Guarding Raine Part 67

I'll talk to you later, Raine.

Nice seeing you again, With those ambled away.

Sarah looked after him with raised eyebrows, then at Raine.

"He seems back to normal, or at least what pa.s.ses for normal for

him."

"Whatever he was angry about, he seems to have gotten over,"

Raine allowed.

"I'm glad. I would hate to be on the outs with him. He really has

been a good friend to me."

"Well, he's not the only one who wants to see your latest masterpieces.

I think there are several here I've never seen before. I'm going to wander.

I'll talk to you later."

Sarah strolled away.

Raine was stopped by a couple she recognized from the dinner Andre had

hosted and politely listened to their praise of her work, Walking withthem to a piece they'd expressed an interest in, she answered whatquestions she could before suggesting that they direct the rest toAndre.

Her attention garnered by yet another couple, she smiled regretfully and took her leave.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal this talented woman away from you for a moment,"

a voice said from behind her.

She smiled in grat.i.tude as Harold Bonzer offered her his arm in a courtly manner and strolled away with her.

"Thank you,"

she whispered.

"Not at all."

He patted her hand.

"I can always tell when you need rescuing. You get this desperate look

on your face, as if you're planning your escape."

He eyed her with kindliness.

"You're not cut out for this kind of thing, are you?"

Raine laughed ruefully.

"This is my least favorite part of the process, but a necessary one, I

know.

I'm just lucky that Andre can take up the slack on my behalf."

"Don't you worry."

He steered her toward a corner of the room.

"Your talent speaks for itself. As a matter of fact, I'm no different

from that couple I stole you away from. I wanted to ask you about this

picture."

He stopped in front of the painting she'd done of Macauley.

She should have known that, having left the hanging of the paintings to Andre, he'd put this one in the most inconspicuous spot possible.

But it seemed to fit here, somehow.

She studied it, trying and not quite succeeding to see it without a prejudiced eye.

It was nighttime in the picture, and Macauley was standing in front of

a window identical to the one in her bedroom.

He wore only jeans, the b.u.t.ton unfastened.

His face was unsmiling.

The darkness that filled the room shrouded him in shadows.

He cast shadows of his 6wn.

He looked like an avenging angel come to earth.

Her own dark warrior.

The caption on the card she'd prepared for the painting read, Out of

the Darkness.

She'd painted him with all the emotion he evoked in her, and looking at the picture was always going to be a bittersweet reminder that he had refused her invitation to take that final step away from the shadows that existed in his soul.

For the first time she questioned her wisdom in planning to keep this

piece.

The constant reminder of what she'd gambled, and lost, would do nothing to fill the void in her heart.

~ "This is a different piece for you, Raine."

Harold's voice was mild as he surveyed the picture.

"Andre pointed that out to me,"

she retorted: "But I did this one for myself."

Harold eyed her shrewdly.

"You've made a wise choice. Despite his toughness, he's a good man.

I'm an excellent judge of character, so take it from me. Don't let

this one get away."

Raine smiled sadly and led him from the picture as others began to drift in their direction.

"I'm afraid I no longer have a way to make him stay."

Harold looked at her sharply, opened his mouth and closed it again.

Then he looked across the room and smiled broadly.

Bending closer he murmured, "Maybe you have more pull than you give

yourself credit for."

Mystified, Raine followed the direction of his gaze and was shocked to see Maeauley standing across the room.

Hungrily, her eyes drank him in.

He was wearing his bank suit and looked a little rough, a little

uncivilized despite the fashionable clothing.

Then his eyes caught hers, and she felt a very physical jolt.

Her mouth went dry.