Chapter 15

A smile inched on his face. His gaze was drawn to her curves contouring the gray satin catching the light of the chandelier.

Nathan took her hand and raised it to spin her. Her shyness came out in a soft chuckle and the reflex to lower her head when she smiled.

"You two have a wonderful time at the opening," Belle said, rubbing the outside of Mary's arm.

He followed Mary's face from when she signed her thanks to Belle when she looked up to him with gray orbs of anticipation.

"Are you excited?" He asked. "Wait, you have a–"

He reached beside her face and picked an invisible fleck above her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered until she looked at him in question. He examined something she couldn't see between his fingers as he murmured in confirmation what he saw. She pulled a compact from her clutch to survey her face.

"Let me check," Nathan suggested. She did what he wanted, turning her head and stretching her neck. Goodness was she tempting, and the innocence on her face made him crave the desire to slow down time. As much as he could, he burned the vision of her soft skin in his mind.

Shyly she looked out of her window, and Nathan's attention focused on the darkened mark trailing down the middle of her back. He called her name, and when her attention snapped back to him, he hesitantly asked about the large scar.

When retrieving her phone from her clutch, he didn't shy away from taking a peek at her chest. The dress was made for her. It was a classic and tasteful style, but he appreciated how much it exposed her skin.

After opening a blank note she answered. Spinal fusion from a back injury. I have another mark on my side too.

"Does it hurt?" The question sounded silly after asking it aloud.

She wrinkled her nose from a smile and shook her head. Not anymore. I don't talk about it much since I don't wear anything revealing my back.

"But you're comfortable now, right?" Without giving her the chance to answer, he gently touched and examined the beginning of her scar. Her back muscles tensed and she widened her eyes.

From her lips, she quietly paced her breathing to calm her thundering heart. She could catch more of his cologne after he raised his arm to then send tingles down her back. The scar wasn't sensitive, but it made the skin around it that much more so. 

He removed his hand and fought the smile twitching at his lips. She rested her hunched shoulders and pushed her hot skin into the cool seat.

She couldn't look at him, still hearing her chest rattle in her ears. But she caught him staring from her peripheral. "So, with what happened at the guest house. Did that mean you're comfortable with me?"

She opened her mouth slightly, but she caught herself and nodded with a smile. What on earth was happening? Did she not remember what happened the last time she tried to speak to people outside of her family? Mary had to keep things in order. He may have heard her, but he was accustomed to her silence. As was she. She didn't want to change before him just yet. She looked away briefly to think and remember she couldn't trust in him so easily. Though with him it was tempting.

"We're almost there." Nathan announced grabbing her hand.

She felt her heart skip, watching him look out his window like he wasn't holding her tenderly. When the vehicle parked against the curb.

"Wait," he whispered before pulling out his phone. "Should we take a selfie?"

Mary looked into the camera. He teased her, getting her to laugh more and capturing more candid shots. Nathan put his phone away and asked if she was ready, squeezing her hand. She was more ready than he could tell and she pulled her knees together tight.

He assisted Mary out of the car. He watched her eye their surroundings before her smiling attention fell on him. He didn't want to let go of her hand, but she loosened her grip while passing into the lobby of the small building. The receptionists handed them pamphlets and directed them to the back. Nathan followed after Mary, already entranced by the work of art swaying in front of him.

The hallway was short, and after an immediate left, they were in a bright open gallery space. Mary twirled around in delight. This felt normal and this felt right, the thought. Her out of the mansion and into a natural habit she glowed in. He already longed for more before the moment could end, thinking of more ways to see her shine.

Starting with the first piece, it was a miniature statue of a man-made of bronze gears. He lifted his hand to the small of her back to gently urge her to the next piece. They examined a photograph depicting a close-up shot of a woman's naked waist down to her prosthetic legs.

Mary opened her mouth in astonishment.

Gazing at her face, he asked, "Why's that?"

She looked at him hesitantly and retrieved her phone from her clutch. It's beautiful and all natural. Her scared bumpy skin, the cellulite, her unshaven hairs, and her prosthetics. She's nude, not naked. A woman's body is overly politicized therefore despite her legs, we're trained to criticize her shameless appearance first. So we still end up bypassing the image of her humanity.

Holy shit, he thought. Mary was bright, she was also intense. The artist in her never rested, and her beautiful eyes could see what he couldn't.

He had a sudden inquiry. "Mary, did you see my magazine cover?"

When she nodded he asked what she thought. There was hesitation, but he nudged her with a smile.

You looked distant.

He laughed, "They told me not to smile."

She dismissed his remark and mouthed, pointing to her eyes, "Here." 

He swallowed, feeling a tug at his stomach. Even after all the edits, she saw how he felt in that shot– empty. He made sure to smile again, seeing the worry elongate her face.

"You have a camera right?" He asked in the hopes to brighten the conversation.

Mary didn't light up. Sold it.

