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“I…guess,” I say without fighting the truth. “It wasn’t a factor today and I realized we work really well together.”
“By the way, where is the young man?” G-mama peers around me toward the entrance. “You usually carpool, don’t you?”
“Not today. The women on the committee took a liking to Cameron and volunteered him for their afternoon errands. He was getting overwhelmed with requests so we spent an entire meeting deciding on one day of the week where he would help out the other ladies.” I smile as I recollect what occurred for G-mama.
The eighty-five year old Mrs. Pembroke demanded a special exception to Cameron’s schedule. His shocked face when she requested his time between ten p.m. and five a.m. on Tuesdays was equally hilarious. Once she opened the door, all the elderly women clamored for their overnight spot. They claimed their big spooky houses terrified them in an effort to gain his sympathy. In the corner, I staved off my laughter as long as possible until Cheryl Lee stood. I marched over to save him by explaining all his nights belonged to me, right before kissing the breath out of his lungs in front of all those biddies. When we were breathless and panting, I glanced at Cheryl Lee who avoided looking in our direction after that.
G-mama laughs as I end my tale. “You and Onyx love to take men away from that Cheryl Lee. Then again, she needs to recognize when a man isn’t interested in what she has to offer. I wonder where her eyes will wonder next.”
My grandmother has a way of distracting me from any chaos surrounding me. Even as a grieving girl who lost her parents, G-mama cut through so much noise to get me to feel again. I lean on her shoulder as we talk and drown in warm cloud of her hold that she pretends doesn’t exist. It would ruin the whole baddie vibe she portrays to the world. I’m her one exception and the knowledge never fails to fill me with strength.
“Hey.” She nudges me. “Start making out of the world suggestions to see how long it takes Onyx to go ballistic.”
“But you’re in her corner with this marriage thing.”
“What’s your point? Give me a little entertainment to make this get together worth staying. Tomorrow she’ll be back at the drawing board again, so what’s one day of deflection?” G-mama’s mischievous grin prompts one of my own.
* * *
I return hometo hear a foreign tune. The haunting melody leads me to the kitchen where a shirtless Cameron shimmies while cooking. Muscles play against his broad back, the freckles dotting his back beckon me to touch him. A few weeks ago I would probably fall over myself to get as far away from him and this feeling welling up inside me as possible. Not anymore.
I don’t hold back when I hug him from behind and kiss his shoulder blade.“What song are you humming?”
His body freezes but immediately softens and he turns within my embrace to capture my lips in a dizzying kiss. “I didn’t realize I was. As far as I know, it isn’t a song, just a tune that pops into my head whenever I think of you.”
“You should write it down. Who knows, maybe it will be a good song.”
Cameron’s eyes widen as if stunned and the warmth from his kiss dissipates instantly. “Maybe.” He releases me to resume cooking. “Dinner will be done soon.”
“Did I say something wrong?” I ask his back while wondering about the swift change in his temperament.
“Not at all. By the way, didn’t you say you were inspired to create something new? Will you start on it tonight?”
“Oh…that depends.” Suddenly shy, I head to the cabinet to get plates for the table.
“On what?” Cameron dishes out the food into bowls and follows me to the dining room.
“On whether you’ll agree to sit and model for me,” I rush to say while ducking my face from view.
Thick silence falls between us, forcing me to raise my head to see how he is taking my request.
He gulps and his face becomes a deep shade of red that almost hide his freckles. “Model for you like the men I see on those shows about artists?”
“Oh… I didn’t mean naked, but if you would like to, I wouldn’t mind. But only if you want to. If you aren’t sure, that’s okay, too. It’s just I’ve been sketching you subconsciously and although they’re okay, I’d really like one of them to do you justice. Oh my God, why am I babbling right now?” I hide my face in my hands.
Cameron’s warm laughter spills over me, relieving me of my embarrassment. “I’d be happy to model for you, however you want me. I will warn you if I’m naked I won’t be able to control my reaction to feeling your eyes on me.”
“You have a point.” I nod. “This first one should definitely be clothing required.”
After dinner we go to my guest room turned office to collect my sketch pad, my camera and a tripod. Contractors won’t start on the bungalow for another two weeks. Surprisingly, working in a room with less natural light hasn’t constrained me. I glance toward Cameron and acknowledge he is the reason. Although he doesn’t always join me, when he does my pen flies over the screen faster as I channel the inspirational rush that dictates my work.
“How do you want me?” He comes up behind me and squeezes my shoulder.
I nibble my lower lip and hug my pad tight as I face him. One vision has been on my mind for a few days to the point of near obsession. “If I could only draw you once, I want to capture you in the middle of doing something you love. I want a pose of you when you’re playing your favorite instrument.”
His face falls. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Like I said before, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I have a ton of other work to do. I should concentrate on finishing my other projects before starting something new.”
