Page 94 of Sawyer
“You still painting, Doc?” Dean strolled over, standing beside his canvas. “Madison invited us over for an after-shift drink. Nanine said she’d baked some kind of holiday bread.”
His stomach grumbled. “I guess I can take a break.”
Kyle pointed to the canvas. “How’s it coming?”
He flexed his fingers. “Good. Real good.”
“Music to our ears.” Dean hooked a thumb at Brooke. “That one had me a little worried after she ran me through today’s events.”
Axel came over and stood beside Sawyer, not bothering to ask if he could view the work. He realized he hadn’t tensed up out of habit and felt downright victorious.
“Come see what you think,” he told the new arrivals. “I’ve got a bit more to do, but I’m pretty happy with it so far.”
“You’ve been painting, what?” Axel asked, resting his chin on his large hand as he studied it gravely. “Seven hours?”
He did the math. “I guess so. I lost track of time.”
“You’ve made good progress.” Axel’s large hand swept the air. “I love the warmth of the scene. Its nostalgia. You capture Madison and Nanine beautifully. Both passionately pleased with their work as they co-exist in harmony side by side in the same kitchen. It has the feel of feminine companionship as much as excellence. Well done, Maestro.”
“Thanks, Axel.” He didn’t get a knot in his throat after hearing Axel’s praise, not like he first had a couple months ago either. “Once I got going, it went pretty easy.”
“Something to remember, then.” He suddenly sniffed the air. “Ah, but something smells like mulled wine. One of my favorites this time of year.”
“Ask Madison if there’s a slice of the chocolate tart left,” he told him. “It’s served with a mulled wine sauce.”
“I will at that.” Axel patted him on the back before heading off.
Brooke came over and gasped. “Oh, Sawyer! It’s beautiful! I know you need this for your show, but I want this one. Name your price, and I’ll pay it.”
“Sales go through his agent,” Kyle said pointedly with a laugh as he came around to view the painting. “Ah, I can see why you want it. I might bid against you.”
His roommates were bidding against each other for his work? He wanted to give another wolflike howl.
Dean peeked around and whistled. “God, Doc, you captured them brilliantly. I mean, Madison looks like the cat who got the cream. Pierre is his usual trusty companion self. And Nanine…”
“Looks like an angel sent from heaven,” Jacqueline added, making a humming sound. “I know you do not need my praise, Sawyer, but you have it all the same. This painting is beautiful.”
“Let me see.” Madison crossed the kitchen with Pierre. “Sounds like Doc didn’t paint me cross-eyed. Oh! Oh, wow! That’s— I look?—”
“Beautiful,” Kyle interjected softly as his gaze lifted to hers. “He captured your essence perfectly, especially when you cook.”
Her mouth parted before she snapped it shut, narrowing her golden eyes to slits. “I’m going to have to work on appearing scarier, I see. How about this?”
No one commented on the contorted face she made.
She huffed out a sigh. “My staff will be completely out of control by Valentine’s Day, one of our biggest days of the year, if I don’t stop looking like a sap. But great job, Doc. Looks like the paintings we saw when you dragged me to the Louvre ten years ago. Something I shudder about to this day. Not because of the art. But because of the massive numbers of people. I challenge anyone to come up with a place that contains as many people as the Louvre on a given day.”
“Charles de Gaulle,” Jacqueline said with a chuckle. “But I agree. It is difficult to enjoy art amidst such a crowd.”
Suddenly the back door blew open again, and this time the person arriving threw his entire system into fifth gear.
Phoebe!
“Good!” She stalked inside after slamming the door. “You’re all here.”
She was holding a black garment bag and wearing her lime green coat. There were shadows under her eyes, but she’d painted her lips a fiery burgundy—a color she’d told him was her power lipstick color when she meant business.
He smiled at her.
