Reckless Rylee

Painting a Masterpiece | Kendrick&Rylee

Rylee knew Kendrick wasn’t as entirely comfortable with the idea of spending his day painting as he let on. He was someone who needed to be constantly busy, his fidgeting leaving very little time for silence or quiet reflection that was needed in the creative process. With that in mind she had pulled out all the stops, spending the better part of the day filing balloons with paint and laying dropcloths and canvases all around the hidden loft part of her studio. She was just about finished when she heard the door open below her, sticking her head over the rail she whistled. “Come on up.”

“You may indeed. Guess you’ll just have to try harder next time, huh?” Rylee quipped as she stepped away. “I’ll see you tomorrow, remember to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. I’d hate for you to have to walk home naked.”

“Already planned on it.” Kendrick replied with a slight smile as he watched Rylee step away, shaking his head at her words. “I’ll just paint naked instead, then my clothes won’t get dirty at all.” He shrugged, as if he was actually considering it, before backing up in the direction he was originally headed. “See ya then, Carlyle.”

“I can’t wait.” Kendrick held in his excitement well, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t grinning from ear to ear at the idea of being alone with the woman even if he knew that it was only to throw paint. When she poked him again he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I dare you to let me try. Who knows? I may surprise you.”

"You may indeed. Guess you’ll just have to try harder next time, huh?” Rylee quipped as she stepped away. “I’ll see you tomorrow, remember to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. I’d hate for you to have to walk home naked.”

“You know, I’d ask why you’re so mean to me but then again I’m afraid of the answer.. How’s tomorrow sound? I’m pretty free the whole day and I love making messes.” At the grin Kendrick matched it with one of his own. “Well that’s all I can do until you wipe the sleep from your eyes and realize I’m the man of your dreams.” He teased, rubbing his chest where she poked him as he laughed lightly and leaned in a little closer. “I mean, only if you asked nicely.”

"Tomorrow sounds perfect. I’ll clear my schedule.” Not that there was a lot in her diary at the moment. Her pieces were selling but inspiration was severely lacking. She poked him again at his insinuation, grinning as he leaned forward. “You couldn’t handle me Kendrick, stick to the finger painting.”

“Good so you’re not new to the sensation then,” he laughed, shaking his head as he started to trace the image onto the transfer paper. “So is this a relationship thing? Letting go of a jackass?” he asked curiously, glancing up at her through thick lashes before he focused on the drawing once more.

"Yeah, old boyfriend... he came back into my life recently only to leave it just as quickly as he had destroyed it.” She was just lucky she hadn’t revealed her biggest secret to the jackass or broke her daughter’s heart. Clearing her throat, she watched him work. “Can’t imagine its the first time you’ve had to do something like this.”

“Ooh, you can paint me like one of your french girls.” Kendrick joked a bit, though he couldn’t hide his excitement. “In all seriousness I would love to. Just tell me when.” The grin he wore fell into a pout at her comment about not taking his advances seriously, glancing down at his shoes for a moment. “Kinda makes me wonder what advances you would take seriously.” As he looked back up he was smiling again, watching the woman before him. Rolling his eyes he shook his head before he opened his mouth to respond. “I’m not about to walk around naked with a five year old running around. I’m reckless but not that reckless.”

“I’d need a magnifying glass. Just let me know what day you want to do it, I’ve got enough supplies hanging around the studio for you to make a mess.” Rylee grinned, shrugging her shoulders. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” Another snort was his next answer as Rylee poked him in the chest. "Let me guess, you’d keep that for when you were babysitting me right?”

“Good philosophy to have,” he chuckled, moving to take a seat beside the chair. “Yeah we can do that, I think it’ll look pretty great,” he said as he opened up a new needle and grabbed a few clean wipes. “Lay on your back for now, I’ll have you move a little once I get down a little farther. You ever had a tattoo before?”

Dragging her shirt up she moved into position, folding her arm under her head as she watched him idly move around the shop. “I’ve got a few. It was my way of rebelling against my overbearing father once I left home. Nothing like new ink to rub him the wrong way at the dinner table. But I haven’t got anything done since my daughter was born. Thought I’d change that.”

“You’d really let me do that?” He couldn’t help the slight grin that spread across his face at her offer. He didn’t normally take many people seriously when they spoke of ‘helping’ Kendrick get rid of his debt, but he actually trusted Rylee to keep her word if it ever came down to it. He shrugged then, chuckling at her response. “I had to at least try. You’ve shot down all my other advances.” Kendrick teased, nodding as he gave thought to what he usually wore in his free time. “Well you’re right about that. I walk around naked on my days off.”

“Of course. Art is subjective. There’s plenty of fat cats out here that would pay double if we marketed it right. You could paint with your butt and they would flock to see it.” It was an option and considering the size of her studio, it wasn’t like she didn’t have the room. “Please, your advances are hardly anything I take seriously.” Rylee snorted out a laugh at the image, running her hand through her hair. "See now that would shock her far more than any frilly apron. Hell I think it would shock me.”

Caleb watched closely, admiring her smooth handiwork before he took the pad and studied the design, eyes lifting to hers. “Can’t think of a better reason than that,” he said with a nod, stepping around the bar and gesturing to a chair. “Where are you thinking of getting it?”

"One door closes, another opens? Right?” Rylee answered with a shrug, motioning to her side as she took a seat. “Just across there. What do you think?”

“Throwing paint on things? I never get invited to do the fun stuff.” He snapped his fingers and gave a pout, before he was laughing again at her words. “I don’t have any doubt about that. I’ve seen her mother in action.” He paused for just a moment, as if honestly considering it. “Hm, do I get to stay in your bed? If so I’m in.. Except me in a French maid outfit may raise a few questions with the little one.”

"Well if you say please, I can always invite you to make a mess in my studio next time. Commission pieces could go a long way to paying off your debt...” Despite her teasing, it was a genuine offer. It wasn’t like Orras cared how their debts were paid, as long as they were rolling in green at the end of it. “I’m not the one you need to be babysitting.” Rylee smirked, shaking her head at his audacity. “She’s open minded, besides I have a feeling you walk around in worse stuff on your days off.”

“I don’t mind coming over to help. Shame to let a perfectly good couch go to waste.” Kendrick winked, chuckling at the slight nudge. “That’s good to hear.. A motorcycle? Can she even ride a bike yet? Ooh, fifteen? I mean I could but you’d have to pay child support.”

"I’m thinking of just throwing paint on it and being done with it. Maybe I’ll sell it and make it a statement piece.” Considering the amounts of money some of the upper-east siders paid for a splash of paint on canvas, something like that could probably pay her rent for the next six years.  “She’s five, believe me she can do anything she puts her mind to. Child support? I was thinking you’d just become a live in nanny. French maid outfit and all.”

"Uh huh, I’m still trying to clean up the blood splatter off my couch.” Rylee teased, nudging him with her elbow. “Davina is fine. She’s already trying to con me into buying her a motorcycle like her favourite babysitter. You sure you don’t want to take her for the next fifteen years?”

“You got it,” he said as he grabbed his sketchbook and slid it over to her. “Sure thing, I can understand that,” Caleb nodded, grabbing a few glasses to clean them out. “Anything in particular making you want to get a tattoo?”

Rylee took the sketchbook, sketching out the outline of what she wanted. Finally handing it over for his inspection. “Put it this way, I’m closing a door on a piece of my past and I want to commemorate the moment.”

"Suck up.” Rylee grinned as she turned her attention from Kendrick’s admirer to the man himself. “Oh you know, can’t complain. Haven’t had anyone turn up on my doorstep with blood gushing from their nose this week.”