“Missed me?”

“If you didn’t already learn from the last time you tried to tease and taunt your way into making me discuss things with you, it’s not a great approach.”

His hand reaches forward, encircling the feather bangle I have worn every day since receiving.

“Nor is claiming.” I pull out of his touch and shoot a glare to send my point home.

“Dude, you ready?” A guy I barely recognize directs his question at King.

“No, he’s not ready.” The guys’ eyes rotate to me, his head still facing King and his lips parting with unease.

“Um…”

“I’ll catch up with you later,” King assures him.

Without nodding or saying a word, the guy turns and leaves.

“I’m done playing these games with you. If you really want to hang out, or be something besides an annoyance in each other’s lives, you need to cut this shit out. I’m funny. I’ll laugh at your jokes, but I am sick and tired of being the butt of them.”

“Your butt has never been in one of my jokes.”

My chin drops. King’s lips twitch before he stops trying to maintain his stoic expression. Then he nods. A loud breath blows between us and he moves a hand to his face, where I know, as I turn back to my painting, that it’s pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’m not trying to be an asshole. I just don’t know … We’re going about everything in reverse order. I feel like things are upside down and backward because I already know so much about you. I know what kind of person you are. I know that you don’t give two shits about who I am or what my brother does. I know you are crazy cool and ridiculously talented, and while you can’t cook to save your life, I’d be okay with eating it simply to spend time with you.”

My brush holds no paint, yet I can’t move it from the wall. After demanding that he change his approach, I’m so caught off guard with this one that I can’t look at him.

“You know I like you. I think I like you a little too much, and it makes me forget I’m not ten.”

My lips tug into an automatic smile that lifts higher when his hand brushes down my back, settling where my spine curves inward. “I’m going to stop being such a dickhead … or at least try. I’ll warn you though: you have the ability to irritate me more than anyone I’ve ever met.”

I’m no longer too shy to look at him. My eyebrows are drawn with my confusion and offense.

“Don’t act surprised. I know I drive you crazy too.”

“That’s because you act like a dickhead.”

“You guys are both stubborn and way too proud. Lo gets on drawing and painting tangents and King, you find every excuse to travel, or come beat the hell out of yourself in the shop.”

“Thanks for that assessment, Summer.” King lifts a hand and points to the door. “We’ll see you later.”

“As long as you guys both know that I know. Now when one of you starts acting like a jackass, I’ll be sure to remind you to stop.” Her smile is nearly as bright as it turns when she’s spending time alone with Kash. Her blond hair fans as she whirls around and heads outside.

Before turning back to King, my eyes dart around the shop, studying each of the areas to ensure we’re actually alone before continuing the conversation.

“I’m leaving tomorrow morning for San Francisco, but I want to take you to dinner when I get back. How about Friday?”

“I can’t. I have model practice.”

“How much longer is that?”

“Five more weeks.”

King’s eyes stretch. “Jesus. Okay, Saturday I have to be up in Seattle for a competition. What about during the week?”

“You do realize I see you like every day, right?”

King furrows his eyebrows, telling me my words are crazy. “That’s not the same. Yeah, I like getting to spend time with you and just see what you’re like and be in a relaxed setting, but I want to see you in heels and a dress. I want your attention focused on me. And I really don’t want the Peanut Gallery to be around, adding subtext to all of our interactions.”

A dress? Heels? I’ve been out on dates with guys before, but never while wearing that attire outside of a high school dance.

“I have to get some work done next week to complete my submission.” I balance my paintbrush in my hand holding the palette so I can brush a few strands of hair back from my face, not caring when I think of Charleigh’s assurance that it means I’m flirting.

“Submission? For what?”

“Italy this summer.”

“You’re going to Italy?”

“I doubt it. There’s some really steep competition, and multiple colleges across the country are participating.”

“What would it be for?”

“Art restoration.”

“Next Saturday.” He shakes his head when my mouth opens. “Next Saturday,” he repeats.

“Next Saturday,” I confirm with a nod.

His lips quirk up into his uneven smile, and without question or thought, mine follow. Confidence radiates in his steps and his eyes that are focused on mine, making me squirm and look back to my palette and the wall a few times before finally returning to King. He smiles even wider, revealing his perfect teeth that I had described to Charleigh, and then he leans closer. I can feel my pulse in my neck, and it increases when the scent of him blocks the acrylic paint and coolness of the cement that the shop always exudes. “Lo, close your eyes.” His tongue wets his lips, and his eyes blink slowly, the weight of lust making them heavy. “You’re studying me.”

I shake my head so slightly that it’s nearly imperceptible. “I’m memorizing you.”

“Are you going to draw me?”

“Are you going to kiss me?” My voice is low, the anticipation making my lungs forget their primary function.

“If you tell me you’re going to draw me.”

“Probably a thousand times tonight.”

“Good.” The word barely slips through his lips before I lean closer and kiss him. If it surprises him, I can’t tell, because there is no hesitancy, no awkward shifting that often happens when you’re learning to kiss a new person. King’s bottom lip covers mine and then moves to my upper lip, pulling, plying, massaging, and erasing every last thought and image aside from him. The palm of his hand is hot as it cups my jaw. Then his fingers gently press firmly into my skin as his other hand wraps around my back. Our chests and hips are close enough I feel the graze of him as he breathes. Everything is fluid, matched, perfect.

“WHAT’S GOING on?”

I turn to face Mercedes, my eyebrows stretched high in question.

“You did your hair today and you seem really happy, when all week you’ve been a stress case.”

“I was able to get a lot done with my portfolio this week. I’m relieved that it’s starting to come together.”

“That doesn’t explain the hair.”

Touché.

“I’m just…”

“You know I know, right?”

“Know what?”

“Everything.” She giggles as my eyes roll. “I might be ten, but I pay attention. I know you like my uncle King.”

“That’s…” Mercedes’ fists go to her hips. “…true…” A smile breaks out across her face with my confession.

“Let’s go out to the shop! He’s out there riding right now.” She takes my hand before allowing me the opportunity to object and pulls me to the front door.

I’m trailing behind her only slightly, my own excitement not allowing me to play it very cool. Each day that we’ve been in here this week while King’s been gone, my eyes have landed on my painting before seeing anything else, scrutinizing it and reminding myself of things I need to change or do. Today my black and white creation isn’t even a thought as my attention lands solely on King. He’s mid-air, a euphoric expression highlighting his face.

He completes two more trips across the ramp before coming to a stop and looking our way. “I thought you were bringing her here as soon as she arrived?”