HIS FOR THE TAKING

nude female form Ava Sinclair had meticulously painted. Sitting back, she felt the

e. Her self-portrait revealed her delicate features frozen in a mix of ecstasy and defiance as she admired

upbringing had drilled into her the importance of innocence and modesty above al

beautiful and worthy of study rather than shame. Each nude self-portrait she created helped shed layers of societal guil

over her like a wave. This painting was different - it was her masterpiece, si

a curse, she silenced the device, almost spilling her cold coffee. The 25-year-old

r chestnut hair into a messy bun. She discarded her tattered oversized shirt and crossed the

va muttered in disgust as she pulled the black polyester polo

age between stale beer and diner grea

l shining with wet oils in the candlelight. She couldn't resist a sly smirk at how thoroughly she

essed the subject of the portrait with a saucy wink. Her attention quickly shot back to

on and beaten messenger bag serving as her purse. With a deep breath to brace herself, the artist-turned-server fl

ng against the linoleum steps. Despite the chores awaiting her, a serene smile traced it's way up her li

ready frizzing from the muggy summer night air. She scanned the cramped back hallway w

doorway leading to the main dining room. Len's bushy caterpillar eyebrows furrowed as he crossed his meaty ar

Ava began babbling her excuses in a breathless ru

ve wave. "I don't give a crap about your fingerpainting hobby. You clock in 10

ing cheap diner slop to ungrateful savages, it was her only tether to survival. Having no family, n

ut her lower lip in a petulant pout that made her look younger than her 25 years. "I

than to further test the volcanic temper of the miserly old man who looked at his

gainst hers perhaps a little too closely. "Then get your sweet ass out on the floor befo

lding. As she hurried to the time clock, she muttered under her breath, "Prick. Y

narrow waist and made her way into the bustling dining room. Plastering on her warmest smile, she grabbed h

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