Page 22 of Beautiful Exile

“I’m not sure,” I admitted, the dark bramble painting with its deep red blossoms flashing in my mind. Right on that image’s heels came Linc’s face: his sharp jaw covered in a thick layer of dark brown scruff, his hazel eyes pinning me to the spot.

“That bad, huh?” Lolli asked, amusement lacing her words.

It was then that I realized I was glaring at the grass in front of me, only it wasn’t the grass that had gotten under my skin. It was Lincoln Pierce. I tried to dislodge the image from my mind, the memory of the hints of cedar and bourbon that clung to him. But shards of both had dug in deep.

“Not bad, just different,” I muttered, taking a sip of coffee.

Lolli was quiet for a moment as she studied me. I wondered if she’d press, sensing there was more to the story. But, understanding me like always, she didn’t. Instead, mischief danced in her eyes. “Want to seemynew piece?”

I turned to her, grinning. “Of course.” Lolli had never been a professional artist. She was a true hobbyist, trying out every medium under the sun. The second she got bored, she moved on to the next. But she’d been firmly settled on one for the past year or so.

Diamond art.

Like paint by numbers but filled in with tiny gemstones. Only Lolli created her own images. And they were always…unique.

Lolli slid her phone out of her pocket and moved closer, showingme a photo. “It still needs some finishing touches. I’m calling it Elf Queen.”

It was a good thing I hadn’t taken a sip of coffee because I would’ve spewed it all over the screen. “Is that—I mean—are those elves…?”

“Doing a little Eiffel Tower action on their queen?” she asked innocently as if she hadn’t constructed an elaborate elven three-way.

I chuckled and took a sip of coffee. “Definitely gift that one to Trace.” I could only imagine the shade of red his face would turn.

Lolli made a hummingsound. “He could use a reminder to let loose a little.”

I grinned down at my coffee. I couldn’t wait to see this gift-giving in action. “Please, do it when I’m there.”

“This weekend. Family dinner,” Lolli said.

I winced. “I’ve got several pieces I need to finish for the fundraiser and?—”

Lolli pinned me with a stare she only used once in a blue moon. “My girl. It’s time for a command performance. If you don’t come, Nora will be over here hovering. Stocking your fridge, cleaning your house, poking into your business.”

I did a mental tally of the last time I’d done a family dinner. It had been a while. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with my family or didn’t adore them. I did. It was just that when we all got together, especially since half of them were partnered up now, it was a crowd. And crowds weren’t my thing.

Add to that the fact that all my siblings were a touch overprotective and constantly worried about me, and it felt like I was on display at times. But I didn’t want to be a source of concern for any of them. They all had their own stuff to deal with and didn’t need me burdening them.

I studied Lolli for a moment. “Did I make you worry?”

It wasn’t uncommon for her to make the drive out here, but it wasn’t a regular occurrence either.

Lolli’s mouth pulled into a smile, the wrinkles on her cheeksdeepening, showing just how easily her lips made the move. “I missed my girl.”

Guilt niggled, and I quickly wrapped her in a hug. “Sorry, Lolls. I’ll do better.”

“You don’t have to do anything. You’re perfect as you are. But you will need to put up with these old bones checking on you once in a while.”

I released her and stepped back. “Who are you calling old?”

Lolli cackled. “Damn straight. I’m trying to get the girls together for another night at the cowboy bar. You in?”

I shook my head but did it smiling. “You know that’s not my scene.”

“I could do some of that goth face paint, and we could go to one of your murder band shows.”

I snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I pulled out my phone to check the time and cursed. “I gotta run. Sparring with Kye.”

Lolli shooed me toward the house. “Go. Kick that boy’s ass. It’s good for him.”

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