Read Online From This Moment On: Heartwarming Contemporary Romance (Windswept Bay Book 1) by Debra Clopton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debra Clopton
Tags: Windswept Bay Book 1
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already knew; why had she even thought he might not? “Right, then you’ve got it handled. You’re a gem and you know it.”
He chuckled. “I’m just a plain old rock that aims to please.”
“If you say so. See you later.”
“Don’t forget about the air conditioner,” he called.
She waved over her shoulder as she headed back up the stairs. “Oh believe me, I won’t.” With thoughts of Grant very nearly kissing her, a heavy-duty new air conditioning system would be nice because right now as the one they had was not doing its job. She was about to burn up.
As luck would have it, the office was empty and she was able to finish her work for the afternoon in peace. Thoughts of Grant played havoc enough on her concentration without having to worry with her sisters. By four, she was caught up and decided to call it an early day. Everyone had her number and knew to reach her on that if she was needed. And if she left now, she could avoid seeing Jillian or Shar at all again today and put off her inquisition a little longer.
Heading down the back hallway and out the private exit, she had to fight the urge to peek into the lobby and see whether Grant had started to set up his work station. She didn’t, though. She had had him on her mind too much and she needed space.
It was a small wall when compared to other walls that he’d painted but for Grant it felt as though it were a mile high and a mile wide as he worked. He couldn’t explain it; though he knew Mike, the young pilot and David, his friend wouldn’t begrudge him moving on, it was still hard. But this painting might help Cali. Her tears drove him. He could do this for her.
He worked in his room the rest of the afternoon, drawing out proportions of the various parts of the mural and then he went down around midnight and began to work. Horace, his new best friend, had organized his paints for him just as he’d asked him to.
The lobby was quiet at midnight. The older woman manning the front desk stayed in her office most of the time, as if she sensed he wanted to be alone.
Working at midnight was a pretty good hint.
Still, the first stroke was hard. Bold, deep cerulean. He stared at it for a long moment after he’d drawn his paintbrush over the wall. He always said a prayer before he painted his paintings…not that he was going to win a Nobel Peace Prize or paint anything of real meaning in the whole scheme of life, but he did want his talents to move people. To cause them to see the intricate beauty and wonder of creation. It wasn’t much, but it was what he did.
Tonight, he sent one up for Mike and David and the families they’d left behind.
And then, with hands not as steady as they usually were, he went to work.
When Cali walked into the lobby the next morning, it was with a sense of anticipation. Grant would start painting today; the very idea thrilled her. It would be hard to get any work done with the constant temptation of wanting to watch him work. She was startled to find a crowd in the lobby. It was full when she walked inside. People were everywhere and they were all watching Grant.
Cali gasped at the painting that was on the wall. “But…” was all she could get out. He stood on a ladder, Horace’s ladder, and was intent on the colors he was working into the waterfall. The magnificent, alive, and practically breathing waterfall.
“He worked all night.” Beth, one of the receptionists, came to stand beside Cali. “Laverne said he started about midnight and worked like a man possessed. She stayed in the office, out of his way, and watched on the video feed because she didn’t want to interfere with his art.”
“I thought he was going to paint today, and just prep last night. I had no idea.”
Beth sighed. “I don’t even know if he realizes we’re all here watching him. He hasn’t looked at anything but that wall and those paints.”
“Thanks, Beth. Could you put my bag in the office? I think I better see if
He chuckled. “I’m just a plain old rock that aims to please.”
“If you say so. See you later.”
“Don’t forget about the air conditioner,” he called.
She waved over her shoulder as she headed back up the stairs. “Oh believe me, I won’t.” With thoughts of Grant very nearly kissing her, a heavy-duty new air conditioning system would be nice because right now as the one they had was not doing its job. She was about to burn up.
As luck would have it, the office was empty and she was able to finish her work for the afternoon in peace. Thoughts of Grant played havoc enough on her concentration without having to worry with her sisters. By four, she was caught up and decided to call it an early day. Everyone had her number and knew to reach her on that if she was needed. And if she left now, she could avoid seeing Jillian or Shar at all again today and put off her inquisition a little longer.
Heading down the back hallway and out the private exit, she had to fight the urge to peek into the lobby and see whether Grant had started to set up his work station. She didn’t, though. She had had him on her mind too much and she needed space.
It was a small wall when compared to other walls that he’d painted but for Grant it felt as though it were a mile high and a mile wide as he worked. He couldn’t explain it; though he knew Mike, the young pilot and David, his friend wouldn’t begrudge him moving on, it was still hard. But this painting might help Cali. Her tears drove him. He could do this for her.
He worked in his room the rest of the afternoon, drawing out proportions of the various parts of the mural and then he went down around midnight and began to work. Horace, his new best friend, had organized his paints for him just as he’d asked him to.
The lobby was quiet at midnight. The older woman manning the front desk stayed in her office most of the time, as if she sensed he wanted to be alone.
Working at midnight was a pretty good hint.
Still, the first stroke was hard. Bold, deep cerulean. He stared at it for a long moment after he’d drawn his paintbrush over the wall. He always said a prayer before he painted his paintings…not that he was going to win a Nobel Peace Prize or paint anything of real meaning in the whole scheme of life, but he did want his talents to move people. To cause them to see the intricate beauty and wonder of creation. It wasn’t much, but it was what he did.
Tonight, he sent one up for Mike and David and the families they’d left behind.
And then, with hands not as steady as they usually were, he went to work.
When Cali walked into the lobby the next morning, it was with a sense of anticipation. Grant would start painting today; the very idea thrilled her. It would be hard to get any work done with the constant temptation of wanting to watch him work. She was startled to find a crowd in the lobby. It was full when she walked inside. People were everywhere and they were all watching Grant.
Cali gasped at the painting that was on the wall. “But…” was all she could get out. He stood on a ladder, Horace’s ladder, and was intent on the colors he was working into the waterfall. The magnificent, alive, and practically breathing waterfall.
“He worked all night.” Beth, one of the receptionists, came to stand beside Cali. “Laverne said he started about midnight and worked like a man possessed. She stayed in the office, out of his way, and watched on the video feed because she didn’t want to interfere with his art.”
“I thought he was going to paint today, and just prep last night. I had no idea.”
Beth sighed. “I don’t even know if he realizes we’re all here watching him. He hasn’t looked at anything but that wall and those paints.”
“Thanks, Beth. Could you put my bag in the office? I think I better see if
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