Page 109 of Sinful as They Come
“He also invented the telephone.”
“And the toaster oven.”
“And the air conditioner.”
“Dude was busy.” I shrugged, playing along with her little game as I stared at that beautiful smile. And those flushed cheeks. And those big eyes. The sun had caught her just right, her skin glowing right before me. “You look like a fucking angel right now.”
“Stop.” She blushed, covering her face in her hands. “Don’t look at me like that while we talk about Einstein.”
“No, seriously. Let me see. I love looking at you, sweetheart.” The pet name rolled off my tongue so easily. Along with countless other ones I had been calling Holly. Baby, honey, sweetheart. Princess was still my favorite, though. I reached across the table and grabbed at her hands, pulling them away from her face. She was still blushing, her smile bright and far too addictive.
And that was when the idea hit me.
I needed to remember the moment forever. And a photo wasn’t enough.Neither was just a memory.
“Let me paint you,” I told her.
Her eyes widened. “No.”
“Please. You just look so gorgeous tonight. You do every night. But you’re killin’ me over here.” I gave her a quick grin. “You can’t say no to a man that you’re literally killing."
“Literally, huh?”
“I’m in physical pain.”
“No one’s ever painted me before. What do I even do?”
“Just sit there and look pretty. Should be easy for you.” I winked at her. “Lemme get my stuff. Don’t move.”
I moved into my bedroom, grabbing a few art supplies. A fresh canvas, my paint set, a few brushes. It wasn’t going to be some polished piece, but then again, none of my work was really like that. It was gonna be a little rushed, but that was only because I wanted to capture the way Holly looked so badly.
“Couldn’t you just paint a vase or something?” she asked with her chin in her hands.
“That’s so cliché. A beautiful girl, however? No one’s ever painted that.”
“You’re so silly.” She giggled.
I smiled at the noise, getting my canvas set up. My eyes went back to Holly, who was still sitting there, her chin resting in the palms of her hands. Her fingers reached up, cupping her cheeks. Those pretty Bambi eyes stared right back at me. I could have spent the entire night staring at them. At her. She was a masterpiece. I somehow got lucky enough to stare at her in the flesh, up close, without anything or anyone to get in the way. She was magic.
“Don’t move,” I instructed her, my voice lowering suddenly. That meant I was concentrating. “Not even an inch.”
“Can I blink?”
“No.”
She decided to blink repeatedly, a little grin on her face.
“I should punish you for that.”
“Are you gonna make me look ugly in your painting or something?”
I shook my head once, beginning to form the dark lines of her hair. “Not possible.”
She rolled her eyes playfully at me before sitting there in silence. I was quiet too. When I was painting, I usually didn’t have much to say. It was typically pretty easy for me to get lost in my work. In the gentle strokes, the colors, the lines forming.
I licked at my lips, dipping my brush into some clean water before getting another color. Holly’s eyes. Those goddamn doe eyes that drove me crazier than I would have cared to admit. I started with the size. They were so big. So full of light. How was I going to capture that in a painting, I didn’t know, but I was gonna try.
I then started on her lashes. Those thick, long lashes that seemed to grow the more she blinked at me. Her lips were next, so pouty and perfect. So damn kissable. I needed to kiss my girl again, but instead I stared at them, taking in every curve. They formed a little heart shape, her cupid’s bow prominent.
