ChapterTen
Josh wantedto suck the words back in and never say them again. “Frankly, he was a jerk.” Josh hadn’t cared how talented the man claimed his new artist was. Five minutes after he met the guy Josh didn’t want anything to do with eitherofthem.
“He’s a jerk that owns the most highly acclaimed gallery in New York City. He can make or break an artist,”Lilysaid.
Josh had a feeling from her tone that the gallery owner was the man who had broken Lily. The man who had smothered the depth and life he had seen in her artwork online and the drawing that had floated intohislife.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked as he stepped up to thetable.
Lily planted on a fake smile. “Yes, I know I’m ready for some great food and conversation. I’ll have the shrimp bisque, please.” She nudged into Josh. “It’s to dieforhere.”
“I’ll have that to start, too, then.” He had a dying need to comfort her. To heck with business, his heart would crack if he didn’t. With a light touch, he placed his hand at the edge of his knee and shifted his pinky to graze her fingers. She instantly turned her hand over and slid her fingers between his. They didn’t look at each other or say anything. They just sat and listened to Allen and Connieorder.
When the waiter left, Allen leaned in with his arm around Connie, but she wasn’t as difficult to get to know. Josh couldn’t remember the last time he wanted to connect with someone like this. Natalie had been the one who pursued him. When he thought about it, all his former girlfriends from middle school to now had pursued him. Lily was the first real challenge he’d ever faced outside of work. She was complex, beautiful, smart, and talented. Even with the pain her ex had caused her, she still maintained her pride and dignity. That spoke volumesabouther.
“What’s your favoritemovie?”
“What?”
Lily dipped her chin to her chest then looked up at him again. “I know I’m out of practice, but aren’t we supposed to get to know each other on a date? Unless…” She lifted her chin a littlehigher.
“Yes, I guess I’m out of practice on dating, too. I’m not sure I have a favoritemovie.”
Lily bit her bottom lip as if to stifle a laugh. “Sure youdon’t.”
“He likesFargoandBill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but he’ll never admit it in public,”Allensaid.
Josh smacked himself in the forehead. “Thanksalot.”
“Hey, I likeBill and Ted’s. I’m not aFargofan, though.” Lily used her free hand to brush hair from her eyes. He’d noticed how pretty her eyes were the first time they met, but in the soft candlelight they were even more so. A green with gold flecks in them. “Your turn. Ask mesomething.”
Josh thought for a minute, not wanting to ask a generic question. “What’s your favoriteartwork?”
She lit up. “Oh, I don’t know if I can choose. Have you heard ofMilitia Company of District II under the Command of Captain FransBanninckCocq?”
Josh smiled. “Rembrandt? More commonly known asThe Night Watch? Yes, I’veseenit.”
She leaned into him as if to reward him for his answer. “You did? Like in real life and not just in anartbook?”
“Yes, when I went backpacking in Europe. Actually, I love architecture and art.” Across the table, Josh noticed Connie shift closer to Allen. They were getting chummyquick.
“I wouldn’t have guessed that. I have a feeling there’s a lot we don’t know about each other,” Lily said. Her thumb swiped over his hand, and he thought he’d lose all conscious thought if she did it again. His body heated. How did such a simple touch make him short of breath and his pulsequicken?
He took a steadying breath. “I know an easy solutionforthat.”
The soup arrived and Lily had been right. It was the most delicious bisque he’d ever eaten. They talked about work, home, places they’d traveled and places they still wanted to visit. All while Connie and Allen were nose snuggling and cuddling on the other side of the table. That was how it had been with Natalie. They had an instant connection, but things got boring and by the end of a year he was exhausted with herdrama.
They stretched dinner out as long as they could, chatting long after the waiter had brought their check. He was sad to end the night so soon. He was trying to think of a way to stall when Connie said, “Let’s take a walk on the beach. It’s gorgeous this time ofnight.”
For the first time since arriving in Florida, Josh was eager to feel sand between his toes. “That sounds like a great idea. And this time I don’t have to worry about asunburn.”
They’d held hands under the table throughout their meal, even though he had never eaten with his left hand before. He reluctantly released her, and stood to pull out her chair. To his surprise, she stood and slipped her hand back into his, walking side by side with him as they left the restaurant. She seemed to fit perfectly next to him, her long, beautiful legs matching his strideseasily.
“So, you’ve really been to all those museums? I can’t even imagine.” Lily swung their hands as they walked down the path to thebeach.
It was like one of those old black-and-white movies he used to watch with his mother growing up. The moonlight, the sea breeze, and the amazing woman at his side. “I’m surprised you haven’t been. From what I read online, you’re an incredibly successful artist. Some of your pieces sold for more than what I’ve made in two years at mycompany.”
“Perhaps, but I never saw most of that money. I worked for Stephon. He commissioned the pieces for me, and I made a percentage of the sales price. When it was all over, he said he had to reinvest my percentage to keep his gallery open because I’d cost him so much in advertising and event costs trying to sell my stuff. He claimed he was in debt and it was all my fault.” Lily stopped swinging their hands and the lightness in herfaded.
