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“We had to go to the city,” Killian exclaimed. “Look!” His entire body bent at his waist and he looked at his feet, wiggling the red shoes. He scooted his attention over to my black ones and then looked back up at Jamie. The smallest thing made these kids happy. “We came to woo you.”
Jamie looked at our shoes, but then her eyes met mine. “Woo me?”
I nodded, cocking a shoulder. “When you really like a girl, you never stop wooing her.”
Her lips parted slightly as her eyes studied me. The room around us froze, and it was just her and I. The noise around us vanished and I watched her breathe. I saw something in her eyes—a want, a need—the same need I felt.
“Jamie!” Janet and Mr. Gaines appeared out of nowhere, wrapping Jamie up in their arms. Jamie jumped, and the noise filled the room once again. “We’re so proud of you! Look at you . . .” Janet held Jamie at arm’s length and then looked at her painting on the wall.
They have set it up so the light would hit it just right, making the colors more vibrant and breathtaking. The yellow of the sunflowers popped, and the green of the mountains almost looked real. There were so many other landscape paintings around, but Jamie’s had a certain feel to it, and I didn’t think I was being biased. Jamie’s painting was stunning, almost as much as her. Every stroke, every color was Jamie, and I knew I wanted this painting as much as I wanted her.
“Thanks, Mama,” she sighed into her mothers shoulder. “I hope I picked the right one. I had so many others—”
“You definitely picked the right one,” I answered, coming up behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist. I kissed her temple, my lips lingering there a little longer than they should for a public setting, but I didn’t care. I wanted the entire room to know she was mine.
Well . . . sort of.
“You really did, Jamie.” Mr. Gaines walked over to the painting, getting up close and personal with it. “And it’s for sale? Actually for sale?”
“Well if someone bids on it, yes.” Jamie explained. “It will hang here for two weeks before the awards ceremony is held. I have the option of taking it out of the bid.”
“I’ll bid on it,” I instantly said.
“Ell–Daxton.” she sighed, correcting herself. “I can paint you another one.”
“Nah, I want this one.” I walked up beside Mr. Gaines.
“Well then you’ll have to bid on it.” Jamie smiled, but her attention was pulled away once another group of people came to look at her masterpiece and talk to the artist herself.
Mr. Gaines and I stepped back, my fingers trailing on Jamie’s lower back as we left her there. I tried to focus on the other paintings, the photographs, and sculptures of other amazing artists that were in the room, but none compared to Jamie.
Nothing would ever compare to her.
My mind swam, knowing I had been watching this woman for months, had her on my mind even when she was avoiding me completely, and now she was here, in front of me, exuding confidence from every pore, showing the world who she was meant to be.
And I couldn't help but fall farther than I already had.
After the long, successful dinner with other artists and potential buyers, Jamie was exhausted. I saw it on her face as we pulled up to the cabin. She had traded her heels for snow boots, had draped her thick coat over her shoulders, and her head rested on the headrest of her seat. And when the Jeep came to a stop, she lifted her head and took a deep breath.
“Thank God that's over.” She sighed.
“You did great.”
She hummed and laid her head back down. “Do you think I should put the painting in the auction?”
I turned the Jeep off and pulled the key from the ignition. “A part of me thinks you should keep it, it has meaning now, doesn't it? But the other part of me really wants to see you make millions.”
“My painting is not worth fifteen million like someone’s company.”
“Oh hell no.” I opened the car door. “It’s worth so much more.”
I walked around to the passenger side of the Jeep, opening the door for Jamie and offering her my hand. She took it without hesitation, the heels in her hands swaying back and forth as we walked into the cabin. I had purposefully left a light on, causing a soft glow around the kitchen. Jamie dropped her heels and kicked off her boots, wiggling her toes before she walked into the kitchen. She pulled two wine flutes down from the cabinet and turned to get a bottle of wine from the fridge.
A pink Moscato. Simple and sweet, just like her.
She poured the wine, tilting her head to allow my eyes to search her skin. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling gracefully. She turned to the fridge, bending over slightly to put the wine back, the dress she was wearing hugged her body just right. I wanted to feel her in my arms, I wantedher.
She picked up the flute, but before it could reach her lips, I took it from her, placing it back on the counter. I gripped her neck, pulled her closer to me and crashed my lips to hers. She gave me a moan, one that I longed to hear again. Her fingers found my hairand her palms slid up my chest while my hands ran down her back, sinking lower and lower.
