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Her heart opened up and she could become something great.
Mike needed to fight to protect this part of her—especially since she wasn’t willing to protect it for herself. He would do anything to make her see that this was important.
Anything.
He was starting to wonder if that meant he would have to leave to make that happen. It had taken a great deal more effort than he thought possible for him to convince her to even pick up a paintbrush again. What if his leaving would help her go after her dreams?
Realistically, Mike could see there were flaws in that way of thinking. But there was also a part of him that realized he simply couldn’t risk Rose being unhappy. She inspired him.
Even if he wouldn’t end up with Rose, Mike was going to become a better person from here on. And he knew just where to start.
His eyes focused on Rose once more, finding her deep in the throes of drawing. She nibbled on her lower lip in the most adorable way. Her eyes found his, and the way their gazes locked, Mike could almost believe they would end up together.
Alas, that wasn’t meant to be. Rose was too good for him, and she needed to find someone worthy of her. Mike was not that guy.
He never would be, no matter how hard he tried.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rose felt like a real artist for the first time since she was in college. She’d only had a live model to work from a handful of times and could remember each one vividly. Now, as she sat in front of Mike, she could see every single flaw, every single thing that made him human.
Being given the opportunity to study him this way was a dream. It brought back memories of when she’d covertly watched him as a tween, wondering if he’d noticed her. That he’d asked her to draw him brought her a great deal more joy than she’d anticipated.
Not only was he being vulnerable with her in this way, it was almost like he was opening himself up to something more. Mike had always been the guy who didn’t share his feelings. Even when they were teens, he’d closed himself off and refused to let anyone get close. Not even the guys he considered his friends knew him that well.
Perhaps Mike was trying to show that he was ready for her to know him better.
She smiled at him when their eyes met, and at that moment, her stomach growled. She glanced at her watch and gasped. They’d allowed themselves to get so lost in what they were doing that they’d skipped supper time.
Rose blushed, flipping a blank paper over the picture she’d been working on. “I can’t believe we lost track of time. Why didn’t you tell me it was getting so late?”
Mike shrugged. “Didn’t feel important.”
“Of course it’s important!” she argued. “We could have been getting more work done. And I’m sure you’re hungry.”
The way he watched her was unnerving. It was as if he’d been the one studying her rather than the other way around. Mike nodded to her notebook. “Are you going to show it to me?”
Her blush deepened and she clutched it to her chest. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Come on, Rose. You know I won’t laugh.”
“I’m not worried about that.” She shifted her grip on the notebook. She wasn’t sure what she was worried about. Right about now, she simply didn’t trust herself to share what she’d been working on. It made everything feel that much more real.
Mike eyed the notebook and chuckled. “You’re not going to make me beg to see the picture that I sat for, are you? It was torture to sit for so long.”
“You’re trying to guilt-trip me!” She laughed.
“Maybe I am.” Mike’s lips quirked upward. “Just one peek.”
She groaned. “Fine. One peek. But not a long one. It’s not ready.”
“Not ready? You’ve been working on it for the last several hours.” Mike held out his hand, laughing. “Alright. Just one peek. And I’ll make it short.”
Rose handed him the notebook and closed her eyes as if the action would make this less embarrassing. When he didn’t comment right away, she opened one eye and watched him. He was silent, staring at the picture for a great deal longer than he’d agreed to.
Her stomach flipped and turned on its side. She couldn’t breathe. What was he thinking? He’d said he liked her style and that was why he’d insisted on putting her art next to Helen’s for the show. But this was different. This was her being vulnerable just between the two of them.
Rose lunged for the book, but Mike held it out of reach. “Mike,” she laughed, “give it back.”
