“Oh…” She looked away, her face flaming. She had done that on impulse and had almost immediately thought it had been too bold. He had never said anything to her about it, which had been more than okay with her, but she had wondered what he had thought. She shook her head. “It was just—” She made a face. “It was nothing really.”
He stopped dancing and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “Nothing?” He shook his head. “Evie, it was everything.”
She stared up at him and her eyes scanned his gorgeous face. They came to rest on his perfect lips and she realized that she wanted to kiss him very badly. That alarmed her. It was easy to deny feelings in normal, day to day life, but in a setting like this… When had she come to care for him so much? The realization that her affection for him was much deeper than she thought swamped her and she had to look away. What was the matter with her? Was she out of her mind? Like Traevyn Whitelaw would actually go for someone like her. His ex-wife had been a goddess. He had said so himself. Elegant and sophisticated. She was anything but elegant and sophisticated. She was loud and opinionated and definitely not goddess-like. Plus, he was almost ten years older than her. He probably thought of her as a child. Was she completely stupid?
“Evie?”
She looked up at Traevyn, who was frowning in concern.
“Evie, you’re trembling.” He ran both of his hands lightly across her shoulders and down her arms.
Oh right, like that was going to make things better. “I—uh—” she stammered. “I just…”
“Dinner is served,” Seth announced, returning to the room.
Evie breathed a sigh of relief and all but bolted back to her seat. Being in close proximity to Traevyn was dangerous. It was better if she just sat down. Seth set the plates in front of them and Evie managed to give Traevyn a small smile. He gave her a warm look that made her heart somersault and she turned her attention to her food.
“You made this?” she asked as she took a bite.
He nodded. “I hope it’s not too awful.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s delicious!” Her eyes narrowed. “You can cook like this, and yet, I’ve been making all your meals?”
He grinned. “I never said I couldn’t cook. I just don’t like to.”
She rolled her eyes and he chuckled. They lapsed into pleasant conversation as they ate and Evie was certain she had never seen Traevyn smile and laugh so much. It warmed her heart. What progress he had made in such a short amount of time. Perhaps he had just needed someone to actually care, and take the time to listen.
Dessert was raspberry crème brulee, which Evie loved, and when everything was finished, she was stuffed and content. “That was fabulous, Traevyn,” she said with a stretch. “Thank you.”
He smiled and dipped his head in a nod. “Would you care to keep me company up in my bedroom?”
Her eyes bulged and the air slammed out of her lungs as she stared at him.
Traevyn closed his eyes and cleared his throat. “Forgive me, that came out…” —he frowned— “slightly different than I expected. What I meant was, I have a fireplace in my bedroom and it’s cold tonight. You and I spend many evenings reading together. Would you like to join me in my room instead of the office?”
She gave him a curious frown, wondering why he sought to prolong the evening.
His smile was almost bashful. “I find myself reluctant to part with you,” he admitted, his voice so quiet he almost couldn‘t hear his own words. How could he tell her that, when he was with her, the pain that plagued his heart seemed lessened? And the shadows receded?
Evie grinned as a soft blush touched her cheeks. “I would love to. We can bring the wine.” She giggled as she grabbed the bottle of red that Seth had left on the table.
He chuckled and stood. “Just give me a moment. I have to tip the waiter.” He gave her a playful wink, delighting in how she laughed.
Traevyn entered the kitchen where Seth was lying on the couch drinking wine directly out of the bottle. He frowned. “Decided to help yourself, did you? To my finest bottle of Peanut Griggio?”
Seth glanced up at him lazily. “Hey, I dressed up in this ridiculous outfit and served you all night. Plus, I made an idiot out of myself because reading those wine labels was like reading Greek. I think I at least deserve to drink your booze.”
“You’re only seventeen,” he reminded him.
Seth raised an amused eyebrow. “You gonna call the cops?”
Traevyn sighed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Just don’t drink too much. If you throw up anywhere other than the toilet, I’ll make you clean it.”
Seth chuckled.
“Tonight went well,” Traevyn said with a pleased smile.
Seth grinned. “Yeah… You know, you’re pretty cool, dude.”
Traevyn raised an eyebrow. “Well, thanks… Look, I’ll give you fifty dollars if you clean everything up.”
Seth groaned. “I take it back.”
Traevyn chuckled.
Seth sat up with a sigh. “Look, I’ll clean up, but I am not moving the furniture by myself. I’m strong, but I’m not friggin’ Hercules.”
Traevyn nodded. “Agreed. Thanks for your help, Seth.”
“You gonna make a move on her?”
Traevyn frowned. “Pardon?”
“On Evie. You invite her to your bedroom with the fireplace and you don’t plan to make a move?”
He blinked in bewilderment. “It’s not like that at all. Evie and I share stimulating conversation.”
Seth raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you call it? Stimulating conversation? I’m sure you find lots of things stimulating, especially given the size of my sister’s gazangas.” He made a mountainous gesture with his hands.
Traevyn opened his mouth to speak, but resulted in a short sigh. “Seth, that is a very disrespectful thing to say.”
