Page 19 of Finding Romance (Romances in the Building #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Piper

“You’re so talented,” Kasen says as he looks at the portrait I drew of him.

It’s on his fridge with a single magnet that he stole from Margie’s collection.

He said he wanted to keep my drawing and I told him it was fridge art.

He walked into my aunt’s kitchen and grabbed a magnet that says, “I like to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.” Then he grabbed my hand and marched us back to his place, where he unceremoniously stuck my picture on his fridge.

Now, I’m sitting here as we brainstorm for any other places we could look for my aunt’s necklace. She’s basically given up hope that we can find it. And I’m not far behind.

Today, my aunt graduated to being able to walk on her own.

She’s asked me to stay for another week or two and I’ve agreed.

The man standing in front of me is a big reason that I don’t want to leave.

I love our daily talks. I love everything about him.

But I know there’s more to him than what he’s shared.

He’s a mystery that I need to solve. I’m not sure I can leave until I do.

“Thanks,” I murmur as I watch Kasen make our drinks.

It’s become a bit of a routine. Our own private happy hour.

He claims this will help me with dating and conversation with men, but mostly we discuss a show we’re both watching or he tells me funny stories about his teenage years in Scotland.

He still hasn’t told me much about his parents or his time in the military, but I feel like we’re getting closer to him sharing more.

He’s this big, burly man, but I think he’s not so strong on the inside.

“Have you ever offered your artistic services to authors?” he asks, sliding my drink across the counter to me.

I swirl the amber liquid in my glass. “No,” I say quietly. I don’t elaborate. Would I love drawing for books? Yes. Would I love to paint for galleries? Yes. Heck, I would do any job that involved my artistic talents, but those jobs are hard to find.

Kasen walks around the counter and sits down next to me. “What do you want in life?”

I feel my eyes widen and eyebrows rise involuntarily as I react to his big question. “That’s…uh…gosh, I don’t know,” I stumble over my words as I rack my brain for an answer.

He sets his glass down and takes my hands in his, our gazes locking. “Think about one year from now. Just a single year. If you could choose what you’d be doing, what would it be?” he asks, his eyes searching mine. He’s so sincere.

I’d want to be here with you . God, I’m an idiot.

It’s probably for the best that I’m leaving in another week or two.

My father reached out last week and offered up his guesthouse for me to stay in for a while.

I’ve seriously been contemplating going out to Seattle to stay with him.

I could clear my head of these delusional cobwebs I have about a future with Kasen where I illustrate books and sit in the park drawing frogs on lily pads.

“Well?” he prods.

“I, uh, maybe illustrating books or making book art?” I reply, but it comes out more of a question than a statement.

He’s still for a few seconds and then hops off his stool.

“Come on, we’re going to see Roxy,” he announces as he holds out his hand to me, a motion I’ve become all too familiar with, a motion that brings me immense comfort. After a lifetime of wanting that from my parents, it’s like he senses I need it even when I don’t realize that myself.

“OK,” I say in a voice that sounds completely unsure.

We walk downstairs, hand in hand. He ushers me into the bookstore and waves to Roxy who’s sitting behind the desk, her feet are up on a nearby chair. She’s reading a book.

“Hey, you looking for a new read?” she asks him as she sets her book down.

I look at Kasen with a raised eyebrow.

“No, we’re here about Piper,” he says, quickly deflecting attention onto me. But my curiosity is piqued. I need to know what he’s been reading.

“Yeah, any good books you can recommend Kasen here? Or me?” I ask innocently.

Kasen narrows his eyes, and I smirk.

“Of course, let’s find you both something,” she says excitedly as she gets up and walks toward a shelf.

“Jocelyn? Did the new inventory get shelved yet?” she calls out as she surveys the shelf.

“Yep, it’s all out there,” Jocelyn’s disembodied voice says from behind another shelf.

“Actually,” Kasen starts and Roxy stops to look at him. “We were curious if you know any authors who would want to hire Piper to do…what did you call it the other day?” He pauses and then snaps his fingers. “Character art.”

Her eyes look from me to Kasen. Roxy and Jocelyn had come up near the end of happy hour when I was drawing people. I follow her gaze as she looks behind her desk and I see my drawing of her sitting out with some other book-related things.

“Well, funny you should mention that. The other day, an author friend of mine popped in to chat about an upcoming release she’s having and she saw your drawing and really liked it. I’ve been meaning to ask you if you did character art, but I keep forgetting to text you. So, do you?” she asks.

“Like, what exactly do you mean?” I question.

