The Artist's Provocateur: Serano Brothers Novel, Book 3

by L. J. Fine

"What makes you say that?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

  "Because then you'd have to admit that," he pointed to a double crescent mark on the paper, "is your ass print."

  Feigning offense, she bent to look at it closer. "I beg to differ. You're the one with the red ass and that is red paint. Ergo, that's your ass print."

  A wicked gleam in his eyes, he advanced on her, backing her toward the door. "Careful, darlin', or you're gonna be the one with a red ass soon."

  A happy, carefree laugh escaped her, and she tensed her muscles to run. "Only if you can catch me first."

  CHAPTER NINE

  The rubber eraser bounced off the paper in rhythmic thumps as Marie sat at her desk, waiting for the last bell of the day to ring.

  Tonight, was the big night. The Spring Auction.

  She had given her students an assignment earlier in the week to create the animal of their choice using acrylics, and today she gave them an independent period to work. While they busily worked on their projects, she sat at her desk, ready and willing to lend advice or assistance should they need it. Mostly, they remained quiet and concentrated, and mostly, her mind wandered.

  She went through a mental list of all she would need to get ready for tonight. The list included timing, directions, an appropriate outfit and Adam.

  Adam.

  Every time his name popped into her head, a little smile curved her lips, she knew, but couldn't help it. Over the last few weeks they had spent nearly all their free time together. A few times she'd had to kick him out so she could work on her piece and each time it got more difficult. When she wasn't focused and consumed with her painting, Adam took up the majority of her time and thoughts.

  Their tumultuous beginning aside, she loved being with him. These last few weeks they hadn't bickered or argued once. Teased each other? Sure. And maybe she had provoked him a few times so he would deal out one of his 'punishments', but the bite had gone out of their interactions.

  For her part, anyway. She couldn't speak to the way he felt about her. Aside from their first date when they had declared their intentions, they just had fun together. Occasionally they got deep, talking for hours on various subjects, but not about their relationship or where they thought it might be going. This was new for both of them, though, and they weren't in a hurry. At least she wasn't. She decided to take it a day at a time and see where it took her.

  The last bell of the day finally rang out, startling her into the here and now. As the students filed out of the room, she smiled at them and bid them all a good weekend as she stood and gathered her things. Ethan filled the doorway just as she reached for her coat, eyes wary despite the smile on his face.

  "I wanted to stop by and wish you good luck tonight," he said moving into the room.

  "Thank you." She smiled at him, but the uneasy way he fidgeted as he stood there confused her. "Are you coming to the auction?"

  The last few years he had made an appearance to support her. He never stayed long, but his presence as a friendly face usually calmed her nerves a little.

  His smile turned rueful, and he looked down at his feet for a second before meeting her gaze again. "I'm afraid I can't this year. I'm leaving in a few minutes to head out of town to my sister's this weekend. She called a family meeting. Apparently, she has an announcement she can't make over the phone. So, it was extra important I catch you before you left. I know you'll do great tonight."

  Ah, maybe that was the reason for his nervousness, then. Did he think she would be upset with him because he couldn't make it to the auction? Ridiculous. "I'm grateful you made time to stop. I hope everything is okay with your sister."

  Smiling, he rolled his eyes. "I'm sure it is. She's always had a flare for the dramatic. More than likely, she called us all there to tell us that she quit her job and decided to move to New York, or Indonesia. Who the hell knows with her."

  Marie laughed. "Well, I'm guessing your weekend won't be boring anyway."

  "It's not me I'm worried about." He said the words softly, but she caught them and drew up short. When she quirked a brow, his face heated and he rushed to explain. "I just mean that I know how nervous these auctions make you. I hate that you'll have to be there all night on your own."

  Her muscles relaxed as she waved that off. "Actually, I have a date this year. So, no need to worry about me."

  "Adam?" He asked, lips pressing into a thin line.

  "Adam." She nodded.

  If possible, his movements grew more uneasy. It looked like he was gearing up to tell her something unpleasant. He didn't have to say it, though. She could guess.

  "That's really what you were worried about, wasn't it? Not that I would be alone tonight, but that I would be with Adam." She crossed her arms over her chest. "What's wrong with that?"

  "Nothing, it's..." He ran a hand over the back of his neck. "Look, I never wanted to have this conversation. I know you're a grown woman who can take care of herself, but...Adam Serano? I just don't want him to snow you."

  Her eyes narrowed. "Snow me?"

  Sighing, he ran that nervous hand up higher through his hair. "This isn't coming out right at all. You've lived in this town as long as I have. You know he has a reputation. I've noticed some changes in you over the last few weeks. You seem more open, happier and I think that's wonderful. But he never stays with the same woman for very long. I can see you falling for him and I don't want you to get hurt."

  He could see her falling for him? The muscles in her throat tensed as her pulse sped up. She wasn't falling for him, was she?

  "I know your concern is coming from a good place, but it is possible that people can change, and some rumors are just fake news. Living here, you should know that."

  Oh shit. She was falling for him. That she would defend him first rather than the state of her own feelings told her all she needed to know. That she so desperately wanted to believe her own words about Adam's reform was the final nail in the coffin.

