“Do you know what he’s saying?”
“Most of it. He was just telling me about himself.” And you.
“Get to know him later. Tell him I still have another transfer to go, but he can get started on the two I have ready. I’ll bring the last one down to San Diego when I’m done. Tell him I’ll call before I’m on my way. Better yet, I’ll have you call. That way, if he needs anything, you can tell me what he says.”
Grace relayed everything. Hector had questions. “He needs to know where he’s staying while he works down there. He can’t keep driving back and forth, and he doesn’t like sleeping in his car.”
“What the—？” Roman exploded, but managed to swallow the rest. “The hotel was supposed to put him up. We’ll get that straightened out. Pronto. Call the hotel and remind them he was to get a room free of charge so he can stay and work. That was part of the deal. They can now add meals in the restaurant, since he’s been running back and forth. And tell him to take time off and go to the zoo, where he can see some real, live animals.”
“Is that a suggestion or an order? Zoos are expensive.”
Roman dug for his wallet, extracted a hundred-dollar bill, and handed it to Hector, who looked confused until Grace explained. The guy grinned like a happy kid and talked fast.
“He says—”
“Yeah, yeah. I can guess.” Roman dismissed the thanks. He picked up two long, numbered cardboard tubes and handed them to Hector. “Tell him to charge whatever supplies he needs at the usual place. I’ll see him as soon as I can. I want to get this job finished. Pronto.” He held out his hand, and Hector shook it.
Hector grinned at Grace. “I guess that means he’s done with me.”
She laughed. “I guess so. I’ll walk you to the door.” She went a few steps ahead before Roman demanded her attention.
“After you show Hector out, I could use a cup of coffee.”
“What’s in the pot, or fresh?”
“Fresh.”
Hector was in no hurry to leave. Grace made coffee while they talked. He said it was going to be a relief having her around. He’d like to get to know the man he worked for. They talked for another ten minutes at the door before Hector said adiós and headed for an old Ford pickup.
Grace returned to the studio with a mug of fresh coffee. Roman sat at his drafting table, working on the transfer. There was no place to put his mug. He gave her a strange look.
“You two sure hit it off.”
“Hector is very nice. He admires you. He said you do amazing work. I’ve never seen one of your murals.” She came closer, offering the mug while looking at the parade of elephants he’d finished. Even without color, the drawings looked alive and in motion. She spotted something he’d drawn near the bottom and grimaced.
“What’s wrong?”
She turned her head and found him staring at her intently. “Isn’t this mural going into a hotel lobby?” She pointed to the lion devouring a baby giraffe. “Children might be upset by that.”
“It’s what happens in real life.”
“Not in a hotel, hopefully. If children are upset, you can count on their parents being upset, too.”
“I won’t be around to worry about it.” Roman wore an odd smile. “And most people wouldn’t have noticed something hidden in the grass.”
“It’s right there.”
“It’s not right there. You just happened to spot the hidden picture people usually miss.”
His scrutiny made her uncomfortable. She looked for a place to set his mug, hoping to escape, and noticed he’d done more work on the easel paintings. Talia had been calling every few days asking about his progress.
He certainly had varying tastes in art. “Which style do you enjoy most?” She looked pointedly from the transfer to the paintings.
“Neither.” He turned on the stool and faced her. “And both. What about you?”
Grace couldn’t read his expression, and she wasn’t about to give her opinion. “I don’t know anything about art.”
Roman finally took the mug of coffee, his hand brushing hers. “Worried you might hurt my feelings?”
She admired the Serengeti migration. “You have a God-given gift, Mr. Velasco.” No wonder he was so successful. He had a wide range of work.
“God-given? I doubt God has anything to do with me. And enough with the Mr. Velasco. You didn’t say Se?or Espinoza. You said Hector. Time to call me Roman.”