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  “What would you say if I told you that you have one month to prepare for an art show?” Devin asked, casually chewing on his food. Camille stopped chewing and gaped at him; the burrito nearly fell out of her hands from the shock.

  “An art show? My art show?” She asked, and Devin nodded.

  “I spoke to Evangeline, and she said that she can give you a date a month from now,” he explained, and Camille cupped her mouth with a hand. This couldn’t be real. An art show for her at one of the best galleries in Miami?!

  “I don’t have anything prepared, I’ve never done this before,” she said, and Devin laughed.

  “There’s a first time for everyone, and I’ve seen your work first hand. You can do it, and you can do it well.” Devin gulped down the last bite of his food. Camille felt a warm smile spread across her face. She didn’t know if she was more excited or nervous at the prospect of revealing her artistic soul.

  They both looked at each other in silence; wide smiles on both their faces. Camille couldn’t stop thinking that this man was in the process of completely changing her life for the better.

  “And also, I think you should collaborate with the author and artist of that book I bought from you, Country Crowns,” Devin said, dusting his hands. Camille’s brows crossed immediately. What on Earth was he talking about?

  “Why?” She snapped, and Devin raised an eyebrow.

  “Because I read that book and saw the artwork, I think you two would be a good match. It would be good publicity for your store too. By the looks of it, nobody has heard of this book and it could be a win-win situation for you all,” Devin said, standing up from his spot on the floor. Camille followed him with her eyes as he walked over to toss the crunched up foil paper in the bin, before walking back to her.

  “The reason…” Camille began, taking a deep breath. It was time to come clean; she didn’t want to lie to Devin anymore. “The reason why the artwork is so similar is because it’s mine.” She hung down her head in embarrassment.

  “I don’t understand… what is that supposed to mean?” Devin asked, walking up close to her again. He bent his head to catch her face, and Camille kept trying to avert her eyes from him.

  “I’m both the artist and author of that comic book. I self-published it under a pen name, with Shayna… it’s our work,” she said, finally daring to look at him. She had seen the look of surprise in Devin’s eyes before he made sense of what she was telling him.

  “You wrote Country Crowns?”

  She nodded but was afraid of his reaction and what he would think of her when he realized that she had been deceiving him all this time.

  “That is amazing, Camille. I knew you were talented, but I had no idea you had this much scope. This is brilliant news.” Devin hugged her tight, taking her by surprise again. There was no anger in his voice; he was genuinely happy to hear it. Camille smiled, burying her face in his shoulder until he pulled away from her again to look at her face.

  “What I don’t understand is why you’ve kept it a secret for so long?” he queried, and Camille licked her lips. She could feel her cheeks flushing again.

  “Because I didn’t want people to start making connections. A lot of the things that I write about have actually happened in the town I come from. I didn’t want my parents to know that I was writing about my family. I didn’t want people to judge me for where I come from,” Camille told him, dropping her gaze. She couldn’t look at him while she revealed the truth about herself.

  Devin was silent for a while, and then he started stroking her hair.

  “Embrace it, Camille. Your life, your childhood… it’s all given you the strength to write about it. It’s made you who you are. That’s what makes your stories so real, so hard hitting. Even if it’s only a comic book,” Devin whispered, and Camille finally looked at him. She had never felt this close; this connected to another human being before. She had never derived this kind of strength from another soul.

  She reached out for him and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder again. She felt like she could hug him forever, and he didn’t seem like he was in a hurry to let go of her either.

  “So it’s all settled then. One month to go and your art will be on show,” he said, and Camille smiled up at him.

  “And the theme will be ‘Country Crowns: A True Story,’” Camille added, and they both grinned at each other, satisfied enough that they were in each others presence.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Devin

  Devin caught himself smiling as he chewed on a piece of toast and threw the rest over to his patiently waiting dogs all gathered around him. That night with Camille at the clubhouse had happened two days ago, and he still couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He still couldn’t stop his mind from revisiting those moments when he had her in his arms.

  He had only known her for a few weeks, but he felt like he had known her a lifetime. Things weren’t moving quickly enough for him. Camille was charming, talented, caring and smashing in bed. A part of him wanted to ask her to move in with him. But he also knew it would be a bad idea. Camille didn’t know who he truly was and what he did for a living. Bringing her this close to his life would be inviting danger.

  Devin shook his head and ran a hand over his chin. It was time to shave; there was stubble on his chin that he needed to get rid of.

  “I let myself in,” he heard Evangeline’s voice and his head jerked up to find her standing at the kitchen door. It was nine in the morning, but she was already dressed like she was on her way to a cocktail party.

