Page 17 of For the Love of Art

“Not to mention, I’m sure your date will miss you.”

Nathan’s shoulders raised as he took a deep breath, and he pressed his lips into a line, leaving me feeling a little embarrassed for bringing up that he was here with someone.

“So, uh–” I tried to break the awkward silence. “What do you have in mind?”

He gestured with his head deeper into the alley. “Come with me and find out.”

I hesitated, which made Nathan smile. He walked backward toward where he gestured, his eyes set on me like a challenge.

My heart pounded as I followed him deeper into the dark alley. I looked over my shoulder, but the street only had a few intermittent passersby at this point. I heard a door open and saw Nathan holding a metal door that led to more darkness.

He gestured into the building.

“After you.”

I swallowed my fear and stepped into the dark space. I wrapped my arms around myself, my heart thundering in my ears. I could hear the shuffling of Nathan’s feet, and then suddenly, the room was flooded with light. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the sudden change. Once they did, I was in wonderment as I looked around to see beautiful art scattered across the walls as well as canvases leaning up against large concrete columns. The room was much more industrial and rundown than the other spaces I’d been in that night, but I had to assume this was attached to the gallery.

“What is all this?” I asked as I gravitated toward a piece of art.

“It’s another part of the gallery. I’m still waiting on some approvals from the city for renovation, so for now, we use it to practice staging shows.”

I reached out to touch a painting, then realized what I was doing and pulled my hand back.

My cheeks flushed.

“Sorry.”

Nathan chuckled. “It’s okay.”

I looked over at him, and he gave me an approving nod. I gently touched the surface of the canvas, letting the smooth feel of the brush strokes run through me. I followed the jawline of a beautifully painted woman.

“These are incredible.”

I backed up from the wall, taking in the vivid yellows, blues, and reds.

“I’ll let Victoria know.”

“This is more of her work?”

Nathan nodded. “We’ll start moving it out front soon for her show.”

I looked back at it, smiling. It was a gorgeous painting. I moved my eyes to the next painting. My jaw dropped in preparation to say something, then I snapped it shut.

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head.

“You’ve piqued my interest.”

I sighed. “Is this what you’re planning to do for placement?”

“Maggie seems to think it works.”

I licked my lips, hating that we had now brought his curator, a woman who had, at the very least, a crush on him but more likely had a wedding Pinterest board for them into the conversation.

“I think these two paintings get lost in each other,” I said, my voice quieter than necessary, considering it was just the two of us.

“Lost?” Nathan’s brows raised. “How?”