“Oh, like you haven’t noticed.”
“That’s not the point.” Of course he had noticed Evie’s…assets. It was impossible to miss them… He shook his head and let out a frustrated growl. “Why were you listening to our conversation in the first place?”
Seth snorted. “Like there’s anything else to do back here.”
Traevyn folded his arms. “I respect your sister very much and have nothing but honorable intentions. Besides, I highly doubt that Evie thinks of me as anything other than a mentor and friend so ‘making a move,’ as you say, would be greatly overstepping boundaries.”
Seth snorted again and rolled into a standing position. “Traevyn, you’re cool,” he said, coming to stand in front of him, “but don’t be an idiot.”
Traevyn frowned.
Seth held his hand out. “Gimme my fifty.”
Traevyn pulled a bill out of his wallet and handed it to him, then turned and went back into the living room, perplexed and slightly flustered. Don’t be an idiot. What did he mean by that?
“What’s Seth doing back there?” Evie asked with a grin.
“Getting plastered,” Traevyn muttered.
She raised her eyebrows in alarm.
He chuckled. “He’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Shall we?”
She nodded. “Just let me go get my book from my room, and I want to change my clothes.”
He nodded. “Come in whenever you’re ready.” He made his way to his bedroom, removed his tie and jacket and un-tucked his shirt. He started a fire, then sat back against the headboard, kicked off his shoes, and pulled his sketchpad up onto his lap. He sighed and mulled over Seth’s words. Don’t be an idiot. Was he trying to tell him that Evie did feel something other than friendship for him? He frowned, not entirely sure how he felt about that possibility. The realization that he was unsure was very unsettling to him. Any other time, with any other woman, he would have put a screeching halt to anything that might have the slightest chance of developing into something, but with Evie… Everything was different with Evie.
A soft knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts
and he smiled. “Come in.”
Evie entered with a smile and she held the bottle of wine up enticingly.
He chuckled and motioned her inside.
She crawled up onto the foot of the bed and set the wine on the nightstand. She set her book down, then poured them both a glass.
“What are you reading now?” he queried as he took the glass from her.
“Pride and Prejudice,” she answered.
He smiled. “Good choice.”
She sighed and took a sip of wine. “Traevyn,” she looked up at him, “thank you for tonight. Every year I celebrate the day I painted my first real painting. You know, one that wasn’t done with finger paints or those horrible goopy things you use in grade school.”
He smiled.
“It was an oil painting on canvas. I was fifteen.” She smiled at the memory. “I celebrate it because, in a sense, it’s like celebrating the day I became who I am. Everything I dream of and stand for started that day.” She sighed. “It was very nice to celebrate it with you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t forget, a great deal of credit goes to your misfit brother. He was my partner in crime all day.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Seth continues to surprise me.” She set her wine glass down and opened her book, lying diagonally across the bottom of the bed on her side. Sitting next to Traevyn on his own bed just seemed too intimate to her at the moment. It was something married couples did. She briefly wondered if Traevyn’s wife had ever sat up and read next to him while he drew. She sighed and lost herself in her book.
She read for awhile and Traevyn sketched away. After a bit she glanced up at him in curiosity, unable to fake disinterest any longer. “What are you drawing?” she asked.
“You,” he replied with a smile.
She blinked in surprise.
He met her eyes. “I’d like to paint your portrait, but I need something to go off of. I can’t just paint from memory like you can.”
She gave him a weak smile. “Why do you want to paint me?” she queried with a puzzled frown.
He looked up at her again. “Because,” he said enigmatically.
The firelight reflected for a moment in his eyes, and it made Evie draw in a soft breath. She looked down and swallowed hard as her heart skipped a beat.
“In about two weeks’ time I have to go to Sedona, Arizona,” he stated, changing the subject. “I am opening a gallery there.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s wonderful!”
He smiled. “I’ll be there for a few days. My brother Talis lives there, and I would like to visit with him while I’m in town.”
She nodded.
“I would, of course, like you to join me. Seth can come too.”
Her eyes brightened. “Really?”
“You are my apprentice. It would be stupid to leave you here during such a big event.”
She grinned. She’d never been to Arizona before. She’d never been to a gallery opening either. It all seemed very exciting.
“It’s going to be a very formal affair,” he continued. “With mostly other artists and rich people who can afford to buy our art.”
She giggled. “I’ll find something to wear between now and then.”
He nodded. “Excellent. Now be quiet and read so I can keep sketching.”
She grinned and went back to her book, turning on her stomach so she could bend her knees and swing her legs in jubilation.
Traevyn looked at her and smiled. Seth’s words continued to echo in his mind, but he pushed them away. After all, the boy was only seventeen. What did he know?
Chapter Fourteen
A week and a half later found Evie sitting down by the beach in Monterey. She had gone shopping with Seth to see if she could find anything for the gallery opening. So far it wasn’t looking very good. She leaned back against the rock she was sitting in front of and smiled as she watched Seth chase around some children who had been playing down by the shore. Two of them had been throwing a Frisbee while Seth and Evie ate lunch. It had veered off course and nearly scalped Seth. He threw it back, but the kids must have liked something about him because they kept throwing it at him.
