Author's Note: This story is the result of a writing challenge among several of the authors here at Lit. Every story in this chain began with a common list of ten words. It's been fun to create something and try to find ways to work unusual terms seamlessly into the tale.
I hope you enjoy the story. I always love to get feedback from the readers. It's what helps me improve and grow as a writer. If you enjoy the story, please take the time to vote and or leave a comment. If you aren't comfortable with that, then an anonymous feedback option is available Thanks so much! Script
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"Charity?"
The sound finally penetrated the fugue surrounding her brain. She looked up and grinned at him.
"How long have you been standing there?"
He couldn't help the answering grin that slid over his face.
"Long enough to admire the view."
She rolled her eyes and looked down at her paint smeared jeans.
"You really have a warped sense of vision, you know that?"
He chuckled. With her hair escaping the ribbon that held it back, and dots of lavender spattered across her nose, he thought she was breathtaking.
"There isn't a damn thing wrong with my vision, woman."
He plastered a mock serious expression across his face. Her laughter echoed through the room.
"So how is it coming?"
He indicated the easel in front of her.
She took a step back and passed a critical eye over the painting. It was still in the early stages, the canvas blotted with dark values. She was only beginning to lay the lighter colors down.
In her mind, was the image she wanted the world to see. She nodded.
"I think it's going pretty well."
Edward smiled.
"It always is. I just came to let you know it's almost time."
At her furrowed brow he prompted.
"You wanted me to remind you...about the showing."
Amusement crinkled the edges of his eyes. Charity's hand flew to her face, adding a trail of brown across her cheek.
"Oh! Right!"
She quickly gathered her brushes and sealed her palette.
"Let me just get cleaned up here and I'll go get ready."
Edward shook his head. He knew she'd forget. Whenever she was working on a new piece, she was always lost in the world her mind created. Reality held little interest for her.
He took solace in the fact that her escapism resulted in incredible art. Her paintings revealed an inner harmony, a balance of spirit that left the viewer feeling peaceful and serene.
He'd realized her enormous talent the moment he'd seen her first painting in a remote corner of a flea market booth. She'd been painting out of her loft apartment and selling her work for a few hundred dollars through an amateur dealer at the market. Edward had gone to great lengths to track her down and offered himself as her agent.
Their partnership had lasted for five years now and Charity was every bit the success that he'd predicted. What he hadn't seen coming was that he'd fall for her. Where her paintings were calm, Charity was passion and fire. He found himself drawn to her light.
The days he didn't see her, he often found himself bereft and unsettled. Those days, he found himself looking frequently at her paintings, just to have some sort of connection with her. Asking her out was not an option. He'd allowed the thought to skulk about in his head briefly, but had quickly tucked that idea away. She was an angel, and a mere mortal dared not reach so high.
His buddies would laugh if they ever heard him say anything like that, but it was the way Charity made him feel. He was really afraid to ruin the relationship they had worked for. What if he asked her and she was horrified? Their partnership couldn't survive the strain and he couldn't stand the thought of not seeing her, so he trundled along, trying to be content with friendship.
Over the years she had dated a few guys, mostly losers who hadn't been prepared for the periods of isolation that an artist required. He'd been the supportive best friend and waited around to pick up the pieces when she'd needed him.
"OK, I'll just head into the shower. How long do we have?"
Her voice startled him out of his reflection. He glanced down at his watch. "Can you be ready in an hour and a half?"
She nodded.
"Sure."
He grinned.
"Great. I'll be back to pick you up then."
She headed off towards the bathroom and he let himself out. Just the thoughts of her in the shower already had him hard and aching. He closed his eyes. He had to stop torturing himself with something he could never have. God, he was pathetic. He shook his head and made his way to his car. He had a showing to get ready for.
~~oOo~~
Charity stared into the mirror, amazed at what a little makeup and a designer dress could do to transform her from her usual shabby self to something approaching elegant. She'd never make the cover of a magazine, at least not for her looks. She considered herself passably pretty at best, but Edward seemed to think differently.
Edward always joked that her beauty had as much to do with her success as her actual work did. She always laughed the comment away, but secretly she was pleased that he thought she was beautiful.
She had always hoped that their relationship would develop further, but he'd never seemed interested in more than a mild flirtation and she'd been afraid to push things too far. She looked at the way the dress hugged her figure. Maybe it was time to get past those fears.
