Page 7 of Take Me Slowly, Part 1 (Aurora Hollow duet #1)

LEAH

"It's a perfect day for a market." Louisa stopped at my table as I put the last of the paintings out on display.

"It really is," I agreed. I only had a handful of paintings, but no chair.

Even if I thought to bring one, I didn't have a fold down one I could carry around.

Tomorrow was going to suck unless everything sold quickly.

Given the way pockets of people were standing around chatting, I suspected buying wasn't their priority.

"These are nice." She squinted appraisingly at my work. "I might have to buy one for the town hall. They'd look nicer there than an abstract cactus." She waved a hand at me. "Don't ask. The previous incumbent had…interesting taste."

I smiled. "Art is subjective, but I'd be honoured to have my work hanging in there.

If you don't like any of these, I can paint something different.

If you'd like something in particular." I preferred to be inspired, but I took commissions because I also needed the money.

Rent was a lot cheaper here than at home, but I still needed to pay it and eat. Not to mention keeping my car running.

"I'd like something that represents the town and shows it in just the right light. Literally and figuratively. Let's discuss that further at a later time." She nodded, her long plait swinging to the side.

"Absolutely, you know where to find me," I said. I adjusted a couple of paintings as she moved on.

"Leah!" Whitney came hurrying over, Fiona and Sarah a few steps behind. "Are you kidding? Your paintings are gorgeous!" She gave me a hug. "I'm never going to be able to decide which one I want."

"There's a simple solution to that," Fiona said.

"Buy them all!" Sarah shouted.

"I can get behind that solution," I said with a grin. I offered the kid a fist bump. She bumped with enthusiasm while clinging to her mother's hand, dragging Fiona to the side.

"Hey, careful kiddo," she laughed. "No one wants to see me face plant on the grass."

"I refute that statement." Whitney's eyes were shining. "But wait until I have my phone out so I can video it." She gave Sarah a 'come on then' gesture with her hand.

"How about you don't?" Fiona said, pulling Sarah back toward her. She playfully scowled at Whitney.

"Spoilsport." Whitney sniffed in pretend indignation, a smile pushing at the corners of her mouth. "Seriously though, Leah, these are amazing. I wish I could paint like that."

"Me too," Sarah said. She touched one of the canvases carefully and gently with the tip of her finger. "I feel like I can smell the trees and feel the wind."

"That's what I was going for," I said softly.

I liked when people got what I was trying to say through my work.

For me, it wasn't just about making something pretty, although that was part of it too.

I wanted people to feel like they were right there.

Like they could step into the canvas and be in the exact spot I sat and painted.

"You're talented," Fiona said.

My face was still heating from the compliment when a couple of shadows stepped into the corner of my sight.

"Talented?" Connor scoffed. "Let me see, Whit." He all but elbowed his sister out of the way to stand in front of my paintings. The way he looked at them made me want to hide under the table.

I couldn't read what he was thinking, but my mouth was suddenly dry and I swallowed hard.

"I think she's pretty good." Riley stepped over between Connor and Whitney.

"You wanted to buy one the other day," I pointed out.

Connor looked at him sharply.

Riley shrugged. "Maybe I felt sorry for you. Sitting there all by yourself for hours."

"How did you know that?" Fiona asked. "Riley Crane, are you stalking her?" Her eyes narrowed.

He snorted. "Yeah, right. I happened to see her there, that's all."

"Sure." She drew the word out. "You two are full of…" She glanced down at her daughter. "Doo-doo."

Sarah giggled. "Mummy said doo-doo."

"Doo-doo is the perfect word for both of them," Whitney said. "Did either of you want something or did you just come to be assho— asshats?" She looked at them both up and down like she didn't care much for what she saw.

"Everyone is allowed to come to the markets if they want to," Connor said defensively.

"No one is disputing that," Fiona said. "It's your critique we're questioning."

"Exactly," Whitney agreed. "Leah happens to be very talented. If you don't agree, move along." She gestured with her fingers for them to go away.

"It's okay," I said. "Their opinion doesn't bother me.

Like I was just saying to Louisa, art is subjective.

They don't have to like mine." I really needed to sit down.

My feet and legs were already starting to ache.

I went on smiling, hoping none of them could tell.

I didn't want sympathy from my new friends, or to give Connor and Riley ammunition against me.

"Thanks for your permission," Connor said sarcastically. He frowned for a beat before adding, "Wait a minute, turns out we don't need it." He smirked at me.

Would the world judge me too harshly if I picked up a painting and hit him with it? Probably not, but I'd hate to damage my work. He wasn't worth it.

"You're a prick," Whitney told him. "I swear, one of us must be adopted. I think it's you, because I look like Mom."

"And I look like Dad," he retorted. "You know you love me." He stepped over to put his arms around her and kiss her cheek, but she turned her face and pushed him away.

"Ewww, no. I'm not touching you until you stop being an ass."

