Page 40 of Tears of Gold

“Jeez, I’m not some relationship guru.” Chuckling, I point between the two of us. “First time rodeo, remember?”

“All the firsts.” His voice dips low. He really needs to stop that, it’s not playing fair.

“All of them.” I nod my agreement and it seems to make him visibly relax.

Stepping closer, he pulls me into his arms, wrapping them tight around me, and I breathe in his intoxicating scent, leaning into him. “Have you thought about where you want to work?”

“What do you mean?” I glance up and kiss his jaw.

“Well, you’ll need a studio. You’re still going to be producing your own work aren’t you, as well as doing the show for your degree?”

My heart sinks to the soles of my feet. “Yeah, I guess.”

His fingers lift my chin, his questioning glance unavoidable. “Talk.”

“There is nothing to talk about.”

“I think there is.”

I push out of his arms. “Just drop it, please.”

“Fine.” He holds his hands up. “Fine, but eventually you will need a place to create; it will drive you crazy otherwise.”

“Is that how you feel on a daily basis while you are doing your law thing and not painting?”

His fingers lift, but he casually grasps my shoulders, not trying to get too close. He knows how to respond to me. I slump my shoulders and meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I snapped.”

He shrugs.

“Gah, don’t do that. You make me talk without actually asking.”

“Do I?” He smirks though. He knows he can read me like an open book—but some pages aren’t meant to be turned.

“I’ve just got nothing at the moment. When we were at the Mews I started playing with paints, well you saw, but I’ve gone blank again.”

“Faith,” his voice softens, “don’t be so hard on yourself. You are going through a lot.”

“What am I going through? Apart from fighting your grandmother and seeming to move house more than I’m sure the average person should.”

“And the police, and the investigation… that must be hanging on your mind.”

“There is nothing to think about. It’s done now, out in the open.”

His head tilts just slightly to the side. “There’s a lot to think about, you need…”

I lift myself onto my tiptoes and plant my mouth against his, running my fingers into his hair. “Not now,” I mumble. “We’ve got Jeremy coming shortly, and I still don’t have any idea what to cook for him.”

He pulls back, the flicker deep within the depths of the blues chases quickly away followed by bright lights and sunshine. “You know, I can cook.”

“But it’s my wifely duty,” I tease, the band around my chest unravelling with the tension in the atmosphere.

“I’ve told you, I’ll let you know all about your wifely duty.” His face falls for a moment and with it my chest tightens again. “That’s another thing we haven’t discussed.” He rubs at his cheek with his palm and it makes a delicious scratching sound. Eli of the weekend is my favourite by far. All jeans, bare feet, and soft t-shirts. “We haven’t discussed the wedding at all, or even set a date.”

“I think we’ve been a bit busy, and anyway, I believe Bowsley will be arranging everything.” His head drops and he rests his forehead against mine, groaning. “Listen, Eli.” I tilt my face to kiss him. “Win Melanie’s case and then we can talk about the wedding. I’m not in any rush.”

“Well, I am.” His lips curve.

“Go shower. Jeremy will be here soon and we will be offering him an empty plate and a glass of wine.”