Why Not Tonight (Happily Inc. #3)(39)

She hadn’t figured out an answer to her question when a very sweaty, very happy Ronan walked into the gallery.

“We did it,” he told her. “We cut up your car. It was great. The kids from the auto shop class had picked over it like vultures. They’d taken everything that wasn’t welded down. Mathias worked on the back half. He’s got it sectioned to the trunk and just a bit of the back door. Nick and I worked on the front. I think I’ve got that where I need it. We’ll have to check the final measurements. You’re going to want to weigh in on color. Something that will look good with the sky. Also, we have to talk about how stylized you want this to be.”

He grinned. “You know, we could put wings on this thing.” His smile faded when she didn’t respond. “What’s wrong? What happened? Are you upset about the car?”

“No. Of course not. I’m glad it has a new purpose and you had a good time and that progress was made.”

“I’m not convinced. What is it?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “A man stopped by. Edgar. He’s a scientist at the sleep center. He brought me his résumé.”

“For what?”

She drew in a breath. “I can’t even believe I’m going to say this, but to be a sperm donor. I have no idea who told him about my baby app. You know and my friends know, and that’s all. I did mention it the last time we had lunch, so it has to be one of them. Unless you told Edgar.”

Ronan held up both hands. “I don’t even know the guy. It wasn’t me.”

“I didn’t think so.” She doubted the man she was sleeping with would have offered her up for sperm donation.

“What happened?”

“You won’t believe it. He just walked in here and started talking about how he wants to improve the species.”

Ronan’s lips began to twitch.

“It’s not funny,” she protested.

“It kind of is. Improve the species. Like he’s all that.”

Not exactly the response she was looking for. “You’re not upset?”

“You’re not going to take him up on his offer, so no.”

He was far too calm, she thought, getting annoyed. An unusual state for her, but here it was and she was going to take advantage of it.

“Interesting.” She studied Ronan. “He said I was attractive enough that he was more than happy to get me pregnant the old-fashioned way, if that makes a difference.”

Ronan’s green eyes darkened, his mouth straightened and his shoulders went back, as if in an unconscious attempt to make himself look bigger.

“What did you say?”

His voice was low and controlled and just a little annoyed.

“What?” she asked sweetly. “Are you concerned?”

“That some guy you never met wanted to have sex with you? Yes, I’m concerned.”

“Good. Because it wasn’t funny to me and you laughed.”

He walked over and pulled her close. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have reacted differently. Do you want me to go beat him up?”

“I’m not sure how that would help improve the species.” She snuggled close. Now that he was holding her, she was feeling a whole lot better about things.

“Screw the species,” he said right before he kissed her. “How can I make this up to you?”

She smiled at him. “Maybe you could show me the cut-up car.”

“Happy to.”

“And let me use the blowtorch.”

“Not even for money.”

She was still laughing when he kissed her again.

*

NATALIE LIKED WHEN the gallery was closed. Yes, it was a retail establishment where goods were bought and sold, but that was only when customers were around. On the days it was quiet and empty of anyone but her, she couldn’t helping thinking the semilit space had a spiritual quality.

She loved to walk through the silence, pausing to admire various creations. She wondered what the artist had been thinking and how close they’d come to their vision. She got caught up in swirls and lines and color and depth. Looking at the art recharged and inspired her.

On this particular Monday she was a little more concerned with getting set up for her lunch than admiring the work around her, but she did pause to study a vase filled with elegant cut flowers. The piece was about three feet high and four feet wide and done entirely in glass. The true genius was how real the flowers looked, as if a leaf might fall off any second or a petal might droop.

Ronan had created a series of the flowers in vases—each one representing a different season. Mathias had played on that theme with seasonal dishes. Atsuko had created a display combining their work. The everyday and the untouchable, Natalie thought briefly before returning her attention to the table.

She had enough chairs, a place for their small buffet and the right amount of cutlery, plates and glasses. She’d bought a large superdeluxe chicken Cobb salad with extra avocado, tortilla strips and sesame seeds because there was so much yummy stuff on top there was barely any lettuce.

Right at noon Silver knocked on the front door. Natalie moved the Closed sign to let her in, then nearly groaned when she inhaled the scent of freshly baked bread. Her gaze dropped to the two long baguettes her friend held.