Illicit Canvas: political romance and stand alone romance Read Online Free PDF

too distracted. After my day is over, I run back home knowing that I have few hours to get ready.
    Colin calls when I walk through the door, asking if I fancy going for a drink tonight. I lie, telling him that I have a headache, and he doesn’t press.
    Maja is spread on the living room floor with a stack of science books.
    “Do you want a painkiller? I have a few in the drawer.”
    “No, I’m really fine,” I say, biting my lip. “I lied about the headache.”
    She looks up, frowning. “What’s wrong? You look so flustered and you have this strange grin on your face.”
    I drop my bag and flop on the sofa, knowing that I have to tell her that I met Ethan again. For some reason I trust Maja and feel I can confide in her.
    “I met someone,” I say, grinning like it’s the best day of my life. Oh my God, I really need to get a grip. Ethan might be married or engaged to someone really hot and closer to his own age.
    Sitting back on the floor, Maja tosses her blond hair behind her shoulder and raises her left eyebrow. “As in, someone else other than Colin?” she asks.
    “A couple of days ago I went to a gallery near the University and I was so engrossed by one of the paintings that I completely forgot where I was and started to pretend that I was in the workshop, painting,” I explain, feeling a little lame about this now. “And this older guy started talking to me … and he was so hot, so handsome. We talked a little, but I panicked and left.”
      “What’s so special about him? Colin is cute and he’s crazy about you.”
    I sigh, remembering the turmoil of emotions that I experienced when Ethan spoke to me for the first time. “I felt some attraction or a spark … I can’t explain it, something that I have never felt towards anyone else–”
    “Not even Colin?” she asks, cutting me off.
    “No, and oh dear God, it was like there was this instant connection between us. I don’t believe in instant love ... well, it can’t be love, but I was so flustered.”
    I have to stop and breathe in because it’s definitely weird talking about this with a girl like Maja, but she is already back on her feet with her hands on her hips, eyeing me intensely.
    “Holy crap, you’re turned on just by talking to him?”
    I get flustered in an instant, covering my face, and nod shyly. “And today I picked this gallery on the other side of town, and guess what? He was there again. He approached me when I was asking one of the curators about something. Then one thing led to another and we had a coffee.”
    Maja shakes her head, probably thinking about Colin. Yes, this is so unfair, but I haven’t done anything wrong. I had a coffee with another man who is willing to help me, but at what cost?
    “Right, and? What happened after that?”
    At that point I don’t have any choice, so I have to tell her about the painting that I’ve been searching for since I turned eighteen, the painting that could lead me to finding my father. Maja doesn’t need to know stuff about my past yet. I don’t like bringing it up, giving her the impression that I can’t control my emotions.
    “And you agreed to this? To go out with him?” she asks, laughing.
    “Yes, but it’s not a date. He’s only helping me with the search. I know that I’m attracted to him, but how do I know if he’s attracted to me?”
    “I’ve been told that it’s a mutual thing, darling. He definitely wants to get into your pants. Is that how guys talk these days?”
      “Yes, something like that.” I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “Apart from that, well, there is another thing.”
    “Yes, what’s that?”
    “Ethan is much older than me and he has a really high-paying job in the European Parliament.”
    “And what’s that got to do with anything?” she asks, shrugging. “Older? So like how much older, five years?”
    I look down at my hands and start flexing my fingers.
    “Geee … I don’t know, maybe twenty years older than me,” I say. Anyway,