Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“I don’t think he can stop,” Clay said. “With some people, the art is just in them, dying to get out.”
Gideon punched his shoulder lightly. “That’s exactly why I came to you. I’d like your help in mentoring him. We need to find other outlets for him so he doesn’t keep getting in trouble.”
Clay tipped his head thoughtfully, while next to him Ransom noted his date yawning, barely covering it with her hand.
“San Francisco’s Mission District is a well-known place for street art,” Clay said. “It’s not tagging. It’s not graffiti. It’s art,” he clarified, as though he appreciated the work. “You may be surprised to know that street art can be quite a lucrative business. It’s not graffiti tossed up anywhere. It can beautify a district. You should see some of the amazing street art in cities like New York and Paris and London. Even Reno has revamped MidTown with some incredible murals. Sometimes the work is only there for a few days or weeks until it’s painted over with new street art. But that’s the beauty of it—that it’s always changing.”
Gideon’s eyes gleamed. “This is exactly what I’m looking for.” He pointed a finger at Clay. “I just need help getting Dylan on the right track. Can we do it together, man?”
Clay was in his element, his blue Harrington eyes almost lit from within. “Why do you think I started my new media platform? It’s for kids like Dylan, for people who need to find direction and a safe place to practice their art. Hell yes, Gideon, I’ll help.”
As if he felt their scrutiny, the kid looked over at their small group. Whatever he saw on their faces seemed to terrify him, and he melted into the crowd around the bar cart, hiding himself.
These two men had their work cut out for them, Ransom was sure.
As Clay and Gideon talked logistics on their new mission, Ransom melted into the crowd much as Dylan had.
He’d never met such a big, wonderful family, complimenting each other, helping each other. Susan and Bob Spencer seemed to have more than enough love to go around. They’d created a close-knit group, and then they’d welcomed the Harringtons to join them.
He saw her now—Ava, beautiful and sexy in the formfitting dress, engrossed in a conversation with Cammie. Had she even looked his way since the vows had been said?
For as long as he’d known the Harringtons, they’d been a unit that had seemed damn near impenetrable. Ava had never told her family she was seeing him, even though she was practically living with him, since they spent every hour together when he was home.
But that was fifteen years ago, and how things had changed. Watching these two families merge made him think of his brother. While their relationship had definitely improved, Ransom realized he needed to see more of Adam. They’d bonded over their mother’s death, their mutual grief, and Ransom got out to Milwaukee as often as possible. But as he’d learned with Ava, as often as possible wasn’t often enough. He needed to make more of an effort.
He imagined taking Ava to meet the family. He imagined big family holiday dinners that he and Adam cooked together, with Ava by his side. The daydream made him ache for the kind of huge, loving family the Mavericks had. Family who were there for each other in all the best ways.
He didn’t want to be like his father, where everything was about work. And wasn’t that really what had broken up his relationship with Ava? Because he hadn’t put her or the relationship first? The truth was, he’d overworked like his dad, and he’d lost Ava because of it. He hadn’t seen it all back then, but he saw it clearly now.
He came out of the fog of his thoughts to find Matt Tremont stalking straight toward him, his wife’s hand in his. Matt jabbed a finger at his shoulder. “Hey, what’s up with catering a wedding? We were early investors in your company, but you never catered our weddings.” The twinkle in Matt’s eyes belied his mock anger.
Will Franconi, seeming to appear out of nowhere, joined in. “Yeah, buddy, what the hell is up with that?”
These Mavericks never missed an opportunity to razz a guy. Ransom didn’t knuckle under. “Why didn’t any of you ever ask me? Like I’m not good enough for you?”
Will shut his mouth.
But Ransom didn’t let them off the hook. “Then I had to jump in and save Gideon and Rosie’s wedding. Where were you two?”
The two men frowned, glum looks pulling down their faces. But Ari laughed. “Oh boy, Ransom has got you there.” She leaned in to kiss Ransom’s cheek. “You did a wonderful thing.”
“I helped.” He winked at Will and Matt. “But you all would have cooked the meal yourselves if you had to.”