A Girl by Any Other Name (67 page)

meet for drinks. I responded back that I was too busy. The fact was I didn’t like being away from

Sylvie, even though she insisted we keep living our lives. I just felt a sense of dread when I wasn’t

with her.

Busy with what, Ringo?

Tony texted back.

None as in none of your business, Doc.

Come on, Tanner.

I have a new girlfriend.

Can I meet her?

I don’t want to scare her off yet.

I replied as a joke, but the truth was I wanted to keep Sylvie to myself a while longer.

Lenore?

I’m done with my quest. It was a dumb idea anyway.

Let me know when you’re free.

Will do.

The class dispersed and an ambush of kids rushed out of there, leaving paints, brushes and half-

done projects in their wake. Sylvie started cleaning up.

“Let me help,” I offered.

“I won’t say no. The paints go in there. Make sure the caps are on tight,” she said, gesturing to a

drawer.

“How does a girl with a degree from UCLA work here?”

She shrugged. “I tried the nine-to-five thing. I really did. I got a job in the marketing department

of a huge company, but it just wasn’t for me. This isn’t my ideal profession, but I love teaching the

classes, and the discount on supplies is a nice fringe benefit too.”

“Maybe you should get certified as a teacher and do it full-time. You’re very good at it.”

“Thanks, but this is my favorite class so you’re seeing me at my best. These kids really love

being here. They communicate differently and I think expressing themselves through art helps them.”

“What kind of class was this?” I asked, putting away the last of the paints.

“It’s for autistic children. There is a school nearby and I used to walk by there on my way to

work. I asked my boss if we could do a free class if any of them were interested.”

“It’s free?”

“Yes, I told him it would be good publicity for our store.”

“Has it worked?”

She smiled coyly. “No, but don’t tell him that.”

“You’re amazing, sweetheart.”

She shook her head. “They’re amazing.”

“You’re very good with them.”

“They’re good for me, Cal.”

We finished putting away the supplies and cleaning off all the tables. I wrapped my arm around

her waist as we made our way out of the store. “Bye, Rome,” she said, waving to the man who had

greeted me. Of course, the Jim Morrison-looking fellow would have a name like Rome.

“Taking off?” he asked as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Yeah. Oh, um, this is my—”

“We’ve met, but not officially. Like I said earlier, I’m her boyfriend, Cal Tanner.”

“Nice to meet you,” he replied, with a suspicious glance toward my arm around her waist,

telling me he was not at all pleased.
Yeah, back off, buddy
. He cast his attention toward Sylvie,

turning on a bright smile. “Are you still coming to my exhibition? I really need you there. After all,

you’re the star of the show. There’s already buzz about the painting I did of you.”

She smiled. “Of course, I’ll be there.”

“Call me later,” he yelled out as we exited.

“What’s your deal with Jim Morrison in there?” I asked when we were on the street.

“Who—Rome? Wow, he does kind of look like Jim Morrison, interesting. He’s just a friend and

co-worker.”

“You posed for him?”

“Yes. It’s my body, but my face isn’t in it.”

“Is it a nude?” I asked, barely able to unclench my fist as I opened the door for her.

“Would it upset you if it was?”

I made my way to the driver’s side before answering her question. “Very much so. I’m not

particularly keen on a bunch of strangers viewing you that way, especially Jim Morrison in there.”

“Tex, it’s not a nude like you’re thinking. It’s more abstract than that, not a literal interpretation.”

“But you were naked in a room with him alone, correct?”

“Yes, I was, and nothing happened. We are friends. You have to quit being so jealous, Tex.”

I took a deep breath, “In case you didn’t know, I’m pretty much a caveman, at least when it

comes to you. I don’t like other men looking at what’s meant for my eyes only.”

She shook her head, putting her arm on my shoulder. “I love you, and it’s really not that big of a

deal. It was professional, and I think you’re overreacting.”

“He’s got a crush on you.”

She looked down. “I know. He told me afterwards, but nothing happened between us. I’ve let

him know I don’t share his feelings.”

“And you think that’s going to stop his pursuit?”

“I think the smug way you introduced yourself in combination with your arm around my waist

will do the trick.”

Despite the intensity, I laughed. “I hope so, but don’t pose for him or anyone else again. It’s

really hard for me to deal with.”

“You have to get over this, Tex. I would never cheat on you. Don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not you I don’t trust. Let me give you a counterpoint to crystallize my reasoning. Are you

okay if I pose nude for a female artist?”

Her face fell so suddenly that I smirked in response. She swallowed. “Point taken. I won’t do it

again.”

“Thank you, we can drop it now, but I’m going with you to this exhibit.”

“Of course, I was going to invite you.”

“Good, now enough salt in the wound. How about some sugar?”

She leaned in and I met her halfway, pausing before I crushed my lips into hers. She moaned

against me. We were both breathless when I pulled away. “I have to talk to you about something,” I

said, starting up the car.

“I’m listening, but I really hope we’re off the topic of Rome.”

“Oh, I’m totally off Rome, and I’m glad to hear you were never on him.” She punched me in the

arm lightly. “Will you go to church with me next weekend?”

“That would be nice. There’s one I go to that’s not far—it’s non-denominational. Or we can go

to yours too, I don’t care either way.”

“You started going to church?” She nodded. “We’ll go to yours. I don’t have a church. I actually

haven’t been in a long time.”

“How long?”

“Almost ten years.”

Her eyes widened with my admission. “Did I make you lose your faith?”

I put my hand on her knee, squeezing it. “No, baby, nothing like that. In fact, I don’t think I’ve

ever prayed so hard in my life. Of course, Momma would have said I was doing it wrong. I made a

lot of bargains that if God let me find you again, I would bring us both back to the church.”

