Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (89 page)

“Sam … these are amazing,” she whispers, scrolling through the pics and then back again. “They are so fluid. Again, it’s like your subject is actually moving on the page!”

“It’s him,” I reply shyly. “My muse. He inspires me, I suppose.”

“Oh, honey, there is only so much a muse can do,” Lola says matter-of-factly. “You are truly gifted, Samantha.”

I blush slightly at her words and take a big, surprised breath. “Thank you.”

“No. Thank you … for saying yes to this show. You are about to set my gallery, and the art world, on fire, Sam Colby!” I don’t know what to say. So I just blink at her in stunned silence, and she continues. “The focus of your show just changed. I know they’re not nudes but, they’re too exquisite to pass up. We’ll call your show something like … oh, I don’t know … ‘The Body Electric,’ and we’ll showcase not only your nudes but, also this series of your model and his beautiful body in motion! What do you think?”

She looks at me expectantly, her eyes shining with excitement, and her enthusiasm is so contagious. There’s no way I can burst her bubble. “I think it sounds amazing!”

“Wonderful! I’m so excited, Sam!” She grabs my hands in hers and squeezes and I can’t help but laugh at her. Over coffee, we talk more then about the show, hammering out all of the little details that need to be taken care of. And I am more than nervous when she points out that the show is only a mere two weeks away. Yikes! But we talk through everything and, by the time she leaves, I am feeling a lot more confident.

After she’s gone, I venture downstairs to where Martin stands waiting by the door.
Does he ever sit?
I quickly clean the coffee pot and cups, leaving them in the dish drainer to dry, and then I’m ready to go. I grab my purse, along with the two empty ones that I’m taking with me, and Martin carries my luggage down and loads them into my car for me. After I thank him profusely for staying with me, I am on my way.

*****

The rest of my week passes by in a blur of activity. Between my job at the museum and meeting Lola after work each day to decide on a final line up of which paintings to include in the show, not to mention spending quality time with Josh, my head is spinning. This show is going to be the death of me! Every day it seems as though there is something new to consider – things I never imagined went into putting together an exhibit like this. Things like advertising and catering. I don’t know how Lola keeps it all together! But apparently you have to find a way to get the word out so that the right people show up to actually look at, and possibly purchase, my artwork. And then, once you get them there, it’s nice to give them some complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine, to keep them happy while they stroll around and pick apart that artwork. I am so nervous I’m in a constant state of nausea each day but, I can’t back out; I have to do this.
I can do this!
It’s become my new mantra; I chant it to myself all the time these days.

But Josh is being so incredibly supportive. Each day he does something wonderful to lift my spirits or to boost my self-confidence. Like yesterday, he came home with a single Esperance rose for me. It was so sweet and thoughtful. Just like him. And the day before that, he came home and immediately made me change into something comfortable, and then we jumped into his truck and drove just north of downtown, to Magnolia Bluff and went hiking in Discovery Park. It was so much fun! We held hands as we trailed around the natural woodlands and spotted lots of birds and wildlife. It was just what I needed to relax and unwind. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I asked him if we could do it again later this week and he agreed.

So after work, I hurry home in order to throw our dinner together. I put all the ingredients for a batch of delicious beef and barley soup into the crockpot and set it to low. It will cook away and be ready for us by the time we get back home.

That task accomplished, I scurry into the bedroom and set about changing my clothes. I change into a pair of comfy black yoga pants and a black tank top. Then I pull on a long-sleeved Victoria Secret NFL t-shirt that says ‘Seahawks fans are great kissers.’ I put on my gray and blue Nikes and I’m ready to go by the time Josh walks in the door.

“Don’t you look cute,” he smiles at me, and I wrap my arms around him and kiss him eagerly. “Mmm, Seahawks fans are good kissers,” he mutters as he kisses me again, more deeply this time. Then he pats my bottom affectionately and heads off to the bedroom. I wait patiently while he changes into a pair of gray athletic pants, a t-shirt, jacket and running shoes, and we head out the door.

We talk during the ride over to the park and he asks me all about my day and what’s going on with the show preparations. And he laughs at me when I tell him that I think the stress of it all may drive me insane. Then I bite my bottom lip nervously, wanting to talk to him about an idea and wondering what he’ll think.