  Son of a bitch.

  Ethan held his hands up in front of him. "You obviously know your relationship with him better than I do. And you're right, people can and do change. I only want to make sure your eyes are open as far as he is concerned. That's all."

  "I get it and they are."

  Were they though? Was it possible for someone to change a lifetime of habits if they found the right person to change for? Especially given all the issues with his mother. She wanted to believe in him, but maybe some old wounds didn't heal.

  Eyeing the clock mounted on the wall above Ethan's head, she took a deep breath and gathered her stuff. "I'm sorry. If I don't get out of here now, I'll be late. Have a safe trip to your sister's."

  After pulling on her coat, she went to move passed him, but he blocked her way. The genuine concern she read in his sad, green eyes stopped her. "I really only want you to be happy, Marie. I'm sorry, I never should have said anything. Are we okay?"

  Her heart melted a little around the edges and she pulled him into a brief hug. "It's okay. We're okay. I don't want you to worry about it. Any of it. Go have fun at your sister's and I'll see you Monday."

  This time he got out of her way when she moved back toward the door. His expression was a little less severe but concern still marred his brow. She didn't know what other words she could give him to soothe that line from his forehead, but she couldn't afford to worry about that right now. And she certainly didn't have the mental or emotional energy to worry about his opinion of Adam. Not tonight. So, she gave him a small smile and a wave and left to get herself ready for tonight.

  *****

  The butterflies in her stomach felt like they were about to eat her alive. She hadn't even left her apartment yet and already her nerves were through the roof. In anticipation of the night's events, she had hurried through the routine of getting ready, and now she had half an hour to kill. With nothing better to do, she wrung her hands while pacing her living room. The skirt of the emerald mermaid gown she wore danced around her ankles to h
er agitated movements.

  Oh, she needed to calm down if she had any hope of getting through this night. What was she so nervous for anyway? This year marked the fifth time she had participated in this auction, so it wasn't like she'd never done this before. In fact, this year's painting far surpassed the others she'd done previously, in her opinion. If anything, that should give her confidence.

  Yeah, it does, she thought halting her pacing and squaring her shoulders. And to top it off, this time she wouldn't have to face the crowd on her own all night. Adam would be with her the whole time.

  Adam.

  Earlier today, the thought of him made her smile. Now it just made that tornado of butterflies in her stomach rapidly change direction and twirl faster. Ethan's comments had forced her to examine how she really felt about Adam, and now she knew. Was painfully aware of what she had been, subconsciously blissfully ignorant.

  Love. It was love.

  How the hell had she fallen in love with Adam Serano?

  A knock sounded at the door, once again halting the pacing she'd unconsciously started up again and putting a lump in her throat. She shot a look at the clock to see that he was right on time. My how time flies when you're a neurotic mess.

  When she opened the door, her breath stopped.

  The man was beautiful. No other word fit. He wore all black. Black suit, black shirt, black tie, the effect elegant and wickedly masculine. The suit fit his body as though he'd had it tailor made. He had pulled his long, dark hair away from his face, tied together at the base of his neck, and it brought out the strong angles of his bone structure, the fullness of his lower lip. His much too kissable lips. He looked like a dark angel standing at her doorstep and she felt like she might combust. Especially when his gaze ran the length of her body, eyes at once hungry and awestruck.

  "You're so beautiful, Marie." He took the words floating around in her head and aimed them back at her. She felt her skin flush from head to toe, and since he stole her sentiment, she only had actions left. Stepping into his body, she got to her tiptoes and placed the sweetest kiss she could give onto his lips. Seeming to sense what this was, he wrapped an arm around her waist but didn't take her over. He let her do this and responded in kind when she moved against him. Gently. Reverently.

  Marie stepped back with a smile, pleasantly noting that the butterflies had settled. She ran her thumb along his lower lip to clear away the lipstick mark she'd left behind. "I was ready, but now I'm gonna have to redo my lipstick."

  "Maybe you should leave it off. I wanna keep doing that tonight." As if to prove his point, he leaned in and kissed her again. She almost pulled him into her apartment and shut the door behind him.

  Before they could get carried away, though, she broke the kiss and stepped out of the circle of his arms. "All right I will, but we need to get out of here or we'll be late. And I want to see everyone's faces when they see my painting for the first time."

  "And by everyone, do you mean Nicole?" He asked holding her coat up to help her on with it.

  "Honestly?" She put her arms into her coat and buttoned it up as she turned to face him. "Nicole hadn't even entered my mind. I was thinking of your reaction to it mostly."

  A sinful smile curved his lips. "Oh, well in that case, we can take our time. You'll be with me when I see it for the first time no matter when we get there."

  Laughing, she evaded his hands when he tried to pull her back into her apartment. "Nice try. Let's go."

  Cars had already begun to fill the parking lot when they arrived at the museum. For such a small town, they always had a large turnout for this event. Marie suspected that was because at least a third of the local businesses, craftsmen and women in their own right, participated. A good portion of these cars, more than likely, belonged to the family and friends of the various artists. The charity this auction benefited was a good one, though, and she knew that a lot of the town's more affluent residents like to support that cause.

