Page 76 of Before I Loved You

My eyes dart around the massive space before me. There’s a white spiral staircase that looks like a workout to get to the top, crown molding, a chandelier, pristine furniture, and…paintings. Distracted, I approach the painting on the wall closest to me.

Clearly, someone very talented made this piece as they perfectly captured every emotion felt with each color and brushstroke.

Paul’s significant presence approaches me from behind. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful.” I tilt my head to the side, trying to read the signature on the bottom. “Who is the artist?”

Paul reaches out, brushing his finger over the black scribble. “My mom.”

I turn to him, my mouth agape. “Your mom’s an artist?”

He nods, smiling. “Who did you think let us use their art studio?”

My eyes widen, horror filling me. “We had sex in your mom’s art studio?” I whisper-yell, looking around to make sure no one just heard that.

He shrugs.

“And may I ask where you put the evidence of our…art session?”

Please don’t say in his family’s living room.

“Ahh. That is a surprise for another day.” He winks with a mischievous grin, tapping my nose.

“Paul!” I scold, running a hand down my face. “If someone sees my ass print, I think I might die of embarrassment.”

Paul laughs loudly. “Baby girl.” His knuckles stroke my jawline as he looks down at me. “No one gets the privilege of seeing your ass except me.”

He kisses the top of my head just as heels clicking against the hardwood floor approach us.

“Well, there you two are!”

Quickly, I take a step away, distancing myself from Paul while setting a clear boundary between us.

A petite woman with perfectly coiffed blonde hair, a warm picturesque smile, and the friendliest pair of light blue eyes I’ve ever seen approaches. It’s not hard to see who Paul did not get his height from.

“Sarah, I’m so glad you could join us. Paul has told me so much about you.” Her arms wrap around me, and I freeze, unfamiliar with the gesture from a stranger. Paul smiles, tipping his head toward me, letting me know it’s okay to reciprocate. My arms move on their own accord, wrapping around her slender frame.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Weston.”

“Oh, please, just call me Kathy.” She smiles as she separates, glimpsing up at her son beside me. There’s no way I can refer to her by her first name when she looks like she could be a freaking First Lady. It feels inappropriate. “Paul, you didn’t tell me she was this beautiful.”

“Jesus, Mom.” His cheeks redden as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

Suddenly, two guys, equally as tall as Paul, with the same light brown skin color, walk up from behind his mom.

“Hi, I’m Paul’s older brother, Ray.” Ray pushes up his thick-framed glasses before reaching out his hand toward me. He’s lean, just like Paul, with the same short hairstyle faded on the sides, but the most noticeable difference is their eyes. Where Paul’s eyes are a deep chocolate brown, Rays are a soft shade of honey. They suit him nicely.

I take his hand, smiling.

A little boy runs up to Ray, stretching his hands in the air, signaling he wants to be picked up.

“And this guy is Lucas, my son.”

“Hi, Lucas.” I smile at him and wave.

He quickly waves and bashfully hides his face into Ray’s chest, giggling.

“He’s a bit of a flirt. Takes after his father, if you ask me.” A tall, slender woman with a deep tan and long, flowing dark hair that surpasses her waist enters the room, appearing as a picture of elegance. “Hi, I’m Tina, Ray’s wife.” I extend my hand toward her, but she swats it aside and wraps me up in a hug.

---