Page 6 of Why Not Us?

Chapter 3

Nate

From the corner of my eye, I see Adalie approaching. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been watching her this whole time. Ever since she came over to me. I’d assumed she was going to try to kick me out. I don’t exactly look like the other people here tonight with my leather jacket and tattoos down both arms to the backs of my hands. When I’d told her who I was, I’d expected her to change her tune, but I hadn’t expected the relief, like she wasgladI was in the right place.

And the feeling of her hand in mine, so small and fine, had caused instincts to stir within me. Something sat up and paid attention, telling me this tiny woman needed me to protect her. Which is absolutely ridiculous. I date women who aren’t afraid to take what they want, not tiny, timid women who remind me of flowers with soft, easily damaged petals. Even if said woman has porcelain skin dotted with light freckles, and fiery red hair coiling around sparkling green eyes I could get lost in.

What am I thinking?

Adalie stops next to us, offering my brother a smile and her hand.

“Hi, you must be Taylor. I’m Adalie. I missed you when you were here before.”

Taylor shakes her hand and something inside me growls at the idea of him touching her. Which is also ridiculous. They’re shaking hands, for fuck’s sake.

And after about two seconds, they’re not anymore. Like a normal handshake. Not like the one I shared with her when I held her hand for almost a full minute.

I’ve completely missed Taylor’s response in my moment of possessive insanity and Adalie has turned her attention to my daughter.

“And you must be Dani. I’ve been told you love art.”

“I do. I’ve been practicing some digital art on my tablet lately, but there’s some things I’m not quite getting.”

They talk for a while about stuff that doesn’t make any sense to me: sketching, lighting, shadows, colour mixing, perspectives. All the while, Adalie is doing something to the easel, making sure it’s the right height for Dani, and laying out paints for her. Some other staff members come over to help me and Taylor and the other guests, but Adalie is completely focused on my little girl, and damn if it’s not a little bit hot.

I don’t introduce women to my daughter, so I’ve never noticed how nice it is to watch someone so interested in Dani’s happiness. Of course, Katie is, but I don’t have any romantic feelings towards my daughter’s mother at all.

Not that I have romantic feelings toward Adalie, either.

I cross my arms over my chest, staring at my blank canvas until Taylor nudges me.

“You’re glaring,” he says, and I consciously relax my features so I’m not anymore.

The class starts and Adalie takes her place at the front. Suddenly, all nervousness drains away from her. When she’d come up to talk to me before, she’d put on a good show, but I could tell she was uncomfortable. It was even a little fun watching her become flustered by my lack of responses. Yet in front of the whole room, she looks as if she knows exactly what she’s doing and how to do it.

“Good evening, everyone,” she begins. “Thank you all for coming out. Before we get started, there will be staff walking around with the appetizers. Don’t be shy if you see something you like. Others are available if you want any drinks. One drink is included in your ticket. After that, there is a cash bar, but we can keep a tab open for you. We’ve also included a special treat of a sundae bar tonight, so I hope everyone will take advantage. All right. Let’s begin.”

She explains the first steps of the painting, which brushes and colours to use and when. I try to follow her directions, but it isn’t long before I fuck it up. Dani glances over at my project and laughs at me before hopping off her seat to come help me. She rinses off the brush I’ve been using and grabs a different one, dipping it into the paint and covering a splotch I’d added where it didn’t belong. Adalie comes over as well, looking over Dani’s shoulder as she fixes my mistakes.

“That looks great,” Adalie says. She points out a couple other things Dani could do to my painting and also to her own. She doesn’t mention anything about how I messed up. In fact, she doesn’t speak to me at all, focused entirely on Dani. I don’t know why that bothers me so much. I don’t want her to talk to me. Do I?

Then Adalie walks away to check on the other paintings, stopping for a moment to admire Taylor’s and offer a few pointers, which causes jealousy to flare in my chest. Which is,again, ridiculous. None of the other men make me jealous, but they’re all here with someone. Like me, Taylor is completely single.

“There,” Dani says, drawing my attention back to my easel. “All fixed.”

“Thanks, pipsqueak. Where would I be without you?”

“A mess,” she says plainly.

“Hey!” I grab her, pulling her toward me and tickling her amidst a fit of giggles.

“Dad! Stop!” she squeals.

I do, but it still takes her a few minutes to calm down and return to her painting. When she does, I glance up to find Adalie staring at me with a deer-caught-in-headlights expression. When she sees me notice, she quickly turns back to her easel, but I wonder what she had been thinking. Why did she look at me that way? Is she feeling the same pull toward me as I have toward her?

Not that it matters. I try to pay attention to what I’m doing, as well as what’s going on around me. I’d come here to decide if Taylor is right. Should we partner with this business? They’re going to want huge orders this summer and if we sign the contract, our business name will be entwined with theirs. Is that something I want?

There’s nothing I see that would make me hesitant. The night runs smoothly. The staff are friendly and seem genuinely happy to be working. They even have a rainbow flag sticker on their front door that matches the one we have at Hops Scotch.

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