be pirates if they want to be.”
Her forehead creased, and she lifted her hands in a shrug. “But I don’t want to be a pirate. I want to be a butterfly. Do that one.” She pointed to the detailed butterfly I had already passed over as too difficult.
I didn’t have the skill or the determination to attempt that design, so she’d just have to pick something else. “What about this cat? Isn’t it cute?”
She shook her head. “I want the butterfly.”
“I can’t paint that one, but there are several other options—”
“No. The butterfly or nothing.” She crossed her arms at her chest and stuck her lower lip out.
I had to get this situation under control or I’d soon have a full-blown tantrum to deal with. I scanned the grassy area and found George and Bruce directing the three-legged race, and I wished I’d worn more appropriate clothing. That was more up my alley than face painting since I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body.
I glanced at Maya, and she was already painting a rainbow on a little girl’s cheek. Why couldn’t I have gotten that assignment? A rainbow would have been much easier to handle.
“Maya.” I waited a few seconds until she met my gaze. “Can you do her next? She wants a butterfly, and I can’t—”
“These other kids are already in line. You’ll have to paint it or convince her to pick something else.”
She dismissed me just like that. As if I wasn’t her boss or her sister’s older brother or even her former nemesis. Any other woman would have jumped to help me, but not Maya. Rather than feel annoyed, admiration swelled in my chest. It was rare to find a woman who wasn’t swayed by someone in a position of power. Maybe that was why I’d always had a thing for her. She didn’t cower to anyone, no matter who they were.
I stared at her for several seconds, a huge smile on my face, not even caring that my feelings were probably showing through my expression.
She must have sensed my gaze because she turned to look at me. “What?”
“Nothing.” I couldn’t wipe away my grin.
“You’re laughing at me.” She put the paint brush down and glared at me as if I were the biggest jerk alive.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then what’s your deal? Why are you grinning at me like that?”
Because you have no idea how beautiful you are. But I couldn’t say that or I’d be in hot water. “It’s nothing, Maya. I’m not making fun of you. Just forget it.”
She pursed her lips and went back to painting, but I caught her peeking at me suspiciously out of the corner of her eye.
I breathed in and out slowly, my chest expanding and falling. Little Abby stared at me like I was crazy. “Are you going to do my butterfly?”
I laughed at her impatience. “Has anyone ever told you how bossy you are?”
“No, you’re bossy.”
Maya snickered. “Looks like you got yourself a feisty one.”
I laced my fingers together and stretched my arms out in front of me. “You’re telling me.” I turned back to Abby, eager to please this time around. “Fine. You want a butterfly? I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise it will look like it does in the book.”
She clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Yay!”
“Have a seat.”
Maya smiled. “You’re going to give it a try?”
“Yep.”
She leaned in, bringing her lips to my ear, and the sensation tickled, sending warmth through my body. “Here’s a quick tip,” she said. She lowered her voice so the children wouldn’t hear. “Pretend it’s the most beautiful thing in the world, and she’ll love it.”
I didn’t move a muscle until she pulled away and helped the next kid in line. Man, I was in trouble when it came to her.
“All right, let’s do this.” I rubbed my palms together and then placed enough paint nearby so I could easily access it.
Ten minutes later, Abby had a lopsided butterfly with purple and blue wings, but she didn’t seem to notice how wrong it looked. It was the most basic outline with little detail, but it wasn’t horrible per se. Just not great.
I cleared my throat and held up a mirror so she could see the final result. “Happy?”
Maya stopped what she was doing and looked at the butterfly I’d painted on Abby’s face. “That’s gorgeous! Wow, maybe you’ll draw one for me.”
I knew she was only saying that so Abby wouldn’t complain about how awful