That doesn’t seem right,” I said, watching the flush of color run over her.

Serena had never struck me as the shy type, but it was obvious that she wasn’t used to parting with her work. That it meant more to her than a sale, and I could totally relate to that.

I stared at her a little longer than was probably socially acceptable, but, damn, the woman was always unrealistically gorgeous, and the way she looked now, vulnerable and unsure, made her look almost otherworldly.

She was breathtaking.

Serena averted her eyes and took another drink of her tea, and I hoped I hadn’t made her uncomfortable. I could only image the way guys threw themselves at her wherever she went, or more likely, just stared because they were too intimidated by her beauty to actually approach.

I didn’t want her to think I was some asshole or creeper. I really wanted that painting.

“How about, you take the table, and if it sells, you let me give you a percentage of the commission and that will cover the cost of the painting?” I suggested, because even though I knew where she was coming from, she needed to be paid for her work. It was too good to giveaway.

Serena nodded, her vulnerability still showing, and I had this sudden, unexpected desire to kiss her. To cover her lips with mine, to gently, thoroughly, kiss her, until the only thing either of us could do was feel.

I blinked and shook my head, unsure where that had come from, and decided it was time to change the subject and get that enchanting look off her face.

“So, you, uh, moved away when you were a kid, right, and just now moved back … What made you come back to Cherry Springs?” I asked, thinking that was a good, neutral subject.

Serena sat up and her face kind of shuttered, all evidence of the blushing, shy woman now gone.

“Yes, my parents moved us away, but I was able to come back for summers and stay with my cousins when I was little, then, when we got older, I’d come back for holidays, and whenever I could. I always knew I wanted to come back here, I just needed the right opportunity. When I found out about the gallery opening, I knew that was it, so I quit my job and let the lease on my apartment run out.”

“And your parents, did they move back as well?”

“No,” Serena said. She picked up her napkin and began tearing pieces off. “They like it where they are, they have no plans to come back.”

Before I could ask anything else, Serena looked up and turned the tables.

“What about you? Where’s your family? What made you choose Cherry Springs?”

I was always uncomfortable talking about my past, but the rest of the Lewis cousins already knew my story, and there was really no reason for me not to share it with Serena, so I took a deep breath and looked right in those big brown eyes.

“I’m from Michigan. My mom died when I was little, too young to remember her, so it was just me and my dad. He worked a lot, so I was mostly on my own, but when he had time, he taught me about woodworking and carpentry. When I got older, I’d go to work with him, help him out, and eventually, I got a job doing construction with him.” I paused, thinking about my dad. His face, which had always been sun-kissed and weathered, and his big, booming laugh. “When I was nineteen he was killed on one of our sites … a freak accident. Once he was gone, I didn’t want to be there anymore … too many memories, and nothing to hold me there, so I packed up and left. I worked odd jobs in different cities, moving when I got bored or I realized it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Once I got to Cherry Springs, it was like something just clicked. I started out working for a company, then started taking odd jobs on my own. When Gabe hired me, I knew I was where I wanted to stay, so I bought the house and set up shop.”

“Wow,” Serena said, her eyes filled with sympathy, and something else I couldn’t place. “You’re so brave. I couldn’t imagine setting off on my own like that. I’m so sorry about your parents. Are you an only child?”

“Yup.”

“Me, too,” she replied softly. “No other family back in Michigan?”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t have the big family with cousins and stuff like you do. I’ve never seen anything like the way you Lewises are together. It’s pretty amazing, you guys are lucky.”

With a small smile, Serena nodded, “Yeah, I know. Being away from them really made me appreciate what we have together, and I cherished every vacation I had.”

“I bet,” I said, downing the last of my coffee. I noticed that Serena was finished as well and wondered if I should ask if she wanted something else. I was actually really enjoying getting to know her better and wasn’t ready to leave yet.

Before I could say anything, Serena beat me to it.

“Well, I really do need to get to the gallery and get some work done, but thanks for asking me to coffee. I had a nice time.”

“Me, too,” I admitted, then, figuring why not, I asked, “Would you like to grab dinner sometime?”

Serena’s big eyes blinked slowly, and I could tell I’d surprised her. What I didn’t know was if it was a good surprise, or bad surprise.

“Oh, well, the next few weeks are going to be pretty crazy, with the gallery and the show,” she began, and although it wasn’t a definitive no, my stomach still plummeted, until Serena added, “But, maybe we could play it by ear?”

I gave her a small smile and stood up as she did the same.

“Sure thing,” I said, then pulled my phone out. “Maybe we should exchange numbers. I mean, I know where you live, and I’ll be seeing you at the shoot, but … just in case.”

“Yeah, sure,” she said, and we logged each other in our phones.

We walked out and paused on the sidewalk.

“Don’t work too hard,” I told her gently, reaching out to take her hand in mine and run my thumb lightly over her knuckles.

She looked down at our hands, and I did the same, wondering why I’d done that, but liking the feel of her smooth skin.

I released her hand and she looked back up at me.

“I won’t,” Serena replied softly. “Have a good night.”

I watched her walk to the gallery, unlock the door, and go inside, before turning to head back to my truck. There was a grin on my lips, and possibilities in my mind, as I pulled away from the curb and headed home.