Chapter 11

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Who ever is bothering me at this time of the morning is going to get a mouthful I think as I gulp a second sip of my coffee.
I haven't even gotten half way through my coffee, who ever this is, is dancing with danger.
"What the" I begin pressing the intercoms speaker, "fuck do you want?" I spit viscously. And I wait for a reply, but it's delayed, I press the button again," so are you going to speak up or forever hold you peace" I'm pissed off even more now.

A breathless raspy voice sounds through my speaker and I immediately curse at myself, "Good Morning Echo, it's Harry, I've been trying to get through to you for days but I couldn't" he answers
I slap my palm to my head.
"Oh" that's who all the private calls have been.
"Um, come on up"
I rush around looking for something to wear and cover my singlet. I find a paint splattered sweatshirt and pull that on. I take a quick look in the mirror.
Great I think looking at myself, my messy bun with my fringe sticking up instead of down. My work sweatshirt together with my pyjama pants and fluffy socks look rush and mixed mashed because they are.
I give up on trying to fix my hair or trying to find an alternative to change.

I hear the light knock at my door.
I breathe in and as I open the door and take in this image of an incredibly sexy man, I breathe out through gritted teeth. I lick my bottom lip and swing my arm to invite him in.

Dressed in black boots, black jeans, white shirt, buttons half way undone and a grey winter coat, he looks pretty perfect. I smile at him as he passes a tray of take out coffee from Starbucks, this makes him automatically perfect I think as I take the large coffee from him.
He walks into the lounge room after me, a step behind but closes enough to hear him chuckle to him self.
"What's so funny?" I ask sitting down.
"Have you been painting this morning?" I shake my head and answer, "no, are you insane, no coffee no workee"

He brings the cup up to his lips and gently blows before taking a sip.
I wait quietly, mostly because I'm shocked he is here and secondly because I'm still drowsy.
"I've been calling you for days, I tried different times of the day, unsure of what you were up to this weekend?"
"Not much, boring really"
"So how's the coffee?" He smiles
"You get a brownie point for it" so far he has a few points. Whats the point I ask myself?, not taking my eyes off his, it's not like he would be remotely interested in me, he already has one female with issues, he wouldn't want another one.

"A brownie point?" He questions with a cocked eyebrow.
"It's an Aussie thing, don't worry about it, so what's with the coffee? I also raise my brows, smiling slightly.
"It's a truce for letting me in, I thought it would be dangerous to show up this earlier on a Sunday without a coffee...sweetener love" here we go with the love again, I shake my head, laughing at him.
He tells me his sister was grateful for the contacts and has already made appointments, he has been busy with work because he's away, so he couldn't make it to the meetings so he Skyped a fair bit.
I nod along with him and just watch as the words fall from his mouth.
I find myself distracted by this face, his eyes and the way they light up when he speaks of his sister and work. He must realise I'm not listening,
"Earth to Echo!" He repeats swaying his hands in front of his face.
I mentally come back to the room feeling embarrassed.
He removes his grey coat, gently placing it on the couch.
"yeah, um...sorry it's still my first cup of coffee, I'll need at least 2 more before I make sense"
I answer getting up and walking into the kitchen, thank god I had my coffee brewing before he came. I fill a large mug and add milk.
I walk with my eyes down cast and I crash straight into Harry who was on his way to the kitchen.
"Ouch" we both say. Coffee everywhere, on both of us and on the floor.
"Sorry" we both repeat. They dark coffee has stained his white shirt and I feel like an idiot.
"Um I can wash that for you. You didn't get burnt did you?
"No I'm fine, no burns" he looks down, then continues "yeah if you could that would be great" he starts taking off his shirt and I don't know where to look so I continue looking downwards.

"Here you go love" he hands me the shirt and I stand there but I'm not sure why.
I steal a glance at his half naked body. Full of various tattoos including two birds up the top either side of his collarbones.

I feel his fingers on me, he slowly moves my head up by lifting it with his fingers on my chin. It's been a while since any man or any person has touch me. I don't do hugs and shit. I like my own space.
His hands are still on my chin as he adds "you alright love?" The nodding of my head removes his finger from my skin but I still feel the after burn from his touch.
"I'll just go pop this in the wash" I walk to the laundry and put his shirt through a wash dry cycle and go into my studio to see if I have something big enough for him to wear. It's too cold plus I don't think I could keep staring at his upper body the way I am. I could but I shouldn't.

I return to the lounge room to find him laying on the couch with one of my art folio's in his beautiful hands.
"Oh enjoying yourself? Making yourself at home"
"Sorry, you definitely aren't a morning person are you?" he asks. "No, no I am not" I reply sitting down. My shirts covered in coffee but I don't care because it's an art shirt anyway.
I put my hand out and offer him a shirt. He looks puzzled, I don't believe he cares if he's shirtless but damn it's making me hot and bothered.
He laughs and pulls the shirt on but doesn't button it up.
He loves amazing in my white paint splatter mess of a shirt.

"So can I see your studio?" He asks with a smile. I have only allowed a few people into my studio and they are potential buyers that have posed for me.
I don't know if I can do this, he'll be here for at least another hour, waiting for his shirt.
I fidget with my hands pulling at a button on my shirt.
"So?"
"Um ok, it's a bit private but seeing you may chose something for your work, I'll just pretend you're a potential buyer" I smirk and he rolls his eyes at me standing up and following me down the hall way.
I let him enter first but I regret it immediately. I am such a fucking idiot, I beat myself up.
He just stands there not moving, taking in all the drawings and that 3x3 painting of his eyes.
I wish I could crawl into a hole and hide because I know what's coming next.
Harry turns around to face me with a look I can only decipher as puzzled.
"So that's this then, love?!"
I stop breathing

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