Bring Me Fire (11 page)

"Will you get in here with me?"

He paused but then nodded. She watched him get undressed, his body toned, muscular in all the right places without being bulky. He’s like
a painting come to life, she thought as he climbed in. He leaned back against the opposite end of the tub.

"
Ahhh," he said, sighing. "This is nice. Although it really was supposed to be for you."

"
You’ve already made me feel plenty better, thanks." Sky moved so she was the same end he was. The tub was practically big enough to swim in.

He turned his head to look at her and she kissed him.
"I appreciate you doing this for me, and now I want to do something to make you feel good."

He smiled.
"I already do."

She kissed his cheek, the stubble scratching against her lips. She moved her hand down his torso, toward his groin. She watched his face, the way he let his eyes fall closed, the thick lashes dark against his skin. His lips parted slightly and he took a deep breath.

"But I can make you feel even better," she whispered, entwining her body around his. 

Chapter 20

The next morning, Julia met Sky in Union Square to help her find the perfect outfit to wear.
"You had sex with him in the bathtub?" Julia asked after Sky told her about her night.

"
I did. A Japanese soaking tub, no less."

"
Fancy. At least it made clean up easy."

Sky laughed and whacked her friend on the shoulder.
"You’re awful."

"
So what kind of party is this, anyway?" Julia asked. "That would be helpful in finding the right outfit."

"
I’m not really sure," Sky said, fingering the sleeve of a cream-colored
Free People
frock. It had orange and pink embroidery at the collar with a cinched waist and a flowing skirt. It would look good with the brown Frye boots she had, but she wondered if it would be dressy enough.

"
That might’ve been a good thing to find out." Julia held up a fluorescent pink mini skirt that glittered with sequins. "How about this?"

"
It’s a party, not the pride parade," Sky said, laughing. "I think Josh would probably be mortified if I wore something like that. Even if he did say that I’d look good no matter what I wore."

"
Aw. That’s sweet. Well, I’m assuming that if it were some sort of special dress code that he would’ve told you. So really, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just find something that you like, that looks good on you."

"
Okay." Sky riffled through another clothes rack. "You know what’s funny is that I was really excited to go out somewhere with him, but now it’s just kind of nerve-wracking."

"
Why?"

"
I don’t know. It just seems like everyone thinks he’s out of my league, or they can’t believe that someone like him would be with someone like me."

Julia stopped looking at clothes.
"Sky," she said. "Are you serious? Am I really hearing you correctly? You’re one of the most confident people I know."

"
Well, I certainly don’t feel that way."

"
There’s no reason you shouldn’t. If anything, being with him should boost your confidence. He’s choosing
you
. You don’t think a guy like that could have anyone he wants? He can, and he sees something in you. Because you’re awesome. And I hate that you feel like you’re anything less than that, because Ashley’s spreading some ridiculous rumors about you."

Sky smiled.
"Thanks for saying that, Julia. I know you’re right but it’s really hard hearing people you don’t even know talking shit about you. Or people walking down the street giving you weird looks. Maybe it’s happened before and I just never noticed? I don’t know. It’s weird, because part of me is really happy with the way things are. My job is exciting and interesting and Josh is awesome. But then I’ve got all these people I don’t even know who are saying things, and yeah, it bothers me. I wish it didn’t. But it does."

Julia held up a strapless rose-colored dress with a fitted bodice and a short, almost tutu like skirt.
"You’re one of the few people I know who could pull something like this off. With those silver high-heeled strappy sandals? Show off those legs of yours. It’s perfect."

Sky touched the dress, looked at the price tag. It was way more than she’d ever spent on a garment, but it was beautiful, and she thought she would probably look pretty good in it.
"I should try it on," she said. "But if it fits, yeah, I think this would be a good choice."

Chapter 21

They drove up to Tiburon, Sky in her rose-colored dress and silver shoes. Josh’s eyes had lit up when he saw her. She had piled her hair up on top of her head in a messy bun and had applied just a little bit of makeup. The house was a towering Victorian, set way back from the main road, down a long dri
veway flanked by sloping hills and illuminated by the full moon’s light. The driveway ended in a circle, in the middle of which there was a large fountain. The vehicles parked around the parameter of the driveway were Range Rovers, BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars - Sky even saw a Bentley and a Rolls Royce.

Sky looked down at her outfit, which seemed dowdy all of a sudden. She could only imagine what the people who owned those sorts of cars would wear.

"What kind of party is this?" she whispered as Josh parked the car behind a cherry red Ferrari. "And are they even going to let me through the front door dressed like this?"
Josh tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Why, Sky, are you nervous?" he asked, grinning. "My dear, you have nothing to be nervous about. You look stunning." He gestured to himself. "And it’s not like I’m wearing anything that spectacular myself."

