Page 10 of Wicked Design
“We wouldn’t do that.” Lauren leaned back on the sofa. The leather cushion puffed around her. “Did he chase you out?”
“I left before he could say no.”
Jasmina leaned over. “To what?”
“I asked him to dinner at my place and basically suggested he stay the night. At least I think I did. Everything happened so fast. I couldn’t stop talking. I told him about Alice.”
“Is she okay?” Jasmina gripped Clover’s shoulder. “She’s not sick, is she?”
“She’s fine. Told me to tell you hi the next time we talked. So, hi. I’m the one with the problem. I’m afraid to leave here. That’s why I have these.” She dropped the binders on her knees. “It was the only way I could stick around without it seeming weird.”
“I’m not following.” Lauren put the binders and parasol on the cushion to her side. “Why can’t you leave?”
“If I do, Van Gogh might not follow. This could be a replay of me and Seth Cummings.”
“Who?”
“Guy in middle school. Asked him to a dance and made him hurl. I’m not good at this. If I had my way, I’d simply tell Van Gogh how hot he is and that I’m going to die if we don’t get seriously naked. To me, speaking my mind is so much easier than flirting. Being direct and going for it works on TV all the time.”
“Better take it slower in real life, at least with him.” Lauren held Clover’s hand. “If you haven’t noticed, he’s shy around women.”
“Why? How’s that even possible? His hair, his muscles, oh my God, his chest. Have you seen it?”
Lauren offered a weak smile. “He showed it to me the first day I came here.”
That didn’t sound good. “Why would he do that? Did he like you?”
“No. Dante told him to do it. I think he wanted to impress me with Van Gogh’s talent, hoping I wouldn’t sell the place.”
“And you didn’t. You’re expanding. So you know what I’m talking about. Van Gogh’s legendary.”
“Our girl has it bad.” Jasmina slung her arm around Clover’s shoulders and shook her. “You have to understand, though, he didn’t always look the way he does now.”
“You mean perfect? Don’t tell me he’s had plastic surgery. I won’t believe it. The docs would have made him look pretty like Matt Bomer, not tough like Daniel Craig.”
Lauren straightened. “Now that you mention it, he does look a little like Daniel. Much younger, of course.”
“You’re not listening.” Jasmina wagged her finger at Clover. “Van Gogh’s long hair and muscles are recent additions. Eventually, his confidence may follow.”
“You’re saying he’s not sure of himself?”
“Oh, sweetie.” Lauren sighed. “Surely you’ve noticed.”
“No. I thought he was quiet. Intense. Moody. You know, artistic.”
“He’s that, too, but he’s also reserved. For lack of a better word, bashful. Like I used to be. When I was growing up, guys always called me the F-word, and I’m not talking full-figured.”
Clover couldn’t believe this. “You’re gorgeous.” Lauren’s honey-blond hair, blue eyes, creamy complexion, and voluptuous figure would have made her cheesecake material during WWII, the same as Jasmina. “How dare anyone say you’re fat.”
“That’s the word.” She groaned. “It took me a long time before I believed a guy as hot as Dante could want someone like me. I still have moments when I’m not sure of myself. Van Gogh’s no different, given how he looked before.”
“You guys keep saying that. Was there more than his hair and build involved? Was he in an accident and doctors had to put him back together and he’s finally healed?”
“Nothing so dramatic.” Jasmina left the sofa and rifled through papers on the desk.
Lauren frowned. “What are you looking for?”
“Those brochures you had printed up when you first came here.”
