I jerked back.Damned if she wasn’t right.My art was my heart and soul, other than Quinn, and the idea of failing put me in a cold sweat of fear.Either way, I was already on her shit list, and challenging her wasn’t a good idea.
“I’m sorry,” I said shortly.
She kept studying me.“Mr.Hunt, do you have a problem with men?”
I blinked.“Huh?”
“Men.It seems you are always drawing women.Now, I know they are probably more interesting due to your gender, but a true artist does not limit himself.”
I stared at my portrait.I never really thought of it before, but my subjects were mostly female.“Does it really matter?”I challenged.“They both have similar structure to sketch, which seems to be the point.I’d draw a male just as well as I do a female.”
“Again, you refuse to push yourself, Mr.Hunt.We will be having a nude model come in next week to pose.Since it’s a male, I’ll be looking forward to you proving your theory.For now, I’d advise you to start again, and go back to basics before allowing yourself to stretch boundaries.”
I seethed with frustration, having no fucking clue what she was talking about.My fingers curled tight around the pencil, but she didn’t seem to care what emotions I was struggling with.The click of her heels resolutely dismissed me as unworthy for a longer conversation.I studied the picture, which I had thought was pretty good, and ripped it to pieces.
Fine.I’d start again.I’d keep going till my fucking fingers were bloody and my eyes crossed if I’d just be able to do one lousy thing that didn’t make her lips purse like she just sucked on a damn lemon.
I got back to work.
Hours later, I realized I was late for my date with Quinn.I grabbed my phone, which I’d put on silent, and found three text messages asking when I’d be there.Shit.I quickly texted her to give me thirty minutes, packed up my stuff, and flew back out of the school.
Since my place was close to the school, I showered and changed in record time, and got to her house with two minutes to spare.When she opened the door, she had a cute sulk to her lips I rarely saw.Quinn wasn’t the whiney, high-maintenance sort.Another reason why I loved her.Little makeup, casual clothes, honest to a fault, she was a straight-shooter and rarely complained.When she did, I found her spikes in temper hot as hell.
“Sorry, babe.”I kissed those gorgeous lips.“I got caught up.”
She smelled like everything clean in the world.Cucumber.Cotton.Pure soap with just a hint of floral.I wanted to strip off her clothes and devour her, but I’d promised her an actual date on the town since we’d been working so hard.
“I’m hungry.”
“You’re pouting.It’s adorable.”
She gasped.“I don’t pout.I’m just starving, like my stomach is eating itself, I’m so hungry.”
I laughed.“And you’re dramatic.Well, let’s go, then.What are we waiting for?”
She grumbled as she donned her coat, pulled a knit hat over her head, and wrapped a scarf around her neck.One thing I learned about Chicago in January?The so-called Windy City froze my balls off.“What are we doing?”Quinn asked.
“Not sure.”Funny, in the past, I usually planned elaborate dates.Dinners on my boat, beach cruises, dancing in celebrity clubs.But I loved exploring the unknown with Quinn, just throwing myself out into the world with her at my side and an adventure before us.I was used to expectations entwined with money.Quinn couldn’t have cared less about expensive dinners, and her favorite was a hot dog at the food truck.“Let’s go to The Bean and figure it out from there.”
“Sounds good.Food first.”
I knew the only way to satisfy her appetite was the best damn deep-dish pizza invented.We left the apartment, and I pulled her in tight against me, wrapping myself around her delectable body to protect her from the wind.We’d gotten used to walking everywhere, and I enjoyed living in such an amazing city filled with art, food, and interesting people, even if I missed my boat and the sun occasionally.I never expected Quinn’s city to become mine, but in these past six months, I’d made it my own, too.
We finally reached Gino’s East and got into a booth, ordering our favorite classic deep-dish with sausage.“Why were you so late?”Quinn asked.
I didn’t want to get into it, but owed her the truth.“I was working on my portrait when Ava came in.Let’s just say she made it quite clear it sucked.I started over.”
She nibbled her lower lip in that sexy way of hers that made me jealous.I wanted to be the one sucking on her lips.“Just because she teaches there doesn’t mean she knows what she’s talking about,” Quinn said fiercely.“Maybe she’s a wannabe artist and she’s jealous!”
I laughed.Damned if she didn’t make me feel good believing in my talent more than anyone else.Quinn never spoke badly about anyone, so this was a sign of her loyalty.“Gonna beat her up for me, baby?”I teased.“My money’s on you to take her down.”
Quinn rolled her eyes.“Seriously, James, is there anyone else you can talk to at the Brush Institute?The Dean or program coordinator?”
They placed the sizzling pizza on our table.The scent of garlic, sauce, and gooey cheese hit me hard, making me salivate.We dug in with little fanfare and hardly any manners.“Nah, I’m gonna handle this myself.If I have to suffer for the next few months, then I’m done with her.I can take anything she gives me, and now I have something to prove.”
“Doesn’t she have a say in who displays their work in June?”she asked.“I don’t trust her.”
That worried me.There was a student exhibition at the end of the year where some high-society art dealers and patrons attended.The Brush Institute had a great reputation with some serious successful artists, and I needed to get there.But I still had time to dazzle, and I wouldn’t give up until I did.“Next week I get to sketch a nude male,” I said.“I got this.”
