by Linda Verji
Lee made a face. “Doesn’t look like she was any good.”
“What?” She glared at him. Was he talking about her Juana?
“What is that?” Unaware or likely ignoring her glare, Lee tilted his head to better inspect the painting. “Is that a windmill, a kite, her mother… what?”
“It’s an abstract painting,” A.J explained, “so you define what it is for yourself. It might be a windmill to you, but a kite to someone else. What matters is how it makes you feel.”
“No, thanks.” Lee snorted derisively. “If I buy a painting, I need to be able to name what I’m looking at.”
“Okay.” A.J nodded. “Got it. No more abstract paintings.”
They moved on to their next piece; a painting of three women carrying large baskets on their backs while walking through a village.
“This is a painting of everyday life in Japan in the 1900s,” A.J explained. “It was done by Japanese Impressionist called Eiichi Koike.”
“It’s nice but a little too small for my place.” Lee shook his head. “My apartment is pretty big.”
“You can stack several paintings on one wall and make your own gallery,” A.J suggested with more bite in her tone than she intended. She was beginning to believe that Lee wasn’t here for the art.
“Nah. I prefer one big statement piece.” He brushed past her. “Maybe not a painting.”
“Not a painting. Hmm…” Struggling to hold her temper in check, she followed him. They stopped in front of a large shield engraved with images of angels and demons at war.
“What about this?” she asked. “It’s a piece by a South African artist, Thuso Manamela.”
“It’s nice. It’s nice.” Lee’s gaze was appreciative as he took in the shield, and for a brief moment, A.J thought they were done with this sham tour. Then he grinned. “But it’s made of brass.”
She almost threw him out of her shop right then and there. But two things stopped her. One – he was Lee. Despite how irritating he was, it was still good to be so close to him when they’d been apart for so long. Two – when she’d started this business, she’d resolved that even though she wasn’t a people-person, she’d make this work even if it killed her.
Casper had cut off her formal education as soon as she was done with high-school. Because of him, she had no papers and thus no chance of being hired by a ‘normal’ employer. However, there were three things she was an expert in; stealing, fighting and art. Stealing she was done with. Fighting was also off the table because as much as she was good at hurting people, she didn’t enjoy it. The only thing left for her was art – and this was the best way for her to use her expertise legally. Unfortunately, it required a bit of patience; patience to deal with jokers like Lee. But she could do it.
No, she had to do it.
Lee, it seemed, was determined to test her. Everything she pointed out was too small, too big, not his style, not made of the right material. Every time he made her show him another piece because he didn’t like the previous one, she imagined herself giving him a spinning hook kick right to the face. Though he was much taller and more muscular than she was, she was confident she could do enough damage to shut him up.
“You’re thinking of hitting me, aren’t you?”
“Of course not.” A.J forced a smile. “I’m just amazed that such a discerning client walked into our store.”
Lee laughed. “That’s not what your eyes are saying.”
She was about to tell him to stop looking at her eyes and focus on the art when the wind-chimes rang. A moment later, a middle-aged blonde wrapped in expensive furs and wearing a country’s worth of jewelry walked into the store.
“Good morning.” The smile A.J gave the woman was genuine, welcoming and filled with more than a little relief. Here was someone to distract her from Lee.
“Morning.” The lady answered as she edged closer to A.J and Lee. “A friend of mine bought a piece from you earlier this week. She thought you might have something I’d like.”
“I’m sure we can find something.” A.J beamed. “Do you mind waiting for me to finish with this client?”
“No, you don’t have to put her on hold,” Lee cut in before the client could answer. “I’m okay looking on my own.”
“Are you sure?” A.J asked.
He nodded. “I’m good.”
“Thank you.” The lady shot him a grateful look.
Soon, A.J was taking the lady around the room and describing the store’s items. Unlike Lee, this woman wasn’t picky. Within minutes, she’d already selected a collection of miniature cherubs. As soon as the woman left, another client walked in. This time it was an elderly man looking for a graduation present for his granddaughter. Lee gave her only a slight nod, but it was enough for her to get what he was saying. I’m okay on my own. With a smile, she turned to the elderly gentleman.
Though Lee did nothing to attract A.J’s attention as she showed the client around the shop, she was keenly aware of the glances he kept shooting her way every couple of seconds. A.J was no fool. She could see the interest in his glances – sexual interest. It was obvious that he was attracted to her. But what was even more discomfiting was the fact that she was attracted to him.
Her former line of business was a hotspot for men, which meant she’d been hit on more times than she cared to remember. Yet she’d never been drawn to anyone. At least not in the way she was drawn to Lee. This awareness she felt whenever she was close to him, was odd and alien to her.
The elderly gentleman was interested in more than one piece, and she ended up spending more time with him than anticipated. Still, she remained aware of Lee’s every movement. So when he started for the door, her gaze immediately flew to him. Where was he going? Was he tired of waiting? Without a wave or even saying a word, he exited the store.
Immediate disappointment raced through her. She should’ve been happy that he was gone and couldn’t annoy her anymore, yet she wasn’t. When he showed up twenty minutes later, an instinctive smile lifted her lips.
