“Maybe.”
He crossed his legs, completely at ease with his nudity. I knew art models who weren’t as at ease with their bodies as Ian. I reached for his pants and tossed them at him. “Put those on before one of my brothers barges in here.”
He rolled his eyes and wiggled into his cargos. “Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around showing my paintings. They’re like diary pages.”
“So are songs. All that I poured into ‘Best Part of Me’ was like opening a vein. People resonate with that, with the reality of things. Same as paintings.”
I stared down at my paint stained fingers. “Would you go with me?”
“Of course I will.” He hauled me onto his lap and circled his arms around me. “I’m honored you would ask.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“Ah, Magic. You are the least romantic girl in all the world.”
“That would be correct. And here I am, in love with a poet.”
“Lyricist. Poets don’t make any coin, love.”
I laughed. “So sorry. Only one starving artist in this little family.”
“And a family we’ll have.” He rolled us onto our backs again. “I want to put a baby in there.” He lifted my shirt and pressed a kiss to my belly. “I saw my brother and his wife and their little wee one growing. They’re naming her Raine.” He peered up at me. “Same as I want for us. A family of our own.”
My eyes burned. “Oh, Ian.”
“I know it’s quick, and maybe a little crazy. But I want it and from the tears in your tough girl eyes maybe you do too?”
I shook my head. “You’re incorrigible. Did I mention that?”
“A time or two.” He tucked his head under my shirt to find my nipple again. “Care to let me show you one more time?”
My laugh turned into a groan. “Okay, maybe one more time.”
“We have much to catch up on, Magic.”
“Don’t you have to go see Aunt Laverne?” I arched my back.
“Later.”
I reached for the button on his pants. Good thing we had all morning.
Twenty-Six
It was more like noon when we finally resurfaced. We talked a lot in between loving. I didn’t only need to get reacquainted with his body, but I’d missed our talks. I’d been trying to ignore him during the time he’d been here. Not that anyone could really ignore Ian when he was excited about something, least of all me.
We snuck over to the lodge and used one of the empty rooms to wash up. I usually showered at my aunt’s house or my parents, but I didn’t think stinking like sex and rolling up to my house was a good plan.
Especially when my mother worked such weird hours. One never knew when she was going to have to take care of one of her babies. Never thought I’d be jealous of orchids in my damn life, but sometimes I really was.
When we came down the stairs, Aunt Laverne was crossing the shared living space. “Oh, there you are.”
“Hello.” Ian rushed down the stairs to her and got a big old hug.
I leaned on the stair railing. “I see loyalty means nothing in this family?”
My aunt stepped back and smoothed her hair. “Of course it do