“I…” …didn’t know what to say. That was high praise coming from anyone, but even more so from Genevieve.
She turned, reached out and touched my chest, her hand right over my heart. “Those paintings come from right here. All your work does, but these, they’re a part of you, Lane. They’re vulnerable, and you don’t usually paint with that level of vulnerability.”
No, no I didn’t. “They’re different, yes.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with displaying them tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to keep them locked away. Love shouldn’t be hidden, and while they’re personal to me, my hope is that when someone else sees them, they’ll be personal to them too.”
She nodded and dropped her hand. “Someone has tamed Lane Ryan, have they? You searched hard enough before.”
I chuckled. “Was it that obvious?”
“What? That you were looking for a love you couldn’t find, or that you have it now? The answer is yes to both.”
I laughed again. I adored Genevieve. “His name is Isaac. He’s in the city with me. I’m bringing him as my plus-one tomorrow night.”
“I thought you were with family in Georgia?”
“I was,” I answered, and left it there. If she somehow found out Isaac was my stepbrother, then she did. I would deal with it no matter what, because just like those paintings, I refused to hide my love for Isaac.
“I can’t wait to meet him, my friend. I’m happy for you. Love looks good on you.”
I smiled. “Love feels good on me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Isaac
We wore matching black tuxes with bow ties. Genevieve, whom I’d yet to meet, apparently loved Lane and sent a car to pick us up at his apartment. His hair was down, in loose curls that sat on his shoulders. As always, some of them had a mind of their own, but he’d put some kind of product in it so it wasn’t as wild as it sometimes was.
He’d been ecstatic when he’d come home from her gallery the day before. I’d felt the energy rolling off him, enjoyed the fullness of Lane’s happiness in my chest, while he went on and on about what Genevieve had said about his paintings.
She wanted to plan a show when the series was complete. She thought it was his best work. Though I’d teased him about taking partial credit for it, as I was his muse, I knew it was all Lane.
Genevieve’s building was beautiful—white-painted brick with large pillars around stairs leading to the entrance.
The doorman checked our names on his list, and we took the elevator up.
We were in the hallway, heading for her door, when Lane reached over and interlaced his fingers with mine.
“You have a crush on me, don’t you, Lane?”
“Just tired of waiting for the world to know you’re mine. It’s been fourteen years, after all.”
The spark he’d lit in my chest by holding my hand ignited to a wildfire. “Yes, it has.”
We rang the bell, and a man opened the door for us. He asked our names, and when Lane told him, he let us in. Genevieve clearly did well for herself. The inside of her condo was even more lavish than the outside, with open ceilings and exposed beams, and her decor was all in light colors.
A man approached us. “Hey, Lane. How are you?”
“Demetrius, hi. I’m good. This is my partner, Isaac Pierce.” He turned to me. “One of my very first large-scale shows was with Demetrius.”
We shook hands. “It’s great to meet you,” I told him.
“You as well.” He gave his attention back to Lane. “Gen’s been raving about your new pieces. It’s the first thing she showed me. Your color scheme is gorgeous. Will you be expanding it?”
The two of them spoke for a few minutes, and then we moved on. We hardly made it a few steps before he was stopped again. Each time, he introduced me as his partner. No one looked twice at us. No one questioned anything. They all raved about Lane’s work, about the two paintings there as well as stuff he’d done in the past.
I stood back and watched him shine. I’d always known Lane had made a name for himself, of course, but it was different seeing it in person, being the man on his arm while he was surrounded by people blatantly in awe of him.
When we finally got a moment to ourselves, I leaned in, lips close to Lane’s ear. “You’ve always said that people gravitate toward me, but the way I see it, that’s you.”
He actually blushed. “Just here, in these situations. It takes a lot out of me, though.”
“Still that boy who would rather be alone in the attic.”
“Not alone.”
I cupped his face, smiled, and kissed him.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I heard just as I was pulling away. There was no doubt this was Genevieve. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, with high cheekbones, dark lashes, and a kind smile.
“No you’re not,” Lane teased her.
“This must be Isaac.” She held her hand out for me, and I took it. “Whatever it is you’re doing with him, keep it up. If he keeps creating work like this, there’s no stopping him.”
“It’s not me. It’s all him,” I replied.
A gentleman walked by with a tray, and I took glasses for the three of us, giving Genevieve hers first, then Lane, and keeping one for myself.
“From what Lane says, he had a great muse.”
My brows pulled together, surprised he’d told her that, but then said, “Well, I can’t argue with you there.”
The three of us laughed.
We went with her to where she’d displayed Lane’s paintings. There was a group of people around them, all talking and dissecting his work. When they realized he was there, they turned their attention to him. Lane clearly knew some of them, and some he didn’t.
It was a constant flow of people, all vying for a piece of him. As the evening went on, I could see he was having a harder time dealing with it. Lane was people’d out.
“Whenever you’re ready, say the word.” I pushed his hair behind his ear.
“Soon,” he replied before he was pulled into the conversation again. Genevieve was still there chatting. Demetrius had joined us too, along with a few others.
When two men approached, I could feel the change in Lane, see the excitement bouncing around inside him.
“You’re Ezra,” Lane said.
“Lane is a fan.” Genevieve smiled. Now that she’d said it, I recognized the name as one of Lane’s favorite painters.
The man with him was his partner, it appeared. He had his arm hooked with Ezra’s, but was looking at Lane’s art.
“And you’re Lane Ryan. It’s, um…good to meet you.” Ezra seemed a little shy and subdued, but then he pointed to Lane’s display. “This is incredible.”
Ezra and Lane, along with the rest of the group, went back to discussing the two paintings and chatting. Apparently, Ezra and his partner, Dae, were out from California for a show, and Genevieve had invited them to the party.
Lane’s whole demeanor had changed. He wasn’t ready to go home anymore. It was obvious how much he respected Ezra and appreciated talking about his own art with him.