Page 30 of The Charmer

The concern in Sofia’s dark eyes hardened Ariel’s resolve. She didn’t want to reconsider anything. She’d made a promise to Aunt Barb and she’d do her best to keep it. She had no other option.

Her promise was all she’d been able to offer Aunt Barb in return for years of unswerving love and support, and there was no way she would break it, even if it meant taking on ten extra jobs. Or doing ten more life portraits as much as she hated them.

Though if all the models looked like Cooper…

Mentally slapping herself for even going there, she enveloped Sofia in a hug. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I know you mean well but I have to do this my way.”

Sofia pulled back and patted her cheek. “In that case, why don’t you go and mingle? Several people have expressed interest in getting portraits done by the fabulous artist who painted Maria’s birthday present. And of course, the men are all dying to meet the gorgeous creature in the stunning green dress.”

Ariel glanced down at the fitted bodice, spaghetti straps, and pointy panelled, flowing chiffon of her vintage dress. With all the couture in this room, they thought this dress is stunning? It proved her point about what a bunch of phoneys this rich crowd was.

However, obtaining a few more commissions could mean the difference between keeping the gallery open for another year or not, and though she hated the patronising, condescending atmosphere in the room, she’d swallow her pride and think of Colour by Dreams.

“You’re not pushing them in my direction I hope?”

Sofia threw her hands up in theatrical despair. “How could you think such a thing?” She winked and gave Ariel a none-too-gentle shove towards the main throng gathered at the floor-to-ceiling French doors opening out onto a sandstone paved patio. “Now go.”

“I’m going, I’m going,” Ariel muttered, downing the rest of her sparkling water and wishing she liked the taste of champagne. A little false courage wouldn’t go astray. She hated marketing, particularly self promotion.

Not surprising, considering she’d spent the first eight years of her life trying to fade into the background at the various orphanages, foster homes, and during that interminable week-long stint on the streets.

Falling asleep in an old canvas in Barb’s backyard had been the luckiest break of her life. Now, if only her luck could hold…for the next twenty years or so.

“Going somewhere?”

A hand clamped on her arm out of nowhere and she stopped, shrugging off Cooper’s grip before speaking.

“I’m off to do some networking, like some business guru advised me on the way over here.”

Cooper grinned and she wished her heart wouldn’t do that weird little tango whenever he did. “You mean you’re actually listening to me? And better yet, taking my advice?”

“Yeah, go figure? I must be drunk.”

“On that clear sparkling stuff you’ve been drinking for the last hour? I doubt it.”

A small part of Ariel was flattered he’d managed to tear his gaze away from fawning Maria for more than a second to notice what she’d been drinking, while a larger part—the logical part—told her she was crazy for caring.

“Look, why don’t you head back to your friends and let me continue doing what I have to do?” And the only reason why I came here in the first place. “In fact, once I finish chatting to a few people I’ll never see again if I’m lucky, I’m heading home, so thanks for the ride.”

His smile vanished and his eyes darkened to a stormy midnight. “Firstly, these people aren’t my friends. They’re acquaintances, and the main reason I’m here is to support you, not party with people I barely know. Secondly, I’m not some immature young man you can give the brush off to when it suits you. I brought you, I’ll take you home.” He glowered. “And lastly, in case you didn’t know, this whole ‘woe-is-me’ act of yours is wearing a little thin. You’re out of your depth here? Well, listen up, sweetheart. Everyone gets that feeling, from the Prime Minister to garbage collectors. You’re a big girl, deal with it. Now off you go, show these people half the spunk you show me and when you’re ready, I’ll meet you outside.”

Ariel stared at Cooper in stunned disbelief as he strode through the open French doors without looking back, torn between wanting to run after him and give him a clip around the ears for speaking to her like that and doing exactly as he said; make this crowd notice her, make some contacts, promote her business, no matter how much she hated it and how far out of her depth she felt.

Woe-is-me act?

“I’ll show him,” she muttered, glaring daggers in Cooper’s direction and squaring her shoulders to shake up this crowd.

Chapter Twenty

Ariel flounced ahead of Cooper into the studio, not bothering to turn on lights, other than the two elephant lamps she’d picked up for a bargain at a local vintage sale. “You do know the only reason I let you drive me home was because I couldn’t get a taxi or Uber for half an hour?”

“I didn’t think it was for my scintillating company, considering you didn’t speak and pouted the whole way.”

“I didn’t pout.”

“No? Then what’s that pursing thing you’re doing with your lips right now?”

Before she could blink, Cooper leaned forward, his thumb gently brushing her lips, eliciting a tingle spread that throughout her body, lingering in places that hadn’t tingled in a long while.

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