Blinking, I tilted my head to the side. It didn’t escape my notice that he walked with a slight limp and his right leg dragged a tiny bit with each step. There wasn’t a hint of pain on his face, but I imagined whatever accident happened that he must have been confined to a bed for a long time and probably needed therapy.
“What kind of accident?”
“The foster parent kind.”
Gasping, I gripped his hand hard. “Someone hurt you?”
“This probably isn’t the best time to talk about that story.” His voice had grown tight and defensive, as if he were afraid that I would judge him when he told me the truth. “This conversation got serious way too fast.” He sent a small smile in my direction. “I want to know more about you.”
“Well, I don’t know a single thing about you either, Shadow.”
“I like to work on things. Keeps my mind occupied and I stay focused better. I love motorcycles and fast cars and the rev of an engine.”
My lips twitched at the thought of him being a thrill chaser.
“Tinkering on things and fixing them makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. That’s why I love working in the auto shop at the compound.”
I figured as much. “And that’s why you’re a prospect now too.”
“Well, Rael didn’t give me a choice,” he admitted with a chuckle. “But being with the Royal Bastards has given me something I didn’t think I’d ever have.”
“Family,” I whispered, instinctively knowing that was what he meant. I’d seen the way the club members looked out for one another and their women. My aunt Trish had a brief romance with Grim. By the way they both didn’t seem to move on; I had a feeling it wasn’t over yet.
“Yeah. This is a brotherhood, but it’s a lot more too.”
Nodding, I bit my lip, wondering what he would think when I told him my hobbies. “I love art and colors, the way you can paint or sculpt or draw and create something beautiful out of nothing. It’s my biggest passion besides modeling.”
“Modeling?” His lips curled upward with a seductive smile. “I believe that one hundred percent.”
A flush spread up from my chest into my cheeks. “It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding. Helps fund my savings for college.”
“You’re special, Stefanie.”
Taken aback, I wasn’t sure why he said that. Because he thought I was pretty? “What?”
“You got any of your artwork you can show me?”
“Right now?” I asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Yes.”
Swiping across the screen of my phone, I brought up pictures of my paintings, drawings, and other mediums I’d used. This folder contained my favorite pieces, and I wondered if he would think they were mediocre.
Shadow thumbed through every single one, taking time to linger on every piece like he was studying them. “Wow. These are amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“No. Really, you’ve got talent. I’d be a liar if I said you weren’t beautiful because you are, but what you did with these, they’re soul deep.” He tapped my forehead and then my chest lightly with a fingertip. “You’ve got a special skill some people can’t even buy. It’s buried in your mind and your heart. You see beauty from nothing. You can take a blank canvas and create a masterpiece. That’s so fucking cool.”
“You really think so?”
“Hell yeah.”
I couldn’t help the wide grin plastered on my face. “Thank you. That meant a lot to hear you say that.”
“Anyone who isn’t supporting you as an artist is a fool,” he joked, lifting his hand to caress the line of my jaw before his hand dropped to the seat.
“Shadow?”