Ethan picked up the phone, unable to hide the smile that immediately appeared on his face when he saw Adrian's name on the screen. "Hey, love. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" he greeted warmly.
Adrian's soft chuckle drifted over the line. "I just missed you. You've been busy lately, and it felt like I hadn't heard your voice all day."
Ethan leaned back in his office chair, relaxing into the conversation. "Busy? That's an understatement. But hearing from you makes up for it." He lowered his voice, sounding playful. "Should I be worried that you're calling me in the middle of the day? Are you up to something?"
Adrian laughed softly, and Ethan could almost see the smile that was surely on his face. "Actually… maybe I am. Just a little surprise for you."
"A surprise, huh?" Ethan grinned, intrigued. "Are you painting something for me?"
"Maybe," Adrian replied coyly. "You'll just have to wait and see."