“Josh, what would you say if I told you I was thinking about donating all the proceeds from my show? I mean, assuming that anyone will actually want to buy any of my artwork in the first place.”

He glances over at me with a thoughtful look. “Donate it how?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I was thinking I’d maybe use it to help fund art and music programs in the public school system here in Seattle. Do you think that’s a silly idea?”

He smiles slowly and looks over at me, taking my hand. “I think it’s an incredible idea, baby.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I absolutely do.”

His words make me smile and they encourage me to tell him more. As he drives, his thumb moves rhythmically over the knuckles of my hand, helping to calm my nerves. “Do you remember me telling you that I wanted to use my trust fund to make a difference in someone’s life somehow?”

“I do,” he answers quietly.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it. I think I’d like to set up an art scholarship endowment at the University of Washington, in my dad’s name. That way, each year I’d be able to help some talented young person get an education and maybe reach their artistic goals someday.”

He says nothing for several seconds, and I wonder what he’s thinking. His eyebrows lift, reaching for the sky. I think I’ve surprised him. “Samantha, I think that’s a wonderful idea. And I know that I never had the pleasure of meeting your father but … I imagine that he’d be unbelievably proud of you, baby.”

I am grinning like a loon at his words, he makes me feel so confident and good about myself. “You really think it’s a good idea?”

“You know it’s an excellent idea, Sam.” He smiles at me and I bite my lower lip once again. I’ll have to contact the financial adviser Lucas set me up with and get the ball rolling on both of these ideas. And I can’t help wondering what Lucas will think.
Or what Mom would think.

Pushing that thought from my mind, I focus on the present, and Josh and I ride in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. When I ask about his day he tells me about the cases he and Conner are working on right now. I like hearing about his work and I’m always fascinated by his mind, the way approaches his cases like a mystery to be solved or a puzzle to figure out, examining all the different elements individually and then focusing on how they all fit together. He really is very smart and insightful.

When we get to the park and get out of the truck, he takes my hand and we pick a different trail than the one we took earlier this week. We walk in silence for a little while, just enjoying the pretty scenery and each other’s presence and it feels nice. Finally, I break the comfortable silence.

“I really like this. We should take walks more often,” I say, looking up at him, and he smiles at me.

“Well, we can. We can walk as often as you like, baby.” He gives me his mega-watt, heartthrob smile and I melt. Then he lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around me, pulling me close as we walk. “I’m glad you enjoy this. I like being outside.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. Fresh air … nature … what’s not to like? Have you ever been camping?”

“Um, no.” My voice is decidedly unreceptive to the idea. “Hiking is one thing but, I draw the line at sleeping on the ground with bugs.”

He laughs at me and squeezes me close to his side. “Should have known,” he mutters to himself with a smile, shaking his head slightly. “Okay … so camping’s out. How about fishing? Ever been fishing?”

“Fishing? Are you serious?”

He laughs again. He is so adorable! “So that’s a big, fat ‘no’ on the fishing,” he says with a chuckle. “Would you be opposed to
going
fishing sometime?”

He is so cute as he asks the question that he already knows the answer to, and I just can’t stop smiling at him. “I love you, Josh but, fishing … gosh, I … just … can’t think of a single reason why I would want to do that!”

“What do you mean? To spend quality time with me,” he smiles, trying to give me his serious face and failing miserably. “On a river bank in galoshes, with nightcrawlers and hooks … doesn’t sound appealing, huh?”

I crinkle my nose at him and shake my head and he laughs again. “All right. I’ll save the fishing and hunting and camping for time with the boys, I guess.”

Time with the boys? This is news to me. “Do you really fish and hunt?”

“Mm hm. Lee and I go hunting every year. We only hunt what we’re going to eat. Usually deer or elk or duck. Sometimes rabbit. And since I don’t cook, I always end up letting him take everything home. As a trade off, Molly, Lee’s wife … she invites me over for dinner whenever she cooks something we shot.”

