Dances with Monsters(190)

"Actually, I was thinking that Elements place downtown," Heath said. "You've made me a believer. That steak I had was awesome."

"I don't want to change, though," she whined. She was wearing a simple, loose off-the-shoulder T-shirt, skinny jeans and spiky-toed flats. It was certainly not appropriate for the upscale restaurant. "And that place is fancy."

"Fuck fancy. I want steak. We'll get it to go," Heath said with a shrug. He tossed an arm around her shoulders and hauled her into his side. "Damn, you are a whiny brat when you're hungry and tired. You're like an infant."

"I'm glad you know this now," she shot back. "It will save you so much grief later on."

"Save me grief?" he repeated, amused.

"Yes. Now feed me." She stretched up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, before pressing her lips to his indulgently. His full, soft lips moved against hers. She smiled. "And then feed me," she added suggestively.

"Yes, ma'am," he said in her ear before nibbling it lightly. Her stomach growled again loudly, and he sighed, smacking her bottom as he moved toward the door. "Let's go. Your stomach is cock-blocking me again."

"Some things just come first," she said with a grin, reaching up for another kiss on the way out.

***

Traffic in Pittsburgh was remarkably bad on any given night of the week, but surprisingly, parking was not horribly difficult to find on a gloomy Sunday evening. Nonetheless, Heath had been forced to park a couple blocks away from Elements, the closest space he could find.

Drew hopped out of his car and wrapped her black vegan leather jacket around herself. It dawned on her that she'd completely forgotten to call their order in on the way—now they'd have to sit and wait there while it was prepared.

Oh, well, she thought, smiling at him as he came around the car and hugging his arm. I can think of worse ways to spend my time.

As they walked down the block toward the restaurant, Drew's mood darkened slightly. They were nearing the corner where her studio—not my studio—had been. When they reached the corner, she stopped in her tracks, and tugged his arm.

"I want to see if anything's been done to it," she said. Heath looked at her doubtfully.

"You sure that's a good idea?" he replied, not budging though she pulled on his arm. He reached out and grasped her shoulders. "Listen, this place is water under the bridge. Tomorrow, you and me—we'll go look around at some places, okay? Don't torture yourself."

"I just want to see," she said softly. "I guess I want to make sure that it's taken care of right." She rolled her eyes and shrugged. "It was my baby for so long I still feel protective over it."

Heath sighed, but shrugged. "As you wish."

Drew pulled on his hand and led him around the corner. She felt speechless, angry disbelief as she saw that not only was the Sold sign pulled down, it actually looked—worked on. Completed, in fact.

"Damn, someone didn't waste any time!" she exclaimed, pressing her face to the window. Parallel to the window was a wall painted her favorite shade of lavender, which only added insult to injury. The wall cut off, indicating a corner, and she could just barely see a short hallway. There was a big wooden desk in the corner by the entrance, with a large calendar, something that looked like an appointment book, and some decorative items, including a very feminine lamp that she hated to admit she loved and other desk-appropriate accessories.

Heath looked up. "Looks like there's a sign, but it's covered up for now," he said, pointing. "Wonder what this is. Like a spa or salon type thing, maybe?"

"Maybe," Drew murmured, narrowing her eyes.

Heath reached out and tried the handle, and to Drew's great surprise, it opened. He blinked at her. "Guess…they're open?" He nodded toward the inside. "You want to check it out?"

Drew hesitated. On one hand, it really sucked that this place, her place, had already been designed into something, and that so far it had so many things she personally liked—from the paint on the wall to the little desk. She wondered what else there would be inside to hurt her feelings. On the other hand—she was an extremely curious person and knew she wouldn't be able to sleep unless she looked over every inch of the place, no matter how much it hurt.

She nodded and stepped toward the door. He held it open for her and she walked through, catching a scent of jasmine and hyacinth in the air, which further agitated her. She noticed that in addition to the lavender pain on the walls, there was a swirling, cream colored border that had been painted at the very top and very bottom of each wall. She liked it, and it pissed her off. She turned the corner and saw that there was another short hallway before, with some sort of large room to her left and more wall to her right. The room had a long window and she rushed up to it to see what was inside. When she saw what it was, her jaw practically hit the floor and something like rage curled in her stomach.