. What the hell is she doing here? Organizing little workshops when she should be teaching them—or selling this stuff.
“Thank you,” she says with a self-deprecating laugh. She brushes a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, looking anywhere but at me.
“So, are you okay if I put them up in here?” I ask her genuinely. “I mean, if you want them for something else, by all means, take them. But they should be displayed somewhere, not just sitting in a pile.”
She stares at me for a few heartbeats before finally nodding. “Sure.” A small smile returns to her face. “You’re right, they should be … used.” She laughs softly.
We stand in an awkward silence for a few moments, a strange electricity burning through the air. “What are you doing this weekend?” I find myself asking before I even allow myself to consider whether it’s a good idea.
She cocks her head. “I’m not sure,” she stutters.
“Do you like weddings?”
Chapter 8
Lilly
