LITMIR.BIZ

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woman he hadn’t been able to forget.

      * * *

      “Would you like some more wine, Bristol?”

      Bristol glanced up at Steven Culpepper, forced a smile and said, “No, thanks. I’m fine.”

      He nodded. Looking over her shoulder, he said, “Excuse me for a minute. A few of my clients just arrived.”

      “Sure.”

      She let out a deep sigh when he walked off. Why was he hanging around as if they were together when they weren’t?

      She glanced around. There was a huge crowd and she appreciated that. A great number of her paintings had been sold already.

      “I see Steven is quite taken with you tonight, Bristol.”

      She turned to Margie. “I wish he wouldn’t be. He’s barely left my side.”

      Margie lifted a brow. “And you see that as a bad thing?”

      Bristol shrugged. “I just don’t want him getting the wrong idea.”

      “Oh, I see,”

      Bristol doubted it. Margie was determined to play matchmaker.

      “A lot of the people here tonight are ones he invited. People with money. Need I say more?” Margie then walked off.

      No, in all honesty, Margie didn’t have to say anything. Steven had told her several times tonight just how many people were here because of him. It was as if he’d assumed Bristol would not have gotten anyone here on her own. Although he was probably right about that, he didn’t have to remind her of it every chance he got.

      “Hello, Bristol.”

      She turned to an older gentleman. His face seemed familiar and after a quick study of his features, she remembered him. “You’re Colin Kusac, a close friend of my father’s.”

      He smiled. “Yes, that’s right. I haven’t seen you since the funeral and the reading of the will.”

      That was true. Her father had named Colin as executor, and the scene hadn’t been nice that day, especially when all her father had left her was revealed. Krista had accused Bristol of looking for her father only to get his money. Her stepmother had been wrong about that.

      Her father had told her that he and Colin had attended high school together and over the years had remained the best of friends. Before Randall died, he’d also told her to contact Mr. Kusac if she ever needed anything. Since there was nothing she’d needed, there had been no reason to call him.

      “How have you been?” she asked him.

      “Fine. And you? I understand you have a son.”

      She wondered how he’d known that. She lived a quiet life and it hadn’t been highly publicized that she was Randall Lockett’s daughter. Although, at her father’s request, she had taken his last name. At sixteen it had taken a lot of getting used to, going from Bristol Washington to Bristol Lockett.

      Although she’d taken her father’s name, she’d never flaunted it to influence her own career. And in the art community her father had used the pseudonym Rand, so very few people had made the connection anyway. However, over the years, people had mentioned how much her paintings resembled those of the renowned artist Rand. Although Margie was aware of her father’s identity, Bristol had sworn her manager to secrecy. Bristol wanted to make it on her own and not use her father as leverage.

      And now she was Bristol Cooper...

      “Yes, I have a beautiful two-year-old son. His first name is Laramie, after his father. His middle name is Randall, after my father. He has the names of two good men.”

      “Randall would have liked that. He would have been proud of his first grandchild.” Colin didn’t say anything for a minute and then added, “I miss my good friend. He was there for me more times than not. When I first saw your work, I was taken back by just how much you and he painted alike.”

      She smiled, thinking how wonderful it was that on this very important night, although her father wasn’t here, a man she knew to be his closest friend was. “Yes, we discovered that before he died.”

      “Randall was a gifted artist and so are you.”

      “Thank you.”

      “There’s a beautiful landscape over there that I’m thinking about buying. I wonder if you can tell me what inspired you.”

      She knew exactly which one he was talking about. It was the first painting she’d done after her father died and a lot of her pent-up emotions had been poured into it. “Certainly.”

      And then she and Colin moved toward the huge painting on the wall.

      * * *

      “May I help you, sir?”

      Laramie wasn’t surprised someone had approached him the minute he walked into the gallery. All he had to do was look around the room to see he seemed obviously out of place. He really wouldn’t have to stay a minute longer if the man could answer one question. “The artist on the sign. Bristol. What’s her last name?”

      When the older man, who he suspected to be someone in charge, gave him a strange look, Laramie added, “I once knew someone by that name.”

      The man nodded his understanding. “Oh, I see. Her last name is—”

      “I will handle this gentleman, Jazlyn,” an authoritative voice said behind him.

      Laramie didn’t turn around. He figured whoever had spoken would make himself known soon enough. Besides, he hadn’t liked the emphasis the man had placed on the word gentleman. As if he thought Laramie was anything but a gentleman. And what had he meant by “handle him”?

      Laramie inwardly smiled. He would like to see that happen.

      “Yes, of course, Mr. Culpepper.” And then the older man walked off.

      The guy who’d spoken came around to stand in front of Laramie and quickly sized him up. Laramie didn’t have a problem with that since he was sizing up the other man, as well. And Laramie didn’t like the arrogant glint in the man’s eyes, like he assumed he was better than Laramie just because he was dressed in a designer suit.

      A quick assessment told Laramie what he needed to know. The man was in his upper thirties, probably a Harvard or Yale graduate, a Wall Street type, most likely CEO of his own corporation.

      “May I help you, Mr...?”

      Evidently no one had explained to this man the proper way to introduce oneself. It wasn’t by asking a question. Therefore, Laramie didn’t intend to give his name unless this ass gave his. Besides, his name was irrelevant to what he wanted to know. “Like I was saying to the older man a moment ago, before we were interrupted—I once knew a woman name Bristol and was wondering, what is the artist’s last name?”

      The man’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Who was this man and what business was it of his that Laramie was inquiring about the artist?

      “I’m sure it’s not the same person.”

      How the hell would you know? he wanted to say. Instead he said, “Let me decide that.”

      He could tell his response hadn’t gone over well. The man’s eyes darkened in irritation. Evidently, he wasn’t used to being put in his place. “I won’t let you decide anything. In fact, I’m almost certain Bristol doesn’t know you.”

      Laramie was beginning to read the signs. This man was territorial. Evidently, there was something going on between him and the artist. “You sound sure of that, Mr...”

      The man smiled. “Culpepper. Steven Culpepper. And the reason I sound certain is because I know Bristol. We are well acquainted.”

      “Obviously. So what’s her last name?” He tilted his Stetson back to stare down

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