He grinned. “A few old timers who mostly sit around the clubhouse and take care of our business interests.”
“Wow. You are an interesting man, Max.”
“Ellison. Max Ellison.”
I smiled. “Jana Carter. Nice to meet you. Officially.” He smiled and my heart sped up, pounding so hard I thought it might crack a rib just to get out. “You’re not going to ask about my face?” Most people, especially kids, old people and men, wanted to know right up front.
“I’m curious but I figured if you wanted me to know, you’d tell me.”
Damn. “I appreciate that, but it’s always the elephant in the room. The short version is that my foster dad did it to me.”
His jaw clenched in anger and this time his gaze did linger on the scar and I felt my stomach flip with nausea. I hated that fucking scar, so red and painful and ugly. “It’s not as noticeable as you think, but please tell me the prick is in prison.”
“He is. For now.” I didn’t know how to feel about someone being so upset on my behalf. Even when it happened, no one gave a damn. Not the police or social services, and certainly not the one woman I thought actually loved me.
“Good. Now tell me Jana Carter, what do you do for fun?”
I laughed at his unexpected topic change. “I cook, watch documentaries on just about everything and I paint. Occasionally my friend Teddy forces me out into the world.” My smile dimmed as I thought about Todd and Greg. “But I prefer to stay home.”
A flash of something, sympathy or commiseration maybe, showed in his gray eyes but it disappeared so fast I figured it was wishful thinking. “Good to know. Can I call you sometime, Jana?”
Yes. “Why?”
He frowned. “What kind of question is that?”
I didn’t want to get into this after we had such a nice meal, but I found it was better to get this part out of the way sooner rather than later. Not that I’d even been this far with a man since sophomore year of college when I learned a lesson I never forgot. “It’s a perfectly valid one. Look at me Max, guys like you don’t want to spend time with me or hang out with me unless you need something. I work for myself so unless you need accounting help, that’s not it. Teddy,” I said as realization dawned. “You want me to introduce you to her?” It wouldn’t be the first time. Or the last.
“Who the fuck is Teddy and why would I want to meet her when you’re right here?”
“I uh, I’m not…shit.” I finger combed my hair down so it covered the right side of my face. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
He frowned but slowly, it turned into a smile. “Jana, you intrigue me. You’re beautiful even though you can’t see it, and your body is hot as shit. I’d like to get to know you better, spend some time with you. Is that so hard to believe?”
“It is,” I told him honestly. “But I’ve had a good time today talking with you.” I handed him my phone and he did the same. “Please don’t make me regret it.”
Max paid the bill and walked me to my car as the sun began her journey to the other side of the world. “I had a good time today, Jana. Thank you.” He leaned forward and I froze. Was he going to kiss me? I hadn’t been kissed since sophomore year and I was completely unprepared. Were my lips chapped? Did I have octopus breath?
I had no reason to worry though, his surprisingly soft lips landed on my cheek, a breath away from the corner of my mouth. “Max,” I whispered.
“I’ll talk to you soon, Jana.”
Why that gave me shivers, I couldn’t say.
***
Tonight’s class featured a nude model. A nude male model, but for the sake of propriety a colorful scarf had been draped over his hips to cover the man meat. Thank goodness because tonight, Max and I were joined by eight women in their forties pretending to be a book club.
“Oh Moon, you spoil us sweetheart!” I kept quiet and kept my gaze on my station, prepping my palette and canvas. Max had yet to arrive but class didn’t start for another seven minutes. Not that I was worried. I wasn’t. Late lunch with him had been nice on Wednesday but I hadn’t heard from him so I decided not to worry about it. Or think ab
out. I never had a man in my life, so I couldn’t really miss what I didn’t have.
Moon gave a kind smile. “You ladies just got lucky tonight. Don’t mind them, Kyle.”
Kyle wore a faint shade of pink all over, but he flashed a dimpled smile at the ladies and sent them into a fit of giggles more appropriate for a fifth grade slumber party. I rolled my eyes and kept my gaze averted. I learned not long after leaving the hospital with my scars, that eye contact made people want to interact. Ask questions.
Fuck that.
“Oh, hello handsome. You are just what mama needs.” I knew before looking up that Max had arrived. Not only because of the catcalling women, but because the air changed. It was electrified and thick.