Page 14 of Fast Currents
“Robertson, I don’t think a man in head-to-toe brown should be commenting on my fashion choices.”
He puffed up, flexing. His shirt stretched, straining to contain the firm muscles beneath.
“If a button pops off and blinds me, I’m suing your vain ass.”
He dropped his hands to his sides in a more relaxed stance, pouting. “Lucifer, you’re no fun.”
Gran ambled up, eyebrows raised. “Are you flirting or preparing to file a restraining order? Hard to tell, but it’s good entertainment either way.”
“Mrs. Fenwick. Just picking up pastries for my volunteers.” Clay saluted the older woman, then he winked at me. “Lucifer. Catch you later.”
Why did that sound like a threat?
In two big steps, he reached the door to the bakery, holding it open for a young mother with a stroller who was trying to juggle coffee, pastries, and her kid.
I couldn’t help noticing the way his arms flexed.
“Keep looking, and he might poke your eye out yet,” Gran said with the hint of a smile in her voice. She cleared her throat. “Or just pokeyou.”
I blinked. Had she meant that to sound dirty? The broad grin on her weathered face saidyes.
She tilted her head toward the bakery entrance. “Some men dim the lights. The good ones hand you a torch.”
“You think Clay’s one of the good ones?”
Gran wasn’t even my grandmother, but somehow her seal of approval was reassuring.
She snorted. “With a tight butt like that? Honey, it doesn’t matter if he’s good or not. That man’s built for bad decisions." Before I could crack a smile, she continued, “And bonus—he’s got more than enough muscle to carry your baggage.”
“Gran…”
She flipped her palm down. “Don’t mind me.”
“I won’t.”
She grunted, equal parts scolding and affectionate. “But also: don’t waste that opportunity.” She lifted her coffee. “See you at class.”
What was it with people issuing threats this morning?I bit my lip to hold back my smile. Gran probably didn’t mean it that way. Probably.
I slipped my bike from the rack and rode to the grocery store, eager to get back to the quiet of my studio. Getting coffee had turned out to be more peopling than I’d bargained for.
But Gran’s words stuck with me: was Clay a man who’d dim a light or shine the torch? He was so full of himself, it seemedmore likely he’d be the one under the spotlight. The man didn’t know when to quit.
I threw the handful of groceries I needed to get through the week into my basket and beelined for the checkout.
“Hey, Lucy,” a familiar voice piped up behind me. Reluctantly, I turned to acknowledge the short redhead who’d joined the checkout line.
“Hi, Janine.” Chaz’s assistant at the gallery was too kind to snub, even if I was all out of small talk for the day.
She hovered behind me, quiet smile in place. Freckles covered her nose, adding to her innocent aura. She was stunning in her own way. Even if she weren’t an organizing dynamo, Chaz would have hired her for that face alone. Art enthusiasts loved beauty in all its forms.
“I’m looking forward to the art benefit. It’ll be nice to have something to do for once.” She visibly wilted after she said it. Like she’d said too much.
I frowned. “Doesn’t Chaz have a big show coming up?”
Janine shifted, avoiding my gaze. “Yes. But he prefers to work with A.A. on his own.” She wrinkled her nose. “Would you believe I’ve never met them? He says he doesn’t want me ‘scaring off the artist.’”
“Excuse me?” I asked, affronted on her behalf. Janine was almosttoogentle. She was a painful reminder of my past. Part of me saw the damage of my relationship with Christopher in her posture and the quiet, almost obsequious way she spoke. Like she didn’t deserve to be heard.
