Page 61 of Obeying the Owner

“Thank you. I can’t say I enjoy you being angry with me or avoiding me.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Really? I’ll tuck that information away for another time.”

All I hear is “another time.”

“We need to pick what we want to paint. There are a few choices,” Gwen mentions.

Before she can add anything more, a shop employee comes over.

“Hi, Mr. Ledger. I’m Lori. I spoke on the phone with you.”

“Hi, Lori. This is my daughter Gwen and my friend Maeve. We’re ready to get started.”

“If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to your private space.” She moves toward the right side of the room where there are three doors. Opening the third one down, she waves us in after her. “You all get an easel and a canvas. The paints and brushes are on the table,” she says, pointing to the back wall. You can wash your brushes in the sink, and there are paper towels to dry them. You choose what you want to paint. There are some examples hanging on the wall if you need something to follow, or you can go wild and paint whatever you’d like. Does anyone have any questions?” The three of us remain quiet and shake our heads. “Okay, I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“Thank you,” I call out as she closes the door.

“I thought she’d never leave,” Gwen says.

Maeve laughs. “Me too.”

“You two are horrible,” I tease, grinning at the sight of them together.

Gwen is the first to choose the easel she wants. “Maeve, paint next to me.”

She nods. “Okay.”

My daughter doesn’t realize it, but she helped me out. By getting Maeve to use the middle easel, she’ll be between Gwen and me. I’ll be able to interact with her in a way I don’t have the freedom to at work. I’ve missed spending time with her. Since I became her boss ten days ago, everything has changed—everything except my desire for her. I’m not sure anything could make that dissipate.

“Gwen, do you know what you want to paint?” Maeve asks.

“Yep. I like the field of flowers with the rainbow in the background. Which one are you doing?”

“The lake with the island in the middle.”

Gwen looks at me. “What about you, Dad?”

“The dragon, of course.”

“Are you sure you shouldn’t pick something with less detail?” she asks.

“What are you trying to say, daughter?”

Her nose wrinkles as she forms a reply. “You might want to choose a simpler design.”

I laugh. “You’re being so diplomatic. I’m assuming it’s for Maeve’s benefit.”

Gwen’s grin is rueful. “Maybe.”

“I appreciate your effort, but Maeve’s going to see my poor rendition of whatever I choose, so I may as well paint what I like.”

Maeve laughs. “I’ll keep my expectations low.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Gwen says.

I roll my neck and then my shoulders. “I’ll just have to shock you with my painting.”

“Oh, you’ll shock us all right,” Gwen quips, giggling.

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