“What if I wanted to buy it from you?” Brennan grins, twisting me to face him.
“How much would you pay for it?” I giggle breathlessly, looping my arms around his neck.
“Everything,” he murmurs before leaning down, our lips meeting in a sweet kiss. “I think whatever house we buy needs to have an art studio.”
My eyes widen. “An art studio?”
“I doubt we’ll find one with a studio already built,” he muses, his eyes sparkling as he rubs his nose against mine. “We can just up the bedroom count in our criteria or find one with a den and convert it.”
The thought of a space just for me to make art makes my heart flutter. “That…that would be amazing. I have one saved on my phone and I’m pretty sure it would be perfect for that. But…what if the other guys don’t agree?”
“Agree with what?” Maverick asks, stretching as he comes out the back door.
Brennan’s eyes don’t leave mine. “Finding a house with an extra bedroom so Wren can make it into anart studio.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Maverick says, walking across the grass to reach us. “If nothing else, we can always build out on the property to add it in—” his steps stutter as his eyes land on the canvas. “Wren…this is amazing.”
My cheeks heat under his praise as I glance at the painting again. “Thank you.”
Ethan and Teddy appear at the back door, rubbing their eyes. For a moment, I feel bad that they’ve been working all day on my behalf, but then their gazes land on us and the painting, and all bad feelings fly out the window.
“‘Ello there, Dove,” Teddy greets, spinning me out of Brennan’s hold and kissing me. “”Ad a good day, ‘ave you?”
Another giggle escapes me, and I nod. “Yep. Brennan introduced me to some new music, and I painted.”
His eyes dart to the canvas behind me, eyes widening slightly before a huge grin takes over. “Well, I daresay that’s your best work yet, Dove.”
Ethan hums in agreement, coming up behind me and pressing a kiss to my neck. “I have to agree—though I haven’t seen any besides the bumblebee one and the Teddy Thirst Trap.”
A shiver runs through me, and I quickly step away, pointing an accusing finger at him. “No. No neck kissing unless you can follow through on the promise.”
I’m a little surprised at my own forthrightness, but Ethan just grins. “What promise?” He asks innocently, taking a step towards me.
“The promise of…things,” I practically hiss, taking another step back. “Youknowthat neck kisses make me melt into a pile of goo and I don’t need you getting me all hot and bothered when you’re going to go right back to work after dinner.”
My face is flushed, but I’m done acting all shy and embarrassed around my guys regarding sex. I have had itfourtimes now, thank you very much. I’m practically an expert.
Ethan chuckles, raising his hands in surrender. “Fair enough, Little Bird.” His eyes go to the canvas again. “Huh.”
“What?” I frown, walking over to him and looking at the painting as well. The five of us surround the piece of art in a semi-circle, casting a shadow of our silhouettes. Maybe I’ll have to do a painting involving that at some point.
“I was just thinking…” He pushes his glasses up his nose. “Remember how that police officer pulled up a video of that girl showing your artwork?”
My brows furrow. “Yeah?”
“Well, what if you made your own account? Revealed your artwork first?”
Teddy grins, throwing an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “I knew you were bound to ‘ave a good idea atsomepoint in your life.”
“Oh fuck off,” Ethan grins back, pushing Teddy off him. “We can keep your face out of it—there are plenty of famous artists who don’t show themselves. I bet you’d get a good following.”
“What would I do with a following?” I take my phone from the stool next to my canvas, opening one of the apps that the guys showed me. I search “faceless artist” to see what comes up.
He’s right, there are a ton of people who don’t show their faces.
“If you can get your name out there,” Maverick muses, “you can make a more public career of your art. Unless, of course, you don’t want to. You could just paint for fun the rest of our lives if that’s what youwantto do—we’re behind you no matter what.”
My bottom lip tugs under my teeth. I’ve answered the question of whether or not my love for art has died out, now I just need to figure out what Iwant to do with it.
