A multitude of easels crowded one corner, with two more positioned against the far brick wall, obviously undergoing work. The colors and the splashes and the wildness characterized the entire room. The floor had been marble at one point, but even with drop cloths of different colors in every direction, paint could be seen everywhere. Glorious splotches of it.
The far corner held a massive cabinet with art supplies, including an impressive selection of premium paints and too many different brushes to count. A wide sink had probably been copper colored at one time, and now shimmered in a multitude of blues and greens. Music pounded through invisible speakers.
Her gaze caught on the woman who seemed to be painting in time with the beat. Theresa had her back to Millie as she worked on a mountain scene with abstract colors and forms that appeared to be about halfway finished. The painting exuded life, with mountains pulsating and shifting in harmony with the wild tune.
Theresa stepped back to survey her work, fresh paint smeared down her leg, her paintbrush in hand. She paused and looked over her shoulder. “Oh, hey.” There were golds and pinks now on her neck and a fleck of white on her nose. Her beauty was a feminine version of Scott’s ruggedness.
“Hey,” Millie said. “I’m sorry to interrupt you.”
“No problem.” Theresa walked across the drop cloths to the sink and plunged the brush in a jar containing yellow liquid. She washed her hands and pressed the button above the sink. The music instantly cut off. “What do you think of my studio?”
“I love it,” Millie said, honestly. She wandered over to the cleanup area. “What do you do with the liquid when it’s done?”
Theresa wiped her clean hands on her jeans, smearing them with red and purple. “I try to recycle it as best I can.”
“Really?” Millie ducked and opened the cupboard without being asked. “You know, I could rig this up for you so there would be a natural reclamation.”
“You could?”
Oh, the challenge called to her. “You bet. In fact...” Millie started to think through her options, anticipation rippling through her veins. “I could create a system where you have different cleansers and water and a filtering system, so you could just move the brush from one to the other and the cycle would happen naturally.”
Theresa clapped her hands once, spraying pink. “That would be awesome. Would you do that?”
“You bet. There’s a lot I could do in this space to help you out.”
Theresa leaned forward for an impulsive hug. “Millie, you’re wonderful. Thank you.”
Millie returned the hug and ignored the splotch of purple now on her suit.
“Oops,” Theresa said, looking at the navy-blue jacket.
“That’s okay. It adds something to this boring outfit,” Millie said, grinning.
Theresa pushed a strand of her blond hair off her face. “You probably need clothes. I didn’t even think of it. I’m sorry. Let’s get you something comfortable.” She put her arm over Millie’s shoulder. “Scotty said you two were going to stay the night. For some reason, he’s worried that Julie has gone missing.”
“We’re both worried.”
Theresa propelled them across the room. “I find it sweet. You two are a perfect match.”
“Oh, we’re not dating,” Millie said.
Paint dripped from Theresa’s shoulder. “Huh. I have eyes and an artist’s soul. Whether you two are smart enough to realize it or not, there’s definitely something between you.”
“I didn’t say there wasn’t anything between us,” Millie admitted. “It’s just things are complicated.”
“Oh, pfft. Nothing like that should ever be complicated. Scott needs somebody full of challenge and adventure, and you seem just about perfect. You look like you could use somebody stable and strong. Believe me, my Scotty has both of those attributes tenfold. In fact, too much so. Did he tell you he’s all but forcing me to fly to our Nantucket property tomorrow? Julie and I are close, and I have to admit, I did tell Werner Dearth to go to hell. The guy can’t be that vindictive, can he?”
“Yeah.” Millie winced. “I’m sure Scott just wants you to be safe.”
Theresa pulled her back through the kitchen and living room to a stairway on the far end that led to the bedrooms upstairs. “He’s lucky that I want to go paint there. It’s the perfect time of year to capture the ocean.” She nudged Millie with her hip. “So. Tell me all about yourself, Millicent Frost.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Scott finished drafting his brief in support of a motion for summary judgment around three in the morning. He’d only been out of the office for a couple of days, and it shocked him how much work had piled up. He thought fleetingly about taking on a partner, but he didn’t have time to deal with the vetting process right now.
Stretching his neck, he wandered through the penthouse and up the stairs to the guest bedroom he normally occupied. He walked inside to find Millie curled up on her side under the covers, barely making a bump. She slept peacefully and that pleased him. For several heartbeats, he just stared at her. Light streamed in the uncovered window now that the moon had finally banished the clouds for a short time.
She cuddled on her side, her hair a wild, curly mass over the pillow, still touched with green. Bruises still marred across her cheekbone from her fight with the guy he’d killed the night before, and irritation rippled through him that somebody had dared hurt her.
