Me And Mrs Jones (10 page)

Renee relaxed in the doorway of her front door watching as Travis walked down her pathway, got inside his Jeep then drove off. She didn’t think she would have liked riding in a Jeep, but it wasn’t that bad.

If she could get used to riding in a Jeep with Travis what else could she tolerate for Travis? Time would only tell, but she was more than ready to find out.

Chapter Fourteen

“You know that we aren’t going away anytime soon until you tell us how your date went with that super hunky Travis,” Cruz said as he followed Renee around the gallery with Dana hot at their heels.

“There isn’t anything to tell,” Renee answered as she added the name plates to Travis’ paintings. Cruz had stayed late last night and gotten them organized with the other paintings and drawings for the show.

Interested clients were already peeking their heads in when the word got around she had three paintings by Travis Cole in her gallery. He was the hottest upcoming artist in town and anyone who got their hands on one of his pieces would have a collection piece to brag about to their friends.

“Don’t you lie to us,” Dana said, coming up to her. “I called you several times last night and didn’t get an answer. You always call me before you go to bed, but you seemed to have forgotten all about it last night. Care to share why?”

Renee stopped in her tracks. Twirling around, she found her two best friends standing there with these huge grins on their faces. She wouldn’t be able to get anything done if she didn’t give the two of them something and then send the two busybodies on their way.

“My date with Travis was fantastic. He found a way to get the park closed down for the night and he decorated it with lights, music and even hired a chef to cook our meal. Everything was perfect. I wasn’t expecting any of it at all.”

“Damn girl. You got a good man there. I never remember that asshole Robert doing anything so romantic for you,” Cruz said. “I think he was probably too busy doing Sheila in any empty place they could find.

“Now, you know that I’m so jealous. Travis is not only drop dead gorgeous, but a gentleman too. When have you come across a man like that? Never.I mean, I thought men like him didn’t exist anymore.”

Smiling, Renee couldn’t help but get lost in what happened with her and Travis when they got back to her house. She was so glad he turned out to be more of the level-headed one in the end. Maybe he wasn’t as immature or young as she first thought.

“Yes, Travis turned out to be a total surprise. We’re going to lunch today and then we’re going to discuss his art some more.”

“Why bother even going into any details about his art. You know that you would rather be young again and make out with him on the couch in your living room. I’m pretty sure a guy as hot as Travis would want you to give him more than a good night kiss on the cheek,” Dana told her. “I know about these things.”

“Care to tell me how you know about these things?” Renee asked looking back and forth between Dana and Cruz.

“I was just thinking how you needed to loosen up just a bit. Travis is a spontaneous young man. You need to let him take you anywhere he might want to go. Live in the moment. Be a little more like me,” Cruz encouraged.

“No thank you, Cruz.” Renee laughed. “If I was more like you I would be dancing around in my underwear at a moment’s notice. I can’t handle stuff like that. I never had a spontaneous bone in my body.”

“Why are you bringing that up? I told you that incident only happened once and it was at a New Year’s party. At least I was at my own house and not out at a club. Anyways, we are here to help you out. You should listen to all of our advice. The more you learn about Travis the better it will help cement your relationship with him in the end.”

“Thank you, Dr. Phil.” Renee sighed as she turned away from Cruz and Dana to proceed back to her desk.

“I agree with Cruz,” Dana chimed in at the last minute. “You need to try some different things in your life. You’re too set in your boring and dull ways. Get out there and live a little. Nothing is going to happen with Travis until you give a hundred percent”

“I’m moving just at the right pace.” Renee continued on to her desk and took a seat.

“You don’t know what that is because you were married half your life. All we’re saying is don’t allow your fears to scare you away from Travis,” Dana said as she walked up to her desk. “I need to head back to the café, but think about what Cruz and I told you.”

“Listen to Dana. She only wants the best for you just like me.” Cruz came around the desk touching her on the shoulder. “I’m leaving for the rest of the day unless you need me to stay here. My boyfriend is back in town and he wants us to spend the day picking out new furniture for the apartment.”

“Cruz, go ahead and leave. I can handle the gallery by myself and take Dana with you. I won’t get the rest of my work done with her here hovering over me.”

“Did you forget that I was on my way out?” Dana asked as Cruz grabbed her by the arm. “I don’t need Cruz’s help getting out of here.”

“Dana, why don’t you stop talking,” Cruz butted in. “I want to talk to you about something.”

Renee watched as Dana totally changed her focus from her and Travis over to Cruz. Sitting back in her chair, she watched as Dana got engrossed in whatever Cruz was telling her. So much so, that her friend didn’t even tell her goodbye before going out the door behind Cruz; however, she was okay with it. Renee would rather Dana and Cruz both be gone instead of here at the gallery giving her dating advice.

After the way things ended between her and Travis last night, she knew what she was doing when it came to dating the opposite sex. If Travis didn’t have any complaints then she wasn’t gong to be worried about at thing.

Chapter Fifteen

Grabbing the sheets of paper out of the printer, Renee’s eyes scanned over it making sure that none of her regular clients were left off. Having a successful gallery meant refining a dedicated following and collector base, buyers who were really interested in buying the pieces she had up for sale. She had gotten a pretty good base so far, but it could always be bigger and better.

The longer she stayed in business the better her gallery would eventually become. It took a while for her to realize that this was her business and not a social gathering for her friends to visit for food and conversation.

Some people might come in and look around pretending that they loved who you were and what you were doing. But, in reality only wanted to come inside for drinks and weren’t thinking about buying a thing ever. Not even if they had enough money in the bank to buy the entire building if they had the chance.

Renee wasn’t going to allow herself to turn into one of those galleries who never got past the clique stage, who only wanted to showcase their own work along with some of their friends. If she did that nonsense then everything inevitably would have her closing down her dream. No, she was going to do everything in her power to keep her gallery up and running.

