Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
He then went to his hall closet and rummaged through some odds and ends to find the rolls of gift-wrapping paper, cardboard present boxes, and shiny holiday bows. He soon spotted the clear plastic box filled with colorful wrapping options and assorted tissue papers, and brought it into the kitchen. Setting it on the table, he sat down and opened it. He went through it, deciding on what he wished to use for such a present. Moments later, he selected a pretty pink and gold cardboard box, and lined it with light blue tissue paper. He walked over to the metal bowl and removed the pendant from the container, then transferred it to another bowl that was filled with cold water, quenching the piece in order to make it less brittle and stronger. He sat back down at the table, dug into the storage box, and grabbed a box of blank cards with assorted designs. Some featured pretty autumn leaves and a cottage nestled between the foliage, others a scenic daylight landscape with snowcaps amid forest trees. He then spotted one with sailboats and a lighthouse in the back. It appeared to be done in watercolors.
This is the one.
He removed it from the pack, grabbed a pen, and began to write…
Porsche Lee,
I had a great time with you on our first date. This is something I made especially for you, and I hope you like it.
Nikolai
He placed the card in the matching envelope, then sealed it. With a kiss…
CHAPTER NINE
Muse Paintbar on Commercial Street featured several long wooden tables covered with colorful dried paint strokes from yesteryear. The word ‘MUSE’ was illuminated in theater lights on one of the walls—a beckoning call that one was here to be inspired. Porsche adjusted her purse on her shoulder as she searched for a place to sit and spotted a familiar figure. Ahhh, there he is. She was early for her meeting with Nikolai, but he beat her to it.
He sat at a table not too far away, towering over everyone. Brandishing a big, friendly smile, he waved her over. She weaved through the tables and small standing crowd and made her way to the giant. When she sat beside him on the bench, she noticed a glass of red wine in front of him.
“Well, this is different.” She removed her oversized beige sweater coat, slipping it onto the back of her chair. She’d had the thing for so long and it was a bit shabby, but she was too in love to part ways with it just yet. “We’re going to paint, huh?”
He tilted his glass to his lips, which were curved in a sexy smile.
“Yeah. It’ll be fun.”
“If you say so. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body,” she scoffed, followed that with an airy giggle.
“You wanna change that?” he said under his breath.
“Huh? Change what?” She’d understood what the nasty man meant, but she decided to let the dirty-minded bastard stew in his own inappropriate humor.
“Never mind.” He foraged through a collection of paintbrushes that sat to his left, going about his business without a care in the world.
Funny guy—but she refused to engage in his flirty banter.
Nikolai placed a towel beneath his water-filled bowl and reached over to do the same for hers.
“I visited my father right before I came here. Checkin’ on him.”
“Oh. How’s he doing? I recall you said he’s not in the best of health right now.”
“Yeah, he’s hangin’ in there. He’s got bad arthritis, but today he felt better.”
Soon, she was offered a drink by the staff. Instead of getting wine, she opted for a non-alcoholic beverage—a grapefruit flavored sparkling water. She looked around the place to see more people entering and getting situated. It was around twenty visitors or so, maybe a bit more. A good gathering.
Two instructors entered the area, introduced themselves, and showed the painting that would be this group’s muse—a canvas of a vase full of vibrant flowers sitting on a desk covered in a red cloth. They had the option to try and copy it verbatim with the assortment of paints supplied, or they could do their own interpretation of the work. Let their imaginations run wild. Music began to play, the first song being ‘Africa,’ by Toto.
“My mother liked this song,” Nikolai said as he dipped his brush in glossy brown paint, then started working on the canvas before him. “I hated it when I was a kid.” He chuckled. “I didn’t want to hear her oldies songs. I wanted to hear stuff like ‘Advertising Space,’ by Robbie Adams, or ‘Bad Day,’ by Daniel Powter.”
“Oh, my goodness! I forgot about that song, ‘Advertising Space.’ I wonder if he’s still making songs. Robbie… What was his last name again?”
“Adams.”
“Yeah.”
Nikolai shrugged. “I don’t know. Now I appreciate the older songs, too. The ones Mom liked especially.”