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I didn’t turn, but I knew it was Zac. “Told me what?”
“That it would be a masterpiece.”
Grinning, I tilted my head to look up at him. He wore a navy-blue suit with the top buttons of his white shirt open, looking like he’d just stepped off the pages ofGQ Magazine. He smelled like man mixed with a hint of cologne, masculine and yet subtle and clean. The scent took me back to when we were together and I would bury my face in his neck, totally addicted to the smell.
“Thank you,” I said, my words coming out closer to a whisper as my body reacted to our proximity.
“You’re welcome.”
Suddenly, I remembered where we were, and my eyes widened. “Wait, what are you doing here?”
“I needed to talk to you.”
“Now? Here?”
“Yes. It couldn’t wait.”
I looked back at the painting, sliding my priorities in place. “Okay. We can talk. But it has to wait until I show them their portrait.”
“I’ll wait all night if I have to,” he said with a shrug. “Do your thing.”
My cheeks warmed under his affectionate gaze, and I swallowed back the need to take it back and tell him we could talk now. This was Aria and Will’s day, and they had a present to receive.
Sliding off my stool, I patted my front. I still wore the paint-stained apron I’d used to protect my dress, so I reached up to untie it from the back of my neck.
Zac held out a hand and flicked his fingers. “Allow me.”
Pursing my lips, I turned, allowing him to untie the bow. Chills slid down my spine as his fingers brushed the back of my neck below my intricate updo. He released the neck ties, then moved to my lower back, undoing that one, too.
When he was finished, I pulled the apron away from my dress and folded it with the paint side in, placing it on my stool. I looked up to find his eyes scanning me from head to toe in a lazy appraisal of appreciation.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice low and husky.
“Thanks. So do you.” I put a hand on my cheek and chuckled. “Sorry—handsome. You know what I mean.”
Shoot. I’d been so swept up in the bliss of a job well done that I’d let my resistance to Zac slip away. And that wasn’t smart. Like I’d told Lyndi, he couldn’t just waltz back in and expect me to forgive and forget with only a word. Or a great suit.
“I’m going to grab them for the big reveal,” I said, turning on my heel.
I snagged Shelby’s mom, the photographer, and the videographer on my way to the happy couple, then ushered them all over to the painting. The rest of the bridal party and the parents joined us, along with Ms. Hattie and Thatcher, and a few other close people. Everyone stood in a loose semi-circle with the bride and groom in the center.
Smiling widely, I put my hand on the easel and prepared to turn it around. “Are you ready?”
“Ready,” Aria and Will said together, him smiling down at her while she bounced lightly on her pink heels.
Picking up the easel from the back legs, I lifted it gently and turned it toward them, careful not to topple the canvas. Now,thatwould ruin the moment. Then I looked up at my friend and her new husband, tears springing to my eyes as their mouths dropped open.
Aria covered her face with both hands and her shoulders shook. Will wrapped an arm around her and pulled her with him as he stepped forward to take another look. “Layla, this is amazing.”
“It’s so perfect,” Aria said through her happy tears. “I’m going to treasure this forever.”
Suddenly I was yanked into her embrace, my heart filling nearly to the brim. I’d loved painting for as long as I could remember. My mom said it all started when my babysitter let me finger paint when I was only eighteen months old. In her words, it was alluphillfrom there. But out of the thousands of pieces I’d created during my nearly thirty years as an artist, none had ever invoked this kind of response. None had ever meant as much to me as this portrait of my best friend’s happily ever after.
“Thank you, Layla,” Aria said in my ear.
“You’re welcome,Mrs. Paxton,” I replied.
She giggled and fanned her face, then she went over to hug Shelby’s mom and thank her, too. Will hugged and thanked me as well, and then the crowd of family and friends started clapping. I blushed hard, considered running away, but ended up doing a silly little curtsy. I was used to attention in group settings, being a teacher and all, but I got goofy with my students to take the pressure off and now was no different.