“Why didn’t you go?”

“The church at Prairie Marsh reminded me too much of you, especially the swing set. When I left

I just never found another. I didn’t want to go without you.”

“Well, I guess we should make sure to go every week then, to make good on those promises

since you found me.”

“Actually,
you
found me, and I knew you would. I shouldn’t have spent all those years acting

like such a fool. It was the way it was meant to happen, right?”

She nodded. “What did you do to find me, Cal?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I shouldn’t have brought it up. I knew it would only make her feel

guilty.

“Please, I’d like to know.”

“I annoyed everyone at the police station, the FBI and the hospital. Over the years, I hired three

private detectives. They never found anything, but then again, I couldn’t afford anyone that good. Oh,

and I wrote a book. I even stopped random girls on the street to ask if I knew them.” I chuckled

cynically. “They all thought I was trying to pick them up.” When I turned back to her, I immediately

regretted the honesty. She was crying. I pulled over into a vacant parking lot and rubbed her arm.

“Hey, it’s okay. I—”

“No, it’s not. I’m so sorry I caused you so much pain.”

I wiped her tears. “I told you, it’s in the past. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

* * * *

I made sure I was with her when I wasn’t teaching. I really didn’t like leaving her alone at all,

but she insisted. I would have gone straight to her place tonight, but I had to change into my suit for

Rome’s exhibition. When she opened the door, I had a hard time not insisting we stay in. She was

wearing a snug fitted maroon dress that hugged all her curves perfectly.

“Dayaaamn, girl, that’s a sexy dress,” I said, letting my eyes roam her luscious body.

“Thanks, you look handsome too,” she replied, adjusting my tie.

“Turn around for me.”

She backed away curiously.

“I just want the full view,” I added, twirling my finger in the air. She pivoted gracefully and I

had a hard time trying not to get hard. I thought the front of the dress was sexy, even with its high

neckline, but each angle revealed more skin and made me shift somewhat uncomfortably. There was a

deep slit on the side, showing off her shapely right leg, and it looked exceptional, especially in the

high black stilettos. It was also sleeveless, and…backless. I swallowed hard, wondering how she

could turn me on as much dressed as she did when she was naked. Her backside was framed

perfectly, like a work of art itself. I followed the curve of her spine as it declined into that sweet dip

at the small of her back, before jutting out in the plump perfection of her ass.

It was dangerously low where the dress started again, right above her ass. I placed my hand in

the area, rubbing small circles. A woman’s body was all peaks, valleys and curves…and Sylvie had

more than her fair share. I kissed the nape of her neck, inhaling her fresh scent. Her hair was up, but

soft curls draped around her face. I had an urge to release all the safety pins holding it in place. I

pressed into her body, running my hands down the length of each arm, and sucking on the soft,

delicious skin of her shoulder.

“We should go before I need to change my panties,” she said breathlessly.

“You’re killing me in this dress. I’m going to be hard all night,” I whispered against her ear.

“Let’s hope so,” she giggled. I smacked her bottom, playfully.

I led her out, placing my hand on the small of her back, occasionally letting it slip lower.

Before we entered the gallery, I took off my jacket and draped it around her shoulders. She

looked at me quizzically. “I thought you might be cold,” I replied, trying to feign innocence.

She shook her head, knowing exactly what I was thinking. She looked too damn delicious for me

to let her walk in there like that.

I got us some wine, and we walked through the exhibit. It was very modern art, and most of it

was abstract. There were several artists on display and the theme of this event was the female form. It

appeared as if the artists were taking something that was beautiful on its own and trying to make it

look conceptual bordering on erotic…to the point where it was just a cloaked cliché.

Rome stopped to chat with us when we reached Sylvie’s painting. “You look amazing, Sophie.

That’s a very nice dress.” Nice? It was damn sexy as hell, and I didn’t appreciate his eyes lingering

on the swell of her breasts. At least she had kept my jacket on. “Do you like the finished product?” he

asked only her. He was wearing a taut paisley shirt and jeans so tight that I almost winced in

sympathy pain.

“It turned out really well,” she replied.

I hesitated, finally looking at it, knowing it would piss me off no end to see her naked body on

display. I blinked in confusion, perplexed by the large canvas. She had told me it was abstract, but I

wasn’t prepared for this. It looked more like a landscape scene than the gorgeous girl beside me. I

had just thought about how a woman’s body was all peaks, valleys and curves, and that was literally

what Rome had painted without any clear perspective. Well, at least I didn’t have to worry about

anyone else seeing this.

“How many hours did she pose for you, Rome?” I asked him.

“About six in total,” he replied, not taking his eyes off Sylvie.

“It’s very…interpretational, isn’t it?”

“It’s modern abstract, so yes.” He turned his attention back to Sylvie. “I have to walk around, but

have a drink with me later, okay?”

“’Kay. Congratulations, Rome.” She smiled at him and somehow this jackass took that as a sign

to hug her. My hands twitched, but I let it pass. She was a beautiful girl and if I went around punching

every guy who developed a crush on her, I’d be a pretty busy man.

I stared back at the painting, putting my arm around her. “So, what do you think?” she asked.

“Six hours, eh?”

“Yeah, it would have been less, but he kept getting the lines wrong and had to start over a few

times.”

I felt the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. I bit my lip to keep her from seeing it, but I

failed miserably.

“What’s so funny?” she demanded. I choked on a laugh. She narrowed her eyes at me, “What?”

I couldn’t control it anymore. I full-out laughed so hard, people turned to look.

“I’m glad you find this so amusing.” She clenched her fists.

I bent down to whisper in her ear so we wouldn’t be overheard. “Baby, isn’t it obvious to you?