He put a heavily paint-stained finger to her lips.
‘I’m serious, Jen. Leave it.’
She shook her head, her mouth rubbing his finger so that dried paint flaked onto her lips.
‘You’re filthy,’ she said.
He smiled at last. ‘You only just worked that out?’
‘I’m going to run you a bath.’
‘I’m only getting in if you come with me.’
‘Deal.’
Jenna watched the paint flecks melt in the warm water and lose themselves in the foamy depths. She sat opposite Jason, gazing at his face through the steam, her ankles pressing into his hips.
‘You could do with a hair cut,’ she said.
‘What for? Disguise?’
She smiled. ‘Maybe. If you’re going to take the art world by storm, you need to be able to leave the house without getting arrested. What if we dyed it peroxide blond and cropped it really short?’
‘Fuck off. I’d look like Miley Cyrus.’
Jenna burst out laughing. ‘Hardly. Seriously, it was one of Deano’s best looks. The fashion press went mad over it.’
‘It’s not for me.’
‘No,’ she agreed. ‘No, it wouldn’t really suit you. Your carpet and curtains wouldn’t match, would they?’
He smirked at that.
‘I could go for an all-over body wax,’ he said.
‘Oh, you could. Back, sac and crack. That was all the rage in LA.’
‘Yeah, well, I don’t think I’ll be moving there any time soon. I’ll keep the hair, thanks.’
‘You’re probably better off that way. But what am I going to do, then? How am I going to bring your brilliance to a world that wants to arrest you?’
‘When did I ever say I wanted to be a star?’
‘Come on. You do.’
He concentrated on cupping her foot in his hands, lathering it up, heel, instep, toes, before answering.
‘It’s a daydream, though. It’s never going to happen for real.’
‘I believe it could. I believe in you. You’re talented – more than talented.’
‘So says the art critic.’
‘All right, I don’t know that much about art. But I have friends who do.’
‘Invite ’em round for cocktails, darling.’ He moved soapy hands up Jenna’s calf.
‘I’m not joking. I know I can’t exactly show you off, but I can take your work to be evaluated at a top London gallery.’