“Happy to see me?” he asked as he edged closer to the visitor’s table where she was seated.
Noting the brown bag he was carrying, she arched her eyebrows. “What would make you think that?”
“You’re smiling,” he pointed out as he settled in the seat across from her.
She immediately rearranged her features into a more grave expression. “I’m not.”
He only smiled. Looking around the store, he asked, “We’re alone?”
If anyone else had asked the question, it would’ve sounded innocent. But the look in Lee’s eyes and his wicked smile left her squirming uncomfortably on her seat.
“Yes, I’m done with the client.” Surprised that she sounded so business-like instead of as breathless as she felt, she added, “Do you want me to show you more pieces?”
“Not now.” He set the bag he was carrying on her desk. Immediately, the delicious scent of meat, baked bread and onions wafted between them. “Why don’t we eat first?”
“I’m not hungry,” she said, but as if in defiance, her stomach growled. The growl was so loud even Lee heard it.
He laughed. “Your stomach disagrees.”
Heated embarrassment flushed up her face. Moments later, that embarrassment was forgotten. Her senses were too engrossed in the sandwich he pulled from the bag.
“Mm.” She closed her eyes as she chewed, savoring the delicious meal.
“You like it that much?” Lee asked.
“It is so good.” When she opened her eyes, she found him staring at her lips.
The amusement that usually lit up his gaze was gone. In its place was a heated look that left her in no doubt that he wasn’t having innocent thoughts. Her lower tummy contracted as heat swept through her.
She swiped her hand over her mouth and cleared her throat to clear the sudden tightness there before asking, “Is this from O’Malley’s?”
“Yeah.” Lee’s gaze lifted to meet hers. The heated d
esire faded and was replaced by the amusement she was used to. “They’re the reason no fast-food restaurants lasts more than a year on this street.”
“I can see why.” She bit into her sandwich again. “This is divine.”
“I’ve tried to get Hal to give the recipe more than a couple of times,” Lee said. “But he’s as stingy as Scrooge.”
“I bet you only asked him so you could open your own restaurant with that recipe,” she teased.
“See. You already know me.” Lee grinned. “We should go on a date.”
She laughed. “Nice try, buddy.”
A.J wasn’t a conversation person; she preferred to just watch and listen. But for some reason Lee didn’t even have to try to get her talking. The conversation between them was easier than she expected. Time flew by as he gave her a rundown on his job while gently prodding her for more information about herself. It was fortunate that he was more interested in her current career as an antique store owner than her past job because it allowed her to also talk about her work. After lunch, she expected him to harangue her to show him more pieces. He didn’t. He left.
However, three days later, at exactly eleven-twelve, he was back. And it was the same story; he strolled around the shop asking questions about her antiques, subtly weaved in some questions about her, then wandered around on his own while she catered to other clients. At one, he brought her lunch again. Unfortunately, a group of ladies came in right then, and A.J and Lee didn’t get a chance to talk.
He left a few minutes later with a mimed, “Bye.”
WHEN HE SHOWED up at one p.m. two days later with lunch, A.J eyed him with equal amounts of exasperation and amusement. “Don’t you have to go to work or something?”
“Is that you way of trying to get to know me better?” Lee countered with a smirk as he settled down at the table.
She snorted. “You wish.”
Lee laughed. His amused gaze locked on her, he answered her previous question. “No, I don’t have to go to work.”
“What?” A.J teased as she rounded the counter then edged closer to the table. “They already fired you?”
“What if they did?” Lee retorted.
“Then it would be a good move.” She took the seat opposite him. “Yesterday’s episode was straight up bull. You killed Marcus. Marcus. Is that the surprise twist you were bragging about? Straight up bull!”
To say she was awed when he’d confessed that he was the showrunner behind one of her favorite TV series ‘American Legends’ would be an understatement. Behind that cocky, laissez-faire façade he put up was a competent and talented man.
“Hey, someone had to die.” He pushed the brown bag carrying their lunch towards her. “And it was either Marcus or Sheera.”
“You should’ve gone with Sheera.” A.J huffed. “I’ve never hated a character so much in my life.”
“But you tune in every Wednesday and Thursday just so you can hate her more,” Lee pointed out.
He had a point. As much as she hated Sheera, the show wouldn’t be as juicy without that witch’s shenanigans.
“And for the record I wasn’t fired.” Lee grinned. “We’re done shooting all the upcoming episodes for American Legends, which means you have me all to yourself for the next fourteen days.”
“No thanks.” She grimaced. “I don’t want you.”
He set his elbows on the table and leaned towards her. “Don’t you?”
A.J didn’t miss the double-entendre behind his words and it sent instant heat flushing up her body. Woo! This guy was smooth. She cleared her throat and pointed to the brown bag. “Is this from O’Malley’s too?”
The amused look he gave her made it clear that he knew she was trying to change the topic. Fortunately, all he did was pull out two tins from the bag. “No, I got this from a friend’s restaurant.”
“What is it?” She opened her tin to reveal the colorful and flavorful meal inside. It was mixture of rice, vegetables, some kind of meat and even boiled eggs. “Oh, what’s this?”
