Page 38 of For the Love of Art

CHAPTER

SIX

“It’s Friday!” Lianne exclaimed. “Hallelujah!” She danced in her seat as a server set down the beer we’d ordered. “My business partner was so annoying this week.”

“Hey!” Frankie protested as he pulled one of the pints closer to himself.

I giggled before sipping the light, crisp lager we’d ordered.

Frankie’s eyes were narrowed at Lianne, but he slowly turned to me.

“How have things at the gallery been?” he asked, his features softening.

“Good. Fun even.”

It had been a few weeks since I’d started at the gallery, and I felt like I’d finally found my groove. Dori was incredible to work with. She was so knowledgeable and keen. The only hard part about working at the gallery was that I constantly found myself either thinking about or staring at–

“Nathan?” Lianne asked. “How’s that going?”

“Fine. He’s harmless.”

Lianne’s brows raised, and Frankie looked at me suspiciously. I took another long sip, hoping to avoid any further questioning.

“And?” Frankie’s question was more of a demand.

“And he’s really nice. He’s been helpful in getting me back into the art world.”

“Has he tried to sleep with you or not?” Lianne asked impatiently.

I choked on my beer.

“Excuse me?”

“That’s what he does, right? Sleep with beautiful women?” Lianne shrugged her shoulders.

“No. Well, yes. But no. Not with me. I’m his employee.”

“If you’re already under him, you might as well be under him,” Lianne said, and Frankie nodded in agreement.

“Look, he and I talked about it. He’s hired me for my skill, not my vagina. So, you’ve both been filled in on Nathan. Let’s drop it.”

“Almost filled in,” Frankie said.

I furrowed my brows. “Almost? What do you mean by that?”

Frankie looked past Lianne and me.

“You forgot to mention that he likes a drink after a long week, too.”

Both Lianne and I looked over our shoulders.

Oh.

My.

God.

There he was, with his hand on the back of the same platinum blonde woman he’d been with at the gallery opening. With his free hand, he shook someone else’s, the creases in the corners deepening as they did when he smiled.