The Girl Chameleon Episode One by Karin De Havin

Author:Karin De Havin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Karin De Havin

Chapter Eight

Magical Worlds

* * *

I try to act normal as the artist continues to hold my hand. “Let me properly introduce myself. My name is Ainsley, lovely to meet you. Brooklyn has told me so much about you.”

So she did tell him about me. Not that I’m complaining as I stare into his dark brown eyes. “Don’t believe a word she said.”

He gives me a crooked smile. “I can assure you she was quite complimentary.”

His boarding school British accent is making me weak in the knees. “I hope so.”

Ainsley leads me back into the main part of the gallery. We stop in front of the painting with the water sprites. “I believe I saw you admiring this painting earlier. You have a good eye. It’s my favorite.”

Guess that answers the question as to why he was staring at me. I don't dare tell him it’s really my second choice. “It’s truly breathtaking. You paint the worlds as if you’ve been there.”

He gives me a coy smile. “They are very real inside my imagination.”

The answer came so quickly, I knew he’d been asked the question a hundred times. “I wish I could hang out in your imagination. It’s a beautiful place.”

Instead of his practiced smile, he looks deep into my eyes. “I would like that.”

He says it like it’s actually possible. Now more than ever I’m dying to know what his special gift is. Brooklyn could have at least given me a hint.

Ainsley squeezes my hand. “Come, I want to introduce you to a good friend.”

I follow behind him, certain people are staring at us. They must wonder why Ainsley is slumming it with some ordinary teenage girl. He stops next to a silver-haired man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Despite his years, he’s quite handsome in a Collin Firth kind of way.

Ainsley taps on his shoulder. “Edgar, I want you to meet Jennifer. She’s a kindred spirit. She wants to live inside my head too.”

Edgar holds out his hand. “A pleasure to meet a woman of taste.”

His silky British voice reminds me of a BBC announcer. For fun, I decide to curtsey. “Why, thank you.”

Edgar gives Ainsley a gentle nudge. “This young lady is a keeper.”

Before Ainsley can say anything back, a thin brunette dressed in a skin-tight black jumpsuit steps between us. “Ain? What are you doing? I told you the press interviews were at eight o’clock.”

Ainsley’s shoulders stiffen. “Olivia, we were having a conversation which you just rudely interrupted.”

She glances at the iPad Mini in her hands. “It’s my job to keep you focused. You don’t want to tick off the press. I had to jump through some major hoops to get Art World here tonight.”

I turn to leave, but Ainsley takes my arm. “Just wait here. I’ll be right back when I have things sorted with Olivia.” He gives me a wink. “Promise.”

Did he just wink at me? I watch him disappear into the crowd with Olivia right behind him nipping at his heels. The reporters are lined up against the back wall with a couple of photographers.

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