We arrive at the restaurant and are seated, we talk about our favorite bands and about trips to different parts of the US. I found out she loved camping, that she got interested in making jewelry by starting off collecting rocks from areas they visited. It slowly grew and turned into her profession. She loved all kinds of art though, that's why her shop is more than just a gallery and jewelry store, it was a workshop and offered art classes too.
"It sounds like you were able to combine your passion and career fairly well, that must be rewarding."
"It was at first, but now, I'm doing more office work than I care to. I've hardly been able to try and create, it's more about putting out more and more of the same few pieces. The repetition is killing my creative thinking. I have a great employee that helps in teaching the classes, another two run the jewelry store and gallery portion, but the one that's been helping me out with the office work is pregnant and is about to have to take her leave. The two people I have working in the shop for minor things are part time only and so.." She shrugs, "Sorry, I didn't mean to start rambling on about my problems, I just really want it to do well."
"I don't mind, it's your passion and your job, they're both important to you. I would love to see your work actually." I tell her honestly. Her passion when she talks about her work tells me that I would love what she does.
She darts here eyes down and back up to mine, a large smile spreading across her face, "Alright. When would you like to see it?" She asks timidly.
"Why not now?" I suggest, enjoying her smile.
She perks at that, with a surprised laugh, "Seriously?"
"Yes. Our bills been paid, why not?" I lean closer to her and say softly, "Unless you had something else in mind to do after this?"
She shakes her head, so I stand and offer her my hand.
"Then shall we?"
She takes my hand and we head towards her store. When we arrive I take note of the lights still on and people going inside.
"You're still open for business?"
"Not really, that's the art students going in. The jewelry shop part is locked up, well here," She takes my hand and pulls me with her, "you'll see."
We enter through the door and I do see that the jewelry store portion is locked up behind clear glass walls and doors, while the art gallery area is open to allow the students to enter the studio for class. She takes me into the gallery.
A few people wave and say hi on their way to the studio, Sarina nodding her hello in return as take in the art available.
"Can you pick out which ones are mine?" Sarina asks pointing to the art up on the walls.
I look at every one of them trying to think of how I could figure it out. "Let me think..." I take my time going from piece to piece and find myself going back to one of a night time forest scene. Remembering she enjoyed camping, I go with my instinct.
"This one?"
She nods her approval, "Yes, you're good. I also did the owl over there. The rest are our other artists that produced some of them in that studio." She still has my hand and pulls me into the studio.
The teacher waves hi to us, but walks through everyone setting up their places. Some of them were already at work, painting or drawing their own artwork. The teacher starts talking about perspective and remembering the way light hits objects. We quietly step closer and I'm amazed at some of these peoples talent.
We leave the studio after a few minutes and she takes me to the jewelers workshop adjacent to the studio. There's a kiln and a guy in there working at it.
He doesn't even look our way but says, "Art students are to stay in the studio, this area is for employees only."
"Well it's a damn good thing I'm an employee here, Art." Sarina chuckles and the man turns around.
He's a husky fellow in his late fifties with a short kept dark beard, and bright blue eyes that light up seeing Sarina.
"I didn't know you'd be stopping by tonight. I'm finishing up making the castings for that feather necklace that was ordered. Who's your friend?" He comes over and puts a calloused hand out for me to shake.
"Arthur, this is Brian..." Sarina says.
"Brian, nice to meet you. Call me Art." He says giving me a firm shake of the hand.
"Art, nice to meet you as well."
Sarina clears her throat, "He wanted to my art, so I figured I would show him some of my pieces. I know that necklace takes a lot of feather castings. We won't be here long." She motions for me to follow her to a locked case, in which she opens using a number code. She opens the door and inside are some beautiful art deco style pieces of jewelry.
"These are a special order from one of my best clients. She orders a full set for the winter holidays every year. I still have to finish a ring and earrings to match, but this is the bracelet, necklace and tiara."
"Wow! That's amazing. It's so intricate, I can only imagine how many hours this must all take."
Art's voice interrupts, "Even more curse words!"
A laugh escapes me, "I can see why. This is gorgeous. Does she tell you what style or do you draw something up and talk design?"
She closes the locked case and let's out a thoughtful hum, "The first two years, I drew stuff up and we went over designs. The last three, she tells me color or stone choice and lets me do as my heart wishes as long as I remain within the budget."
I rub the back of my head, "May I inquire what the budget would be for just the necklace?"
Sarina laughs, "The necklace if I was to put it out in the front for sale would be around, four thousand. That's not what I charge her, but she visits and brings other customers here throughout the year, so we try to show her our appreciation where we can."
"It's good to know that someone appreciates your talent and creativity like that."
Sarina gazes at my eyes, hypnotized in each others smiles as she agrees. I find myself unable to tear my sight from her beautiful face, with her rosy, flushed cheeks, her radiant, bright smile, those eyes that make me want to fall to my knees.
"Sarina, since you're here, can I get you to sign off on ordering some more borax supplies? We're getting low." Art's question breaks the moment apart.
Sarina shaking her head, grumbles, "Yeah, I'll go write it down on the order sheet right now."
She starts to walk away but turns around and informs me, "I'll just be one minute. I need to write this down for Barb tomorrow, when she calls in the order for delivery."
"Sure thing, I'll head back out to the art class. Art, it was nice meeting you." I say with a wave.
Art waves back, going back to his molten metal and placing it into another machine. I head out to the art studio and see the room is hard at work on their pieces for the class. I stroll over to the door by the gallery and look at the pictures up on the walls. They were all beautiful pieces, but I didn't notice the owl picture she had mentioned earlier.
I walked over and took a closer look at the barn owl. It was breathtaking. It stood on the branch of a tree at night, little owlet eyes could be see peeking out from the hollow of a tree. I looked at the price sticker next to it and was stunned. I walked over to some of the other pieces in the gallery and saw that hers were not priced as high as I felt that they should be.
It's not long till Sarina comes back out and smiles. "Well, where to now?" She asks, stepping up to my side.
I snake a hand around her waist, pulling her closer to me, "Where would you like to go?"
She places her arms on top of my own, giving me a demure smile with a flutter of her lashes, "Somewhere private, preferably."
I raise a brow and bite my bottom lip, catching her meaning. "Then what are we waiting for?"
She smiles and turns from my arms, taking my hand and directs us back to my car. I chuckle to myself at how eager she is. I stick my hand in my pocket and click the remote to the toy on.
"Oh!" She let's out a startled cry but quickly composes herself as I open the car door for her.
I let her in, and as I step to my side, click the button again. I see her legs tense as I'm buckling up and turning the car on.
"Ready?" I ask her, not hiding the mischievous grin on my face.
"Yes." She whimpered in response as I start to head to my house.
I press the button on the remote again as we get down the road, making her begin to pant.
"You okay, Sarina?" I feign innocence to her situation.
"I want you so bad..." She admits, gripping the arm rest as I press the button again, changing the rhythm of the vibrations.
She creates a whine caught in a moan, as her legs begin to rub together, seeking friction.
"Do you now? Patience, we will be there soon enough." I pay attention to the road, trying my best not to pay attention to her starting to writhe in the seat next to me. I pull up to my apartment, turn down the power of the bullet and grab her bag from the back.
"This is your place, right?" She asks, still panting as we make our way to my door.
"Yes, I thought you'd like to enjoy sleeping in and on a better bed than the one at the club."
She nods as we enter my place, "I like the sound of that."
I take and set her bag down and turn to ask her if she'd like something to drink, to find her slipping out of her dress to stand in just her heels and a hungry look.