She dabbed a bit of perfume behind her ears, at her wrists and along the slope of her breasts. She had just applied her lipstick when she heard Edward's key in the door.
"Charity, I'm here. Are you ready?"
She slipped her feet into her Manolo sling backs and grabbed her clutch. She headed toward the foyer.
"As ready as I ever am for these things."
She stopped short when she saw him leaning against the wall in the entryway, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his Armani tux. She decided it should be illegal for a man to look that sexy. Normally she would make some smartass comment about monkey suits, but she remembered the woman in the mirror and her newly formed resolve to push a few of Edward's buttons.
The smile that glided over her lips was slow and sensual. She let her gaze wander over him, her look leaving no question as to her thoughts. She almost laughed when she got to his face. Edwards jaw was hanging down.
"Are you OK?"
His jaw snapped shut as he tried to recover.
"Of course, let's get going."
He turned and opened the door, holding it for her to walk past.
~~oOo~~
Edward was quiet on the drive to the Westmeade Gallery. The view of the cityscape against the night sky was usually something he took the time to appreciate, but it never even registered with him. All he saw was the look on her face as she had checked him out. He kept playing that brief moment in Charity's foyer over and over in his head.
He tried to reconcile the predatory gaze with [I]his[/I] charity. He had to admit that it fit her fiery nature, but he couldn't accept that it had been directed towards him. He glanced at her, sitting in the seat beside him, and nearly groaned out loud. She was had her legs crossed at the knee, the short dress exposing their tantalizing length, just for his personal torture. He turned her head to meet his gaze, amusement lighting her eyes and he quickly turned his attention back to the road ahead. Embarrassment at being caught staring at her sent a blush creeping up his cheeks.
What the hell was wrong with him? He'd always been able to put aside his attraction for her in the interests of business. [I]She's never encouraged you before[/I], a niggling little voice in his head whispered. Damn. How was he supposed to represent her the way she needed hi to if he couldn't separate his mind form his cock? God, he was such a fucking Neanderthal.
Edward almost breathed a sigh of relief when he pulled into the parking garage. At least he would be out of the close confines of the car, where her scent couldn't overwhelm him like it was doing now. He bounded out of the car, desperate to get inside. Although he wouldn't really be away from her for most of the evening, at least there would be space between them.
He opened her door and offered his hand. Charity smiled up at him as she placed her hand in his. She rose from the vehicle with swanlike grace, brushing against him as she stepped past. Edward dropped her hand like he'd been burned, which was what his skin felt like anywhere it had been in contact with hers.
He closed her door and locked the car. Charity was already moving towards the elevator that would take them up to street level, her hips swaying in a tempting, hypnotic motion as she walked.
Son of a bitch, this was going to be a long damn night.
~~oOo~~
Charity had to work to hide the smirk that tried to surface when Edward let go of her hand. There was no mistaking the current that flowed between them, or the fact that he seemed just as affected as she was. She deliberately put a little extra vamp into her stride as she headed to the elevator.
Normally, at this point before a showing, she was a basket case, but tonight was different. Somehow her priorities had shifted. The showing was important, but not as important as making Edward see that they were perfect for each other. Everything else seemed rather lackluster by comparison.
They strolled into the Westmeade Gallery a scant forty-five minutes before the guests were expected to arrive. The caterers were bustling about getting everything set up. Sharon Proctor, the Gallery Manager, broke away from the preparations and came to greet them, hands extended before her. She took Charity's hands and air-kissed both cheeks, turning to give the same treatment to Edward. She stepped back and turned her attention to Charity.
"Well, my dear, you've outdone yourself once again."
Charity smiled at the older woman and murmured her thanks. She looked her over. Sharon was one of those people who would never have a hair fall out of place. None of them would dare risk her displeasure. Sharon was charming and very good with people, but she was all business. She lived and breathed for the bottom line, which worked to Charity's advantage.
"Why don't we walk through it one last time, love."
She nodded.
"Of course."
They had been working out the groupings and placement for this showing over a four month period, although it had mainly been Edward and Sharon working out the details. The final layout had been agreed upon just two weeks prior.
She led Charity and Edward through the setup, pausing periodically to adjust lighting. It was always the same routine and it caused Charity to smile. At Edwards quizzical look, she leaned over to whisper in his ear.