"I guess you won't be touching him ever again," Fiona remarked.

Connor flipped her off with both fingers. "Come on, Ri. I don't need to stand around here and be insulted."

"I'm sure there's plenty of other people around here waiting for their turn," I said dryly. "Wouldn't want them to miss out."

He'd taken a step away, but stopped and looked back at me.

I thought I'd see disgust or derision in his eyes. Instead I saw pure heat. Like all he wanted to was shut my mouth up with his cock.

He opened his mouth to say something, then shook his head and stalked away.

Riley glanced at the painting he'd wanted to buy, with a hint of regret before following Connor away.

"Ugh, I'm so sorry about those two." Whitney pressed a hand to her chest. "I swear, sometimes they should be on a leash."

"It's okay," I said.

I'm not going to lie, the idea of them restrained wasn't the worst thought I'd ever had. One of the hottest, maybe. Was I even thinking right now? Had he given me that look on purpose, trying to mess with my head? Was he aware of having done it? I hadn't looked at him the same way, had I?

I pressed a hand to my cheek, as if I could actually check.

"I really don't know what their problem is." Whitney shook her head.

"Egos the size of the entire Rockies?" Fiona suggested.

"They're big doo-doos?" Sarah said, looking gleeful.

"They're very big doo-doos," Whitney agreed. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'll be glad when it starts snowing. We hardly see them then. If they're not taking out tourists, they're skiing and snowboarding. And whatever else those two get up to."

My mind should not have gone to where it went.

I did not need to think about Connor and Riley kissing each other.

Their hands wandering over each other's bodies.

Touching. Tasting. Fucking. I wasn't even sure they had that kind of relationship, but the mental image was hot enough to melt panties off just about anyone.

I shoved the thought away as hard as I could, before it showed on my face.

"It's only a few short weeks," Fiona said wistfully. "Unfortunately, it goes hand-in-hand with being cold as heck. I guess we have to take the good with the bad. Now, how much for that painting?" She pointed at the one Riley smudged with his nose. "That'll look perfect over my fireplace."

Whitney almost squealed. "It so will! Now I'm jealous I didn't think of that first. But this one would look amazing in my place." She lived near Fiona's parents, about five minutes away from the cottage I was renting.

"Ohhh, it really would," Fiona agreed. She caught sight of something off to the side and her expression changed. Her smile faded and her eyes became sad.

I followed her gaze to a man in his late fifties making his way through the market with the help of a walking stick.

He was looking in front of him, but his eyes didn't seem to see anything.

His mouth was turned down and a deep crease mark to the centre of his forehead, between his bushy eyebrows.

Something about him was familiar, but I couldn't place him.

"Who's that?" I asked softly.

"Gavin Clarke," Fiona whispered as if she didn't want to intrude on him, even at a distance. "He used to own the bakery here in town."

"Used to?" I echoed.

"Yeah," Whitney said. "I don't really remember it, but to hear them talk, he used to be the life of the whole town.

The one who held everyone up. Who supported everyone, y'know?

When anyone needed a shoulder, or a laugh, he was there.

Then his daughter died. They say he changed overnight.

Became reclusive and…broken. He lost his marriage and the bakery. "

"These days, we take care of him," Fiona said. "People take turns checking in on him and bringing him food. The community nurse makes sure he keeps clean and washes up after him. Mostly he walks around town as if… I don't know, like he wants to find her again." She looked close to tears.

"That's really sad," I said, my eyes following his slow progress. People nodded at him as he walked past, but he didn't seem to be aware of it. He went on shuffling until he disappeared out of sight past the stall selling fresh fruit and vegetables.

"It's nice you take care of him. A lot of people wouldn't bother." In the city, would anyone have noticed what he was going through? Would they have cared? He would have withered away, largely unnoticed. The thought was heartbreaking.

"We always bother," Whitney said. "That's what we do. We look out for each other. We support each other and encourage each other." She pushed a smile back onto her face and nodded down to the painting she'd chosen. "We make sure no one goes without."

"I don't know if I can take your money," I said uneasily. They'd both been so sweet to me, taking me under their wings. Including me on nights out and inviting me to a barbecue next weekend. They could as easily have ostracised me the way Riley and Connor did.

"Of course you can." Whitney pulled out her purse and handed over a couple of bills. After a moment, Fiona did the same, then picked up her painting and tucked it under her arm.

"Thank you," I said sincerely. For their support and because this money would go a long way. "You're so sweet."

"That's us." Whitney grinned. "Sweeter than pie." She batted her long eyelashes.

"We have good taste, that's all," Fiona said. "Which reminds me, I need to buy some chutney. I'll see you both later."

"Oh, I need chutney too." Whitney blew me in and kissed before hurrying after Fiona and Sarah.

I sagged with my palms on the table in front of me once they were gone. An hour down, three more to go. I could do this.