His and Hers by Ashley Ludwig Read Free Book Online Page A

at her side, rolling up his sleeves. “You wash, I’ll dry?”
    “Thanks, but you don’t have to…” One look and she realized he wasn’t leaving. She raised her head, and handed him the clean palette.
    He wiped it dry with a cloth. “Beautiful work by the way. You’ve got raw talent.” He took a handful of brushes from her, shaking out their bristles, accidentally splashing her face. He reached up with a gentle finger, leaving a little trail of fire as he dried the drops from her cheek. “Oops.”
    She touched where his fingers had briefly explored her face, and found her voice. “Where’d you learn to play like that?”
    “My grandfather. He was the musician. My grandmother was an artist. I’ve got walls full of her paintings.” He glanced over and smiled. “She’s been gone five years. Boy, do I miss her. It’s nice you’re taking such good care of yours.”
    His words broke her heart, filled her throat with remorse. She cleared it before the lump turned into a sob, and finished wiping down the stainless steel sinks. “Thanks for your help.”
    “I’ll see you at the concert then?” He squeezed her shoulder and caught her gaze indirectly, through the mirror. “If not before?” He walked away, and paused with one hand on the doorway with a final word for their instructor.
    Diane gave him a dazzling smile and a wave as he left the room.
    Misty’s heart surged watching him go.
    Grandma remained seated as the last students left the room. “Never was much a painter.” Misty heard her explaining to the teacher.
    “But you were a heck of an actress. My mom loved your movies. I watched Rumor of Love with her for the first time when I was about five. That’s what I always wanted. Someone to pursue me so completely. Set the bar pretty high for any guy I’ve ever dated, actually.”
    “Well, you girls should have the bar set high. No one deserves to cross it unless they can make quite a leap. That’s what Misty’s grandfather did. Boy, he cleared the moon for me.”
    “That’s nice to hear.” Diane leaned in, obviously ready to hear more.
    Misty cleared her throat, getting both women’s attention. “I went ahead and cleaned all the stations for you.”
    “Well, thanks! Overachieve much?” A wind-chime ringtone caught her attention. Diane glanced down at the display on her cell phone, mouth curling into a grin.
    “My granddaughter always thinks of others before herself. It’s her tragic flaw.”
    Diane pocketed her Blackberry “Nice flaw to have. Anyway. Here’s the idea. I’ve run it by my partners, Gia and Sofie, and your grandma agrees.”
    Misty raised her brows. “What’s that?”
    “The Flower Field is responsible for all the arrangements for the Almond Valley College Awards banquet and film festival. And, Mr. Wiggersham, the Dean, wants your grandmother’s input.”
    Misty turned to Grandma, “That’s lovely.”
    “So…” Diane continued, “as guest of honor—Mrs. Darling has requested you help plan out the arrangements.”
    “Well, that’s quite an offer, but—” She turned, pleading with her gaze.
    Grandma held up a dismissive hand. “No one knows me, and what I like better than you, Misty. I’ll leave you two young women to discuss details.” With that, she turned back to observe her painting.
    Misty looked down, studying the instructor’s elegant, long-fingered hands. Lines of color streaked over shaped, unpolished nails, looking something like a Jackson Pollack painting.
    “Between flower arranging and art, I haven’t seen a manicurist in an age.” Diane flexed, and examined her own nail beds, then upturned her gaze to meet Misty’s straight on. “Your grandmother told me you left quite a production job in the city to come out here to help her.”
    “That’s what she always says. We’re kind of helping each other.”
    “Your input would help all of us during the design phase—we’re starting next week. Say, next Wednesday at The Flower