Page 34 of Shattered By the Currents
“You don’t?”
“I never said that.” She sprayed another table before swiping it clean. “It’s good that you know what you bring to the table.”
“Oh, I don’t just bring wit. According to my sisters, I have a beautiful smile. My mother also says I have wonderful manners. Though, Ihaverecently discovered that I’m a terrible painter.”
“Your mother and sisters sound like very wise people.”
“They’re the best. All three sisters are fiercely independent and living great lives, and Mom is deeply entangled in her book clubs and ballroom dancing.”
“Ballroom dancing?”
Connor dipped his head as he lifted another table. “Oh, yes, my mother is quite the dancer.”
“What about your father?”
“He left when we were young.”
Raven paused. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Everything he walked away from was his loss.”
Her small smile returned. “I agree. He especially missed out on seeing that amazing artistic talent of yours.”
Connor groaned. “You saw my painting?”
“I saw potential in that frog.”
“You must have been looking at Zac’s, because mine was a disaster.”
This time she laughed. The sound was soft and airy and stopped him in his tracks for a moment.
“I can’t believe he let you go.” The words just dropped from his mouth—and he instantly regretted them. Not because they were wrong, but because her smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Your ex. I can’t believe you agreed to marry him and he managed to lose you.”
A bit of color left her cheeks.
Shit. “Raven?—”
“I’m going to take the trash out.” She was moving before he could stop her.
She’d just tied a knot in the trash bag when he caught up and took it from her fingers.
“Connor—”
“I’ve got it.”
She rolled her eyes before grabbing a smaller bag from the office. “Come on.”
“You know you’re kind of cute when you do that?”
“What?”
“Roll your eyes at me.”
She didn’t respond, but when they stepped outside, he caught the hint of a smile on her lips.
