When I pull up in front of Dragonfly Ink, I’m nervous as shit. I went on a few real dates in high school, but they hadn’t scared me. Now I’m about to go on a fake date and my balls are tied in knots. I’m not worried about going with the flow and acting the boyfriend. I’m freaked out because I want to make an impression. Something I never worry about. And I’m clueless about how to do it while on this sham of a date. My charm hasn’t gotten me far with this girl.
Yet.
As soon as I open the shop door, Allie’s coming at me. Hot damn. She’s wearing a dress. Black. Short. Tight. It has only one sleeve, her tattoo acting as the other and her bare shoulder gleaming under the track lights. “Hey,” I say as she lifts a coat. I reach for it, then hold it out for her. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks,” she responds hastily, sliding into the coat and flying past me out the door.
Opening the car door for her, I notice the reason for her quick flight. Mandy, Shaya, and Todd peer at us from the shop’s window. Todd gives me a thumbs-up. I give them all a quick wave and hurry around the car, wanting to get away from our audience as quickly as Allie clearly does.
“Where to?” I ask, starting the car. She gives me directions as I try not to stare at the sleek length of her legs ending in sexy heels. She finishes the directions with, “By the way, you look pretty good too.”
“Thanks,” I say. I don’t share that it took me for-fucking-ever to pick out my clothes. I finally ended with a black Armani button-up shirt, frayed jeans, and low black boots. Not exactly the outfit of the year, but with my nerves in overdrive, I couldn’t fathom what to wear to an art show.
The silence in the car is awkward for the first few minutes, until I ask, “So should I know anything about your ex? Will he be breathing down my neck all night?”
She waves a hand. “He’ll be fine. I just don’t want anything to do with that revolving door.”
The revolving door comment hits my conscience. Though I’ve never slept with more than one girl a night, the
“Both. We’ve known each other since high school. I haven’t had much time to see her lately, which is another reason I didn’t want to miss the show.”
“Another art geek?”
“Yes. She was never as geeky as me, and obviously way more driven, considering she’s doing the whole gallery thing.”
“I’m going to be honest, I didn’t know there was an art gallery in the area.”
“You from around here?”
“Been here three years, but I grew up in Grand Rapids.”
“Actually, there are two art studios around here. One is more a mix of photography and art, and the one we’re going to is mainly paintings and sculpture but also offers classes. But yeah, art galleries exist outside of New York or London or Grand Rapids. Smaller scale, with less commas on the price tags.”
I can smell her perfume, something clean and flowery scented. It fits her perfectly. “Your friend…”
“Hannah.”
“She paints?”
“No. She does constructed sculpture.”
“Constructed sculpture?”
She nods. “Instead of molding the piece or chiseling it from stone, it’s built.”
“You like her work?”
She glances at me. “Well, yeah.”
I give her a look that says,
Allie laughs and the low, husky sound fills the interior of the car. Damn. She could giggle and it would be sexy. She pushes auburn waves behind a shoulder. “I do like her art. I would love to own a piece, if I had the extra money. She has major talent.”
I slow as we near the address she gave me. It’s in an older, renovated part of town filled with boutiques and little restaurants. Since the gallery parking lot is full, I pull a U-turn and park on the opposite side of the street. “If the amount of cars out here is any indication, she must do well.”
Allie nods. “Hannah eventually wants to make it to New York.”
I kill the engine and shoot her a look. “Any last words before we become a public couple?”
Her hands pause on the seat belt as she glances at me. “Thanks for coming. Hopefully, it will be tame and we’ll just have fun checking out art and sipping cheap wine.”
“You. Me. Art. Fun. Cheap wine. Sounds good,” I say as she reaches for the door handle. “Hey, let your date get that.”
She rolls her eyes but lets out a soft, nervous giggle. I was right. Her giggle is sexy too.
After opening the door, I take her hand and we walk across the street. She doesn’t pull away, and the way our hands fit together feels perfect. We hang our coats on a rack in the entrance, and as soon as we enter the studio, a waitress dressed in a top hat offers up a tray of drinks. I almost laugh at the ridiculous display. Gummy worms lie at the bottom of a plastic flute of sparkling wine and red wine fills a plastic glass with a flashing pink stem. Keeping my inner wine snob in check, I reach for the red wine. Allie goes for the flute of sparkling wine. Hand in hand we start roaming the huge gallery space, which is split down the middle by sleek white panels. Soft Spanish guitar music plays in the background.
Our first stop is a metal bird with long wings extended, perched on a motorcycle about half its true size. It’s kind of cool.
“Can you tell what it’s made of?” Allie asks before sipping her wine.
I look over the piece more closely, enjoying the feel of her hand in mine. Never thought I’d enjoy something so innocent. “A thin, shiny metal?”
“Close. Large paper clips. Cool, huh?”
I’m examining the piece again when a loud “Hey, girl!” sounds behind us.
As Allie turns and breaks our hand connection, she’s enveloped in fuzzy, bright green arms. The words “You made it!” come out of the fuzz. Allie laughs, returns the hug, and the owner of the fuzzy arms finally materializes. I’m looking at a girl who’s wearing a funnel-collar coat that’s impossibly fuzzy and green. The funnel is higher than her spiked pink hair.
She grabs Allie’s arm and leans close. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know Jazz would bring Trevor.” Allie’s mouth tightens but the pink-haired woman doesn’t notice. “And when did he get back? It’s like he materialized out of thin air. I know you—”
“Hannah,” Allie says, cutting her off and gesturing to me. “I’d like you to meet Justin.”
“Oh.” Hannah’s bright blue eyes drift over me for several seconds. “Well hello, Justin.” She gives Allie an approving look. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Al, but he’s delicious.”
Allie gives a tight half smile.
I grin at Hannah. “I’m not sure if I should say thanks or if Allie should.”
Hannah cocks her head. “Maybe both?”
A guy in a pink top hat clamps on Hannah’s elbow and whispers in her ear. She listens intently, then lets him drag her away while waving in our direction.
“She’d fit in New York perfectly,” I say, then take a sip of wine. It’s horrid. Or maybe I’m just used to the really good stuff.
“Yeah, she was flamboyant even in high school.” Allie motions forward with her wine glass. “Let’s check out the rest of her collection and then find somewhere inconspicuous to hang.”
I follow her to the next display and almost run into her when she suddenly stops.
A few people away, Trevor stands next to a woman in a dress much smaller and tighter than Allie’s. The woman cackles loudly before Trevor leans down and says something in her ear. A slow smile spreads across her face.
