Chapter Nine
Lucy
“Lucky, my love, Hunter said he would include some of your paintings in his studio, not everything you’ve painted since you were three.” I wince, looking at the mountain of canvases in the back of Ryder’s truck. Hunter was kind enough to include some of Lucky’s paintings at the opening of his art studio, but he wasn’t planning on giving her an entire wing of the studio space for her own private showing.
Hunter and I have been working together for the past few weeks shopping for local photographers and artists to showcase at his gallery. Many of the artists that I feature in both my shops were honored and excited to have their work included. We filled the last few spots with a few of Lucky’s artist friends work. It has been slightly awkward working with Hunter after we almost kissed in my shop. I’ve been pretending I don’t remember much from that night for the sake of getting through until the opening.
That night plays over and over in my mind in vivid color. Hunter’s hands on my body. The look of desire in his eyes for me. Our lips almost touching. It was pure luck that Ryder and his SWAT team showed up when they did, or I would have made the biggest mistake of my life.
“This is nothing, you should have seen the stacks I talked her out of bringing.” Ryder’s deep gruff voice bellows from the cab of the truck as he climbs out.
“I just wanted to give him some options.” Lucky jabs Ryder in the side with her elbow.
“You gave him a lifetime of options, babe.” Ryder tucks his arm around Lucky’s waist and places a kiss on her temple. Lucky turns her head, scrunching her face at him, then plants a kiss on Ryder’s lips. It’s good to see them teasing and loving on each other again. I like them like this.
Hunter steps out from the back door of the studio. As he walks toward us, he pulls his baseball cap off and runs his hand through his thick black hair, then puts his hat back into place. With that I’m practically drooling all over myself. How can he make the simplest thing look so damn sexy? He comes to a stop right next to me and flashes me that thousand-watt smile, and I turn into mush.
“Good afternoon, Lucy.” His deep voice makes me weak in the knees.
“Hello, Hunter.” I return his smile. “Lucky has brought a ton of options for you to choose from.”
“Wow, Lucky is there anything left in your studio,” he teases her.
“What? I’m just excited to be featured somewhere other than my own house.” She shrugs her shoulders.
“If they sell, then you can have a regular spot in the gallery,” Hunter says.
“Are you fucking serious?” Lucky shrieks and leaps into Hunter’s arms. “If I wasn’t married I would blow you right now.”
Hunter awkwardly pats Lucky on the back. “Uh…thanks, but I’m good with a hug, Lucky.”
Ryder and I look at one another and just shake our heads. Lucky and her no filter mouth.
“Babe, if anyone deserves a blow job from that magical mouth of yours it would be the person who buys your paintings.” Ryder chuckles and tries to pry Lucky off of Hunter.
I glance over at Hunter and ask, “Still happy you agreed to add Lucky’s stuff to the opening?” I giggle under my breath.
“I’m slightly regretting it now.” He lets out a deep rumbling laugh. Needless to say, Hunter is still getting use to Lucky and her big personality. Offering to blow him is pretty tame for Lucky. I think marriage has mellowed her, but only just a little.
We each grab a stack of canvases and load them in the back storage room. Just a few weeks ago, this place was an empty wasteland, and now it is over flowing with some of the most beautiful paintings, sculptures, and photographs I’ve ever seen. I could spend hours in here just looking through everything. If I want to do that, then I know other people will want to as well. Hunter has an amazing eye, and I know his gallery is going to be a success.
I set my stack of paintings down on one of the tables and feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling my phone out I see Connie’s number on the screen, and I know something is wrong. She knows I didn’t want to be bothered today while I helped Hunter start the inventory. I answer the call and immediately hear panic in Connie’s voice. While coming out of the kitchen with both hands carrying pans of fresh baked cookies, Connie slipped and twisted her ankle and needs to go to the emergency room.
“Don’t move Connie, I’m on my way,” I say with a touch of panic in my own voice. “Lucky, can you pick Bailey up from school today? Connie just messed up her ankle, and I need to go make sure she is okay and finish out the day at the shop.”
“I’m sorry I can’t. I have to head to the tattoo shop after this,” she replies. Shit, Ryder is on swing shift all this week, so I know he can’t watch her.
“Shoot, I hate to ask Brooke, she has her hands full with Ella and Matthew, and, you know, growing a child.” I scroll through my phone looking for her number.
“I can watch her,” Hunter offers.
“Hunter, I couldn’t ask you to do that. You have so much work to do.” Bailey is pretty self-sufficient, but I don’t want him to take time away from getting ready for this opening, especially since it’s soon close to opening day.
“I don’t mind at all. Bailey can help me with the inventory. If I can handle watching Ella and Matthew on my own, taking care of Bailey will be a breeze,” he assures me. “We’ll order pizza, and I’ll make sure she gets her homework done before she helps me.” He is determined to do this for me. It would be better than putting this on his pregnant sister.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I ask.
“I got this. You go take care of Connie and the shop, and you can pick up Bailey when you are done.” His confidence shines through on his face. Bailey does like Hunter. I guess it would be okay.
“Okay, as long as you are sure.”
Hunter hands me my bag. “Yes, I’m sure. Now you better go.”
“Thank you, Hunter.”