  Her dress was a frail, baby pink silk, short, and clinging to her body. Her arms and legs were bare, pale, and long. Her hair was left open, silky and dark, and she had the perfect pink-shaded made up face, as though this is what she had woken up looking like.

  “You still have a key?” Devin asked, his brows crossing. Just this image of Evangeline in his kitchen brought back memories of their relationship. She never allowed him to see her without her makeup. For the two years that they were together, and in those last six months when she moved in with him, Evangeline made it a point to wake up in the morning before him so that she could do her hair and makeup for their breakfast together. Even if she was only going to be in her pajamas.

  “What did you think? That I’ll just throw your keys away?” Evangeline smiled broadly and took a few tender steps towards him. Some of the dogs growled - they had never liked Evangeline for some reason.

  “Go!” Devin commanded them, and they left the kitchen to go outside. Evangeline rolled her eyes and crossed her long pale arms over her breasts. Devin knew that she had never liked the dogs either.

  “Well, I guess I should have known better and changed the locks a long time ago,” Devin said, resting the cup of coffee he was holding on the table. He hadn’t offered Evangeline a chair or any breakfast because he didn’t want her to stay for a second longer than she needed to. But Evangeline, as always, was not in a hurry to leave.

  She took a few more steps towards him and then placed her rhinestone covered pink clutch on the kitchen counter. Without a word she reached for an empty glass and walked over to the fridge.

  “You still don’t buy sparkling water for yourself, darling?” she asked opening the fridge door and laughing a little. “You will never change will you, Devin?”

  She bent down, making sure that her small shapely butt stuck out in front of him. Devin looked away and clenched his jaw. She was becoming a nuisance, and really testing his patience. But he also knew that he needed to tolerate her for a little longer, just at least until Camille’s art show.

  “Why are you here, Evangeline?” he asked, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. She didn’t seem to notice and turned around with her glass filled with orange juice. She slammed the fridge door and had a wide, fake smile pasted on her face.

  “I’m here to talk about this favor you asked me the other night,” she replied, walking over to the counter. She took some smal
l sips of the orange juice while Devin looked at her with a bitter grimace on his face.

  “It wasn’t a favor, Evangeline. It’s a business deal. I’ll pay you for the booking, of course.” He crossed his arms over his chest and noticed Evangeline’s eyes drop to his muscular arms. Her face softened. He could always tell when a woman wanted him; when he was making her wet. Not Camille though, she was always hard to read.

  “So why aren’t you going to any other art galleries in Miami?” she asked, and Devin tried to smile.

  “Because yours is the best. One show at your gallery will make sure that my friend’s art is officially launched and appreciated,” Devin said, shifting in his seat. Evangeline smiled back at him, nodded, and took a few more sips of her juice.

  “That is true.” walked towards him. Devin clenched his jaw, following her movement with his eyes. “But like I said, I want something in return,” Evangeline continued, now stopping right in front of him so that he had to look up at her.

  Devin sighed. “What do you want?”

  “For us to give it another shot.” Evangeline was quick to respond. Devin pushed his chair back and stood up, taking quick steps away from her.

  “It’s over, Evangeline. It’s been over for nearly a year now. You can’t manipulate me into getting back with you,” Devin thundered, walking to the other end of the kitchen, putting as much distance between them as he could. Evangeline followed him slowly. Her face had changed from casual and seductive to desperate, and even a little bit angered.

  “How can you say that? We had something real for two years. Hell, we nearly got married!” Evangeline screamed, and Devin had to do everything he could to not scream back at her.

  “And then you overdosed and nearly died!” he growled, trying to keep his voice low. They had screamed and yelled at each other enough a year ago, he didn’t want to have to go through that again.

  He watched as Evangeline took in a deep breath, released it, and tried to smile again.

  “That phase of my life is over now, Devin. I’ve been clean for six months. It’s in the past. Give me a chance to prove it.” Her voice had changed. She wasn’t the one with the upper hand anymore, she wasn’t the seductive hostess from her art gallery parties anymore. She was begging Devin to take her back, but after everything she had done?!

  “Evangeline… I’m happy for you. That you’re past now.” Devin ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. “But I can’t. I don’t want to give our relationship another shot. Not after everything that happened.”

  Evangeline sucked in a mouthful of air, and he could see that her lips were quivering. The last thing he wanted was for her to cry. She had always been good at drama, at producing crocodile tears on cue. He didn’t trust her at all, this was all for show.

  “Why not Devin? You loved me once. And I don’t believe you can’t love me again. I still love you.” She came up closer to him, and he pressed his back against the wall. A few weeks ago, he might have fallen for this. For her perfect porcelain skin, her wide mouth, her slender body, and her seductiveness. But now there was Camille. Only she mattered, and nobody else.

