Page 16 of Family: Posy 4

"I did! It makes you focus. I can see how it's good stress-relief, although it would break my heart every time I messed up and had to start over. Can I see yours now?"

"Sure, but first, sign your work. You can sign your whole name, your first name, use a symbol or a nickname. Whatever you want."

"I'll copy you and use my initials," she said as she carefully used a fine brush to paint PAE in the lower left corner. "Done! Now yours."

I was a little anxious that she'd compare hers to mine and be upset, but she surprised me again.

"Oh, my! That is gorgeous, Wyatt! I love it! Can I hang it up somewhere in the house? Or do you want to sell it?"

"Baby, how could I sell our first couple paintings? We're going to hang these side by side in my office so when I'm doing the ruddy paperwork, I can look up and restore my soul."

Her dimples broke out, and I wondered which part of that made her so happy.

We did the group photo thing, then the instructor pulled me aside. I quickly told her I was married and flashed my ring in her face, and she gave me a startled look before asking if I'd be interested in selling my work at a gallery. Relieved that's all she wanted, I told her I already did, and she laughed and said she should have known that because my talent was obvious.

Her words made me feel like a million bucks. It was one thing for my mate and family to praise my work, but a complete stranger, a professional artist at that, was different. She had no reason to lie or coddle my feelings, and she knew what was good and what wasn't.

After the paint was dry enough to transport, I carried a painting in each hand as we left the studio and nudged Posy in the opposite direction when she would have gone toward the Jag.

"We're not getting in the car?" she asked, trying to take her painting from my hand, but I held it away from her.

"Nope. I have one more place to show you."

"It's dark," she murmured and bit her bottom lip.

"I know, baby, but I'm here. Even carrying two paintings I can protect you, and I will. We're only going a block and the sidewalk is well lit. Trust me, Posy."

"I do. I just don't like the dark, or being outside when it's dark."

"We'll be inside soon, I promise."

And we were. We walked into the brightly lit lobby of an apartment building and I led her to the elevator. Once we got on, I asked her to press the ten button and she did.

"Wyatt, where are we going?"

"Big secret reveal number two," I said, staring into her eyes. "My art studio."

"What?!"she screeched, and her eyes grew huge. "Why is it secret? And why don't you have it at the house instead of wherever we are?"

"You know why it's secret," I mumbled as the elevator came to a stop and we got out. "The same reason I keep the gallery a secret. Only Mase knows I rent this place, but not what for."

I led her to apartment 1020, the last one on the left side of the hallway, and set the paintings against the wall so I could take my keys out of my pocket.

"Why does only Mason know?"

"He takes care of our personal finances, as well as the pack's," I explained as I unlocked the door. "He immediately saw the rent coming out and my deposits from the gallery going in and asked me about it. I told him I'd tell him when I was ready."

I snorted, rememberingthatconversation. Mase's accusations had hurt. I still couldn't believe he thought I was setting up some clandestine love nest for a side piece until we found our mate. I'd made a promise to myself that I'd wait, just like my brothers had, and I did. What kind of man did he think I was to suggest that?

Opening the door, I ushered her inside and flicked on the lights. After setting the paintings against the bare wall, I turned to Posy to see her reaction. Her big eyes darted all around, even though there wasn't much to see other than my easels and storage racks in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.

"This is a great space for a studio," she said, "but I don't understand why you waste money renting it when there's plenty of room at our house. The whole basement—"

"Yeah, I know, but so far, my sales have more than paid for this apartment. If I moved my studio to our house, my brothers would find out about the gallery. They'd see my works in progress and they'd also see—"

I stopped talking and looked everywhere but at her.

"What?" she asked. "They'd also seewhat?"

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