Page 141 of Fresh Canvas
“Hello to you, too,” Val said, his gruff voice thick with sleep.
“Shhh. Pretend I’m not here.”
“Easier said than done when your elbow is jamming into my ribs.”
“Oh! Sorry.” I readjusted and let Val’s arms fall around me, pulling me closer. He nuzzled into the nape of my neck, his hot breath raising goosebumps.
“What happened to not sleeping with me?”
I could practically feel his smirk. “We’re snuggling, Russo. That’s it.”
“That’d be easier to believe if you hadn’t already lied aboutnotsleeping with me.”
I coughed out a small laugh. “Shush. Go back to sleep.”
Val’s responding growl made me laugh as it ruffled the back of my hair. Within the arms of the man I loved, I quickly fell back into a dreamless sleep.
forty
AMANTHA
The sparkling limestone building stretched into the morning sky. Val slipped his hand into mine as we walked toward the museum doors. Visitors trailed up and down the marble steps, enjoying their Saturday morning.
Kendra had agreed to meet us after Val’s serious, albeit vague, call earlier. We decided that given Barbara’s disdain for the museum director, there was no way that Kendra had been involved or even aware. While I still felt sick to my stomach about incriminating Barbara, it was the right thing to do.
I stopped on the steps, riddled with anxiety.
“Are you going to open that door at some point or just stand there looking at it?” Val growled playfully over my shoulder.
I laughed and shook my head, remembering the first time he’d said those words. Turning and slinging my arms around his neck, I took advantage of my taller position on the steps.
“Hmm…” I pretended to think deeply. “Stand here. Most definitely.”
Val’s impish grin widened as he caught my waist in his arms. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He pulled me flush against his body before his mouth metmine—again and again—as he took his sweet time amid the bustling people. Now we werebothguilty of loitering on the museum steps.
Despite not wanting to, I let go of Val’s hand as we drew closer to the near-vacant curation wing.
Kendra didn’t appear at all surprised to see me trailing after Val, but then again, the museum director only seemed to have one facial expression. Her near-black irises glittered as she cordially invited us into her office.
“Have a seat.” Kendra settled into her chair. “I presume you’re here to talk about your relationship?”
My eyes widened as Val’s gaze shifted sideways at me.
“Don’t be alarmed, I’ve known for quite some time.” Her voice carried a trace of amusement, though her expression didn’t. “Ever since the Felix Andreas gala, in fact. Word to the wise—even janitorial closets are still visible to the public.” Her lips twitched. “I saw you both walk out. I tried to give you both multiple opportunities to come clean, but neither of you would. So I decided to let it slide until it affected the quality of your work—which never ended up happening.”
I coughed out a surprised laugh.
That’s why Kendra was suspicious? It wasn’t the forgery at all!
Val seemed to have drawn the same conclusion, a small grin playing on his lips.
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner, Kendra,” I said. “It took a long time for us to… figure things out. But that’s not why we’re here.”
Her eyebrows pinched as her eyes flicked between us.
“It’s not?”
