And I wanted more.
So much more I could fucking taste
it, but now was not the time. And honestly I wasn’t sure there would ever be a time that climbing back into bed with Moon would be a good idea.
Which was too damn bad because now that I’d had one taste, it wasn’t enough.
Chapter Twelve
Moon
It still felt strange being back inside the Rainbow Canvas, but with every day that passed it was easier to be back. Adding small touches, like changing up the art hanging on the walls and rearranging the supplies helped. It made the place feel new. Updated and upgraded rather than just put back together. I could stand inside and almost not see the remnants of that night.
Baby steps.
Customers were coming back, but Friday nights were still slower than usual. Maybe I should consider calling them off for a few weeks. Until people felt comfortable coming back here to have fun while they made art, staying open was just a waste of money.
The wooden chimes over the door tinkled and I looked up from the inventory sheets on the counter as a young girl walked in. Girl wasn’t quite accurate though. She was young but twenty-something young in a tiny, dark blue denim skirt and a white tank top that showed more of her hot pink bra than it covered.
“Welcome to the Rainbow Canvas. If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know.” It was my standard greeting and her little sneer told me she didn’t appreciate the effort.
“Is it true you had a shooting in here?” Big blue eyes did their best to appear innocent and non-threatening but her moves were far too practiced.
“It is. Looks like gang violence is everywhere these days.” The girl leaned in, hanging on to my every word. “The police have no idea who did it or why,” I snorted for added effect. “Probably already forgot about it.”
“That is so terrible,” she replied but even that sounded forced and not even a little sincere.
“It was at the time, but life goes on.” I knew when I was being pumped for information. I grew up in a house full of servants who felt nothing wrong with doing the job when my parents couldn’t or wouldn’t and they were more skilled than her. “So did you come for art classes or supplies, or to see where it all went down?”
I could tell that my tone had caught her by surprise but this was a business, not a tourist attraction.
“Is that okay?” She hunched her shoulders forward and shoved her hands into her pocket, in an effort to look more innocent, I guess.
“Sure. But if you’re not a customer then I have other things to do.” She seemed surprised but not offended when I went back to inventory slips that really didn’t need to be dealt with today, but busy work made me feel like I was doing something. Anything.
She walked around the shop carefully. A little too carefully. I kept an eye on her, watching as she looked at everything then fingered several of the mid-grade brushes. But her gaze wasn’t on the brushes or the palettes in front of her, but on the ceiling. More specifically, she was looking at the corners and light fixtures, for what, I had no clue but she was definitely searching for something.
She piqued my interest enough to make up my mind to do more than keep an eye on her. I pulled my phone from my skirt.
I have an interesting visitor. I sent Cross the quick, vague text message because he seemed so stressed lately that I knew he’d want to know this, even if I was reluctant to pass on any information.
Yeah, who?
I smiled. He was a man of few words. Young girl, twenty-ish with dark hair and blonde highlights. Skimpy clothes and not a skilled interrogator.
His response came within seconds. Be right there.
I should have known the man with so much on his mind wouldn’t let this sit for long. My house, not the shop. I had to be careful on the off chance that someone was watching, because clearly they knew Jana, and possibly Rocky too, liked to hang out here.
“Thanks for letting me look around. You have a super cute shop!” With a wave and a blinding smile, she was gone.
My shoulders sank in relief the moment I saw her cross the street and walk out of my sight. That girl was some kind of trouble, I could just tell. A girl who tried that hard to be sexy usually ended up with men who had warped views of femininity and sexuality. It wasn’t my problem but I committed her face to memory just in case it became my problem.
A tap at the back door interrupted my fifteen minutes of alone time. I knew it had to be Cross because Jana was the only other person who knew about the back entrance. A quick peek through the back door and I gave Cross the high sign to give me a few. I hurried to close up my shop, putting a sign in the front window telling customers I would “Be back later.”
“Hey,” Cross said the minute I stepped outside.
“Hey,” I said back, unsure how to respond to him after our…encounter. And he stood there all expressionless like we hadn’t had the most incredible sex of my life the last time we saw each other. Well, if he could do it then I could too. We walked the short distance to my house, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened between us.