  Placing a hand at the small of her back, Adam guided her into the building and through the crowd milling about. A waiter carrying a tray of champagne drifted by, and Adam snatched two glasses and handed her one. As she took a sip of the bubbly liquid, April, an artist she knew from the next town over, greeted her.

  "There you are, Marie! Are you just now getting here?" April animatedly hurried over to them, her black sequin dress sparkling in the light.

  Marie smiled. 'Yes, we walked in a minute ago. April, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Adam."

  Wow. First time she'd said that out loud to anyone but him. The title rolled off her tongue easily but still, the moment it slipped passed her lips she tensed. It seemed he had no such compunction. Flashing a warm smile, he held out a hand to the older woman and his actions weren't without their affect. April blushed ever-so-slightly as she gave him one hand and patted her salt and pepper hair with the other.

  For a few moments, it looked as though April forgot everything she wanted to say as she stared at Adam. Marie could sympathize. She'd been gob-smacked by him too many times herself, and that was when he hadn't made an effort to look nice. Tonight, his sheer gorgeousness was disarming. Eventually, April seemed to shake herself, and remembered what had excited her so much.

  "Everyone is talking about your painting this year."

  Marie felt sure her eyebrows must have hit her hairline. "Already? I didn't think enough people would be here yet."

  "Well, there are, and it's bound to get more attention as the night wears on. You have really outdone yourself this year. The piece is fabulous. The real well must have been something. I've heard at least three stories about it and that old farmhouse since I've been here. Seems like you've hit the nail on the head with this theme. I've never heard so many people wax poetic about something in my life."

  Not used to such praise, she didn't know what to do with it, and had no idea what to say. Thankfully Adam, however, did.

  "I was excited to see it before, but this makes it worse. Why aren't we over there already?"

  April's expression turned into a scandalized version of its former self. Gasping, she brought her delicate hand up to the base of her throat. "You haven't seen it yet? Good grief, boy. Come with me."

  They were left to follow as April made haste to the far side of the room and around a corner. Marie took the opportunity as they passed, however brief, to survey the other artwork on the way. Some were other paintings, some sculptures. Some realistic, others abstract. She was particularly interested in the miniaturized model of the town laid out in the center of the room and made a mental note to check it out later.

  When they rounded the corner, it surprised her to find that her piece had pride of place on the central wall, and a crowd had indeed gathered in front of it. Unlike the night she'd taken Adam to her garage, no uneasiness or sense of invasion flooded her. Instead, a pleasant thrum of confidence in herself and her work straightened her spine. She had put lot of thought and time into that painting, and it humbled her to see so many people apparently admiring it.

  The goal for her had been to depict the haunting quality of the well in all four seasons, so she had divided the canvas into four quarters. The well stood centralized in the middle of the canvas but the seasons changed in order of the yearly cycle from top to bottom.

  Winter dominated the top left corner, the weathered gray stone of the well set against a crisp, cold-looking backdrop of the white/blue-gray sky. Snow fell in fat flakes against the stone, hinting at a forbidden wonderland of ice and daring intentions in a place not meant for visitors. Spring softened the top right in tones of yellow and pink, giving birth to new life in the form of flowers and sapling trees sprouting up in the background, with a few bold vines coming up through the bricks. It still possessed a sense of verboten beauty, the delicate and sacred process of creation not to be disturbed by outside forces. Summer bloomed through the bottom right corner in all its ethereal glory. Her over-imagined memory came to life in this corner, making the well hypno
tizing to look at as it beckoned the observer to come closer. To toss a coin and make that coveted wish. And finally, the golden reds and browns of fall stretched across the bottom left corner, heralding the beauty and majesty of change as the cycle started over again.

  Her memories of the well that special night all those years ago didn't align with the pictures she had taken the day she and Adam had been out there, and that's what had inspired her. The well had been a constant fixture in their town for decades, the foot traffic on and off the property not having a designated time of year. So, each of the townies might have had a different perspective of it and, therefore, a different memory. She wanted to make the painting as nostalgic as she could for everyone.

  And her plan seemed to have worked. As they drew near, she heard bits and pieces of the conversation, various people reminiscing about their own experiences behind that farmhouse.

  "Oh wow," one woman, a well put together blonde looking to be a few years older than Marie, remarked. "This painting reminds me of that one spring – don't you remember Jen – when we blew off seventh and eighth period and met Josh and Seth out at that old farmhouse."

  The shorter, more athletic woman standing next to her, Jen presumably, gasped and lightly tapped her friend in the arm with the back of her hand. "Ohmigod, yes! We stayed out there until it got dark and had to lie to our parents to explain why we were out so late. I told my mom that I stopped by your house on the way home from school and your cat got out, so we had to spend the whole afternoon looking for it. The best part is, she bought it! I can't believe we got away with that."

  "I know!" The blonde laughed. "Those were some good times, huh? I completely forgot about that until I saw this painting."

  Warmth spread through Marie's chest as she listened. This was exactly the kind of reaction she had been hoping to evoke. More warmth of a different kind enveloped her as Adam wrapped his arms around her from behind. His soft lips pressed against the sensitive flesh below her ear and his breath caused goosebumps to break out along her neck.