Tangled Truth(31)

“Yeah, I’ve been trying not to bore him by getting my shibari geek on, though. Like I promised.”

He stopped their little group of three in front of the centerpiece of the exhibit, a photo from the same series as the one Eva was so worried about. For a moment they all simply looked, drinking in the piece, absorbing the clean lines and subtle curves, the intricacy of the rope work in the dragonfly weave contrasting with the porcelain-smooth skin of the model’s back. This one was taken straight from the back, and was nearly symmetrical with not a hair out of place. The only variance was at the hands; one of the model’s pinkies was extended slightly, as though she were just about to move her hand or resist the restraint.

Drew had to breathe out slowly and force himself to think about baseball scores until the heat left his groin and he was steady on his feet again. This picture always hit him that way, because he knew she had been reaching for him with that delicate gesture. Not wanting him to leave her side, even for the few minutes it took to take the series of photos. She had given a frustrated little whimper right at that second, and he could hear it again every time he looked at the photo. But it wasn’t only the sexuality, it was the artistry in it too, the sheer beauty of the thing that caught him every time. The way it captured the moment and spoke of all that had come before it, all that might follow. The tension inherent in every line.

It was heart-stopping.

“Mr. Godfrey!” Sheila’s chipper greeting broke the trio’s reverie, as she rushed to give Eva’s father an impetuous hug. She was sparkling and giddy from champagne and success. “You made it! I’m so glad. Have you seen it yet?”

This, despite Eva’s frantic attempts to catch Sheila’s eye and her not-too-subtle gestures suggesting throat-cutting.

“Seen what, honey? Have your parents seen these photos yet, young lady?”

“Oh, Mr. Godfrey. These are nothing compared to the last book we worked on. Besides, I think they’re pretty hardened to it by now. God, Evie,” she asked in an almost conspiratorial tone, “have you been hearing this buzz? I’m getting the word ‘visceral’ a lot. I think it’s going to be so good. The guy from the Post is already waxing lyrical.” She was practically jumping up and down with glee.

“It does seem to be going well,” Eva allowed. “Don’t you have people to schmooze?”

“I do! So many. Most of them want to know who you are, so get back to mingling, okay?”

She darted off again with a perky wave, leaving Eva with a smile frozen across her face and Mr. Godfrey looking puzzled. Drew pondered whether to stay or give her some privacy with her dad, but Eva’s fingers clenched his arm with all the strength of a vise clamp.

“So?” her father asked after a pause that included lots of significant glances between all concerned.

Eva blew out a breath then straightened herself, squaring her shoulders. “Okay. I guess at this point there’s nothing else for it. Come this way.”

They bypassed the rest of the photos, weaving around the various clumps of assembled revelers to arrive behind a small crowd gathered in front of the last picture along the long wall. There were faces they knew, faces they didn’t, but all the faces turned to Eva in recognition as she worked her way to the front of the group with Drew and her father in tow on either side of her.

Even the strangers in the crowd picked up on the fact that the three newcomers were having a Significant Moment. Without a word, they drifted away to a respectful distance, leaving the little group in relative privacy before the picture of a naked, bound Eva with a face that spoke of hypnotic sensual bliss.

Drew would have backed off with them if Eva weren’t still clutching his arm like a shipwreck victim clutches a life preserver. He risked a glance over her head to her father’s face, which was a study in conflicting emotions.

It was a long time before Mr. Godfrey spoke, and when he did he sounded more sure of himself than Drew had expected. It was as though he had made a decision about how to react and was determined to follow through.

“That’s beautiful,” he stated firmly. “I’ve never seen you look that…happy.” Turning away from the picture, he studied Eva’s face with a similar concentration. “I can’t pretend I’m comfortable looking at it, but it’s worth it to know you’ve found something you can feel that strongly about.”

Eva’s smile was watery, and Drew reached out to grab a cocktail napkin from a passing caterer’s tray in case tears followed. She held it together though.

“Is this why she threw you out?” Godfrey suddenly asked before Eva could speak. “Jesus, honey. No wonder. I’m surprised she didn’t have a stroke on the spot.”