“Who I’m sure would love to be called a fish.”
“You know what I’m saying. So tell me.”
“I’m not sure what there is to tell just yet. She’s skittish.”
“Don’t tell me you gave her the wink and the charm.”
“I might have come on a little strong at first.”
“Hm. Things have changed since you’ve been off the market, Gav. You have to give the ladies the upper hand now. No more of that ‘I’m the man’ nonsense. They don’t go for it.”
“So, what am I supposed to do? Paint her nails?”
“That might work.” Lance laughed. “Just don’t try, Gavin. Let what happens happen. I know you’re used to being in control, but sometimes you have to let things play out.”
“That’s the hard part.”
“Yes it is, bro. You’re a great catch, though. I don’t know what you’re worried about.”
“My instincts aren’t great, you know that.”
“You can’t let one mistake ruin the rest of your life, Gavin.”
“No, but I can learn from it. I can try not to make the same mistake twice.”
“That’s true.” Lance paused.
Gavin studied the figures in the painting. There were several couples engaged in dancing in the middle of a grand old-fashioned ballroom. Off to the side of the painting was one couple curled up in the cut-out of a window. Wrapped in one another’s arms, they gazed out at the stars. The image fascinated him. It was as if they were the only two who knew to look beyond the decorations and traditions to what might lay beyond.
“Gavin, did you hear me?”
“Hm?” Gavin blinked and returned his attention to Lance. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
“Just remember, dating is supposed to be fun. Try not to take it too seriously.”
“Me? When have I ever taken anything seriously?” He chuckled as he hung up the phone.
His laughter faded when he looked back at the painting. The truth was, he took Nicole very seriously—seriously enough that it scared him.
He spotted Tony as he walked toward the front desk, and waved to him to get his attention.
“How is everything?” Tony smiled.
“Great. I’d like to reserve a table for lunch.”
“I already have one ready for you on the west deck. I thought you and Nicole might be needing it.”
“Wow, that’s perceptive.” Gavin quirked a brow. “How did you know?”
“If you work here long enough, you learn to recognize the spark, trust me.”
“The spark?”
“Sure. The way you smile every time you look at her. The way she blushes when you touch her. There is enough spark to be a full flame.”
“Interesting.” Gavin smiled to himself. “I can’t argue with that.”
“You shouldn’t, either. I see lots of couples, but seeing a spark like that is rare.”
“Thanks for the insight, Tony.”
He left the counter before Tony could see the flush in his face. The more he thought about Nicole, the more mixed his emotions became.
When he reached the table he sat down and gazed out over the side of the mountain. Even here, a million miles away from his clients, he felt as if he had to portray a certain image to those around him.
But not with Nicole. When he was with her, he was actually being more vulnerable—more himself—than he could ever remember being—only there was a fear looming on the horizon. It was beautiful now, with the memory of her kiss still on his lips. How long would it remain that way?
“Gavin! There you are.” Nicole smiled as she stepped through the door.
Gavin stood up as she approached. “I was starting to wonder if you were going to join me.”
“I’m sorry it took so long.” She bit into her bottom lip.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just thought maybe you changed your mind.” He pulled out her chair for her. She sat down in it and reached up to pat his hand.
“There’s nowhere that I’d rather be.”
“Me either.” He smiled and settled in the chair across from her.
For a few seconds he sat back to simply admire the sight of her. It wasn’t her beauty that made her so attractive to him; it was her personality spilling out into the laugh lines and pink cheeks. Nicole was to him as much a work of art as the painting he’d gazed at in the hall.
“Tony will bring out lunch in a few minutes.”
“Great, I’m starving. That walk took more out of me than I realized.”
His eyes sparked with mischief as he leaned closer to her. “Or maybe it was something else? Perhaps the kiss?”
She ducked her head so that her hair almost shielded her face.
He reached out and brushed her hair back away from her eyes and over her shoulder. “No hiding.” His hand lingered on the curve of her neck just above her shoulder.
She reached up and grasped his wrist.
His first instinct was that she would push him away, but instead she pressed there with a light squeeze.
“You have no idea what you do to me, Gavin.”
“I might have some idea, since you’re doing something crazy to me.”
He leaned further across the small table. She leaned in as well. He guided her head with a tilt of his hand. Just as their lips met, someone cleared their throat.
Gavin pulled back to see Tony beside the table.
“So sorry to disturb you, but I didn’t want this to get cold.”
Chapter 22
Nicole laughed as she brushed a hand over her lips in an attempt to hide the fact that she’d been prepared for a sultry kiss.
“Bad timing, Tony.” Gavin narrowed his eyes.
“I know, I know. But you’re going to love this.” He set the trays down on the table. Then he lifted the lids to reveal two platters of crackers, cheeses, fruits, vegetables with dressings to dip, and a variety of olives.
“Oh, that looks so good. I’m hungry!” Nicole darted a hand into the platter and grabbed a slice of cheese. The moment she did she realized her mistake. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a pig of myself.”
