Chapter 2
Saturday arrived and Lexi inspected herself in the mirror before she went out. She pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail and wore very light make-up. She headed out the door and made her way to the stop at the corner of her apartment building to wait for the bus. A few moments later she arrived at the stop and got on as the bus pulled up. She took a seat and put on her earphones as she listened to music. The ride was long but eventually she got to her stop in front of the place where she was to meet Connor Smith.
It had started to rain, light sprinkles at first and then it became a downpour soaking her to the bone as she walked across the street. She entered the café' and there he was wearing what he said he would wear. He was sitting there reading the paper and drinking his coffee. The odd thing is that he was still wearing his dark sunglasses. As she walked in his direction he looked up at her.
"Hello I'm ..."
"Miss Morgan, I know." He answered. "Please have a seat."
She sat across from him and then he removed his sunglasses revealing his unnaturally deep blue eyes.
"It's quite wet out there, so I apologize for looking like a drowned rat." Lexi said.
"That is fine." He answered in a mechanical emotionless tone.
"So I understand you're looking for an art model?"
"Yes." He answered.
And then he pulled out what looked like a briefcase.
"Here is some of my work." He told her.
She took the brief case and unzipped it. She flipped through pages of sketches. There was one of a man in long dark coat and dark sunglasses that flying through mid air that caught her attention. She looked at it for a long time
"This is quite interesting." She said.
"He was someone I knew from a long time ago." He told her.
"Oh I take it he, somewhat inspired you?"
"Not really, just one day I was doodling as you call it and there he was."
"It's quite good."
"Thank you."
"So tell me, how long have you been doing this?" She asked him.
"For awhile." He answered.
She continued to flip through the sketches and another drawing caught her eye. The sketch was of a woman in tight shiny black cat suit, she had short black hair.
"She's very pretty. Is she another one of your models?" Lexi asked.
"Not exactly." Smith answered.
"Oh."
"She comes to me in my thoughts as well and a lot of times I start drawing her too."
"I have to say you are quite talented Mr. Smith."
"Thank you."
"So why, are looking for a 'muse'?" She asked.
He looked at her intensely with his deep blue eyes, she could not break his gaze.
"I would actually like to explore another side of myself that has been lying dormant for quite sometime." He explained.
"Okay."
"So tell me about yourself." He said as he leaned closer and not breaking eye contact.
"Well I am going to school right now." Lexi told him.
"Really?"
"Well I am trying to get my degree so I can own my own art gallery someday."
"That sounds like a very good goal Miss Morgan. One question though?" Smith asked.
"Yes?"
"Are you comfortable with posing nude?"
This was kind of a bizarre question coming from a man she had just met. She had posed nude for drawing classes in college and yes she felt comfortable. But she had to make sure this Mr. Smith was not some pervert.
"Well yes I am but I do have my limits." She answered.
"I understand. I just want to let you know, Miss Morgan this is strictly professional and I am in no way a pervert. I have no desire for that sort of thing." He reassured her.
It was like he read her mind.
"Well uh, that's good."
"I can pay you very well for your time, all I ask is that you sit for me, nothing more." Smith told her.
She continued to look through his sketches and they talked some more. Finally he handed her a business with his name and number.
"Are you available Monday evening?" He asked.
She had to look at day planner and double check. She looked back up at him.
"Yes actually. I'm available after 6 p.m. that day." She told him.
"Good I will see you then. I look forward to working with you" Smith said.
Lexi looked at her watch and realized she needed to be somewhere.
"It's getting late, I have to be somewhere. It was nice meeting you." She said
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Morgan."
She made her way out the café' as Smith watched her leave. As soon as she left, he took out his sketch pad and pencil and started to draw.
