Page 8 of The Charmer

She just hoped she remembered her professional objectivity tonight when she had to sketch his bottom half.

“Is there more to see?” Sofia’s eyebrows wiggled suggestively and Ariel knew exactly how much ‘more’ the older woman wanted to see.

“No, I haven’t got to that part yet.”

And despite her earlier intention not to blush, heat surged into her cheeks.

Sofia’s ear-splitting grin didn’t help. “Ah…but I’m sure you’re looking forward to it. If that part is as impressive as the rest, we’re all in for a treat, no?”

“No.”

Sofia cackled and slipped an arm around her shoulders, the heady combination of expensive floral perfume and hairspray tickling Ariel’s nose.

“You are a sweet girl, bambina. Why won’t you accept money from me rather than paint men’s rude bits?”

“We’ve been through this,” Ariel said, slipping from Sofia’s claustrophobic embrace and crossing to an open window. “You’re a wonderful kind woman but I can’t accept your charity. I need to do this on my own.”

Sofia clucked and shook her head, sending mushrooms of hair product into the air while her bouffant didn’t move a millimetre. “Babs wouldn’t want you running yourself into the ground to keep the gallery open. She loved you too much.”

“And that’s exactly why I have to continue her work. I’ve got Chelsea Lynch’s first show coming up next month, and Chelsea’s exactly the type of local talent Barb would’ve busted a gut for. Chelsea’s had a tough life, brought up on the streets around here, and is finally doing something with her life. I need to be there for her, for all of them.”

Just like Aunt Barb had been there for her.

What the kind-hearted woman had ever seen in a rebellious eight-year-old street urchin she’d never know, but from the first minute Barb had found her sleeping out the back of the gallery, wrapped in a paint-splattered canvas, Ariel had known nothing but patience and understanding and love. She’d been one of the lucky ones and now it was her turn to give back.

“You are a saint,” Sofia said, kissing her fingertips and blowing the kiss toward her.

“At the price I’m charging you for this commission, you think?”

Ariel’s gaze drifted toward the sketches of Cooper, wondering if her luck had finally changed when he’d walked in the door last night.

For her, art channelled beauty, and though life portraits came in many shapes and forms she knew that working with a perfect subject like Cooper would do a lot more for her inspiration than painting some recalcitrant, skinny guy.

And who knew, with a portrait of a great looking subject like Cooper hanging in the house of one of Melbourne’s richest women, she might get inundated with commissions, meaning she could teach more classes, support more shows, and do more for the local charities.

She’d make sure this was her best work, rude bits or not, if it killed her.

“Your work is beautiful, bambina. You don’t charge nearly enough.” Sofia held up a hand when Ariel opened her mouth to refute this. “I will not hear another word. You do this painting for me, we talk some more then. Now, I must go. Antonio is taking me to a divine new trattoria in Lygon Street.”

“Who’s Antonio?”

“A very sweet boy.” Sofia batted her long eyelash extensions and Ariel laughed, knowing Antonio would be young, handsome, and pliable, like Sofia’s usual type. “Ciao, bella. You have fun with your model, no?”

“No,” Ariel muttered, returning Sofia’s kiss-on-each-cheek and hoping she could complete this life portrait in record time.

Having fun with the model should be the furthest thing from her mind.

Chapter Six

Cooper stood outside the gallery, admiring the wide windows, cream rendered walls, and green fretwork. He’d checked out this site many times over the last few months, even though his dad had been handling the acquisition, and each time Cooper had been more intent on assessing the gallery’s street position and how the space could be developed than aesthetics.

Colour by Dreams.

Nice name. A name depicting hope and imagination and creativity.

Shame he had to tear it all down.

He’d never had qualms in the business arena before, no point starting now, even if the gallery’s owner had piqued his interest.

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