Of course, Tutu did. “No problem,” I lied.
The workshop lights came on with a flick of the switch, and I strode directly to the two tables, yanking the cloths covering them.
“Wow.” Jameson said only the one word, but I still filled with pleasure because it had emerged heartfelt. “These are going to look incredible in my place.”
“Thanks. As you can see, I managed to get the bubbles to form the concentric pattern you wanted.”
Jameson crouched and ran his hand over the surface. “I admire the way you can create such beauty.”
“Thanks.” Then I found myself blurting out, “What do you do for work?”
“A different kind of art. I’m a game app developer. Or was. Since a few of them went viral, I spend more time these days dealing with administration tasks than designing.”
“I’ve never understood people’s obsession with playing on their phones.” My nose wrinkled. “Then again, I was never much into video games.”
“And I was the opposite. As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of them, to my parents’ annoyance. I’m pretty sure the fact they kept telling me I wasted my time made me determined to prove them wrong.” He grinned, and my tummy did a flip. Careful. Despite his charm, he remained a rich, out-of-my-league client.
“I began working with obsidian at a young age. First by going out with my grandmother to find unique pieces. She used to make the most beautiful jewelry and sculptures.”
“I take it she passed.”
“Yeah. Tutu, I mean, Keanu, was never the same after. It hit him harder than losing my mom.”
“I’m sorry to hear you lost two women close to you. That must have been tough.”
I checked his face for fake sympathy, but damned if he didn’t sound genuine.
I shrugged. “Life goes on. Someone had to make sure the business kept going and that Keanu got out of bed each day.” Although those first few weeks had been rough. He’d refused to bathe, barely ate, and stayed huddled in his bedroom until I marched in, dumped a bucket of cold water over him, and yelled at him to snap out of it.
Cruel? Yes. Also, the exact same thing he did to me when my mom died and I refused to go to school.
“My mom died when I was just a little kid, but my dad is still kicking around on the East Coast.”
“Do you visit often?”
“Good god, no.” He sounded so appalled. “Don’t get me wrong. I know you’re supposed to love and cherish your parents, but even though I became a success, all I hear is how I could have done better, how I should have applied myself to something more serious.”
My brow arched. “Does your dad not grasp just how serious the gaming industry is?” Just because I didn’t play didn’t mean I had no clue of the money to be made in it.
“Nope. He’s stuck in the games-are-rotting-my-brain stage. Although he doesn’t have a problem with the money I deposit in his account each month.”
“At least your dad keeps his money in the bank. I randomly come across hidden stashes of cash my grandfather forgot about. I even found some in the toilet tank when I changed the flapper valve.”
Jameson’s mouth rounded. “You’re kidding.”
“I wish. I’ve also found some in the stove hood vent. I wondered why it wasn’t evacuating the smoke from the bacon I burned.”
Jameson’s chuckle, a rich and velvety thing, tickled me all over. What happened to being businesslike? I’d come out here to show my progress on his purchase, not make small talk—in my pajamas.
“Well, if you’re satisfied with what you’ve seen…” I stated.
For some reason, his gaze settled on me and his lips curved. “Very. But I’ll admit, I didn’t come by just to look at the tables. I wanted to see you again.”
“Me? Why?” I frowned. “And don’t feed me some line about me being the hottest thing you’ve ever set eyes on and that you couldn’t stop thinking about me.”
“Those pineapples are pretty sexy, and it’s not often I meet a woman who walks around with a little lizard draped around her neck,” he stated deadpan. The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Honestly, you’re interesting.”
Just what every woman wanted to hear.
