‘I’d put them on the fridge.’ I was embarrassed to say that I probably still had every single drawing that Ricky had ever done. I just didn’t have the heart to throw them away.
‘Exactement. Because although they were not perfect, they were made by him and that is what made them special,non?’
‘True.’
‘So if you draw me as a stick man, that will also be fine becauseyoudrew it andthatis what is important. And it will be fun!’
‘I suppose so. And if my lack of artistic skills doesn’t make the Love Alchemists laugh, I don’t know what will!’ I smiled, thinking we might get extra credit for the idea of submitting a funny portrait instead of a photo.
‘So we have a deal?’ Gabriel held out his hand.
‘Okay, deal.’ I shook his hand, then almost instantly realised that I shouldn’t have.
As our palms connected, electricity rocketed through my veins.
Whoa.
His hand was so big, soft and warm.
On the rare occasions that one of my exes wanted to hold my hand, I always remembered it being rough or clammy. But Gabriel’s was the complete opposite. It felt like I’d slid my hand into a warm glove padded with expensive cashmere.
I looked up at him and as our eyes met, I wondered if he felt it too.
Hopefully my palm wasn’t sweating. Although I knew I should pull away, somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to. It felt too good.
I should really stop staring at him too. I was sure that any second now he’d look away, but he didn’t. Instead, he held my gaze.
God, he had really beautiful eyes. They were dark, sparkly and magnetic and…
The sound of the artist clearing his throat snapped me out of my trance.
‘You are ready?’ the man asked in a rough French accent.
Shit.
How long had I been staring at Gabriel?
I quickly tore my gaze away.
Then I remembered that I was still holding his hand so removed it too.
‘I, er… sorry,’ I said, embarrassment washing over me.
What were we talking about before I’d held, I meanshookhis hand?
I’d completely lost my train of thought.
‘Would you like to do me first?’ Gabriel asked.
‘Do you?’ My eyebrows shot up to my hairline at his suggestion. Then I realised that of course when he suggested that I ‘do him’ he was talking aboutdrawinghim, not the sexual meaning of ‘doing’ someone.
For God’s sake. Get it together!
‘Oui,’ Gabriel said. ‘Or I can go first?’
‘No, no, it’s okay. I’ll do… I mean, I’lldrawyou first.’
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgement and took a seat.
