LITMIR.BIZ

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about it, and Roy speaks so fondly of you and—”

      “What did he say?”

      “Well,” Julie said, beaming Anne a bright smile, “he brags about you.”

      “My son brags about me?” Anne hated to sound shocked—but she was. Half the time, she felt as though she was nothing more than an obligation in her son’s life. He only tolerated her concern and seldom sought out her company.

      “He’s very impressed with your work. He told me about several of your pieces he’s displayed in the building. He promised to show them to me on my next visit.”

      “If you can get in,” Anne teased. It’d been a source of amusement, the trouble Julie had getting past the security guard.

      “Ah, yes, Jason, protector of the gate.” Julie rolled her eyes.

      Anne had witnessed for herself how committed the young man was to keeping the poor girl on the other side of the company doors. She stabbed at a piece of spinach, suddenly realizing what Julie had said. “Let me make sure I understood you correctly. Did you really say Roy has my artwork hanging in his office building?”

      “That’s what he told me.”

      This was news.

      “Five landscapes, I think he said. You didn’t know that?”

      Anne shook her head. “I never told him my pseudonym.”

      “He must’ve found it out on his own,” Julie said evenly.

      “I … I don’t know what to say. Part of me is pleased and another part is irritated.”

      “But why? He’s proud of your talent.”

      “I’ve told him a dozen times that I refuse to let him support me. I want my paintings to sell on their own merit. The last thing I want or need, especially from my own son, is charity.”

      “I doubt Roy would display work he didn’t genuinely like.”

      Julie meant she was overreacting, Anne thought. “You’re right of course.” To cover her embarrassment, she dug into her salad.

      Julie reached for a warm sourdough roll. “I’m glad you asked me to lunch.”

      “As I said, I want to get to know you—and I want to thank you for being so patient with my son.”

      Julie lowered her head and struggled to hide a grin. “We’ve certainly had our ups and downs. He’s surprised me more than once.”

      Anne found this curious. “In what way?”

      “Dinner on Thursday night—to take one example. I made a pot of black-bean soup and he seemed to really enjoy it. Plain ol’ black-bean soup.”

      “You cook?”

      Julie nodded. “A little. My twin sister is the real chef in the family, but I’m learning.”

      “Are you close to your sister?”

      “Very. She lives in Florida, but we talk almost every day via e-mail. I’ve told her about Roy.” Julie glanced down, as if she regretted telling Anne that.

      Anne tried unsuccessfully to keep her tears at bay.

      “Anne, is everything all right?” Julie leaned across the table and squeezed her hand.

      “Of course it is,” Anne whispered, smiling through her tears. “It’s just that … I’d given up hope, you see. I’d convinced myself that Roy had completely closed himself off from love, and now he’s met you and the whole world looks brighter. Thank you, Julie, thank you so much.”

      Julie shook her head. “You don’t have anything to thank me for.”

      “But I do,” Anne countered. “Don’t you see, my dear Julie? You’re the answer to my prayers.”

       Sixteen

      The caterer’s staff delivered dinner and skillfully set the dining room table in his condo, adding candles and flowers to create a romantic mood. Before they left, Roy paid them handsomely and inspected their work, admiring the small touches.

      He’d been looking forward to this evening with Julie all day. He’d longed to kiss her the night before and hadn’t. He berated himself for the missed opportunity. He’d sensed the disappointment in her and felt it himself.

      He hadn’t experienced these primal emotions, these deep erotic urges, in years. They were a distant memory now. But with Julie …

      The table was covered with an off-white linen cloth that had elegant gold edging. It wouldn’t have been his choice, but the caterer had brought it with her. A large candle inside a glass hurricane lamp, surrounded by poinsettias and sprigs of holly, adorned the center of the table. Again, that had been part of the dinner package. When he’d explained his requirements to Ms. Johnson and the caterer’s staff, he’d been assured that they’d be able to create the mood he desired. His trust had been well-placed; his home had never looked better.

      Everything about the condo spoke of romance. The lights were dimmed and lit candles were arranged in strategic spots around the room. In the background, Christmas carols played softly. The stage was set. Roy, dressed in dark slacks and a gray cashmere sweater, checked his watch. Julie was due any minute.

      While he waited, he poured himself a glass of chardonnay. To his surprise, he was nervous. He couldn’t imagine why—or could he? His mind flitted from the past to the present and back again. The past was painful and the present was unpredictable … and the future? Well, who knew about the future?

      Initially this relationship hadn’t been too promising, but it had gained momentum in the last few days. Even now he wasn’t entirely convinced that Julie was for real, that the settlement offer truly didn’t interest her.

      Gradually Roy could feel himself being drawn toward her, almost against his will. He’d decided never to fall in love again, but Julie Wilcoff made him crave the experience of love, the sensations and the feelings and the hope. This sense of wanting to be part of life again frightened him; so did the eagerness that surged through him at the prospect. Love eventually brought pain and betrayal. Yet all day he’d thought of little else but this dinner with Julie and the kisses they were bound to share.

      His phone rang and he reached for the receiver, already knowing it was her. “Hello.”

      “I’m here.” Even the sound of her voice was sultry.

      He hit the numbers that automatically opened the electronic gates to grant her entrance. He couldn’t resist taking his private elevator to the lobby so he could escort her up to his suite.

      Standing by the glass doors that opened into the beautifully decorated lobby, Roy watched as Julie walked from her car to the building. Her head was bent against the cold. She had on a long wool coat, which she’d left unbuttoned. Beneath it, he saw the sleek black skirt and matching jacket with a silky white blouse. He was struck by her loveliness. Every time he saw her, she seemed to look more beautiful. Was that just a matter of perception or was he finally seeing what had always been there?

      He held the door and stepped back to let her enter. Once she was inside, he made a leisurely appraisal and sucked in his breath. He could think of only one word. “Wow!”

      “You like?” Holding open her coat, she slowly pivoted to give him a better look.

      “I like a lot.”

      “Don’t act so surprised,” she muttered. “I clean up good.”

      “I’ll say.” With his hand at her elbow, he steered her toward the elevator, which took them directly to the suite, the doors opening into his living room, with the large picture windows that overlooked Lake Washington. He’d grown accustomed to the spectacular sight and it no longer astonished him as it once had. But the view captured Julie’s attention the

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