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Now that Rafael had been fully cleared by the doctor, Alejandro had finally stopped leaving The Scot or Cairn with her. However, she was kind of wishing she could swap McGrumpface for The Scot right now.
He could appreciate art.
She tucked her hair back and then stared down at her hands. Drat. It was going to be hard to get all the clay off them. Had she gotten clay in her hair? She stared down at her clothes.
Uh-oh.
Oh well, art was messy, right?
The elevator dinged and she turned with a gasp. She’d decided to make her sculpture in the foyer so she didn’t have to move it.
Now . . . she was wondering if that’d been a mistake. Especially as she saw all the clay that had landed on the floor.
Why hadn’t she put down a tarp?
Alejandro stepped out of the elevator and came to a stop. “Uh.”
“What the fuck is that?” The Scot said, walking out behind him.
“It looks like a really fat bird,” Cairn said.
“Hey!” she protested. “Don’t call Papi a fat bird.”
Cairn gave her a confused look. “I didn’t call the Boss . . . wait, are you saying . . .”
The Scot burst into laughter. “Is that meant to be the Boss? Holy. Shit.” The Scot turned to Alejandro. “No, wait, you know, I can kind of see it around the nose.”
Alejandro shot him a look. “All of you, out.”
She turned to see that Doomy had already left. Traitor. McGrumpface was still there. He held his hands up as Alejandro glared at him.
“I keep her physically safe. She wasn’t at risk. Well, only her ass. And that deserves to be walloped, if you ask me.”
“No one asked you.” She scowled at McGrumpface. Such a jerk.
Rafael shot her a smug look. “Have fun sitting tonight.”
Urgh. How rude.
He left and she turned to Alejandro. It was just the two of them now.
“You’re not really angry at me, are you, Papi?” she asked with a pout. “I was just trying to make a sculpture of you. Apparently, it’s not very good.”
There was silence for a moment, so she risked a glimpse at him. He was frowning.
Uh-oh. Not a good sign.
“Who said it wasn’t very good?” he finally asked in a low growl.
She gave him a surprised look at the response. “Everyone. You heard them. They think it’s a cross between a bird and a hippo.” She pouted. “I really was trying to do a good job, though.”
He moved closer to her, tilting her head back with a finger under her chin. “I think it looks amazing.”
“You . . . you do?” she asked.
“I do. I think you did an amazing job and I’m very proud of you.”
She stood straighter, happiness filling her. “Thanks, Papi.”
Leaning in, he kissed her lightly. She threw her arms around him.
He wrapped her in a strong embrace. “I think the sculpture is amazing. However, I do think that you could have chosen a better place to create it. And maybe used a tarp.”
“Um, yeah. Good points.” She drew back and looked him over with a grimace. “Probably shouldn’t have hugged you while I was dirty, either.”
He glanced down at himself, shaking his head. But when he looked up at her, there was amusement on his face and his eyes were gingerbread-colored. “Looks like the dry cleaning bill will be going up this month.”
“Sorry, Papi.”
“It’s all right, mi Pequeña. I know that Little girls sometimes get messy. And I’m glad you had fun.”
“I really did.”
“Good. But I don’t think we can leave this here in the foyer, unfortunately. Why don’t we find you a spare room and set it up so you can explore your art more?”
“Really, Papi?”
“Of course, Preciosa. Did you think I wouldn’t support you in whatever you want to do?”
“Oh goody, because I was thinking of joining the circus and becoming a trapeze artist.”
“Nice try.” He picked her up and started walking toward their bedroom.
“Where we goin’, Papi?”
“I think we might have to go get you in the bath.”
“Are you going to join me, Papi?” she asked.
“Unfortunately, I have to go back out tonight. I have a meeting at The Circus, so I’m just here to shower and change.”
“Oh. I understand.” She tried not to look disappointed. She’d never gotten to go to The Circus. Every time she’d asked, he’d been reluctant to take her. “I wish I could come.”
He set her down in the bathroom and cupped her cheek. “Not tonight.”
She nodded. She’d expected that answer. “You do owe me a reward, though, remember?”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” He looked reluctant. “It’s busy there. I don’t know that it would be safe. Or that you’re ready.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” He was right that it would be a big leap for her.
“I just don’t want him to win. I’m so sick of him winning. Of living in fear. I haven’t been anywhere since our walk. I’m sick of being a coward.”
