I sat, returning her gaze. “Thank you for coming.” Did she not want to be here? I didn’t want her to think I was pressuring her. I wanted her to be as pleased to see me as I was to see her. Perhaps I should focus on our business relationship. “Tell me about the exhibition you mentioned when I last saw you.”
Grace paused before she said, “It’s for an up-and-coming artist.”
I knew she had a proclivity for rising stars. Was this one an ex-boyfriend, too?
“I think this will be his second exhibition out of art school. There was a really traditional feel to his last show, so I’m hoping you’re going to like it.” She gave a little half shrug as if to say What more do you want me to say?
I nodded. “If you think it’s worth my while.”
“You don’t have to come along,” she said. “I could go on my own, do a bit of research, take a few photos on my phone and then report back. I don’t know too much about the work, to be honest. I have to see it—it could be a disaster. I don’t want to waste your time. I know how busy you are.”
Didn’t she get it? The exhibition was just a reason to spend time with her. The art was secondary. “I’ll pick you up.”
She frowned. “You don’t need to do that. It’s not like it’s a date or something. I can meet you there.”
Not like it’s a date or something. The last time I’d been on a date was in high school, and I hadn’t realized it was a date until I arrived at the movie theater to discover it was just me and Jessica Warner. I’d kissed her, because why not? To this day, it had been the only date I’d ever been on.
Grace’s hands were folded neatly in her lap, belying her sexiness. If I was going to take anyone on a date, it was going to be Grace. “I’ll pick you up,” I said. “We can research together. Now, what about dining tables?” I asked, not ready for our meeting to be over.
“Maybe,” she said.
I didn’t understand. “Maybe?”
“If it’s small. And pretty like yours.”
It took a few seconds for me to realize that she was talking about her having a tattoo. “You think my tattoo is pretty?”
“Pretty wasn’t what you were going for?” She grinned at me.
“If you like it, I’ll take it,” I replied and her cheeks pinked.
“There’s a place in the East Village that is supposed to be good, but you’ll have to come with me. I’m not doing it alone.”
Her wanting me to accompany her anywhere should scare me. I’d spent my whole life determinedly independent but somehow the thought of her needing me wasn’t as frightening as it should be. But I had to make an effort to keep the corners of my mouth down—I liked it.
“It would have to be small,” she said. “And I like the idea of words. No Mickey Mouse head or anything.” She was talking fast like she did when she was nervous.#p#分页标题#e#
I hadn’t expected her to say yes to the tattoo. And now she was offering it, I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. I’d buy whatever she wanted—tattoo or no tattoo. I liked her just as she was. She didn’t need to add anything to her already beautiful body.
“What about this afternoon? I’m sure you’re busy around here, but I might lose my nerve if I wait.” She curled a strand of hair around her ear. “So?” she asked. “Are you busy?”
“Always,” I replied. Her shoulders sank a little. Relief? Disappointment? I wasn’t sure. “But I’m the boss, so I can—”
“Okay then,” she said. “We should go.”
“We don’t have to,” I said. “I mean, it was a big ask—too much. I never thought you’d actually—”
“You need a dining table, Sam Shaw,” she replied.
“I’ll buy one, but you don’t need to get a tattoo. It was a stupid idea.” If she’d never wanted one, who was I to tell her she should permanently mark her perfect skin?
“A deal is a deal,” she said, her hands squeezing together on her lap. “And it seems the risks I’m taking in my life are paying off.” She took a breath and nodded. “So why stop now?”
Grace trailed her fingers along the thick blue binders of designs set against the back wall of the tattoo parlor. “Any idea of what you’d like?” the guy behind the counter asked. There were only two people in the shop. One guy was easily four hundred pounds with a long gray beard and a pirate-like hoop earring through his left ear. He sat in the corner, minding his own business, while a younger guy with a ponytail watched Grace as if someone so beautiful had never crossed his path.