Page 29 of For the Love of Art

“A job. At least, that’s what I thought. It’s awfully dark and people-less in here for an interview.”

Nathan put his hands in his pockets.

“The gallery is closed.”

“Why did you tell me to come?”

“Isla, I gave you until six to come. You were welcome at any point during the day while the gallery was open. I stayed late in hopes of giving you more time to come,” he said.

Okay. I need us to stop saying, “to come” because it was doing something to my bathing suit parts.

“So, you’re not treating me like one of them.”

“Them, who?”

“One of your women… friend… type things.”

Nathan laughed loudly, the sound reverberating off the walls and painfully hitting my embarrassed soul.

“Okay, let’s make something clear here. I would've mentioned my bed if I wanted you in my bed. Not once have I done that.”

The embarrassment bore deeper. Whatever attraction I thought was there had been in my head. A prejudgment that Nathan only talked to women he was attracted to.

“So, you just want me for my- for the–”

“Gallery. Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Now, will you come to my office?”

“Yeah.”

Why not.If the embarrassment hadn’t made me tuck tail and run by now, I might as well see this through.

Nathan turned and started to walk to the back but then quickly turned. I almost bumped into him but stopped short of the wall of muscle.

“For the record,” he said slowly, “when I first saw you, I did think you were beautiful. When I talked to you, I realized you were so much more.”

“O-oh.”

What did that mean?

“So, no, Isla. You are not one of them.”

Before I could respond, he had turned again and made large strides that were impossible to keep up with, so I jogged behind him.

At the back of the gallery was a hallway lined with doors. He pushed one of them open. The light was already on and blinding compared to the dark room we’d left. I blinked as Nathan moved swiftly around his desk, effortlessly adapting to the change. He sat down behind a tidy, dark wood desk and gestured in front of him.

“Please, sit.”

I looked to my right, where I saw a bright red chair. I gave him a weak smile and sat, sliding my purse off my shoulder as I did.

Nathan leaned back in his chair.

“You came.”

I nodded. “I did.”