let the statement drop and leaned back in my chair, smiling. “All right. Your turn to paint my face.”
She sucked in a breath and bit down on her bottom lip as if reconsidering her offer. “Is there a particular design you’d like?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. You pick.”
She nodded nervously, and then dipped her paintbrush in the water and moved it back and forth over a piece of paper to get rid of the residue. “Okay.” She dipped the brush in red paint and dragged it over my skin in smooth, precise movements, taking her time, a look of concentration on her face. Our eyes met for a few seconds and sparks flashed. Both of us inhaled sharply, and my pulse jumped. Whatever this was…this thing between us…I couldn’t let it get out of hand. I had to make sure it didn’t go beyond this moment.
George and Bruce walked over with plates full of food, interrupting the tension. “You guys still at it?” Bruce asked.
“I’m just about done,” Maya said, dabbing her brush in the red paint. She made a few quick strokes with the brush and then laid it down. “Okay, you can look now.” She held up the mirror so I could check out her work.
“A Spiderman mask. Very cool.”
“Do you like it?” There was an edge to her voice as if she actually cared about my opinion.
“I love it.”
“I never thought I’d see the day,” George said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I’ve never seen you let down your guard like this, Easton. Bravo for finally coming around. It’s nice to see you so relaxed.” He glanced at Maya and winked, and I knew exactly what was going through his mind because it was going through mine as well.
Maya Anderson brought out the best in me.
Chapter 11
Maya
“Happy Birthday,” I said, holding out a vase with a dozen Gerber daisies, and a small wrapped present.
Charlotte accepted the box and the daises and gestured for me to come inside. She took a whiff of the flowers and smiled. “I love this. And they’re so beautiful. Thank you, Maya.”
“You’re welcome. I know I’m early, but I figured you wouldn’t mind.”
“Not at all. I’m glad you arrived before everyone else.”
We strolled down the hall to a large family room with wall to ceiling glass windows that overlooked a humongous backyard. I’d been to this home on many occasions as it was the house Charlotte and Easton grew up in. Both lived elsewhere now, but their mother had remained in this house. Easton stood with his back to us but turned when we walked into the room. He’d changed out of the suit he’d worn this morning into a pair of dark blue jeans and a charcoal gray polo shirt with short sleeves, showcasing tan forearms.
He took me in as if seeing me for the first time, his gaze taking in every inch of me, not in a creepy way, but in a manner that seemed almost curious. Or perhaps he was contemplating something else that had nothing to do with me. I was probably making up stuff in my head because I was attracted to him.
But every time we were around each other, there was this unexplainable energy between us. I’d denied it up until this point, but I couldn’t deny it anymore. It was there whether I liked it or not.
My face flushed as our gazes locked and my stomach did a somersault. Having this much contact with him in one day was overwhelming, but once everyone else arrived, we would drift off to our different groups.
“Hey, Maya.” His gaze lingered on me for a touch longer than was appropriate for a boss and his employee, and the air in the room thickened.
“How are you?” I asked.
“Great.”
Charlotte looked between the two of us as if she couldn’t quite figure out what all the tension was about, but I knew. The face painting earlier this morning nearly undid me. Being that close to Easton. Having his full attention. He was a different person, almost. More relaxed. Strangely nice.
“You look…good,” Easton said, eying my purple sundress. It had yellow flowers, and the contrast of colors was eye-catching.
It felt as if I were under a microscope, and I glanced away, unable to look him in the eye one moment longer. “Thank you. You look great as well.”
Charlotte snickered. “Love the compliments between you two. Keep it up, guys. You’re doing well.” She smiled like the cat that ate the canary, and I