Like This And Like That by Nia Stephens Page A

that.”
    Actually, she hadn’t. “Huh.”
    â€œC’mon,” he said, grabbing her hand. “I want to show you my favorite piece.”
    Dan led Gemma through several rooms and down a long winding hall covered with historical paintings. Two rooms and countless detailed explanations later, Dan halted in front of a statue of a naked woman rising from a fountain, surrounded by a moat.
    â€œThis is it,” he said, his voice hushed as if he were in a church. “I love this piece.”
    Gemma felt a little awkward. Yeah, sure the sculpture was beautiful—but it was also of a life-sized nude woman. She barely knew Dan, and here she was standing beside a very realistic, very voluptuous, very naked female figure. Was Dan going to scrutinize her body the way he was gazing at the statue? And how could she come up with anything artistic to say when all she could think was that she wished she were as well built as this marble woman?
    â€œI love how she stands in the water, the essence of life,” he said. “See this?” He leaned forward and held his hand a few inches from the statue. He traced the curve of its waist and down around its hip. “There’s such elegance in this line. But power, too.” He continued moving his hand down the thigh. “You can feel the energy of her thigh muscles holding her up, but the delicacy of her small waist.”
    Gemma found herself drawn in by his intensity, his passion. She imagined what it might be like to have him stroke her with such care, and shivers ran down her spine.
    He now moved his hands a few inches from the statue’s collarbone. “I love the way her chest is up and open. The artist really makes the female body appear as a goddess-in-waiting.”
    He turned to face her. “Do you see what I mean?”
    â€œYes,” she murmured. “Yes, I do.”
    He took a step toward her and gazed deeply into her eyes. She felt transfixed, as if she couldn’t move.
    For a minute, there were no words exchanged. Maria was crazy, she decided, unable to look away from Dan’s smooth skin, his deep-set eyes. No way was this guy on the down low. He’s about to kiss me, Gemma thought, trembling slightly.
    Gemma leaned forward and shut her eyes, tingling with anticipation. But there was nothing. Figuring she’d help the guy out, she leaned in a little farther and then a little farther. Still nothing. She leaned in one last time only this time she lost her balance.
    â€œWhoa! Watch out, lady,” a little kid behind her called. But it was too late—the legendary Gemma Williams clumsiness had struck again.
    Gemma lost her footing and splashed down into the moat surrounding the naked lady. As the security guards rushed from their posts to help her, she felt her face turn beet red.
    Too bad that didn’t kill me , she thought.
    â€œGemma!” Dan cried, whirling around. He had obviously moved around to the other side of the statue. “Are you all right?” He rushed over to her and held out his hand to help her up.
    She wanted to say, No, I’m not all right. I’m humiliated beyond belief and soaked because I thought you were going to kiss me! Instead, she nodded and said, “I’m okay. Thanks.”
    Face burning, Gemma excused herself and headed for the ladies’ room. She yanked wads of paper towels from the dispenser and tried blotting herself. It wasn’t helping.
    She flung the paper towels into the trash and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Was there something wrong with her? How could she have so misread the moment? That’s twice now! And why didn’t he want to kiss her? “Maybe he is gay,” Gemma wailed.
    A flush behind her made Gemma cringe. She wasn’t alone in the bathroom.
    A chubby, middle-aged woman came out of a stall. She glanced at Gemma with a disapproving expression as she washed her hands. She avoided catching Gemma’s eye in