Tony carried the lids to the platters away as Gavin looked across the table at her.
“Why would you apologize for being hungry? I am too.” He grabbed a handful of grapes and popped them into his mouth.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve been dieting practically my whole life, and a certain amount of guilt goes with that.” She frowned. Why was she telling him things he didn’t need to know?
“Well, you’re not on a diet with me.” He held her gaze. “I mean that. You’re gorgeous, exactly the way you are. There isn’t a thing you should be thinking about changing. I know it’s not my place to tell you what to do, or not do, but I can’t imagine anyone finding any flaw in what I see before me.”
“You don’t have to say that, Gavin. I’m in my forties, I’ve lived a full life, and I have the normal wear and tear. I’m not ignorant of my faults.” She shrugged. “I don’t have any interest in being perfect, but other people always have opinions.”
“Other people like your ex-husband, you mean?”
“Yes.” She picked up another piece of cheese. “But, in his defense, I was tiny when I met him.”
“He couldn’t handle you blossoming into a woman?”
“Is that what it’s called?” She laughed.
“Forgive me if I lavish you with compliments. I don’t think that you’ve heard nearly enough. But I can promise you, I mean every word I say.”
She studied him for a moment. As much as she wanted to be skeptical, she could read the honesty in his expression.
“What gives you that confidence, Gavin? How do you know that your instincts are right about me?”
“I don’t. But I want them to be. If I led with fear, I’d never be successful in my life. So one day I decided that if I wanted things to be a certain way, I’d believe in it, fight for it, demand it, until they were. Trust
me, it doesn’t always work. But with you, I’m willing to bet that it will.”
As they finished their lunch, she grew more and more comfortable with him. Gavin had an arrogant side, but it was for a purpose. He wanted to protect himself from the world. She could see that. Did he need to protect himself from her too?
After they stepped back into the resort, they lingered by the front desk.
“I’d like to take you out tonight.”
“Out? Where?” He furrowed an eyebrow.
“Just out to the fire pits. I’ve reserved one for us, so we can just look at the stars and relax. Does that sound good to you?”
“It sounds good. But we’ll have to bundle up; it’s supposed to be cold tonight. But don’t worry, I can keep you warm.” The words left his mouth before he could catch himself. “I mean, we’ll be close to the fire.”
“Sure.” She laughed. “I’m glad that you’ll be there to keep me warm. And that you’d trust me near a fire—after our little collision today.”
“Oh, I enjoyed that.” He tugged at her waist with a playful pressure. “Want to kick me again?”
“No.” She laughed.
“It’s good to hear that.” He held her gaze.
“Hear what?’
“Your laughter.”
“Oh.” She smiled shyly and looked away. “I guess after my little meltdown you probably think I’m a little loopy.”
“No, I don’t think that at all.” He cupped her cheek and lifted her chin.
She found herself looking straight into his eyes.
“I think you’ve been through a lot, Nic, and I don’t want to add to that. You have to promise me that you’ll tell me if you think I’m taking things too far, alright?”
“I think I can do that.” She smiled.
“I’m serious.” His eyes narrowed just enough to shadow them. “I don’t want to be someone who hurts you.”
“Gavin, I don’t imagine how you could ever do that. Trust me, I’ll let you know.”
He nodded as his hand fell back to his side. She noticed the ripple of his jaw.
“Why don’t we join in on one of the activities?” She picked up a pamphlet to distract them both.
“Oh, I don’t know, I’m not much of a joiner.”
“Horseback riding?”
“Not if you expect me to walk later.” He laughed. “How about wine tasting?”
“I’m afraid that might be a little out of my element.”
“Hm.” He tapped a finger against the counter.
“If I might interject.” Tony stepped behind the front desk and leaned forward.
Gavin glanced over at him.
“Sure. What do you suggest?” Nicole peered at the list of activities in her hand again.
“There is this fun activity that is starting right now. It’s a paint-by-number, paired with wine.”
“Painting?” She leaned her head from side-to-side. “That could be fun. What do you think, Gavin?”
“I’m up for it, if you are. Though I can’t promise I will create anything recognizable. Artistic skills aren’t really my thing.”
“It’s paint-by-number.” Tony raised an eyebrow. “Really, no one is expecting Picasso.”
“See, listen to Tony.” Nicole smiled and tugged at his hand. “Let’s hurry before it starts.”
“Down the hall, third door on your left.” Tony waved to them as she hurried down the hall with Gavin’s hand firmly in hers.
When she pushed the door open, the smell of paint hit her first. There were several easels set up, back to back in pairs. There was a seat in front of each one.
“Look, there’s one empty one.” Nicole guided Gavin inside.
Once they settled on either side of the easel Nicole wondered if Gavin even wanted to paint, or if she’d forced him into it. She peered around the side of the easel at him and grinned as she watched him organize his paints in the exact order he wanted them.