She lowered her lashes. He could assume why she had to let it go and felt the flush heating his face. I just made things worse, he thought harshly.  Breaking the silence, a waitress approached them with a tray.

"Champagne? Wine?" Mary declined reflexively, and Nathan raised his hand, also turning down the offer.

She ventured away to a statue. She circled the collection of indiscernible clumps and moldings with perplexity weighing on her brow. Nathan met her on the other side of the piece with his hands behind his back. He leaned to meet her face. "What's that look for?"

She pointed to the piece before the tag. Nathan leaned and read the title aloud, "It's called 'Why?'?"

She stretched her lips and sucked air between her teeth. Good question.

"Wow," Nathan extended the vowels. "Mary Georgia is sassy."

She raised her a brow and shoulder indignantly before lifting her pinky to the end of her lips. When Nathan laughed, she relaxed and joined him, before a tray of finger foods passed them. She excitedly pinched her lips and followed after the server. Nathan caught up behind her and hooked her arm. She curved her brows inward in a playful pout and pointed after the drifting food. He cocked his brow and threw his head to the left. She followed his eye and saw the long table of food beside the bar.

Mary grabbed his arm excitedly and pulled him in the direction. She wished she hadn't rushed them, feeling the firmness of his biceps. Both of her hands couldn't wrap around his arm and she imagined him in the home gym doing curls. She returned to reality and saw the gourmet cookies. She raised her fingers to her mouth and waved them as she scanned them wildly. A soft chuckle in his throat caught her attention.

"I don't think I've seen you this excited before," he said brightly.

She grabbed a large peanut butter cookie and took a large bite. He snagged the same flavor. Before he took a bite he confessed, "This means I need to take you out more often."

He saw the refusal before she could finish shaking her head and gently caught her chin.

"Nathan?" A woman called, causing him to shift his attention behind Mary.

"Ah, Darla Jordan," he replied. "Where is Yancy?"

"You know he doesn't care for anything that stimulates the right side of his brain. Which by the way, I didn't think you were into contemporary art?" she said casting a glance at the woman who quickly finished the cookie in her mouth and inched closer to Nathan. Instinctively, he eased her behind him.

"Yes, well, I've been looking to diversify my artistic interests," he nodded with a grin.

"I see and remember," Darla remarked with a chuckle. "And she's very pretty. Enjoy your night, and do tell Karina she looked incredible at the gala. You two have yet to return my proposition."

Red in the face, Nathan cleared his throat and his voice cracked, "We'll see."

"Nathan, my offer still stands, but I'm not opposed to exchanging brunettes." Darla looked behind him and scanned Mary's frame. "Those gorgeous eyes paired with the reluctance. Hmm."

Darla winked before tugging her date away. "If your date is interested, send me her information."

Nathan turned and without looking Mary in the eye suggested she follow him to the terrace for fresh air. He put a hand on her shoulder but she yanked away. He saw her before she angrily looked away from him and made for the exit.

Outside, Nathan darted after her down the sidewalk. "You can't walk down the street in this."

She stopped him from fully hooking her arm. She pulled her phone from her purse and typed. I want to leave!

"Mary let me explain," he begged.

She backed away. Nathan sighed in defeat, looking out into the street before pulling out his phone. Mary folded her arms over her chest. Her lip quivered.

"The car is on the way," he said gruffly, shaking his suit coat from his shoulders.

The moment they were past the front doors, she returned his jacket and made for the stairs.

"Mary," he grumbled, chasing her up the stairs and down the east wing.

She ignored him and approached the door cracked by a sliver with clogs before it. Gently she pushed it open and glanced inside. As she had hoped, Belle was fast asleep, but she was in the middle of the bed with her day clothes. Nathan leaned against the door frame to watch Mary cover Belle with a light blanket. He shook his head, unnerved by the delay to explain himself though he would never rush the care for Belle.

He backed away from the door before Mary could pass and shut it gently.

Nathan followed her again but kept his voice low so as to not wake Belle. "Mary please, stop. I can't take you ignoring me like this."

She indulged him with a firm halt before the staircase. Folding her arms briefly, she wasn't her gentle or vulnerable self before him this time.  I don't care about Darla. You didn't correct her.

Nathan looked away from her phone. He raked his fingers through his hair before doing a double-take at another message. I thought this was platonic.

"This event was supposed to be us going out as friends. But as soon as I saw you coming down in this dress... I'm sorry. I really tried, but I just can't do that with you," He confessed.

Why?

"I should have told you I broke things off with Karina a couple of nights ago."

I don't believe you!

"It's true." He approached her face. "Tell me you don't feel anything, Mary."

She averted her eyes. Nathan nodded and rubbed his chin. Her silence was clear, and he scoffed with a smile. Of course, he felt it was too good to be true. 

He was angry. And Mary could see that looking into the scowl pointing at the ground. His heart beat with a familiar aching speed. He couldn't stand the sensation and left to hide away in his room.