Chapter 10

10

OPAL

I often get lost in my work – like a trance, but not in the way that makes you slow down or get sleepy. More like so revved up that time itself loses all meaning because I can't keep up with my mind as it expands to solve every problem and task.

After switching from still photos to video, I fall into the work for…who knows how long. I can't be sure. I only know that my shoulders are stiff and my knees are green from crawling around on the grass. Has the light changed? Has that wind gotten more erratic?

I've been even more careful about wind shifts after listening to Liam’s pep talk about fire’s chaotic nature. It's the only thing I've been pausing for as I play with the flames.

I add some more steel wool and cotton, shooting another few sections before sitting back and letting the flames die down. Damn, they got a bit high that time. It’s okay. The garden hose is right nearby, and it rained hard recently.

My gaze drifts to the garage. Where Liam first kissed me like…like he wanted to show me he needs me forever. Where I first started having real feelings for him. Where I became completely aware that he wants me.

My entire body is still ringing from our intense experience last night. Funny how I wish he were with me all the time, except maybe when I'm working. It was a blast shooting his grill with him as my assistant, but I couldn't get as lost in the moment with him there.

If we keep growing closer, I hope he doesn't start hovering while I'm working. Twenty percent of the time it would be fun to have a sexy assistant. One hundred percent would drive me nuts. Would that offend him? Would he play the "I'm a firefighter so I know best" card?

I know Liam wouldn't ever want to stifle my creativity, but things like this are really hard to explain to non-creative people. Maybe I'll work on that. And hope that he's working on not being overly controlling when it comes to my projects.

Jumping to my feet, I shake everything loose, then check my phone. A heavy sigh washes through my body when I see his message. He's worried about me. Of course he is.

I'm getting the impression that Liam feels responsible for the safety of my projects now. Which is sweet, I guess. I mean, a guy should want his…it's too soon to use the word girlfriend…his "female companion of undetermined seriousness" to be safe. That’s sweet.

But of course, with him, it's more than that. He's a firefighter . It could be incredibly awkward if his buddies ask him about my work. Wow… They wouldn't kick him out for hanging out with a dangerous person, would they?

Damn, I hope not.

Falling back on the grass, I pick up my camera to capture video of the dying embers and their wispy curls of smoke.

What kind of a relationship are we going to have if Liam is ashamed to introduce me as his girlfriend? Are people in town going to see me playing with fire, and think I'm an arsonist? I can’t change the focus of my art at this point. No way. But?—

I stare into space, thinking. I would never have thought I would change the subject matter I'm infatuated with, and I still won’t. But for Liam, I might be willing to change the location and method.

Once we've been together for a few months, assuming everything goes well, and we are really stable, I bet I could ask him to help me find an unused parking lot or something.

Yeah… Considering his position, I might have to make a few changes. Flames follow the fuel. What zigs and zags am I willing to make to follow my relationship with an incredible man?

My shoulder blades hit the grass and I fall back, laughing to myself. In school, it always got my back up if a woman tried to change herself for a man. I told them no guy was worth it. And here I am ready to consider anything.

Yep, decision made. Well, the decision to consider all options at least. Which is in itself a decision. I'm ready to be open to all safety issues in the interest of keeping Liam calm and happy. That's a start, and hopefully enough for the moment.

Straightening up, I grab my camera again?—

Wait.

Why do I smell smoke?

Leaping up, I look around. The mound of ashes in the enormous old frying pan I found at the secondhand store are barely smoldering. And there was hardly any scent to that fire, even when the flames were nearly a foot in the air.

This is a different scent. Acrid.

Maybe my nostrils are just freaking out because I've been burning so many different things today.

I blow my nose, then start to tidy everything up, beginning with the garage, just in case I did drop a small spark.

Suddenly, I'm genuinely nervous. I've never screwed up before. My hands shake as I search frantically all over the place.

Not only does the safety of the neighborhood depend on me not messing up, so does my budding relationship with the man that…yeah, might as well admit it…

That I truly hope is the one.