Page 14 of Illicit Illustration

“Oh,” she said, sounding relieved. “Oh…uh. Maybe?”

“I don’t have any clients until noon tomorrow. Want to do it in the morning?”

She started chewing that pouty lower lip again, and my fingers twitched with the urge to pull it free and soothe her abused lip…with my tongue.

Fuck, I needed to keep it together. After flirting with her during our blind date, I had to get my head in the right place, so I didn’t give myself away. I still needed to text her from the VPN phone number I’d set up moments after walking out the back of the bar earlier. I’d already input her number into the texting app, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

I also felt guilty about the deception, but it wasn’t like I could contact her from my personal number or the shop mobile number, since she knew both. And while volunteering to help with her commissions might put me at risk for exposure, I could also see if this attraction between us was really happening or if it was something I was imagining.

She’d probably think I was a piece of shit later for not coming clean, but she’d been hiding from me for years, and it was time she stopped. Because the more time I spent with her, the more time I wanted tokeepspending with her, and I wasn’t going to let her fear of the man I used to be stop me.

Maybe it was turning thirty or the fact that I’d never been in a serious relationship before. Hell, maybe it was because I was finally seeing—and was really fucking attracted to—the woman she’d become over the last few years that’d infused me with this craving to be around her.

“You know I’ll just show up if you don’t give me an answer. And while figure drawing is not where I concentrate most of my energy, I know how to do it. Unless you have some art school friends who’d be happy to help you…”

Hazel’s cheeks remained pink even as she shook her head, trying to dissuade me from continuing to pry into this situation.

“None of them know what I’ve been working on.”

Stepping closer, I pulled her closer, cupping her cheek. “You know this isn’t something you should be ashamed of, right?”

Her eyes were soft as she stared up at me, the pad of my thumb absently stroking the apple of her cheek. She truly didn’t know how beautiful she was. How brave she was. But I was determined to be the one to clue her in on just how amazing she truly was.

“Haz, I think it’s impressive you’re building a business on your own terms. It isn’t easy, but if you love what you’re doing, it’s worth it. Your dreams are worth it.”

“Okay,” she murmured. I wasn’t sure if it was her accepting my offer to help her or if she was confirming what I’d said, but she wasn’t fighting me. And I’d give just about anything to keep her attention right now.

“So, you’ll let me help you?”

The soft skin beneath my thumb pinkened, and I knew I had my answer. She may have been apprehensive about letting me in, but she wasn’t hiding from me anymore.

Leaning in, my lips brushed her cheek as I whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. I’m an excellent photographer. And I’m very good at giving direction.”

“Wait.” Her eyes widened as I stepped back. “You’re not meaning that you’re going to take pictures ofme, right?”

Shrugging, I stepped backward, knowing if I didn’t leave soon, I’d never want to. And I had a text yet to send.

“Reid, this isn’t self-insert artwork here. I don’t need pictures of me.”

“How else do you intend to get reference photos to work from? Are you planning to ask Charley?”

She cursed under her breath as she followed me toward the back door, and I tried not to laugh. She really was a fierce little kitten sometimes.

“You CANNOT tell her.”

Holding up my hands, I adopted an unassuming expression. “You need reference photos of couples, so unless you’re willing to get in the shot with me, it’ll be hard to set up what you need without a second person.”

“What?”

“Let me put it to you another way.Youwant my help?Youpose with me.”

She sputtered, her panicked expression only making me feel a little remorse for talking her into this.

“You can’t be serious about this, Reid. You saw what I was drawing.”

Nodding, I tried to hold back how much her drawing had truly affected me. “Very serious, Haz.”

“But…”

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