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I don’t know just how lost I was in my own little world until I jump back scraping the pod out of my right ear with my free hand when Theron’s warm, minty breath tickles my cheek. “Christ. You scared the shit out of me.”
Chuckling, Theron takes a step back. “Sorry. But I’ve been shouting for the last minute. How loud you have those things?”
“Loud enough,” I say, still trying to catch my breath. “What are you doing here so early in the day? Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“It’s after four,” he says like it’s so obvious.
“What? That’s impossible.” Did I seriously spend the whole day on the same painting thinking about him? And now he’s here. Heat spreads across my shoulders and down my back. Embarrassed? Why? It’s not like he can know that I’ve been thinking about him. The blush grows even hotter for how close he still stands next to me. He’s not exceptionally tall. Six feet maybe a little under but I’m too short to tell. All I know is I’d have to reach to put my arms around his shoulders and struggle to link my fingers behind his neck. But damn if I don’t want to try.
And I could. Right now. While we’re all alone.
Wait.
It’s after four. Theron’s off work. He and Boone work together. So, if Theron’s here… “Where’s Boone?” I ask.
“There’s an event at the track tonight. Boone had to go rep his brand.”
And Marta works at the club tonight. She won’t be home until dawn.
That means I have the whole night to myself to work on Parker’s commission. My heart palpitates taking in Theron’s riding suit tied around his waist. How on Earth am I going to paint? I’d much rather spend my time watching Theron chase his tail around the muddy track.
The image of him soaked with sweat and spattered with mud has my pussy in a flutter. The heat that had been a blush turns into a molten hot need.
“This really is good,” Theron says thrusting his chin at the easel.
“Yeah?” My voice shakes. God, I hope he doesn’t notice.
Theron nods encouragingly.
“If you saw it in a coffee shop, would you buy it?” I ask while trying to calm my nerves. Start a safe conversation and maybe get some honest feedback about whether or not I have a shot at making a living selling my art. As much as I hate unsolicited feedback, his doesn’t carry that condescension or placating tone I get from most people. I feel like I can trust his opinion.
“Hell, yeah,” he says.
“You’re not just saying that to spare my feelings, are you?” I ask, just to be sure.
“No way. I think it’s great.”
I sigh and prop my butt on the dining room table beside me. “I don’t know. I worry it’s too abstract for that kind of audience.”
“What kind of audience?”
“Oh. I made the mistake of agreeing to display some of my work at Parker’s Place. I just don’t think it will work. Especially in a place that looks like Hello Kitty puked all over it.”
Theron chuckle-snorts and it makes me smile. He’s hot but he can be a dork too. I like him even more because of it.
Damn it.
“Well, you should do it. Tourists love the local color stuff. And you’re good. You captured the mood of life out here so well, I’d forgotten you were a city girl for a second.”
“Shut up,” I say kicking the toe of his riding boot.
“I’m serious. I’d buy it myself if I had the cash.”
My heart twists knowing that because of the fight I overheard him having with his mom, I know why he doesn’t have the cash.
I can see the hurt it’s causing him, killing him that I know he’s in financial trouble… “Take it,” I say. “When you leave tonight. It should be dry enough by then.”
“Nah. I couldn’t—.”
