Now Ariana wasn’t sure all the nervousness was gone. She knew Nicole wanted her here, but Ariana had a few jitters that Nicole caused by just being near her.
“Let’s go down to my bedroom and we’ll finish in my office,” Nicole said. “That’s where we can start the game.”
Ariana followed her into the room and once again took it in.
“This is where you were snooping earlier,” Nicole teased, walking around the bed.
“I was not snooping,” Ariana protested. “I did notice the artwork, but I didn’t get a close look. May I?”
“Of course,” Nicole replied. “As I told you on the roof, I love the female form. Those two prints were done by an author whose books I read.”
Ariana had been gazing at a woman depicted in a seated position gazing over her shoulder at the viewer. The soft lines of the woman’s body were sensual and provocative. She turned to Nicole, not sure she heard her correctly. “An author sketched this?”
“Yeah, I’m a big reader and love sapphic fiction and romance. One of the authors I like to read is also an artist. She occasionally makes prints for her readers.”
Ariana turned back to the prints and stared. “These are…”
“Yes?”
“They’re seductive and,” she paused, “beautiful.” Ariana could feel Nicole standing beside her.
“But you like them?”
“Very much,” Ariana said softly.
They stood side by side gazing at the print for a moment in the quiet of the bedroom.
“In here is the bathroom,” Nicole said.
Ariana walked over and stepped inside. “Wow, this is nice. I love the walk-in shower.”
“Yeah, that bathroom sold me on this place,” Nicole said. “Thank goodness for Kate.”
Ariana chuckled. “Have you said anything to her about…”
Nicole shook her head. “I know what she would say.”
Ariana raised her brows but didn’t say anything. She imagined Kate would point out that Nicole was being reckless and not thinking of her career. But was she?
“Let’s go to the office and watch a little basketball.”
“Are you going to grade me?” Ariana asked, trying to get her thoughts off the prints and the images they conjured in her mind.
“Don’t your coaches do that?”
Ariana nodded. Nicole’s opinions on how she played meant more to her than her coaches and she still wasn’t sure why.
“I don’t do grades, Ari.”
Nicole smiled and Ariana met her gaze. She could fall into those pretty brown eyes and stay.
Chapter Eighteen
Nicole walked into her office and pulled up an extra chair for Ari. She opened her laptop and the dual screens woke up as well.
“I’ll be right back,” Ariana said. “I have my laptop in my bag. Coach sends me stats after the game.”
“You brought your laptop?” Nicole asked when Ariana settled into the chair next to her.
