Well, ouch.
“How about I pay you with something else and we don't have to get married?” The hope in her eyes made me want to smile. She's not getting away from this. We're already in too deep.
I breathed out through my nose, tapping my fingers on my thigh. "Tessa…" I c****d my head to one side, as if to let her know nothing else was going to work.
She hesitated, lips quivering like a mouse backed to a wall. "I can paint.." she eventually said. "My ex and sister have been selling my paintings. I could make copies for you to sell as well."
It was like nobody was taking a breath for a moment. The way she said it—as if it meant nothing, as if she was making an offhand comment—made my chest tighten up.
Paintings.
My mum used to love art. She said it was the one thing in the entire univers