Except he was, Sky knew, even though his clothing wasn’t flashy. His shirt was a simple long-sleeved black dress shirt, but she could tell by the way it felt and fit him that it was an expensive garment, as were his pants and his Italian loafers.

Sky held Josh’s hand as they walked into the house. Any excitement she had felt about going to this party had been replaced with anxiety, she suddenly felt as though she had no idea what she was getting herself into and that these people were going to be way out of her league.

"
You’re doing fine," Josh said under his breath as they stepped inside. "Just relax." He winked and gave her hand a squeeze.

The sound of a piano fille
d the air, something classical and dramatic. Sky felt like she was stepping into a movie. She peered to her left, into the sitting room, and saw a man in a tuxedo seated at a grand piano, his hands moving furiously back and forth over the keys. There were people standing in groups, women who looked like they were dressed for the opera, in long gowns, their hair swept up in perfect chignons. The lights glinted off of diamonds, strands of pearls. Sky swallowed, wanting to disappear into a corner. She felt silly in her dress, like a girl playing dress up with clothes she got from a free bin. There were women here wearing ball gowns, and here she was in some silly dress with whose bottom portion looked like a tutu. She was about to back out of the room and run out the front door when a beautiful woman wearing a fur stole over an expensive-looking midnight blue dress stopped in front of her and smiled.

"
You have great style," she said. She looked over at Josh. "Nice to see you again, Josh. Glad you could make it. Try some of the food, have a look around. I hope you enjoy yourselves."

"
Thank you, Isabelle," Josh said. "Isabelle, this is Sky, she’s been helping me go through my art and get it cataloged and organized."

Isabelle laughed.
"No easy task, I’m sure! Great to meet you, Sky."

"
You too," Sky said. "Thank you for having us."

"
I’m sure we’ll be seeing you at the auction next week, correct?" she asked, looking at Josh. "Marion Kushner’s entire post modern cityscape collection is going to be available. Amazing, isn’t it? That’s what I’m most looking forward to. It's funny, because I can’t stand the city, but I have always coveted her collection."

Sky was vaguely familiar with Marion Kushner, a local philanthropist who had donated considerable money to Sky’s school and
so had a building named after her. She didn’t know exactly what paintings were in the collection Isabelle was referring to, but she could only imagine how much it might go for. Were all these people that rich? She looked around, and realized she was probably the only person in the whole place who lived in rental apartment and who didn’t own a luxury car or an extensive art collection.

"
I’m usually always able to find one or two good things at Billingsgate," Josh said. "I suspect this one will be no different."

"
Well, I hope you’re also able to find something that might strike your fancy tonight. It’s a very good exhibit. Enjoy, you two." Isabelle winked at them and then walked off.

It was then that Sky was able to look past all the people in the room and see the art on the walls. Her eyes widened as she took in the images. It was like being in Josh’s secret room, except it was throughout the entire house. The paintings and drawings depicted nude men and women together, men with men, women with women. The art in the hallway showed group sex; the art in the dining room was of couples. Sky was aware of the people around her, studying the paintings, murmuring and a giggle here and there. Affixed in the corner of each
was the price tag, and every sum she saw was substantial.
Is this where Josh got most of his artwork from
?
In the small back room off the kitchen she found black and white photographs of couples, lying in bed, in the sand at the beach, standing in the kitchen in a passionate embrace. Sky found herself drawn to a photo of a larger woman, lying alone on a leopard print chaise lounge. The woman wasn’t looking directly at the camera but past it, maybe toward a man, or out a window. But the look on her face was one of complete contentment, of joy, and Sky found she couldn’t take her eyes away. Who was this woman? How was it possible that she could be so exposed, so completely exposed and so not what the stereotypical image of beauty was, yet be so completely at peace? Just looking at the photograph stirred a confidence in her. If this woman could allow not only a photographer to take her picture but then also allow it to be displayed like this, then surely she could be confident in herself and not care what other people thought about her relationship with Josh.

Eventually, she found Josh again and they went over to the food table, where an immaculate spread was laid out on the white linen. Waiters circulated with trays of champagne, and Sky took a flute and downed it in a few sips, replacing it on the tray as the waiter walked by.

"
I’ve seen some really great pieces here," she said as she picked up a plate. "Especially the photographs in the back room. Have you been back there yet?"

"
No, not yet." Josh shook his head. "Tell me what you liked."

Sky put a few crackers and Brie on her plate, along with two bacon-wrapped shrimp, and something that looked like a fruit kebab with strawberries, mango, and kiwi.

"There was one of a woman. And she was by herself, and she was...plus-sized. But just so confident and comfortable in her own skin, you could tell that just by looking at her. And you don’t know exactly what she’s looking at, but whatever it is, she’s happy about it. It's a great photograph."

"
I’ll have to check it out," Josh said. "I believe the photographer is Neil Porter. He lives in Marin, actually. Good guy. I wouldn’t mind acquiring a piece or two of his work. You’ll have to show me the photograph you’re talking about." He leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. "And I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but in the short time that we’ve been standing here, every man that has walked by has checked you out."

