Page 30 of Searching for Love

“You don’t think it’s too wild?”

She laughed. “Trust me, it’s going to be perfect.”

As they started, he realized that she had brought color and excitement into his life in ways he never imagined possible. Maybe that was why he enjoyed adding the splashes of color to his restaurant. They reminded him of her.

With each stroke of the brush, Lucas found himself lost in the rhythm of their shared task. The rich blue hue gradually enveloped the once dull surface, transforming it into a statement piece that would undoubtedly draw the eye of every patron who stepped foot into their restaurant.

While they worked together, sitting on the newly refurbished floor covered carefully with tarps, Avery hummed a soft tune under her breath.

Lucas couldn’t help but steal glances at her, marveling at the way her hair caught the light, casting a golden halo around her. He felt a surge of pride knowing that they were building something together, something that would leave an impression on her small town.

He couldn’t stop watching her graceful movements as she happily worked. He was having such a difficult time focusing on the job that a large blob of blue paint landed on his knee.

Avery’s laugh warmed him. “You have more paint on you than the bar.” She handed him a rag to clean himself up.

“You have a very sexy humming voice,” he said, taking the rag from her hand, letting their fingers brush and hold a little longer than necessary.

Her smile brightened. “Maybe I’ll sing for you during one of those karaoke nights I plan on having to get customers in on weeknights.” She nudged his knee with her own.

His eyebrows shot up. “That’s a great idea. I knew hiring you was an ingenious move.”

Her laughter echoed in the room. “Honey, hiring me was the best thing that could have ever happened to you and this place.” She frowned suddenly. “Which needs a name.” She glanced over to the chalkboard, which was now full of names. It was hard to decide. “What name did you get the building and the business permits under?”

He shrugged. “My name. I plan to file a DBA when I settle on one finally.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just pick one. We can’t have everyone in town just calling it Lucas’s place.”

“Why not? It has a nice ring to it,” he said, cleaning up his work pants. They now had so many blue spots on them, that he figured he’d either have to call it a new style or trash them.

She set her brush down and glanced at their work. “I know someone talented enough to paint the restaurant’s name in this.” She motioned to their work. “It might add a little splash. You know once we settle on a name and a logo. It can match the sign we hang outside.”

He nodded. “Not a bad idea.” The blue was nice, but it was lacking something.

Half an hour later, with the last stroke of paint applied, they stepped back to admire their handiwork. The bar gleamed with a newfound vibrancy, reflecting the happy atmosphere he hoped would flow once the doors were open.

Avery turned towards Lucas, a slight smile on her lips. “Another job well done.”

Lucas reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering as he gazed into her eyes. “We make a pretty good team,” he said softly, wishing more than anything he could kiss her again.

She leaned into his touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “The best team,” she corrected him with a playful wink.

At that moment, surrounded by the scent of fresh paint and the warmth of her closeness, Lucas wondered if they would remain this close after the doors were open and the restaurant was so busy they barely had time to talk.

He’d just have to enjoy as much alone time as he could with Avery until then.

“How about we clean up and go see those tables?” she said, dusting off her hands.

“Great.” He glanced down at his paint-spattered pants. “I’ll just head upstairs and change.”

She nodded. “I brought a change of clothes too.” She motioned towards her bag. “We can grab lunch. There’s a food truck along the way that I love.”

“Sounds perfect,” he said, his voice tinged with excitement.

Together, they began to clean up their painting supplies before heading off to change. Being with Avery felt like coming home, a feeling he never wanted to let go of.

Once the last brush was rinsed and the paint cans neatly stored away, he made his way upstairs to his apartment to change. He pulled on a fresh pair of pants along with different shoes.

When he emerged from his apartment, he found Avery waiting for him, her smile radiant as ever. She had changed into a casual outfit of worn jeans and a soft pink T-shirt with yellow flowers on it that clung to her curves. The color highlighted the rich redness of her hair, making him want to reach out and run his fingers through the strands for hours.