way she’d frozen when I asked her to sit for me. Instead of growing from the soil, the plants in the space grew from her. The vines of her secrets and everything she kept hidden from the world. One branch exploded from her heart, winding around her neck and reaching into the air. Everything that she needed to let free but wouldn’t. “I’m still working on it.”
“Fine, but—” Lara looked over her shoulder. “Do you have more like this?”
“Nothing that’s finished.” I pulled the canvas from the easel and slipped it into the closet in the corner. The space that was full of paintings like that one. So many, I’d lost track. But they weren’t something I would share with Lara. She’d latch on and refuse to let go.
Her gaze narrowed, assessing me, trying to determine how truthful I was being. “This is where you should focus. Maybe I should stay for a couple of weeks until you finish a few pieces. We can discuss—”
“Lara. It’s the landscapes or nothing.”
Her jaw worked back and forth before she spoke. “Fine. But you need to keep on in this direction. It’s going to be a sensation.”
My gaze drifted back to the closet and the paintings hidden inside. I wasn’t sure I wanted this work to be a sensation. Somehow, it seemed more personal than anything I’d ever worked on. I couldn’t put my finger on why exactly. My pieces had always been an expression of how I felt about a situation, how I saw a person or the world. Yet these dives into who Shay might be, felt like exposing a piece of me. Which made absolutely no sense.
I looked back to Lara, who studied me intently. “We’ll see where the muse leads me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Artists.”
I chuckled. “We’re fickle but endearing.”
“An early death, I tell you.”
“So dramatic.”
“What kind of manager would I be if I didn’t have a little flair for the dramatic?” She surveyed the room. “Have you unpacked your crating materials? I’ll get the landscapes packed up to ship back to New York.”
“There’s some over there.” I gestured to the far corner. “But there’s more in the garage.”
“Perfect. It shouldn’t take me long. Then I’ll be out of your hair so you can get back to work.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. As much as I was Lara’s friend, I was also her cash cow. I didn’t blame her for seeing me as a resource. It was the way of the world. But I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d sell me down the river if it got her what she wanted. “I’ll be right back.”
Lara hummed in response, but her focus was on the painting resting on my easel. I headed out of the sunporch and towards the garage, a room that held two four-wheelers and various equipment instead of cars. As I rounded the corner, I almost collided with Shay.
She let out a squeak and rocked back on her heels. I quickly gripped her arms to steady her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to run you over.”
Her hand moved to her chest. “Just a few years off my life. No big deal.”
I grinned and forced myself to release my hold. “Maybe I should start giving you hazard pay.”
“It’s not a bad idea. I was just coming to tell you that I’m headed into town to pick up the mail and a few supplies. I wanted to know if you needed anything.”
“I’d actually like to come with you, but—”
“Brody,” Lara called as she rounded the corner. Her eyes widened as she took in Shay and me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”
“You weren’t interrupting,” Shay hurried to explain. “I was just checking to see if Brody needed anything from town.”
“Shay, this is my manager, Lara. Lara, this is Harbor’s caretaker, Shay.”
I could see the wheels turning in Lara’s head as she surveyed Shay. Trying to put the pieces together and likely filling in all the wrong things. I fought the urge to groan.
“It’s nice to meet you in person,” Shay said.
“You, as well,” Lara returned. “Brody, if there are things you need to do, go ahead. I can crate everything on my own. When I’m done, I’ll head back to Shelter, and we can meet up for dinner later. Shay, you’re welcome to join.”
Shay shook her head. “Thank you, but you two should have time to catch up.” She turned to me. “Do you want to come to