Roxy walks over to a table and picks up a few items. “This,” she says as she points to a cover. “And this.” She holds up a postcard with an illustrated couple. “And also this,” she says as she picks up a magnet and a sticker with illustrated characters.

I walk over to her and examine each item. Can I do this? Yes. She hands me some more postcards. Yeah, I could do that.

“Yes. I can draw things like this,” I say as I flip through a stack of illustrated character art.

“Really?” she asks, her voice rising an octave.

“Yeah. I’d just need character descriptions,” I explain as I place the cards back down into a basket on a table.

“Then, I have some clients for you. I’ll send out an email, but first, do you have a portfolio or a website?” she asks.

I shudder. I do have a website, but it’s super out of date and also is more focused on the graphic design stuff I did in college since I thought that would be the easiest career to obtain once I graduated.

“Give me a week to pull my art together,” I say.

“Wonderful, let me know when it’s ready and I’ll share it with my author newsletter,” she offers.

“Seriously?” I ask.

She nods and smiles. “Yes, absolutely. You are very talented.”

Since Aunt Cornelia needs my help less and less each day, it’s the perfect time to spend a few afternoons drawing. I could easily switch my website around in a week. For the first time in a long time, I feel excited.

“Thanks!” I say as I pull Roxy in for a hug.

“Anytime,” she replies. She looks down at her watch. “Anyone want a coffee?”

Kasen laughs. “Roxy, it’s like half past five. Do you even sleep?”

The bell on the door rings and we all look over to see Gray come into the store. “She doesn’t sleep much,” he says with a smirk.

Roxy rolls her eyes. “Yes, I sleep. I just don’t have coffee right before bed.”

“That’ll change,” Kasen mumbles as Gray walks up to Roxy and kisses her. I practically swoon. Is that how couples act when they are in love? Kissing like they don’t care if anyone else sees them. For the briefest of moments, I wish I could experience that type of connection. Maybe, someday.

“I should really get back to Aunt Cornelia. Margie wants to make dough for bagels. And needs help, since my aunt isn’t quite up to the task yet,” I explain.

“OK, well, see you guys later,” Roxy says from over Gray’s shoulder.

We leave as Gray goes in for another kiss.

“You didn’t finish your whiskey yet,” Kasen says as we opt to take the sketchy elevator.

“Right. I can only stay a few more minutes though. I did promise Margie I’d help tonight,” I explain.

“Does this mean tomorrow she’ll have fresh bagels for breakfast?” he asks as we exit the elevator and he unlocks his door.

“Yep. If all goes as planned,” I say as I sit back down and grab my drink.

“So, we’re going to make you a famous illustrator, huh?” he says with a big smile that has me setting my drink back down and pulling him into a hug.

“Thank you, Kasen,” I whisper in his ear as I squeeze around his neck more tightly, burying my face in his neck and inhaling his woodsy cologne.

He doesn’t move at first, but then slowly he wraps his arms around me and pulls me off my chair and onto his lap. We sit there for a long time, just hugging. Not even in a sexual way, just being there, together.

“Finish your drink, love,” he murmurs as he places a platonic kiss on the top of my head. He sets me on my stool and we clink glasses and each sip our whiskey.

It doesn’t take long for me to finish as I tell him my ideas for character art. He’s quiet and listens to me. I want to say, I want to make sexy character art, inspired by you, but I don’t have the bravery to speak the words out loud. I still have no idea what I’m doing in the bedroom.

As Kasen shows me out, a needy feeling begins building inside of me.

What if I asked Kasen to help me lose my virginity?

I trust him. From the way he kisses and touches me, I’d bet he’d be good at sex.

He knows way more than I do. And then I’d know what all the fuss is about.

I wouldn’t have to pretend to know when women talk about it at parties.

I wouldn’t be embarrassed to admit I hadn’t done it yet.

I know I shouldn’t be embarrassed, but I sort of am.

It’s like men are aliens and I’ve never had an encounter.

“What?” Kasen asks as I turn to go back to my aunt’s.

“Nothing, just, uh, thinking more about the pretend dating thing,” I say because it’s not a total lie.

“Oh? Maybe we should have another pretend date?” he suggests.

“I think that’s a great idea,” I agree, attempting to rein in my excitement.

“OK, I’ll figure out a plan for this coming weekend,” he offers as he watches me unlock the door.

“Sounds good. Goodnight, Kasen,” I say.

“Goodnight, illustrator,” he replies, and I smile as I turn, loving my new nickname.