Page 35 of Sawyer
They headed to the kitchen. “No biggie. My office is here.”
Sawyer opened what he called their refrigerator bookcase—the wall of mini coolers with glass fronts. “Madison still at the restaurant?”
He checked his watch again, his eagerness growing as the second hand ticked on his Swiss watch. “Yeah, but she’ll be here soon.”
“Be good to see her,” Sawyer said, taking out the foie gras and hunting up the bread in the bread box where Thea always left her loaves. “I haven’t seenanybody.”
Should he mention it? Yeah, because they were friends. “I know. Not even Phoebe, although Brooke said it sounded like the date went well.”
Doc’s smile was lovesick. “It did. I’m seeing her tomorrow. I finally need to leave the paint cave. I had this vision that I could go on painting forever. Years would pass. Suddenly I’d look into the mirror and my hair would be gray and my face lined. I would never have felt time pass. It was totally weird, dude.”
“Totally,” he had to repeat, making Sawyer laugh. “Maybe we should agree on the number of days you can be closeted up there before we hold an intervention.”
Sawyer started slicing the bread. “I don’t think we’ve reached it. Besides, I don’t want to be stopped. If I could keep going like this—no interruptions—I think I could have an entire gallery show painted in a couple of months.”
Kyle went over and grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler before sitting across from Sawyer at the kitchen island. “You’re painting that fast?”
He grinned, looking boyish with his wild curly black hair dotted with swirls of white, blue, and purple paint. “I have a muse.”
No man smiled like that over a friend. “Phoebe.”
“Yeah.”He stuffed bread and foie gras into his mouth after heaving a hefty sigh.
“Brooke said she’d mentioned our little trip to her gallery.” When Sawyer only nodded, Kyle rested his elbow on the island. “I was impressed with the way she handled us, Doc.”
“She’s smart,” he responded, wiping his mouth. “Good with people. Brave. Honest. God, I’m really into her, and we’ve only gone out once. When I first saw her, man, it was like Cupid’s arrow struck my heart.”
Of course he’d think of Cupid. “And Phoebe likes the Bard, as Dean says.”
“Uh-huh.” Sawyer cut another piece of bread. “So hot. We text quotes to each other. Not that I haven’t done it before, but this is next level. Our texting is out of sight!”
Obviously, especially since she’d inspired Sawyer to paint like he hadn’t before. Kyle only worried what would happen if things went south between them. Would Sawyer be unable to paint? Would he hole up in his studio and stare at the walls? Doc was sensitive, and this was new territory. They would have to be prepared for anything.
“Where are you taking her tomorrow?”
Another dreamy look, one he’d gotten used to seeing on Dean. “Somewhere unique. I hope. I thought I’d show her all my favorite bookshops in Paris before we ended up at Chez Marie.”
“Nanine’s and Thea’s and Jean Luc’s favorite. Nice choice. Casual yet warm and welcoming. Good food.”
“Afterward, we can walk around Montmartre.” His gaze was so unfocused Kyle knew he was already imagining being there. “It might be corny but it’s romantic, seeing the view from the city up there.”
Would Madison think so?
Kyle almost knocked his water bottle over. God, what was he doing? He could not imagine their first date. Or any date…
Speaking of. Where the hell was she? He checked his watch. It was nearing midnight. Had they closed later? Exceptthey’d agreed to close the restaurant at ten thirty—the same schedule Nanine’s had always kept. Cleanup with her staff didn’t take that long. Had she gotten delayed? He picked up his phone to text her, only to set it aside.
“You worried about Madison?” Sawyer’s eyes weren’t glassy anymore. He was staring fixedly at Kyle.
“No. Just wondering what’s keeping her.”
“Why don’t we swing by the restaurant and see? I can say I needed more sustenance than this house had to offer and see if she’ll feed me any leftovers.”
Kyle cleared his throat. Doc was too smart by half. Hell, everyone in the house knew about the connection between him and Madison. They’d all simply agreed not to ask about it.
Because his roommates also knew what was at stake.
Which meant he should probably leave her alone, let her come home when she was ready. But it was almost twelve…
