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“I appreciate it I have never gotten such a thoughtful gift before” My words have hi on the threshold He doesn’t look anxious, but sout twists

“Co for me to follow, so I have to race after hih the enor through sleek glass doors that take us right into the gallery

Julian pushes the doors open, and they lock in place, offering an unobstructed view of the space White walls, light gray floors, and the colorful canvasses that hang in place offer up a contrast with their dark, yet eye-catching color Deep blues, reds, and purples along with orange and pink leap froasp

“This is incredible,” I say as I stop in front of one in particular that catches htened center, makes it seem as if it’s an abyss, and you could easily fall into it The depth, the poignanthold of me “This one, this is” My words falter into silence

I can feel Julian behind me His warmth at my back, and for a second, I al more than to feel his arht which I push to the back of my mind

“This one is personal,” he tells oosebu in its wake Once more, my body responds to his nearness, and I know as much as I want it, it can never happen As et to knohat’s beneath those layers of serious conte professional is important But I can’t deny that with each day that passes, I am more and more attracted to Julian

“I’,” I tell him, but I don’t turn, because I know he’s far too close, and if I did face hierous couple of inches

“I’lad you think so,” Julian tells me I can hear the smile in his voice, and I close rin, the sa in my stomach

“Have you always painted? I thought you were the critic, not the criticized” I finally turn to face hiht, we’re inches apart He’s so close I can see the softness of his lips, the way they shiue I can entle crinkles in the corners of his eyes, and I know that if he smiles, they’ll deepen I’m so close, too close, and when he looks down at s

“Aren’t we all criticized, no s between us with aze flits to ue darts out to lick the lower one, and then he watches when my teeth bite down hard on the flesh

The spicy scent of his cologne engulfs, and I wonder if he can s myself in the scent he mentioned he hated, but even so close, I don’t think it’s because he hated it at all

“It depends on the job,” I tell hiet to them, but then, there are those who are tormented by the utterances of fools”

Julian’s hand comes up to er and tips h for hiits way up and down hs

“I want—” His words are broken off by the shrill ringing of his cell phone, which causes both of us to jump back in surprise “Hello,” he says into the speaker, turning away fro frohwhat that was or even what he wanted to say

I turn to the painting onceabout it But I can’t tell why it would be personal to his, they focus on themselves or people in their lives, and this has so ht