When he'd finished the last stroke of red, he set his brush down and eagerly waited for the next color they would use. Dominick was so caught up in the class, he barely registered the nervousness he should be feeling next toHarmony.
He washaving...fun.
"That concludes the background. We want to give that layer a few minutes to dry. So take this opportunity to clean your brushes, refill your drinks, and prepare yourself for a little game. The winner will get a voucher for one free class to use at alaterdate."
Dominick reluctantly did as he was told. He hated that they had to take a break just when he felt like he'd hit his stride. But he also felt a small bit of apprehension over the next part. Would it get morecomplicated?
"Are you the competitive type?" Harmony was leaning over so close, he could smell the wine on herbreath.
A corner of Dominick's mouth lifted. "It depends. When it comes to academics, I'm pretty hard on myself. It's how I got big enough scholarships to go to FloridaSouthern."
Harmony placed her elbow of the tabletop and propped her chin in her hand. Her eyes looked heavy as she looked up at Dominick. "So, you're like supersmart?"
"I work hard. It's not exactly the same thing. But if you want to think I'm some kind of genius, I won'targue."
Harmony's grin widened as she sat back up. "So does that mean you arecompetitive?"
"Like I said, I am with my grades." Dominick waved a hand at his painting. "Something like this,lessso."
"Why is that?" Harmony titled her head to the side. "Do you think you're too good for art?" The words could have been interpreted as hostile, if not for the playful tone of voice and the sly grin onherface.
"Maybe I think I'm not good enough for it," he answered with the sameteasingtone.
Harmony looked at her canvas, then to Dominick's. She gave an exaggerated once-over of the entire room. "I don't know about that. Your background looks like everyone else's. Maybe you haven't given art enough of achance."
"Or maybe art hasn't given me enough of achance."
Harmony sat back in her chair, looking at Dominick appraisingly. "Maybe shehasn't."
Dominick wondered if they were still talking about his skill, or lack thereof, when it came to painting. Or were they talking about this date? He knew his words had a double meaning, and with her last statement, it seemed like hersdidtoo.
Plus, the way Harmony was looking at him right now, as if she were trying to decipher a puzzle, made him hopeful she was coming around to the idea of dating him inearnest.
"How did theeveningend?"
"Areyou asking me if he gave me a kiss goodnight? We didn't get thechance."
5
What in theworld was shethinking?
Was she really flirting with Dominick of all people? The wine had to be the only explanation. There was no other reason for her to be making the commentsshe’dmade.
Maybe shehasn't?!?
She might as well have thrown herself at him right there in that classroom. Harmony thought of the picture in her pocket. On it was her real date. Pax was handsome, and charming, and would know that merlot was her last choice when it came to wine. He wouldn’t have gotten hit in the head with a car door likeDominick.
But would Pax have walked Harmony tohercar?
Of course, hewould.
The woman in front of the class clasped her hands together, causing eighteen pairs of eyes to dart in her direction. "It's time to start the contest. Please take the paper plates from the tabletops and place them on your head. Think of your favorite animal. Using whatever brushes and paint colors you want, draw your animal. But make sure you keep the plate on top ofyourhead."
What kind of game was this? And what wouldHarmonydraw?
Dog? No,toohard.
Cat? Sameproblem.