Over the years, Renee learned very quickly that she had to care about what her clients wanted. If she was honest with herself, it did take a while before she was about to convince the art world she knew what she was doing.

Her gallery was the most important thing in her life; it was a business that she had to oversee like it was her newborn baby. Something that was worth her time and energy every single day she came through the door. She couldn’t ever consider it a place to have limited participation for a select few privileged customers.

Only having the ‘rich’ people making a visit wasn’t helping her in the end. Somehow over time, Renee finally figured out how to spot the non-buyers from the buyers. Individuals who may love the art scene with everything in them, can talk about the paintings like a pro, but aren’t ever going to pay her with a check or credit card.

Her main goal during any of her shows was to keep it simple and not put anyone off by talking too much. She wanted the artist’s work to showcase itself and then add her opinion in here and there.

Nobody was ever going to be interested in buying any of her clients’ works if they didn’t have a clue about what was going on with it. The easier she made it for them, the more referrals she would get which would in the end lead to a broader audience.

“Are you so lost in thought that you didn’t hear me come in?” a male voice asked causing Renee to practically jump out of her seat.

Placing her hand over her pounding heart, Renee glanced across the table and found Travis standing there wearing a pair of jeans with a little hole in the knee, gray t-shirt and work boots. He looked hotter than any guy had the right to.

“God, Travis you scared the hell out of me. No, I didn’t hear you come in. I was too busy working on the upcoming show for your paintings. Is it lunch time already?” she asked, placing the printout down on the desk.

“Actually, I’m about five minutes late. I had to stop by the paint store for new brushes,” he asked. Coming around the desk, Travis dragged her out of her seat into his arms. “Do you know how much I’ve missed you? I thought about you all last night while I was alone in my sleeping bag staring up at the stars.”

“You’re still camping out in the woods?” Renee asked.

“Yes, I’ll be out there for at least a couple more days. I get my best work done when I’m one with nature. You should join me there one night. I swear you’ll love it.”

“Camping....me? I’ve never been fond of sleeping out underneath the stars. I did it with one of my boyfriends during college and it wasn’t my thing.”

“Baby, he didn’t know how to make it enjoyable for you like I can,” Travis bragged. “How about it? Do you think you want to spend some time with me out in the great outdoors?”

Renee had never thought of herself as a wilderness woman, so it would be something that she would have to think about. Travis might like being out in the dirt because he was an outdoors man, but she liked being inside in a bed not outside on the ground.

“Give me some time to think about it. I’m not telling you no, but I’m not saying yes either.” That was all she could give to Travis for the moment. Her stomach was growling and she was beyond ready to eat.

“I’ll take what I can get,” Travis said. He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth and then stepped back. “How about we go to lunch? I’m dying for a submarine sandwich with extra pickles from
Big Boys
.”

“I’m not quite sure what I want. I guess I’ll look at a menu when I get there.” Renee knew she wanted something that would tie her over until supper, so she wanted more than her usual salad she had for lunch.

“
Big Boys
has anything and everything a person can want. Wait until you see their choices.” Travis linked their fingers together and walked with her towards the door. “Have I told you how good you look in that dress? It almost makes me want to stay here and start up what we put a hold on last night.”

Excitement raced through Renee’s body at Travis’ suggestion, but they both knew it couldn’t happen in the middle of the day inside of her gallery. There were way too many open windows and people going up and down the sidewalks. Getting any kind of privacy here would be near impossible.

“You know that we can’t do that,” Renee pointed out as she followed Travis outside. He stood to the side while she locked up.

“I know, but a guy can hope can’t he?” he whispered by the side of her neck as his fingers brushed underneath her breasts through her dress.

Swallowing down a moan, Renee took a quick step away from Travis and glanced around to make sure no one was looking at them. “You need to stop. What if someone had seen you?”

“So what?” Travis asked taking her hand again. “I don’t have a problem with people seeing me touch you. I think you’re beautiful, intelligent and sexy as hell. I would be crazy not to want to touch you.”

Renee felt a warm glow flow through her at Travis’ compliment. A part of her reveled in his open admiration of her and her looks. It made her feel special and wanted. She wasn’t used to that happening since Robert stopped months into their marriage. It was then she should have divorced him instead of trying to stay married to please everyone else but herself.

“Are you ready to have some of the best food in town?” Travis asked, smiling down at her.

“You better believe that I am. I can’t wait to see what they have to offer.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Travis, thank you so much for lunch. It was delicious.” Reaching across the table, she placed her hands on top of his, running her finger down the back. “I can’t believe I actually finished a double cheeseburger with a basket of onions rings. I’m going to have to run an extra two miles just to burn it off my thighs and butt.”

“I’ve a better idea at working all of those calories off your smoking body, if you’re interested,” Travis whispered as his eyes dropped down to her mouth then rose back up to her eyes.

“Why do you keep giving me all of these ideas we aren’t going to be able to act out? I need to get back to work and I’m pretty sure that you do too. I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Feel free to ask me anything you want.” Turning her hand over, Travis linked their fingers together and then ran the pad of his thumb over the side.

Each time she was around Travis, the pull was stronger. The very air around her seemed electrified as his gaze raked boldly over her body. It was too easy to get lost in the way he looked at her.

“Can you tell me what is going on between us? I mean, it just seems like from the moment we met there was this undeniable—” Renee was so taken back by what was going on that she didn’t even know how to describe it herself.

“Baby, I know what you mean. I don’t know what words to put to it either, but I do know that I can’t stop feeling the need to be around you. I get the sense you’re worried about the age difference, but it isn’t a problem for me at all. I only want you to give us a chance to see where things will go.”