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Turning to look at my friend, I smiled at her light gray, fitted pantsuit, her jet black hair smoothed perfectly into a high ponytail and she was wearing her silver, wire-framed glasses, which meant she was in work mode.
“Event organizing is what I do, beautiful. Remember? Which is why I know tonight will be perfect.”
“Is there alcohol?” I asked, sounding like a terrified child.
“Of course, but only have one. I’m not having you dancing on the tables until the guests have bought all the pieces and left. Then we can have the real party.”
“Spoilsport,” I laughed. “How do I look?” I flicked my hair over my shoulders, adjusting the black headband I wore like a crown. Lea straightened the large silver belt that finished off my black sleeveless jumpsuit, which had a deep V on the front, showing off my cleavage and the top of my flat stomach.
“You look stunning, like always, but are you putting shoes on?”
“Do I have to? You know how I feel about them.”
“Yes.”
“Fine,” I huffed as I slipped on my black heels that added an extra four inches onto my already tall, 5 foot 8 frame. “All I’ll hear all night is how tall I am by vertically challenged men.”
“But you are tall and they can just suck it up. Don’t shrink yourself for anyone… especially not tonight. This is your time to shine. You’ve worked so hard for this, so don’t apologize for anything. Not your art, not your height, not your talent. I mean it.” She pulled her stern face, and I smiled.
“Come on bossy pants. I need my one drink before I start mingling.” I nodded toward the exit. She took my hand, and we slipped into the main room through astaff onlydoor.
The room was packed with people milling about everywhere. We’d sent out over two hundred invites, and it felt like every single person had accepted and brought a plus one. I was so distracted by the number of people, I almost didn’t notice the set up of the room. I’d seen it earlier today, but now, with the fairy lights strung and the pieces lit in the early evening light, it took my breath away.
“Shit, this place looks amazing.”
“This is all you, girl. Now go, enjoy. I’m so proud of you.”
I kissed my best friend on the cheek, grabbed a glass of champagne, and began chatting with my guests.
Lea was right; everyone was lovely about my art. Telling me how they felt about certain pieces or where they were planning on putting one if they’d already got the gallery owner to add a small red sticker to the one they wanted to buy. People seemed excited, aroused, inquisitive, provoked… all the things I’d wanted them to feel when I’d started working on these pieces.
As I lifted a second glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray, hoping Lea didn’t spot me, I noticed a man standing in the center of the room looking… well… confused. Dressed in ripped jeans and a dark tee, I watched as he slipped off his black denim jacket, showing full sleeves of tattoos that snaked up his arms. He wore dark well. It went with his slate gray eyes, black hair, and dark scruff. The only color on his body seemed to be the silver watch on his wrist and the red of his bee-stung lips. There was no denying he was hot, and probably more my type than I wanted to admit, but I was working and I needed to focus on my first ever gallery show and not the dark, brooding man standing uncomfortably across the room.
I continued to mingle for a while when my eyes landed on him again and I couldn’t help but notice that his confused look had deepened, making me feel an urge to go rescue him. I signaled to the waiter and took another glass of champagne before walking toward the stranger, holding out the drink as a peace offering when I got nearer. “You look like you could use this.”
He glanced down at me and I smiled, as he must have been at least 6 foot 4.No small man syndrome here.“Is it that obvious?” He laughed, taking the drink from me gratefully, and having a sip before he spoke again. “It’s a lot, isn’t it? I can’t work out if she’s doing it for shock value or if there’s real beauty in it… what do you think?”
I hid the expression from my face because this man obviously had no idea who I was.It might be fun to tease the hot, tattooed man for a while.
“Do you like any of it?”
“No… That’s harsh, I know, but what’s to like? I mean, I think I saw a statue of an octopus having sex with a woman over there, and this one… well, this one looks like a man being fisted. I mean, how is that art? It makes my eyes water.” He paused, twisting his head to look at the piece from a different angle. “I guess if I squint, some of thereallyabstract ones could be classed as art, but the rest…” His words fell away before he shuddered. He actually shuddered. I wasn’t sure how to react, but it only took a moment to decide that I loved his honesty.
I’d been making my name in the art world for the last eighteen months and people liked to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear. It was rare for someone to be so blunt to my face.And he wasn’t bad on the eye, so I might just forgive him.
“I think the octopus one is about the different ways we can be touched. That sometimes, no matter how much contact we get, we still crave more.”
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” he replied, taking another sip of his drink. “And the fisting one.”
“Are you sure that’s what it is? I mean, art is subjective, so are you sure you’re not putting your own spin on it?”
“Are you suggesting I’m into fisting?” He frowned, his dark eyes boring into me.
I laughed. “No, but I think the piece is about connection rather than specifically about fisting.”
“You seem to know a lot… do you know the artist well? Shit, I don’t even know her name. My sisters invited me. I have to admit, I’m so out of my comfort zone.” He curled the corner of his mouth into a small smile, as if to silently apologize for his lack of knowledge about the event.
Placing my hand on his bicep, I leaned in closer, taking a moment to breathe in the fresh scent of his aftershave. “I can tell,” I giggled. “Although don’t worry. I don’t think anyone else noticed.” I opened my mouth to speak again when a spotlight shone on a small platform at the front of the room and the gallery owner invited me to come up and say a few words. I stepped back from the handsome man in black and handed him my half drunk champagne. “Sorry, could you hold this? Duty calls.” I watched the look of confusion that instantly turned to panic play out on his face as it dawned on him who I was.
