The Last Single Girl by Caitie Quinn, Bria Quinlan Read Free Book Online Page B

beginning and I couldn't figure out if it was that or the surety of her attitude that annoyed me.
    "No. Because art that isn't lit well, doesn't show well. It would be like picking out music on an old cell phone. You wouldn't know what it really sounds like. Here," I motioned at the wall. "People don't know what the art really looks like. The lighting will help them see it. It will also look more professional without creating a spot-like focus or an overly bright area and ruin the feel of the room."
    I took one of the paintings off the wall to see how they were hung, checked the fixtures, and climbed back down.
    "But first, I need to lower all the paintings. They're hung too high. It's like dating a guy you always have to look waaayyyy up at. You get a crick in your neck no matter how hot he is."
    I could have sworn she almost smiled.
    "If you want to help, you can take the paintings down and lean them against the wall. I'll start moving the set-ups."
    I tried not to show my surprise when she did.
    With Abby's help, I moved all the paintings, switched out the four lights, and hung the new matte cream placards I'd made next to each piece.
    We were already cleaning up when John came out of the backroom, mid-sentence through his next thing for Abby. "What are you guys doing?"
    "Merry Christmas!" I was so excited I jumped off the last two rungs of the ladder and rushed over to pull him forward. "I relit your wall. You now have a museum quality wall with placards. Check it out." I pointed to the fresh new descriptions hanging beside each painting.
    "Wow." He stared—just stared at the wall.
    It dawned on me he may not have liked someone coming in and changing his shop around, even if they were paid a lot to do it professionally.
    "Um, it's okay, right? That I changed it?"
    "I helped." Abby stood next to the ladder with a weird expression, halfway between hopeful and defiant, bringing her lips together in what looked like it was trying to be a grin.
    She hadn't waited. She'd stepped up to take the heat with me, or the thank you, but she hadn't left me out there on my own.
    That apology—the really lame one she'd given me twenty minutes before—I mentally accepted it right then.
    "No. This is great. I just… I just didn't expect it." John walked past me to stand a few feet from the wall. "It really does make a difference, doesn't it?"
    I stood back, enjoying my work.
    "This is great. Thank you." He turned, looking down at me with that soft smile of his.
    It must have been the light because I hadn't realized how dark his eyes were, or that he had a bunch of freckles over the bridge of his nose, or how tall he was. Okay, so I'd noticed he wasn't my type of tall, but I guess five-ten was taller than I gave it credit for. Poor five-ten.
    Plus, my world was filled with hard-polished guys. They just typically felt… bigger, larger than life.
    "Not a problem. You've been great about the mess of dates I've had here. I figured it was the least I could do. Maybe you'll get more artists coming in if they see how strong your wall looks now."
    "This is, truly, the nicest gift."
    "I really just wanted to do something nice for you… a thank you ."
    "Best thank you ever. But, Sarah, you don't have to thank me."
    Awww…
    "What are friends for? And cafes? If you can't have crazy first dates in a café, where can you have them?"
    This was true.
    But they were so much easier when you shared them with a friend.

TEN
    DATING TRUTH #6: When you can't get any lower, there's always a smug girl with a boyfriend there to knock the emotional step out from under you.
     
     
    "I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO meeting this guy of yours." Claire had barely let me get my coat off before she started.
    "How about you ladies? I'm looking forward to meeting all your guys too." Deflect! Deflect!
    All the girls shifted to look my way. I half hoped one of them would come to my rescue. But Claire was driving this boat and no one was going to get in the way. I'd already talked