Guarding Raine Part 65

"If that's all that's bothering you, don't worry. This painting isn'tfor sale, anyway."At these words he turned apoplectic."Not for sale? You must be joking.""No,"she drawled wryly."Actually, my sense of humor walked out the door about the same time this conversation started."

"You're beginning to build a respectable reputation, Raine. But you

aren't in a place in your career where you can afford to be temperamental."

She looked at him warily, wondering if it was more than just her

painting of Macauley that was upsetting him.

He was always high-strung before a show, but right now there was a wild

look in his eyes she'd never seen before.

Perspiration dotted his upper lip, although the temperature in the gallery was quite comfortable.

"I can afford anything I want, Andre,"

she said, deliberately misunderstanding his words.

"My tastes are quite simple. And I wanted to paint a picture for me.

It's not going to lead to the collapse of the art world as we know it.

Relax.You've outdone yourself with the publicity. The gallery has beencleaned up on time. Everything is sailing along perfectly."

"I haven't approved of the effect that man has had on you from the

first,"

he muttered, glaring across the room toward Mac, who'd fallen into conversation with the gallery owner.

"Mac O'Neill and his effect on me, have nothing to do with you,"

Raine said firmly, reclaiming his attention.

"I appreciate all you've done for me, but I won't let you start

dictating what I do and do not paint. I can't work that way. I don't think you really want me to."

"Of course not,"

he said stiffly.

"You're free to paint as you wish. But it was my duty as your agent to warn you that such a flagrant departure from your normal style might not be welcomed by your public."

Her public.

Raine's mouth turned up.

Andr~ made her sound as if she was royalty.

"It's one picture,"

she reminded him gently.

"And it's important to me to have it included in the show."

Seeing Maeauley heading for them, she quickly draped the soft tarp over

it.

Mac's eyes went between the two of them shrewdly.

But he didn't comment on the obvious tension in the air.

"What else do you need to do here?"

he inquired of Raine.

"All the pictures have been unloaded."

"Well, I usually supervise the hanging of them, but I'm sure Andr~ can

laandle that. He has a much better eye than I do."

She touched the agent lightly on the arm.

"Would you do that for me, please, Andre?"

It was an obvious peace offering, and after a moment, the man nodded

shortly."As you wish."Turning on his heel, he walked rapidly away.Mac watched him go."Seems a little more wired than usual,"he observed."Which is saying something, for him. What's got him so worked up?""I'm not really sure,"Raine said slowly, her eyes still on her agent."He's always jumpy before a show, but his behavior today..."Shrugging, she looked at Macauley."I guess I'm finished here. We can go home."His gut clenched at her words.Home.He hadn't had one to speak of since he was a boy living with his parents.

Years of military barracks, and then less than luxurious accommodations

in whatever h.e.l.lhole he'd been a.s.signed to, could hardly he called home.

Neither could the apartment he lived in now.

It was as empty as he was, as his life had been before he met Raine.

Usually it was a relief to get back to his own place after one ofthese jobs, but it was going to seem like a vacuum when he went backthis time.

His job protecting her was almost at an end.

It was more than Ramirez's a.s.surances that told him that.

The case was rapidly winding down, he could feel it.

The certainty filled him with desolation.

Because he knew he'd walk away from her then.

She'd been through too much in her life already to be saddled with a

man who had his own ghosts.

A man who had been empty inside for too long to have anything left to offer her.

"Ready?"

She smiled at him, and the clouds of despair reeked for the moment.

She had a special way of looking'tim as if he was something he knew he

wasn't, could never be.

But when she smiled at him just that way, he thought dangerous thoughts.

As if maybe he could be what she wanted, if he tried hard enough h.

That was risky thinking, self-delusional and m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic.

He was what he was, and her belief in him didn't make him any

different.

But knowing all that didn't make him immune to that electrical pull between them.

"Yeah,"

he said, laying a heavy arm across her shoulders and leading her to the

door.

"I'm ready."

There was a car in the drive when they reached home, and Mac eyed it

sharply.

Anderson jog ed over to their van as they pulled up at' the gate.

"I let Detective Ramirez in about twenty minutes ago. He said he