  “No, Evangeline. I don’t, and I can’t love you again,” Devin said, slipping away from her before she had the chance to come any closer. He took long strides to the other end of the room and started clearing up his plates from breakfast. He wasn’t looking at her anymore.

  “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe that you don’t have any feelings for me anymore. That’s a lie. I’ve seen the way you look at me.” Her voice had changed again. She wasn’t begging anymore, she was angry, screaming again. This is how it had always been with her; she could manipulate her mood and her tone of voice depending on the situation. Now Devin was convinced that none of her emotions were real. He should never have gotten into a relationship with her in the first place.

  “Evangeline, I think it’s time for you to move on as well. You should get out there, date again,” Devin said, depositing the plates in the sink and then dusting his hands. When he turned around, he found that she was standing with her hands on her hips and with a sly smile on her face.

  “Please, darling, you think I’m that pathetic? That I’ll stay away from men just because you broke up with me? I’m not that broken hearted.”

  Devin raised his eyebrows and tried smiling too. “Well, that’s good. I’m glad you’re keeping yourself busy.” He folded his arms again. Evangeline continued to smile and raised her chin proudly.

  “In fact, I’m dating someone seriously now,” she told him, and Devin tilted his head, the smile still pasted on his face. In reality, he wasn’t even curious to know. But he played along.

  “That’s good news. Is it somebody I know?” he asked, and Evangeline suddenly threw back her head and laughed.

  “Indeed it is. Somebody you know very well in fact.” She licked her lips, watching Devin intently with a steady gaze. He crossed his brows and waited for her answer.

  “I’m dating Jimmy,” she said flatly, and Devin dropped his smile.

  “Figueroa? Jimmy Figueroa? The leader of The Choppers?” Devin growled and took a few steps towards her. Evangeline licked her lips and dropped her arms to her side.

  “Yes, the one and only. He’s an animal in bed,” she added, clearly aware that Devin was losing his mind. He clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth and then swung his face away from her. He tried to remind himself that he shouldn’t care anymore. She wasn’t his girlfriend. In fact, they were barely even friends.

  “Well, good for him. I hope you both are very happy together,” Devin said, trying to smile again. Evangeline wasn’t fooled by his words, she knew exactly the effect this news had on him, and she was relishing in it. She laughed again and walked towards him. They were now standing only a few feet away from each other.

  “But Devin, you’re still the one. Jimmy is an excellent lover, but you’re still the best,” she said, and Devin smirked. He didn’t know what else to say to her.

  “You can call me anytime. Day or night.” She slowly walked towards him and touched him gently on his arm before walking past him and picking up her clutch from the counter. Devin didn’t turn to follow her.

  “It’s settled then, darling. Your friend can have her art show at my gallery for free,” Evangeline said, and Devin finally turned.

  “For free? No, I said I want to pay for it.”

  Evangeline walked over to him quickly and placed a kiss on his cheek and then started walking away again. Her hips swayed in her tight dress as she walked, but Devin wasn’t paying attention to that anymore.

  “Don’t be silly, my love. You know I’d do anything for you. I’ll text you an available date.” She waved at him and then left the kitchen.

  Devin remained standing where he was until he heard the front door open and then close gently. He made a mental note to change the locks right away.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Camille

  “So these are all the old ones, then?” Shayna asked as she and Camille stood beside each other with their hands on their hips. They had collected all their old artwork in the back storeroom of the bookstore and now stood staring at it. They exchanged looks and smiled.

  “I can’t believe this is actually happening, Camille!” Shayna clapped her hands, and they both laughed in excitement.

  “But we have to make new ones as well, these can’t be the only ones we use,” Camille said, pulling out her phone from her pocket which had started ringing. It was Devin.

  “Hi,” she said, walking out of the storeroom and leaving Shayna by herself.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” she heard him say, and she blushed, even though he was nowhere in sight.

  “I was just checking in to see how things are coming along,” Devin said, and Camille stood leaning against a bookshelf, twirling one of her curls around her little finger.

  “They’re going well, we’ve collected all our old ones in one place and have to decide on the new ones I want to dr
aw,” she told him, picturing Devin in front of her now - what he might be wearing, his chocolate brown eyes, his wide shoulders, and how much taller than her he was.

  “That’s good. Has Evangeline been behaving herself?” he asked, and Camille suddenly felt lost in his voice for a few moments, before she regained her composure and nodded.

  “Yes, she’s been very helpful, thanks. She calls me every few days to coordinate and has given me lots of useful tips,” Camille said, realizing at that moment that her happiness knew no bounds. For the first time in her life, everything was going well. She had her first art show coming up, in the best and biggest gallery in the city. She had Devin, who even though she didn’t share a defined relationship with, she was just happy knowing that he was in her life. Camille couldn’t stop smiling.