I met my next lover while my fling with Fiona was on hold. Her partner came home for an extended stay, something about his firm being between contracts, so we couldn't meet. Without even looking for someone, I met Nicole, who proved to be very special, not just as a lover, but as a model too.
Down the road from my studio there was a small café where I sometimes used to go for lunch. It was usually full of gossiping housewives with full shopping bags taking a break from shopping. Not exactly a fashionable place like some of the coffee shop franchises where they charge you a fortune for a cup of froth. No, this was just an old-fashioned back street café where you could get a decent cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich, or a meal at a reasonable price.
One day I went in for lunch and there was a new waitress. She looked quite young, but very pretty, with long dark hair and warm brown eyes. Tall and slim, I was immediately attracted to her, and started going in at the times when it was quieter, and I could talk to her more freely. Her name was Nicole, and she had just turned eighteen, working at the café during the summer break before starting at University in October.
She was going to study law it transpired, fiercely intelligent, but with a great sense of humour too, and I was quite smitten despite her youth. Over the following days we became quite friendly, and she soon discovered that I was an artist and asked me all about what I did, so I suggested she come up to the studio when she finished work, and I would let her see some of my paintings. 'Really? Yes, I'd like that, I'd love to see your work,' was her reply, and so it was arranged.
She got off at 3pm, so I hurried back to the studio to tidy it up a bit. Sometimes artists aren't the tidiest of creatures, and I wanted to make a good impression. I liked her a lot and somehow knew she would be important to me. I hadn't even tried to influence her thinking in any way. I wanted her to come to me purely because she wanted to.
A little after 3pm she arrived and I let her in, showing her into the main studio where my current painting was in progress. For someone so relatively young she knew a hell of a lot about painting, and art in general. When I said as much, she explained that one of the exams she had taken was History Of Art, getting an, 'A,' pass for her efforts, adding that she painted a bit herself, but only as a hobby.
The painting on my easel was a corporate portrait, so I showed her a few landscapes from the rack of completed paintings at the back of the studio. She liked those a lot, but when I showed her my nudes, she said nothing at all at first. 'Are you shocked?' I asked, not sure about her silence.
'No, no, not at all. I think they're simply beautiful,' she said quietly. 'It's seems to me that you have a real talent for nudes. There's something here that's different from your other paintings. Perhaps there's more of you? I can't really explain it without sounding like one of those pretentious art critics, but I just love them,' she said. I was highly flattered that she liked them so much, even if she was a relatively inexperienced young woman. I looked at her, our eyes meeting, saying nothing for long moments 'You know, I'd love to paint you,' I said, hardly daring to hope that she'd say yes.
'Me? Oh James, don't be daft, I'm no model,' she replied modestly, even managing to blush.
'I'm perfectly serious, but I don't want to pressurise you in any way. It's a big step, posing nude for an artist. Perhaps you're too shy?' I suggested.
'No, it's not that, but I've come to know you, I think quite well. It actually makes it more difficult in some ways,' she explained. I realised then that she probably fancied me as much as I fancied her.
'Look, why don't you have a think about it?' I suggested. 'I'm going to be here until pretty late tonight, because I actually live here, my flat is above the studio, so if you want to do it, come around after 7pm and we'll get some preliminary sketches done.' I left it at that, and as I said, I didn't even try to influence her thoughts on the subject.
After she'd gone, I got down to some work on the corporate portrait, bringing it closer to completion. A couple more sessions would see it finished and ready for delivery, and more importantly I thought, payment. My bank balance was getting low, but I dismissed that inconvenient thought and carried on painting. I was so engrossed in my work that I hardly noticed the time, but eventually my rumbling stomach made me stop and prepare myself something to eat. It was past 7pm by this time, and she hadn't come, so I presumed, that she hadn't managed to pick up the courage. I understood completely but was disappointed all the same.
A little later, there was a quiet, almost tentative knock on the door, which I nearly missed because it was so quiet, then again louder. She stood there, looking shy and nervous, and I quickly ushered her inside. 'I can hardly believe you've come. I thought you'd decided not to go through with it,' I said.
'I almost didn't, but then I thought how beautiful your paintings were, and decided to just go for it,' she said. 'I don't want to go through life not taking any chances, playing it safe all the time. After all, how often does a girl get the chance to be immortalised in a work of art?' she explained, trying to give me her motivation for being there. I agreed with her all the way, but then you'd expect me to, wouldn't you.
I offered her a glass of white wine, which she declined, and I showed her to the changing room. It was quite small, but then, it was only a changing room, with a couple of chairs and a mirror. I told her just to come out when she was ready, and meanwhile I would set everything up. I left her to it and hurriedly made up the couch with some draped cloth and a few cushions. I decided we'd do a reclining nude, as it would be easier for her to hold the pose. After a few minutes there was still no sign of her, so I knocked lightly on the dressing room door.