Sky glanced over her shoulder. A man was walking by, someone old enough to be her father, and he did, in fact, seem to let his eyes linger, even when his gaze made it up to her face and he saw that she was looking at him.

"Oh," she said, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.

"
Perhaps," Josh said, "one of the most beguiling things about you is the fact that you don’t know how beautiful you really are."

Sky felt herself blush, and when a different waiter walked by, she reached over and took another glass of champagne. Josh did the same, and he
clinked his glass against hers before they took a sip.

"
To you," he said.

They walked into the other rooms that Sky had not been in yet as she ate her food and drank another glass of champagne. She was starting to feel the slightest bit tipsy, and found herself biting back giggles, even though no one had said anything that funny. The art was very good and Josh held her hand and showed her pieces that he particularly liked.

"I think that one would look good right next to the Seamus McManus one," he said, pointing to a large black and white watercolor depicting two women in bed with a man, the sort of hyper-realistic painting that was almost impossible to distinguish from a photograph.

"
I like that one," Sky said. Her face felt flushed. "Do you know where the bathroom is?" Her bladder felt excruciatingly full all of a sudden.

"
It’s right down the hallway, to the left," Josh said, pointing. "I’ll wait here for you."

She kissed his cheek and then made her way down the hallway. The door was locked when she tried the handle, so she waited, her back pressed against the wall. A man came out a minute later, dressed in a light blue tuxedo.

"Good evening," he said to Sky, after looking her up and down.

"
Good evening!" she said, feeling emboldened by the champagne. "How are you this fine evening?" She giggled, and the man smiled in return.

"
I am quite enjoying myself," he said. "You’re here with Mr. Davis?"
"Yes. And you’re here with...?"

"
Myself. I don’t find bringing a date necessary to these sorts of things."

"
Do you come here often?"

The man’s smile widened.
"Just the line I was waiting to hear from you. I do, actually. Well, when they happen, I try to be there. These aren’t really the types of art gatherings you’d see advertised at the De Young now would you? But this is where the true talent lies, this is where all the heart and passion, the visceral, emotive feelings that real art provokes, that’s where this is. At these sorts of things. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that this is your first time? Because I certainly would’ve remembered you."

"
It is my first time." Sky stretched her shoulders back, trying to alleviate the pressure on her bladder. "And I’m really enjoying myself. But you’ll have to excuse me, because I feel like I’m about to burst."

The smile on the man’s face faltered, but he recovered quickly.
"We certainly wouldn’t want that to happen. I’ll leave you to it," he said. "It was nice meeting you."

In the bathroom, Sky closed the door behind her and locked it. It was a large room with a claw foot tub and a thick shag rug covering the middle portion of the floor. There was a porcelain bowl of rose petals next to the pedestal sink, and a large, gold-gilded mirror. She peed, and then washed her hands at the sink, looking at her reflection. She tried to see what Josh saw, what some of the other men apparently saw, but it was just herself, staring back. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes looked bright. She thought of the woman in the photograph, took a deep breath, and then turned and opened the door to leave.

A woman was waiting when Sky came out of the bathroom. Sky started to smile and then realized who it was.

"
Oh," she said. "Um, hi."

Ashley’s eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. She wore a tight black mini dress, her hair piled up on top of her head. Clearly, there was a specific type of look she was going for and not quite pulling it off. Sky almost felt a little bad for her.

"
I’m here to look at the art," Sky said.

"
This party is invite-only," Ashley said. "I’d love to know how you managed to sneak in."

"
I came here with my boyfriend, actually," Sky said. It was the first time she’d referred to Josh as her boyfriend, and she didn’t even know if this was actually the case or not, but it sounded good.

Ashley snorted.
"Sure. Likely story."

"
Well, according to you, I’ve got more than enough boyfriends to spare, so it shouldn’t be that surprising that I’ve got at least one who gets invited to these sorts of things, right?" She gave Ashley a sweet smile.

"
Are you implying that I’ve said things about you?"

"
I might be, yes."

"
The only things I’ve said about you are the truth. So if you’re uncomfortable with the truth, then you might want to take a serious personal inventory."

"
Gee, thanks for the life advice, Ashley." Sky took a step closer to the woman. "I don’t know why you feel the need to say anything about me, now that I’m no longer working there. I’d actually really appreciate it if you’d stop."

"
Everything all right, ladies?"

Sky turned, hearing Josh’s voice. He had come up behind her, placing a hand on her lower back. Sky watched Ashley take all this in, a look of disbelief on her face. Her eyes darted from Josh to Sky, and then back again.

"Oh, here’s my boyfriend," Sky said, not caring that it was entirely possible Josh would contradict her. She felt his hand tighten a little at her back and then relax.