The Reluctant Nude - Meg Maguire [33]
“Let’s break,” he said, the hour hand not even at twelve yet. It was frustrating. Frustrating more so because this was most certainly his fault. He’d meant to tease her, not alienate her. It could take another couple of weeks to regain her trust. Weeks, he had. He suspected, however, that she did not.
Fallon redressed and joined him for cold shrimp and pasta. He forewent the wine.
“You look like you need a day off.” He picked through his food, unused to these anxious feelings.
She shrugged.
“I think this is more than a hangover, yes?”
Fallon rubbed her temple and sighed heavily, clearly not interested in having this conversation.
“I went too far last night, yes?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know,” she mumbled. “I’m just tired. I slept really crappily. Don’t worry about it. It’s my own fault for staying out late and drinking so much.”
“Well, I apologize if you feel offended by anything I said to you.”
“I said don’t worry about it. I’m not offended.”
“That is good…” His blood hummed with agitation. He felt unable to fix this and it was upsetting.
“I don’t want a day off.” Fallon propped her head in her hands and exhaled, sounding exhausted. Max studied her long fingers and tidy, short nails, the elegant little knob of her pisiform bone at the corner of her slender wrist.
“Well, I’m afraid I am not making any progress today. You may as well have the afternoon to yourself,” he said, tempting her defensive side.
She glared at him.
“I’m not accusing you of anything. But you will be of more use to me—and yourself—if you go and spend the rest of the day doing something you actually enjoy.”
“I don’t want to lose any more time. You were supposed to have started the marble by now… You know,” she went on, that old edge returning to her voice, “you’re getting paid a ton for this time, but I’m not. I’m on an unpaid leave right now, and I’ve got a mortgage, and bills, and a roommate who’s depending on me to kick in my share. I’ve got a pushy, unpleasant patron to please with what for you is just a convenient commission. This has to work, okay? This has to be worth my time and it has to succeed. I have to get back and take care of my life. I have a life.”
“I know that.”
She groaned. “Then we have to stay on track. If you care about me in whatever weird, not-quite-platonic way you seem to, then just…do what you were hired to do. I’ve suspended all my disbelief about how it is you say you need to work, now please meet me halfway. Sculpt. Please.” She pushed her uneaten food around in her bowl. “I’m not on vacation, here. I’m here to do something I really don’t want to do because it’s important to me. This is a sacrifice. Don’t make it be for nothing.”
“You are going to hate what I am about to say.”
“Fine, just say it.”
“I have no control over what it is I do. I can’t speed it up at will—”
“Well, you told me twelve weeks,” she cut in. “Why give me a timetable if you can’t stick to it, for crying out loud?”
“Look. You are the worst model I have ever had,” Max said, and she flinched. “You started off uncooperative, and you can be so defensive sometimes that I may as well try to sculpt you from two towns away, you’re so distant. You can be hell to work with.”
She opened her mouth but he plowed on.
“And what’s worse, I did not choose you. You don’t want to be here. The one person who even wants this sculpture is some mysterious man who you clearly dislike, and I am having an impossible time feeling excited about him receiving my work. I am doing this as a favor to you.” The words tumbled out, fast and impatient. “At first, for the money, and because I like a challenge. And now, because I like you. I want to help you.” And because he couldn’t sleep sometimes for the thoughts of her that haunted him at night. “But do not for one second treat me like I’m not trying to make this work. I would like nothing more than to please you. Though God knows why.”
Fallon blushed, held his eyes for a moment then began to eat. They finished the meal in silence, and she