Chapter 14 #2
“Vanessa, was it? I’m Val Russo. It’s nice to meet you.” He stepped close to my side, his hot breath sending goosebumps down my neck as he whispered, “You are so going to owe me.”
Without warning, he draped his heavy arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. Electrical sparks ignited into a fiery line where Val’s skin met mine, his faint dusting of arm hair catching in my periphery. A jackhammer pounded in my chest as I forced a neutral expression.
Vanessa’s interest in Val increased tenfold, and I wanted to knock it off her face.
“So, Ryan left you too? At home, I mean?”
The darker side of me thoroughly enjoyed the scarlet tinge beneath her caramel skin.
Embarrassed, Vanessa tried to form a response, but Val cut in smoothly.
“Sorry about that. We’re working on her social etiquette. Spoiler alert—it’s not going well.”
I couldn’t even muster an eye roll. Besides my annoyance with Vanessa, all I could register was the heat radiating off Val’s body and the weight of his arm. I peeked up at him as he continued to chat. Charisma and charm dripped from every word.
Oh. My. Gosh. He’s really selling this.
Tentatively, I nestled closer and tried to ignore how stupidly good he smelled. All to sell the charade, of course.
Vanessa’s prissy laugh pealed out at Val’s joke at my expense, threatening to damage my eardrums.
“Oh, you’re funny. Anthony and Ryan went on without me until I wrap up the case I’m working on. It should be done sometime in July and I’ll fly out then.”
“I’m sorry,” Val continued, “I’m playing catch up. Who’s Anthony?”
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
Vanessa again seemed uncomfortable about Val’s lack of knowledge. Because, why wouldn’t my hunk of a boyfriend know about my child? This encounter had already revealed more information than I would ever want Val to know.
I glanced up, letting the awkward silence stretch on. His smattering of freckles attempted to whisk my thoughts away to darkened closets.
I sighed. “My son.”
Ignoring Val’s slackened jaw, I snapped my focus back to the pretty monster.
I would have willingly ingested a tapeworm if it meant this conversation could be over.
She shifted in her trendy pink running shoes, her cheeks nearly the same shade. “On that note, I’ve got to run, but it was nice seeing you.”
I was ninety percent positive she was lying, but I didn’t care because I was lying too.
“You as well.”
I blew out a long breath as Vanessa jogged away. My relief was short-lived, however, as Vanessa hesitated after a few yards and turned back.
“What now?” I grumbled under my breath.
“It was great meeting you, Val. And Amantha, you guys make a really cute couple.”
Val turned to stone as Vanessa continued down the path.
His arm vanished, as did his body from mine. The vacated space felt oddly cold despite the warm weather. I’d never seen Val blush before, and it was freaking adorable. I felt tempted to tease him, but my own emotions were muddled enough.
Vanessa had unceremoniously dumped out my baggage for all to see, smack dab in the middle of Lincoln Park.
My shoes required my full attention as I mumbled, “Thank you… for doing that.”
Val avoided my gaze at all costs, staring far off into the distance. “It’s no problem.”
As we began to walk again, I cast him a furtive glance. Val Russo was full of surprises, wasn’t he? I had wholeheartedly expected him to capitalize on the information and humiliate me in front of Vanessa. Or at least be using the salacious gossip to embarrass me now. Only, he hadn’t. He wasn’t.
Maybe the devil has a soul after all.
“So…” Val sounded hesitant, but curious. “Will you tell me about Anthony?”
The cat was out of the bag anyway, and Anthony just happened to be my favorite subject.
With a genuine smile, I said, “I know I’m biased, but he’s pretty much the coolest kid ever. Anthony is ten years old, he’s smart, and funny, and even though he’s growing into that whole ‘I’m too cool for this’ phase, he’s still so sweet and thoughtful. And he kicks my trash at Speed Racer 3000.”
Val laughed. “You play Speed Racer 3000?”
“I'm the best,” I deadpanned. “I mean, aside from Anthony, but he’s a pro.” I sized him up from head to foot. “I bet I’d kick your trash, easy.”
Val snorted. “I’d like to see you try.” We walked a few paces before he said, “You mentioned Anthony is in Europe?”
“Yeah. He’s with his dad for the summer.” A lump formed in my throat, but I bit it back. I was not about to cry in front of Val Russo. “He’ll be back in August, though.” I took a deep breath and forced a small smile.
Val seemed to absorb the information as we walked until a small chime sounded from the phone in his pocket. He slid it out and read the text message. The edge of horror in his whisper set my nerves on fire.
“Amantha, you were right. The painting is a fake.”
My stomach sank. “H-how? How did he confirm it?”
“Titanium white. Just like you’d said. The lily had traces of titanium. The molecular test found it immediately. Felix Andreas died before it was even invented.”
The world began to tilt. I was going to get fired. All my work, all my passion I’d thrown into this new life was going to go up in flames. Which meant I’d likely be fighting Ryan for custody again much sooner than I thought.
“What do we do?” I whispered.
A grim determination spread across Val’s face. “We find the real painting.”
The real painting? Is he insane?
“And how are we supposed to do that?” Frustration at his cavalier suggestion surpassed my fear for a moment.
“I don’t know,” Val huffed, “but would it kill you to have a tad of optimism?”
“It just might,” I snapped.
And just like that, we slipped easily into old habits.
“We’re done here.” Val turned, striding back the way we came.
I stumbled after him. “Done? We’re not done! We haven’t even begun—”
He whirled on me. “You know, sometimes I’m jealous you can be so ignorant.”
I shot daggers at him.
Val stretched his neck in a circle, took a deep breath, and said, “We’re not done. I said we’re done here. The museum software will have the accession form.”
“But—it’s Sunday, Val!” I protested. “Plus the museum is closed.”
“Unbelievable.” He shook his head as though I were the dumbest person he’d ever met. Pulling a small white rectangle from the back pocket of his jeans, he waved his employee keycard in front of my nose. “Keycards, remember? I have higher clearance. Full access.”
I swatted his hand away, and Val strode off without another word. I groaned, dragging my feet after him down the sidewalk.