Page 35 of The Love In Sunsets

“All right, Harris. This weekend, don’t forget.”

“I won’t.”

Crew reached across the counter and gave Eloise a hug. “I’ve missed you.”

“Same,” she said when they released each other. Crew made his way to the door. Eloise waved and then went back to reading the flier Margaux had created for the showcase. The event was so successful, advertising wasn’t really needed, but her aunt still asked businesses to hang the notice in the window or someplace where people new to Seaport could see it. Eloise made a few corrections and then glanced at the time. Kiel would be there any minute.

Her cheeks rose, and her fingers went to her lips. Last night’s kiss replayed in her mind. She liked him. More than she should, considering he was leaving at the end of the summer. Eloise didn’t care. She wanted to have fun, and Kiel felt like he did as well.

The door opened. She looked up and smiled. Kiel stood there, dressed casually in shorts and a button down. If she hadn’t known better, she’d say he was a local. Most tourists dress in their swimwear or sporty attire to combat the heat and humidity and break out the nice clothes for dinner.

Kiel strode toward her with a bright, ear-to-ear smile. “Hey.” His voice and the simple word sent a shiver down her spine.

“Hey,” she said breathlessly. It took a moment for Eloise’s brain to register they had plans. She fumbled with her things and ended up pushing her bag off the counter. “Crap,” she muttered as she bent to pick it up. When she stood, Kiel leaned on the overhang.

“You okay?”

“Yes, just . . .” Did she want to tell him he flustered her? “I need to tell my aunt I’m leaving.” Eloise started walking away and then stopped. She turned and faced him. “Do you want to meet her?”

Kiel ran his hand through his hair. “Uh . . . Maybe later?”

“You’re right,” she told him. She made her way to the back where Margaux was still in her meeting. Asking him to meet her aunt when she and Kiel barely knew each other wasn’t the smartest thing and could probably scare him off. There was no way she was remotely ready to meet his family.

“Will I see you for dinner?” Margaux asked.

Eloise shook her head. “I’m going to have dinner with a friend.”

“Be safe,” her aunt said. The statement gave Eloise pause. Those words could mean so many things.

After telling her aunt she was going to be gone for the day and would see her tomorrow, she made her way back to Kiel. As she rounded the corner, she watched him for a minute. He studied Margaux’s newest piece—a woman and child watching the harbor as a boat sailed away. She had hung it this morning and people had already registered their interest as soon as Eloise put it on the gallery’s website.

“Do you like it?” she asked as she stepped into the gallery.

Kiel smiled and looked at her. “Did you paint this?”

Eloise shook her head slowly. “My aunt did.” She looked around the space. “All of these are hers.”

“All of them?”

“There might be one or two from a student, but most are hers.”

“You said there’s a waiting list for her work?”

Eloise nodded. “For portraits, yes. These are all works she’s done and sells. We hung that one this morning and people are already interested. We’ll end up holding an auction.”

“So, I can’t come in and buy what I see?”

“You can. It all depends on interest,” Eloise told him. “If she puts something out and there isn’t a rush of inquiries, she’ll sell it to anyone. Other times, there is so much interest, she’ll hold an auction.”

“Wow.”

“Art can be extremely lucrative, but hard to sell. Most people come in to browse, not knowing what they’re looking for or even realizing they want a piece of art. It’s an expensive commitment. You’re spending thousands on something you’re going to hang in a room. It has to fit who you are, not only now, but as you evolve. Otherwise, you’ve wasted a lot of money.”

“And this is what you want to do?”

Eloise nodded. “Very much so,” she told him. “I don’t know about owning my own gallery or teaching other artists, but I’d love to sell my work in a gallery or have my own show someday. It’s not easy, even with Margaux being my aunt. I still have to forge my own path.”

“I’d really like to sit with you when you paint the next time.”

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