over?”
She shook her head. “I rode with Papa Bear. Can I get a rain check?”
“I’m sure he can drive himself home without you. Or he can stay in one of my guest rooms if he wants to go back in the morning. I can call the lobby and tell them to let him in.”
“I won’t ask him to do that, Travis. He drove me down and has taken care of me and it’d be rude to dump him and make him drive back by himself.” She met his eyes, hoping he’d see her feelings and believe her. “I’m not turning you down ; I’m just saying I can’t tonight. We’re planning to leave around nine, which should have us home before midnight. If you want to pick me up for breakfast tomorrow morning, I’m good with that.”
“You’re serious? What time can I pick you up?”
“I don’t know. Maybe nine? Or later, if you want, as long as we beat the church crowd for lunch.”
He smiled. “I’ll be there at nine.”
Papa Bear walked up and held his hand out. “Well, hello Travis. How’ve you been?”
They shook hands and did the niceties and Papa Bear said, “Cara, why don’t you mingle while we talk?”
Something in his tone of voice made her say, “It’s okay. I’m good with him being here. You don’t have to run him off.”
Papa Bear smiled. “Good to know. Go mingle.”
Cara decided to just go with it, so she walked around and talked to people again, thrilled so many seemed to like her work. More and more of her pieces sported sold tags, and a gentleman asked if she’d consider commissioning for a painting along the same theme as the briar piece , something showing similar emotions with a different subject matter.
A few minutes before nine o’clock, Magnus thanked the artists for their participation, saying he’d remain open another hour but no one expected them to stay so late. He handed the four artisans an itemization of what had sold and for how much, and Cara’s list put her in a very good mood.
Travis had left a while earlier so it was just her and Papa Bear walking out the door together. She was tired but energized, and everything would’ve been perfect with the world if her feet hadn’t hurt.
“Travis invited you to dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, but I said no. He’ll pick me up in the morning for breakfast, instead.”
“Don’t turn him down on my account. I appreciate you didn’t want me driving home alone, but it’s fine.” He gestured across the street. “He’s parked over there . I f you want to go with him I’ll put you into his car and then stop by a bar where my friends hang out for a while before heading home.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t know what happened, but you’ve been miserable since your date with him. Your art has benefited because the angst shows through in your work, but I hate to see you like this. I want the sunshiny Cara back, and I’ve been tempted to staple your car keys to you a few times. You’re more absent-minded than ever. Again, good for your art, but not so much for your outlook on life.”
She couldn’t disagree with anything he’d said, and she’d gotten on her own nerves with her keys. “Okay then, let me get my makeup bag and purse from your car and I’ll go with him.”
“As bad as your feet hurt? Go on over to him ; I’ll bring them to you.”
She smiled and didn’t argue as she turned and walked towards Travis’ car. This one was an adorably wicked black Porsche — the shiny dark paint reflected the city lights and the whole package was downright bad .
Travis stepped out and looked wary, as if afraid she’d be angry with him for still being there.
“It’s okay, Papa Bear told me he’s fine seeing some friends in town before driving home. He’s bringing my purse.”
He looked so relieved, Cara almost felt guilty. Was he really so worried about her reaction? She’d have to try to make it up to him and help him not be so nervous.
“I was afraid I’d jinx things by getting reservations before you agreed. Let me make a
She shook her head. “I rode with Papa Bear. Can I get a rain check?”
“I’m sure he can drive himself home without you. Or he can stay in one of my guest rooms if he wants to go back in the morning. I can call the lobby and tell them to let him in.”
“I won’t ask him to do that, Travis. He drove me down and has taken care of me and it’d be rude to dump him and make him drive back by himself.” She met his eyes, hoping he’d see her feelings and believe her. “I’m not turning you down ; I’m just saying I can’t tonight. We’re planning to leave around nine, which should have us home before midnight. If you want to pick me up for breakfast tomorrow morning, I’m good with that.”
“You’re serious? What time can I pick you up?”
“I don’t know. Maybe nine? Or later, if you want, as long as we beat the church crowd for lunch.”
He smiled. “I’ll be there at nine.”
Papa Bear walked up and held his hand out. “Well, hello Travis. How’ve you been?”
They shook hands and did the niceties and Papa Bear said, “Cara, why don’t you mingle while we talk?”
Something in his tone of voice made her say, “It’s okay. I’m good with him being here. You don’t have to run him off.”
Papa Bear smiled. “Good to know. Go mingle.”
Cara decided to just go with it, so she walked around and talked to people again, thrilled so many seemed to like her work. More and more of her pieces sported sold tags, and a gentleman asked if she’d consider commissioning for a painting along the same theme as the briar piece , something showing similar emotions with a different subject matter.
A few minutes before nine o’clock, Magnus thanked the artists for their participation, saying he’d remain open another hour but no one expected them to stay so late. He handed the four artisans an itemization of what had sold and for how much, and Cara’s list put her in a very good mood.
Travis had left a while earlier so it was just her and Papa Bear walking out the door together. She was tired but energized, and everything would’ve been perfect with the world if her feet hadn’t hurt.
“Travis invited you to dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, but I said no. He’ll pick me up in the morning for breakfast, instead.”
“Don’t turn him down on my account. I appreciate you didn’t want me driving home alone, but it’s fine.” He gestured across the street. “He’s parked over there . I f you want to go with him I’ll put you into his car and then stop by a bar where my friends hang out for a while before heading home.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t know what happened, but you’ve been miserable since your date with him. Your art has benefited because the angst shows through in your work, but I hate to see you like this. I want the sunshiny Cara back, and I’ve been tempted to staple your car keys to you a few times. You’re more absent-minded than ever. Again, good for your art, but not so much for your outlook on life.”
She couldn’t disagree with anything he’d said, and she’d gotten on her own nerves with her keys. “Okay then, let me get my makeup bag and purse from your car and I’ll go with him.”
“As bad as your feet hurt? Go on over to him ; I’ll bring them to you.”
She smiled and didn’t argue as she turned and walked towards Travis’ car. This one was an adorably wicked black Porsche — the shiny dark paint reflected the city lights and the whole package was downright bad .
Travis stepped out and looked wary, as if afraid she’d be angry with him for still being there.
“It’s okay, Papa Bear told me he’s fine seeing some friends in town before driving home. He’s bringing my purse.”
He looked so relieved, Cara almost felt guilty. Was he really so worried about her reaction? She’d have to try to make it up to him and help him not be so nervous.
“I was afraid I’d jinx things by getting reservations before you agreed. Let me make a
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