Black (Clashing Colors Book 1) (19 page)

It made for an interesting mix of how a cowboy, a biker, an accountant, a golf player, and a male stripper would dress. And as the cherry on top he sported a man-bun and a hipster beard. Darren Hill was a walking piece of art himself.

“I’m so happy to meet you, my little prodigy,” he said. “Bruce has told me all about you.”

I widened my eyes, hoping that wasn’t true.

“Oh, don’t worry.” He swung his hand through the air. “Bruce didn’t talk about
why
you were in his care, and there’s nothing that goes on in that camp that can surprise me.” He leaned closer, put a hand to his lips, and lowered his voice. “I’ve been a client myself.”

Bruce had already told me that much. “Did it help you?”

“Oh God, yes,” Darren said with a dramatic puff of air. “Before, I was ‘Darren the Depressed,’ but luckily Bruce the Almighty helped me accept who I truly am and now I’m ‘Darren the Daring.’”

“Well, you certainly seem to dare being unique,” I said with eyes running up and down his outfit.

“Are you saying that you don’t like my sense of fashion?” The way he placed his hands on his hips made me nervous. Had I already insulted the man who was supposed to help me sell my paintings?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any offense,” I said but Darren just broke into a laugh and patted my shoulder.

“You should’ve seen your face, Bonita, I’m just messing with you. As you can see I’m not chasing mainstream validation here.”

“I can see that.” I looked around and saw some rather disturbing and interesting paintings on the walls.

Despite my first impression of Darren as a somewhat flighty person, he turned out to be very organized and structured when it came to his business.

He brought out paperwork that needed to be signed and pointed to his outfit. “It’s the shirt, vest, and bowtie part of me that keeps the business financially healthy so that the more playful part of me can have some fun.” When he said “playful” he wiggled his eyebrows and patted his leather pants.

I sensed this was an area I didn’t need to know about, so I just smiled up at him politely.

We got the paperwork sorted out, and since I didn’t have a phone I gave him Gabriel’s number.

“It’s actually perfect,” Darren said. “You see, I had an artist fall through, so you’re filling his spot for next week.”

“Okay, that sounds good.”

“Ah, I’m telling you, some artists are such drama queens and impossible to work with; promise you won’t be like that.”

I promised

“I see great things for you, my wunderkind,” he said and held my hand with both of his. “There is so much raw emotion in your paintings – they will sell fast, be sure of it.”

I took a few nervous steps before I blurted out the question I wanted to know the answer to so badly.

“How much do you think the paintings will sell for?”

“Not a lot, I’m afraid.” He gave a little pout. “Not because they aren’t good, but it’s just that you’re a new name, so we can’t charge more than two or three thousand per painting. But we’ll get you exposed and make them hungry for more, and that’s where we’ll make the real money.”

“And you said my cut was fifty percent?”

“Yes, fifty percent, so probably you’ll make a profit of between six and eight thousand dollars on the five paintings.

To me six or eight thousand dollars sounded like a million. I had never held a hundred-dollar bill in my hand, nor had a bank account. I was used to dealing with crumpled ones and fives, so to hear Darren talk about thousands of dollars felt surreal.

I walked back to Gabriel’s place in a bubble, making a mental list of art supplies I needed to buy in order to make more paintings.

To my surprise Gabriel was home when I got there and he wasn’t alone.

I smelled her perfume before I saw her. It was a heavy floral fragrance that filled the small apartment and felt suffocating to me.

I walked into the living room and saw Gabriel talking to a beautiful woman with shoulder-length copper-colored hair, who looked to be his age. She had her hand on his knee and they were speaking quietly.

“Hey,” I said to announce my arrival since neither of them seemed to have noticed.

“Cia,” Gabriel got up and moved toward me. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”

I looked at the woman, who gave me a quizzical look, and I remembered his words from last week when he asked how I would feel if he brought a woman home with him.

I had told him he could do as he pleased, but my belly didn’t agree with that decision and I found it really hard to smile at her.

“Ehhm… Mel, this is Cia, my… ehhh… roommate.”

She arched a brow. “As if.”

“No, I’m actually his nie–” I was going to say niece, but he cut me off.

“Cia, this is my sister Melody.” His eyes were communicating that she didn’t know about my existence and clearly he wasn’t going to tell her.

She reached her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Cia… you were saying?”

“Nothing,” I said and gave a strained smile.

“Aww… that’s sweet,” she chuckled. “My baby brother got a new girlfriend and he’s afraid of telling me.”

“It’s not that,” he said.

“Of course it is. She even has a key to your place.” Melody was about my height and dressed impeccably.”

“How did you two meet?” she asked me with a sly smile.

I looked at Gabriel for help but he just took my hand and pulled me closer.

“We met a few weeks back, and I was actually thinking about introducing Cia to the family soon.”

“Oh, so it’s serious then?” she said, sounding pleased.

“Let’s just say that we’ve grown close.”

Melody broke into a wide smile. “I’m so happy for you, G.” She gave me a nod of approval. “You should totally come and meet the wolf pack, and no matter what my brother told you, we’re not so bad once you get to know us.” 

“I never said you were bad,” Gabriel exclaimed.

“How about family brunch this Sunday at Dad’s house? Wouldn’t that be fun?” she suggested and to my horror Gabriel nodded.

“Sure, that could work. We’ll be there.”

My jaw clenched and I shot him a dirty look.