I’m really surprised by this news. I had no idea my yummy detective was such an avid outdoorsman.
That’s kinda hot!
My subconscious whispers, fanning herself with her hand. She’s right, of course.

“Well, maybe this year, you can keep a little venison for yourself and I’ll cook it for you, Detective,” I say quietly, batting my eyelashes at him.

He looks down at me and smiles. “Are you flirting with me, Miss Colby?”

“Maybe. What are you going to do about it?” I give him a sassy smile and his grin gets bigger. Suddenly, I am swept into his arms and he’s kissing me passionately as one hand trails slowly down my back and the other is in my hair, holding my head in place as he devours me. His hand finds my bottom and squeezes gently and we are both breathless when he pulls away, looking down at me.

“If we weren’t in a public place right now,” he whispers, almost to himself, as he looks into my eyes.

“Don’t let that stop you,” I reply, my voice a soft pant. And he frowns and blinks at me, clearly surprised.

“Why, Miss Colby. I had no idea you were such an exhibitionist.”

“I just don’t want you to stop,” I say softly, looking up at him with imploring eyes, and he cocks his head at me.

He caresses my face for a moment and then says, “I’m afraid I have to, baby. I don’t want to have to explain to my Lieutenant why I got arrested in a public park for indecent exposure, and lewd and illicit behavior.”

Oh.

“I promise to make it up to you once we get home, though,” he says softly. He kisses me tenderly once more and then looks deep into my eyes again. Smiling, he shakes his head slightly and softly kisses my forehead. “You are so tempting,” he whispers. Then he takes my hand and we resume our walk.

After a while, we stop and sit for a bit on one of the benches that dot the trail and Josh pulls me into his arms, and we just take in the beautiful scenery around us. It almost looks magical, all lush and green, dotted with the occasional wildflower. I’m not sure how long we sit but, it feels nice just being here together, and we smile and nod hello to a few passing fellow hikers. The longer we sit, the more I notice that Josh seems slightly preoccupied with something and idly I begin to wonder what he’s thinking about and whether or not he’s getting as hungry as I am. Perhaps we should start to head back now.

“There’s this Sergeant’s exam coming up at work,” Josh says softly, out of the blue.

“Sergeant’s exam?”

He nods his head slowly. “Yeah. It’s offered every so often, usually when they know an opening’s coming up in whatever section.” His voice is quiet and he sounds pensive. “I’ve been thinking about taking it.”

Oh. I’m not exactly sure what this means but, I’m surprised to hear it. “I don’t know what to say. I had no idea you were interested in a supervisory position.”

He looks at me and shrugs slightly. “Not sure I am.”

Okay … now I’m puzzled. “Well then, why take the exam?”

He takes a deep breath and sighs heavily. “Well, Lee mentioned it first. He said I’d make a good supervisor. Said he thinks I’d be good at mentoring the young guys coming up. I just shrugged it off though. Didn’t give it much thought, but then … I got called into Marcos’ office last week. He and Captain Skinner … they flat told me that they want me to take the exam. They want me to start thinking about moving up.”

“Really?” I can hear the surprise in my voice and Josh nods at me. “Well, it’s one thing for your friend to weigh in on something like that. But for your superiors to encourage you too … that’s saying a lot, Josh. Obviously they must have faith in you.” He frowns slightly at my words.

“So, you think I should do it?”

I am so flattered that he’s asking my opinion, even though I know next to nothing about police work or what being a sergeant entails. “I would never try to tell you what to do with your career, Josh. But I think you should give it some serious thought. Decide if being a boss is something you really want to take on. But just for the record,” I say, quietly as I look into his bright blue eyes. “I think you’d be amazing at it.”

He smiles slowly at me and then kisses my temple. “Come. Let’s go home. I’m starving and it’s starting to get chilly. You want my jacket?” he asks as we stand up and get underway.

We make it back to the truck in record time and, when we get home, the wonderful aroma of the soup meets us at the door. I waste no time in putting the loaf of crusty bread into the oven to warm up and, by the time we’ve changed out of our hiking gear and into sleepwear, our dinner is ready. We sit and eat our hearty soup and talk more about the sergeant’s exam and my upcoming show, and I fall more in love with this beautiful man than I already was.