LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER EIGHT

      STANDING IN THE main room of the gallery, pressed in by art aficionados, Antonio glanced at his watch. His return to the world of art had been a subtle, almost disappointing, one. Olivia had other clients—working clients—she was schmoozing right now. Tucker had found two business acquaintances he was talking up. And Antonio stood by a gallery owner from Madrid who desperately wanted him to do a showing.

      Half of him had gone breathless at the prospect. The other half wanted to run in terror.

      The screech of a car grinding to a stop stabbed into the noise of the gallery. He looked up, past Juanita Santos to the wall of windows behind her. A red Jag had pulled up to the curb for valet parking. His eyes narrowed. That looked just like Constanzo’s car.

      The driver’s door opened. A spike heel emerged, connected to one long, slim leg.

      His eyebrows rose. The crowd outside the gallery turned to the newcomer. Men smiled. Women gave her the once-over.

      Antonio’s mouth fell open as Laura Beth tossed the keys to the valet.

      With her hair pulled up, piled high on her head, and looking luscious in the slim black dress, she walked the cobblestone path like a model working the catwalk. The dress rode her curves, accenting her womanly figure, but the black color gave her a sleek, sophisticated air. In her worn jeans and goofy librarian work clothes, she was an all-American girl. In this dress, she was a woman.

      And all eyes were on her.

      His heart caught and his breathing faltered, but he ignored them. He wasn’t in a position to get involved with her. Though looking at her in that dress, he was again tempted. Still, for all he knew, Constanzo had set this up. But even if he hadn’t, his reasons for staying away from Laura Beth were sound. Responsible. He feared watching her belly swell with child, but his first marriage had also made him jaded, angry. She was absolutely too nice for him. And right now she was about to be rejected at the door.

      A gentleman, he couldn’t let that happen. He turned to Juanita. “If you’ll excuse me.”

      “Of course.”

      He headed for the door, his heart thundering in his chest with fear that she’d be embarrassingly refused entrance. Instead, the young man smiled and motioned for her to enter.

      She dipped her head in thanks and glided into the crowd.

      He stopped and waited for her to see him. When she did, she approached him.

      “Well, look at you.”

      She smiled slowly. “You’ve got to stop stealing my good lines.”

      He laughed. “I’m glad you’re here, but I’m afraid I’m—”

      He was about to say busy, when Olivia raced over. “Laura Beth?”

      She raised her hands. “In the flesh.”

      Olivia squealed with joy. “What are you doing here?”

      “I’m spending a few weeks with Antonio, helping him try to clear out his office.”

      One of Olivia’s eyebrows rose as she looked at Antonio, who clearly hadn’t mentioned that her best friend was living with him.

      Laura Beth laughed. “Don’t worry. Constanzo hired me. Antonio didn’t. So he’s not really cooperating.”

      Olivia tilted her head at him. “Pity.”

      Then Laura Beth totally surprised him by squeezing Olivia’s hand and saying, “I’d love to chat. But Antonio was just telling me that he’s busy. I’m assuming you’ve got people for him to meet, so I’m going to walk around the gallery and, you know, browse.”

      Olivia gave her a quick hug. “Have fun. I do have a few people I’d like Antonio to meet. But maybe we can catch up tomorrow.”

      Laura Beth smiled mysteriously. “Maybe.”

      Then she turned and walked away.

      Antonio watched the slight sway of her hips, the long curve of her spine, as she moved away from him.

      “Wow. She looked happy, huh?”

      Antonio faced Olivia. “Happy?”

      “Yeah. Lately she’s been a little glum.” She slid her hand into his elbow and turned him toward the crowd again. “I guessed she was a bit upset about being roommateless, but she wouldn’t talk about it. She won’t take a thing from me or Tucker. Not even a job offer. She wants to make her own way in the world.” She paused and frowned. “How’d Constanzo talk her into working for you?”

      He blinked. Obviously, she didn’t know Laura Beth was pregnant. So he shrugged. “I think losing her apartment really brought home the fact that she couldn’t be choosy about who offered her a job.”

      “Yeah, well, if you really don’t want her, Tucker does. He has an opening for an IT person who would work directly with him, somebody he can trust with his secrets.”

      “Sounds perfect for her.”

      “It is perfect for her. He was going to make the offer after the wedding, but she disappeared. Now at least we know where she went.”

      “Yes, you do.” And Tucker wanting to hire Laura Beth was like a blessing from heaven. A relief.

      Really.

      There was no reason for the odd feeling in his stomach, the fear of losing her, the reminder of how empty his house was without her.

      He peered around into the crowd but couldn’t see Laura Beth. Then he caught a fleeting glimpse of her as she moved between two conversation circles. The men in each cluster smiled at her and she innocently smiled back.

      Jealousy catapulted through him.

      “Ready to mingle?”

      Thanking God for a reason to take his eyes and his attention off Laura Beth, he smiled at Olivia. “Desperately.”

      He spent an hour with Olivia introducing him to gallery owners, art dealers and collectors. His former charm came back to him as if he hadn’t lost it. If he’d had anything new to display or sell, he would have made a killing.

      But he didn’t have anything new to display or sell, and he wasn’t yet entertaining commissions, so everyone drifted away. The futility of his situation roared through him, frustrating him, making him wonder why the hell he was even here.

      He faced Olivia. “I’m going to get a drink. Would you like one?”

      “I think I better find Tucker.”

      Perfect. He could go to the bar, drink himself stupid with scotch and be driven back to the penthouse, where he could pass out and forget he was a has-been.

      Shifting to the side, he slid through the throng of happy people and to the discreet glass-and-marble bar set up in a corner.

      “Scotch.” The bartender turned to go and he caught his arm. “Three of them.”

      The young man nodded, apparently thinking he was getting drinks for friends, and that was just fine with Antonio. He angled himself against the marble, but when he did he saw Laura Beth, standing alone, staring at a painting.

      He

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