He looked up and caught her watching him. “Are you ready for this?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I think so. It will probably be a bowl of fruit, right?”
“We’re about to find out.” He pointed toward the front of the room.
A woman walked in with a stack of canvases. She set them down on a table in the front of the room. As she held one up, Nicole saw exactly what the paint-by-number was. It was an image of two lovers engaged in an embrace, with several trees around them. For a moment she wondered if somehow the staff knew what had happened between her and Gavin in the woods. But she was sure that was absurd.
“Hello, everyone. Welcome to paint-by-number. The goal here is to have fun. So please don’t concern yourself with coloring in the lines or making an exact replica of our example piece. If you want to get really creative and go outside the lines, then feel free. If you have any questions, I’ll be right here to assist you. Now if each of you would like to come up and collect your canvas, then we can get started.”
Gavin leaned toward Nicole.
“That is not a fruit bowl.”
“You’re right.” Nicole grimaced. “Do you want to leave?”
“No way. I’ll go get two.”
As he walked up to the front of the room to get the canvases, Nicole couldn’t help but admire the way his body moved. He was confident in the way that he did everything.
He returned and set them both up on their easels. “All set.”
“Thank you. Now let’s see if I can do this without giggling.”
“Just pretend they’re us.” Gavin smirked. “That’s my plan.”
“Oh really?” She blushed. The thought of him imagining the figures in the painting as the two of them left her feeling nervous.
She tried to distract herself by painting. As her brush traveled across the canvas she was reminded of the amount of walls she’d painted in her lifetime—apartment walls, nursery walls, bedroom makeovers. She’d painted over the scuffs, spackled in the holes, erased the damage that life and love could do, but that wasn’t so easy to do when it came to her own heart. No matter how she tried to paint over the fears that Jack had left her with, her insecurities constantly reared their ugly head. You’re here with Gavin, not back there with him, she reminded herself.
As she painted the male’s body in the portrait she paid special attention to the subtle rises of Gavin’s muscular frame. There was something very intimate about painting his form in such intricate detail.
Chapter 23
Gavin struggled with the cap on one of the paints until it finally unscrewed. He wasn’t quite sure how he’d ended up in such a ridiculous situation. Paint-by-number? He glanced around at the other people in the small room. No one else appeared to find the situation as strange as he did.
When he looked back at the canvas in front of him, his mind shifted. It was far too easy to envision himself and Nicole in the picture. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to paint after all.
When he peeked over at Nicole, he saw her hard at work. Her lips were parted, her body leaned toward the painting. She seemed to be very focused on what she was doing. Tiny flecks of paint speckled the ends of her hair. The sight of her inspired him to continue with his own painting. He couldn’t help but wonder what she might be thinking about as she painted.
When the session was over he stood up from the stool and took a look at her painting. She put down her paintbrush and sat back to look at it as well. The details she’d etched into the skin of the male’s back and chest made him wonder.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She rinsed her paintbrush and avoided his eyes. “I enjoyed painting it.”
“I did too. I’m glad that we did this.”
“Can I see yours?” She stood up and walked around the side of the easel.
When he heard a subtle intake of breath, he knew that she recognized herself in the painting.
“This is amazing. I thought you said you had no artistic skills?”
“I guess you inspire me.” He s
lid an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. “In fact, I know you do.” He buried his lips in the tendrils of her hair to steal a quick kiss along the slope of her neck.
Her body stiffened in reaction to his caress.
“Too much?” He drew away from her and met her eyes.
“Why don’t we go for another walk?”
“Actually, there’s a place I want to show you. I think you’ll like it.”
“Okay.” She smiled.
“You can’t go dressed like that.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Did you bring a swimsuit?”
“Don’t you think it’s a little chilly for that?”
“Trust me. I’ll meet you on the deck in fifteen minutes, okay?”
“I’ll be there.”
He watched as she walked away.
After he changed he met her on the deck. Tony had slipped him a suggestion earlier about a certain romantic spot. Gavin was hesitant to take his advice at first, but he thought it might be an opportunity for them both to relax.
Just after he stepped out onto the deck, Nicole stepped out behind him. She wore a long white cover-up that drew his attention.
“I still say it’s a bit chilly for this.”
“You won’t be cold long, I promise.” He curled his arm around her shoulders and led her down a marked path.
“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing yet?”
“You’ll see soon.” He was quite pleased with himself as he steered her in another direction.
The narrow path led to a wide-open view of a hot spring. He could see the steam as it rose from the water. It was surrounded by large rocks and leafy foliage. On one side, a flow of water cascaded down the face of the mountain. It was the type of beauty that he’d only seen in movies, and he was a bit shocked at how much he was savoring the whole experience.
“Gavin, this is amazing.” She wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’m so glad that you left it a surprise.”
“I didn’t really have a choice. I don’t think there are any words to describe this. So are you ready to go for a swim?”
“Absolutely.” She tugged off her cover-up and headed straight for the water.
Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 1 - 4 Page 8