“It’s a Colombian dish. Arroz Attollado.”
“Arroz Attollado?” A.J tested the name on her tongue. It sounded as exotic as the meal she was staring at.
“Basically rice, pork and a few other things. I hope you’re okay with that.” Lee opened his own tin to reveal that he’d ordered the same meal for himself. “I would’ve asked you what you wanted, but you still haven’t given me your number.”
“Is that your way of asking me for my number?” she teased.
“Yes.” He nodded.
She laughed. The guy had no shame in his game.
Soon the conversation circled to his family.
“How long have you and your family been in New York?” she prodded.
“Hmm… not sure.” Lee looked upwards for a brief moment before saying, “We moved from Saint Louis when I was seven and came here.”
His answer sent surprise shuttling through her because it wasn’t true. He was from Arlington, like her. And he’d been there until he was eight – maybe even longer. She knew that because even after they parted, she’d continued to check up on him just to make sure he was okay. However, nothing in his expression said that he was lying. Maybe he’d just forgotten. Like he’d forgotten her.
Instead of correcting him, she asked, “When you say we moved, you mean you, your mom and dad, right?”
“Right.” He nodded.
“I haven’t seen your mom around though,” A.J said.
“And you won’t.” Lee sighed. “She died five years ago.”
Victoria was dead? A.J’s hand flew up to her throat. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
A.J didn’t know Lee’s mother personally, but she’d seen her from afar a couple of times and she’d seemed like a good woman. Given how well Lee had turned out, it was clear that she was also a good mother.
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Though he smiled, there was obvious sadness in his eyes. “You didn’t kill her. Cancer did.”
Still, A.J found herself saying, “I’m sorry.”
“What about you?” Lee asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject. “Are you here in New York alone? Any family?”
A.J thought over the question. Casper was in New York but did he really count as family when he’d never once acted like her father? She decided, “Yeah, I’m alone. No family.”
“Really?” Lee studied her. “Where are your parents?”
There was no good way to answer that question without opening a can of worms, so she simply said, “It’s complicated.”
Lee studied her for a long uncomfortable moment and she thought he might insist on a more comprehensive answer. But he surprised her by nodding. “Okay.”
Relief pulsed through A.J. She liked that he knew when to back off, unlike most people.
Twenty minutes later, they were done with lunch. While A.J cleared away the now empty containers, Lee took out his phone.
“Date three.” He swiped his finger over the screen of his phone. “Check.”
“Date three?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He nodded as his eyes met hers. “We just had our third date.”
Her mouth fell open. “I’m sorry, we just had our what?”
“Third date,” he offered helpfully. “We ate together and talked. Isn’t that what people who are dating do?”
“Dating - what?” A.J stared at him. This man had lost his damn mind. “When did we start dating?”
He grinned. “On the first day I brought you lunch.”
“That was a date?” When he nodded, she crossed over to the cash register and opened it. “How much was that sandwich?”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” He sat back in his seat. “It’s too late. You’re on the plane now. No getting off.”
The gall of this man! She stared at him in stunned silence before ordering, “Get out.”
His lips kicked up in a smile. “You’re kicking me out?”
“Yes.” She pointed to the door. “And do
n’t you dare bring me another sandwich.”
“But I can still drop by, right?” he asked as he rose to his full height.
“Get out.”
His smile got even wider. “What about my art piece?”
“Out.”
“Okay. Okay.” Displaying a wide grin, he waved. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Before she could tell him he was officially banned from her store, he sauntered away leaving her gaping at him. If points were being given for persistence, then Lee would get ten over ten.
A.J laughed.
CHAPTER 6
Lee was back in his personal hell. He was back in that horrible room where only scary shadows and darkness were his companions. The door opened again and a blinding light flooded the room. But this time instead of running, Lee called out for her.
Amara. He tossed fitfully in his bed. Amara, save me.
The bright light dimmed enough for him to see the shadow standing at the door. For some reason that shadow didn’t scare him, not like the shadows dancing on the walls or the monster he expected to come any time. If anything, seeing this new shadow eased his fear.
Amara. He knew it was her even before she started walking towards him.
The closer she edged towards him, the calmer he felt and the clearer her face became. He couldn’t exactly describe her features but she was a child like him, taller than him but just as slender, and she was black. When she knelt in front of him, he leapt into her arms.
Her embrace was like a warm cloud, enveloping him, protecting him. Her arms were reed thin yet they seemed strong enough to protect him from harm. He knew the monster was still out there beyond that door, bidding its time, yet it didn’t matter.
Amara was here.
Gradually, Lee’s tossing and writhing eased until he faded into calm slumber. When he woke up, daylight was already spilling through his drapes. As he showered, he couldn’t help wondering why his nightmare wasn’t as bad as it usually was. Was that a sign that the nightmares were winding down their torment?
Still, one word kept echoing in his thoughts. That name – Amara. No matter how hard he wracked his brain he couldn’t remember having met anyone called Amara. Where in the world had he picked that name from? A book he’d read? A movie he’d watched?
