5
April
I started out with the intention of hazing Gray a little, throwing commands at him left and right as I got down to the business of continuing where I’d left off earlier. He inserted himself seamlessly into the flow of our routine, generally being right where I needed him when I needed him, whether it was with a torch or a set of tongs or any number of other tools.
I slipped into the zone eventually and forgot about my assistants entirely, at least to the point that I was aware they were there, working as extensions of myself and my vision. I’d already spent enough time with Renee and Josh that they understood my tells. Gray caught on within moments.
Music kept us in motion for several hours non-stop, and it wasn’t until I heard the same Fate’s Fools song I was sure I’d heard earlier bumping through the speakers that I did the math. My hot shop playlist was long. If it was repeating, we were long overdue for a break.
“Let’s take a breather after this,” I said, tapping the pipe and letting the caged globe slip softly into the enormous fiberglass gloves covering Renee’s hands to the elbows.
Renee set off on yet another rushed walk to the row of annealers where Josh already waited to open the door for her to place the precious item within. We’d perfected the routine like a dance to ensure the piece didn’t remain out of the annealer any longer than absolutely necessary. It would be set inside the protective heat with the door sealed shut, where it could cool down gradually over the next thirty minutes to avoid breaking due to stress after we took it out.
Gray shadowed Renee the entire way, and even though my assistants and I had done this dozens of times, I still held my breath until the piece was secure. Just as Renee neared the end of her trip and Josh reached for the latch on the door, she stumbled, the toe of her boot catching on some invisible obstruction. My heart lurched, and I darted forward, grabbing a pair of gloves on the way and sending up a prayer that this piece would make it to its destination.
Josh’s eyes went wide, and Renee let out an incoherent yelp of dismay. The caged globe wobbled in her grip like a slippery football. Gray’s hands shot out just as it tipped past her fingers.
“No!” I closed the distance as fast as I could, frantically shoving my hands into the gloves as I dove to catch the falling glass. The metal filigree surrounding the glass might prevent it from breaking if it hit the floor, but I really didn’t want to take that chance.
Renee dropped to her knees in an effort to reclaim her hold, but it was too late. Gravity took over, I landed hard on the floor in front of her, the globe seeming to hover in the air above me as I stretched out my hands. Too late, I realized I only had on one glove, the other dropped and forgotten to free my other hand. I grabbed the piece with both hands, not even thinking. At the same time, Gray’s hands clamped around the piece too.
“Open the door!” he snapped.
Josh obeyed without question, shutting it securely again the second Gray let go.
I lay there looking up at them all, too stunned to process what had just happened. Gray chuckled and squatted down beside me.
“That was a close one.” He offered me his hand to help me up. I just stared at it, then at my own bare hand that had just been in contact with a piece of glass and metal that was easily a thousand degrees Fahrenheit. I hadn’t been burned.
I took his hand and let him haul me up, holding on for a second longer to stare up into his eyes with my question at the forefront of my mind. What the fuck just happened? He only grinned.
“April! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Jesus, you guys!” Renee grabbed my hand and gawked at it.
“I’m fine, I promise,” I said, reclaiming my hand and pulling off the other glove. I shot Gray another inquiring look.
“Dragon blood,” he said by way of explanation. He held up both hands, which showed the calluses of a man who worked with his hands, but were otherwise pristine and burn-free. “We’re immune to fire. I guess April has enough in her that she is too.”
“Wicked,” Josh said, always the laid back one in the group.
“Wicked? That’s all you have to say? That was, like, superhuman!” Renee stared at Gray and me in disbelief. “I’m pinching myself because I’m pretty sure I just dreamed this.”
I still had a little trouble believing it myself, but couldn’t deny it had happened. Renee’s comment served to highlight how long we’d been working tonight. “Speaking of dreaming, why don’t you two head home for the night. I think we’ll be more efficient if we’re all rested. Less likely to make mistakes that require starting over.”
“Sorry for that,” Renee said with a grimace.
I waved her off. “I’m just glad nobody got hurt, and the piece itself survived. We made good progress, thanks to Gray.”
Glancing back at him, my eyes snagged on the heated look he gave me. My stomach did a somersault. I tore my eyes away and slipped past him, heading toward the kitchen. Renee and Josh both shrugged into their jackets and said goodnight, then disappeared into the rainy darkness.
“Where are you staying?” I asked, needing to fill the ensuing silence with something while I started another pot of coffee. I added an extra scoop. I planned to keep going for a little longer, if not with the glass portion of the sculpture, I’d make a concerted effort to make more progress with the base.
“I have a room at a local hotel downtown. I don’t need to leave though, if you want more help tonight. We work well together.” His voice pitched lower on the last few words, and for some reason, my spine tingled. We did work well together. Well enough that I wanted to find out how well we did other things.
I shoved down that urge and shot a playful smile over my shoulder. “You sure you don’t want a job as my assistant? I pay in compliments and good pastries. And studio time if you want it.”
Gray slipped into the kitchen behind me and leaned against the counter. “Is that what Josh and Renee get for compensation?”
“They’re students, so yeah. They get access to the tools and the studio, I get their help and get to teach them what to do and what not to do. Like always wear your gloves and never work while exhausted; it’s a good recipe for getting burned.” I held up my hand and stared at my palm. “At least, if you aren’t us.”
Gray stepped closer and took my hand, cradled it against his, and drifted his thumb in a circle over the center of my palm. His eyes lifted to mine. “I’d be honored to work at your side, April.”
I laughed. “I was joking. I really can’t pay you. I appreciate your help tonight, but you came here looking for a real job, which you’re more than qualified for, I’m sure.”
He shook his head and angled a little closer. The heat between us grew, and my pulse sped up. “I didn’t come seeking a job because I need money. I need this. What we accomplished tonight. The scent of fire surrounding me and the brilliant aura of a partner with a creative heart like mine.” He released my hand and pressed his palm to my chest. I inhaled sharply at the contact.
“We were pretty amazing together. You would be a good teacher.” I didn’t know why I made that comment. I’d have loved to work with him more, but I wasn’t ready to believe he was even real, much less standing in my studio suggesting he’d want to be my assistant. Not even a collaborator, but a helper.