After about three times, he’d gone down to play with them and had been at it ever since.
Evie sighed and looked down at her bag. She reached into it, pulled out a brown, leather journal, and ran her fingers over the front before she opened it and glanced across Traevyn’s elegant cursive. Over the past week and a half he had continued to open up to her, sharing small bits and pieces of his past. He was still reluctant to discuss the events surrounding his divorce and his daughter’s death, but he did relate stories of his daughter once in awhile. He would tell Evie of silly things she had done, or things she had liked. Evie hated the sadness that washed over his features whenever he spoke of Leanna, but she was glad he trusted her enough to tell her such things.
She remembered so well the night Traevyn had entrusted the leather journal to her. They had been in the office, reading their favorite poems to one another and discussing what they thought they meant. He had read a lot out of the Shakespeare’s Sonnets book that she had first discovered in his office.
“It’s funny,” he said after studying the well-worn front of the book. “I used to read to Amy out of this. I couldn’t even look at it for the longest time.” He shook his head as if slightly puzzled. “It’s strange, but since I’ve been talking to you, I’ve come to realize that I shouldn’t shut myself off from good literature just because of the painful memories I associate with it… The same could be said for anything, I guess.”
To think that she had made some sort of small difference in Traevyn’s life.
After reading many more of their favorites, he read her a poem out of the brown, leather journal. When Evie asked who it was by, he informed her that it was one of his own. Later, when she had been heading to bed, he’d stopped her at the door and slipped the book to her.
“I want you to take this,” he said. “Read it if you want to. Anything you might want to know about me is in there.” At the questioning look in her eyes, he had merely shrugged. “You already own part of my soul, Evie. You may as well know what it is you have.”
She had been beyond stunned. Poetry was a very private thing and the fact that he would entrust his own work to her spoke volumes.
“What is that?” Seth asked suddenly.
Evie jumped, startled by his unexpected presence. “Oh,” she said, closing the journal on instinct. “It’s Traevyn’s poetry book.”
He frowned and sat down next to her. “He writes poetry?”
She nodded and opened up to a poem that was her favorite. She had already read through the entire book, but she kept coming back to this particular piece. “Look…
“‘Beauty is an open canvas that spreads across my mind, causing shattered glass to pierce my broken side.
We all paint upon the canvas with colors of our desire, perfecting the picture until we are able to see music, feel love, hear kindness.
My canvas is blank as I look in the mirror, attempting to portray who I am in poetic beauty. The paper is too small and simple to hold such a complexity.
And so I paint, making the best of the situation. Waves upon waves of color, a little of everything here, a portion of something there, all ending up in nothing.
And as I look upon myself in the mirror I still cannot see the beauty others have placed upon me. It has been lost for so long. Yet I try and draw it to the best of my knowledge and ability.
The reflection changes constantly as I paint, yet I try and stop the change from changing, trying to remain myself. Then I realize, change is what started it all…
Change brought upon love at one time in my life. So I add the sweet, sadistic color of love, and I find myself lost inside the screaming agony of the color that is held within the painting.
And as the mirror shatters across time and space, unable to hold the complexity of me, I finish the painting and
find myself saddened.
Upon the canvas is an empty face because I know not who I am. Love and change caused me to lose myself at some point in time and so in my painting I depict that.
Others may see differently, but that is because I paint them a different picture. One with a face and a smile. One without a past. One with a marvelous future.
The truth is, I am nothing, I am nowhere. I am lost within myself. The painting falls to the floor and I collapse in sorrow at what I’ve become.
I know not who I am, or what I shall ever be, and I am frightened…”’
She finished with a sigh and turned to look at Seth. “What do you think of that?”
Seth shook his head. “That’s pretty heavy… Is that whole book full of his poetry?”
She nodded. “He told me I could read it. Can you believe that?”
Seth glanced up at his sister. “I believe it.”
Evie frowned, wondering how he could be so nonchalant about it. “I just think it’s an awfully big deal.” She closed the book and ran her hand across the cover. “These are all his deepest thoughts and feelings. He entrusted them to me.”
Seth smirked. “You like him.”
She met his eyes. “Of course I like him. He’s my mentor and my friend.”
He rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically, flopping down onto his back. “No, I mean you like him. Don’t even try to deny it, Evie. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not stupid.”
She turned to give him a pointed look. “Seth, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” he exclaimed. “Geez, is this what I have to look forward to? I grow out of the teenage years and automatically become ridiculous? You people are killing me!”
She frowned. “You people? Who else is pissing you off?”
He snorted and sat back up. “Look, from where I sit it seems pretty simple. You like him. He likes you. You make him not evil and heinous and he actually gets you. Why don’t you just hook up already and give my gag reflexes a rest?”
She looked out at the rolling waves. “Life isn’t that simple, Seth.”
Dark Masterpiece (Serendipity Series 3) Page 13