“Oh-oh, if looks could kill…” Melody chuckled and reached up and hugged Gabriel. “It looks like your girlfriend wants a word with you.” Melody waved at me as she passed me and spoke over her shoulder. “I get it, meeting family can be a tough one, but my brother is worth it and we won’t bite. I promise.” Gabriel let Melody out and came back to talk.

“Your girlfriend?” I said with my hands firmly placed on my hips. 

“Did you want me to tell her who you really are? I didn’t know if you were ready for her to know, but if you are, I can run after her and get her back here.”

“Maybe… I don’t know. But your girlfriend, G… really?”

He clenched his jaw. “You sound like the thought is offensive to you.”

“No, it’s just that I’ve never really been anyone’s girlfriend,” I said and pulled off my sweater in rough movements. 

“Hey, come here,” he said and pulled me to the couch, where he planted me on his lap.

“Maybe this is not a bad plan. With a family brunch everyone is going to be there, and we could drop the bomb and reach everyone at the same time.”

“I’m a bomb now?”

Gabriel ignored my comment. “Brent would stay away if he knew you were coming, but I could smuggle you in under his nose as my girlfriend. It could work, Cia.”

“No, it wouldn’t work. He would leave the minute he saw me.”

“He has no clue how you look. You were a child the last time he saw you. I think he deserves to face the family’s wrath when they learn what has been done to one of their own.”

“You really think they would take my side?”

“Absolutely. They better take your side.”

I knitted my brows. “All right then. So you introduce me as your girlfriend and then what? When do you tell them who I really am?”

He shrugged and played with a lock of my hair. “I don’t know; once they’re all at the table and enjoying the food, I think.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “I’m terrified, but I want to do it.”

He wrapped me tighter. “You won’t be alone, sugar; I’ll be right there beside you.”

It was strange but familiar to be in his lap again, and to hear him say that he had my back made me all mushy inside.

“I’m not sure what scares me the most; meeting my whole family for the first time or being introduced as someone’s girlfriend.”

“Don’t say that.” Gabriel brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “Whoever gets you as his girlfriend is a lucky guy, Cia,” he said and stroked my hair.

I knew he was only trying to make me feel better, but it was still nice of him to say it.

“Thanks… and right back at you.”

He grinned. “I don’t plan on being anyone’s girlfriend.”

I tilted my head, “Are you sure? Because I just met Darren today, and I’m sure he would snatch you up in a heartbeat.”

“Darren, the gallery owner?”

“Yes.”

“Is he gay?”

“Yup, times ten.”

“Well, I don’t have a problem with gays as long as they don’t hit on me.”

“You can hardly blame a guy for hitting on you. After all, you’re very attractive.”

Gabriel smiled. “You think I’m attractive?”

I rolled my eyes. “I told you so the first time I met you… dreamy high school guy… remember?”

He nodded. “That’s right. So if I weren’t your uncle, would you have wanted to be my girlfriend?”

I didn’t want to answer that question. That was just mean, as we both knew he was way out of my league.

“I don’t date assholes,” I said with a smile and moved away.

“Hey, you told me I was beautiful both inside and out.”

“You are.”

“So why am I suddenly an asshole?”

I looked back over my shoulder. “For asking such a shitty question.”

“How is that a shitty question?”

“Well, you might as well have asked me if I wanted to go to the moon.”

“I don’t understand – how is that the same?”

I shook my head and stepped to the kitchen to get a Coke from the fridge. “Never mind, let’s just drop it, okay?”

“No, Cia, talk to me. Why am I an ass for asking you to be my girlfriend… I mean… for asking you if you wanted to be my girlfriend… if I wasn’t your uncle,” he babbled.

Why the hell won’t he just drop it?
I turned around and faced him. “It’s a stupid question that shouldn’t be answered. What if I said yes? That would just be awkward for both of us… and if I said no, I would be kind of rude, don’t you think? There’s no right answer to that question, so I don’t want to answer it.

“But if…”

“Stop it, G – how would you like it if I asked you the same question? You wouldn’t want to tell me no and potentially hurt my feelings, would you?

“No.”

“See, and it would be equally cruel of you to say yes and give me hope that someone like you would ever want someone like me.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened. “Someone like you? What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not exactly the cute college girl you would proudly take home to meet your mom.”

“No, you’re the cute artist who is compassionate and fun and a great friend.”

“Stop it.”             

“No, I won’t stop it,” Gabriel said and got right in front of me. “I think you really need to hear this.” He cupped my face but I kept my eyes on the floor.

“Look at me, Cia.”

I lifted my gaze to meet his warm brown eyes.

“If you weren’t family, I would have hit on you so hard that it’s not even funny.”

I frowned in confusion. Surely he didn’t mean that.

“I’m sorry if it makes you feel uncomfortable,” he said. “But you’re a badass, and the way you face your fears and conquer every obstacle in front of you puts me in awe of you.”

“You’re not serious, are you?” I asked.

“Yes…” He smiled. “I want to be as tough as you when I grow up.”

That made me laugh. “You look pretty grown-up to me, and you even got a medal for bravery.”

“Don’t brush me off, Cia. If you could see yourself through my eyes you would see how special you are.”

I shook my head. “You need to have your eyes checked then, because I’m a mess, G.”

“You might think so, but from what I’ve seen these last three weeks, I think you can do anything.”

I didn’t know what to say, but I managed to produce a what-do-you-know “Huh.”

“So now that your uncle has admitted to being a pervert, tell me the answer to my question.”

I arched a brow. “Would I want to be your girlfriend if you weren’t my uncle?”

“Yes.”

I thought of a millions smart-ass replies to get out of telling him the truth, but in the end I just nodded.