“She usually comes in to have dinner when shegets off work.”
“Oh.”
He’d known there was a chance of running intoher here, but he’d hoped to avoid her. And he’d also hoped shewouldwalk through the door so he could see her again.
“I thought you liked Aida,” Cassidy said.“You used to be really close.”
“I do like her. It will be good to see heragain.”
Cassidy peered intently up at him, and hecould tell she didn’t entirely believe what he was telling her.“Are you still going to stay?”
“Of course,” he said as he rested his hand onher shoulder.
“For a couple of days?”
“Yes.”
The worry in Cassidy’s eyes made him feellike the biggest asshole. He’d ruined her trust in him when hewalked away, and he wouldn’t do it again by leaving now. Even if hedid see Aida, and if she was with someone else, hewouldcontrol himself, and hewouldgo when the time came. He’ddone it once before; he could do it again. This was the last timehe’d see Kyle and Cassidy, and he was going to spend as much timewith them as he could.
She inspected him more closely. “Is Aida thereason you left?”
“I left because I wanted to see the world.”It was partially the truth, but she didn’t look like she was buyingit.
“Cassidy, it’s time!” the man shouted downthe hall.
“Go on.” Julian nudged her toward the door.“You have the masses to entertain tonight.”
“Aida works at Gallery Tremont down thestreet,” Cassidy said. “It’s a beautiful place. The owner,Nicolette, is a bit of a bitch, but I love visiting Aida and seeingthe work they exhibit.”
“O…kay,” he said slowly, unsure why she wastelling him this.
Cassidy tossed her long hair over hershoulder. “It’s a nice place and pretty close to here.”
Was she trying to play matchmaker? Her eyeswere guileless, but Julian suspected something behind her innocentwords.
“Cassidy!” the man yelled, and Julian grittedhis teeth against going down there and beating the shit out of theguy.
“I’ll see you soon,” Cassidy said.
She hugged him again before slipping out thedoor. Julian stepped into the hall as she strolled toward thelarge, bull-like man at the end. The man said something to her, andshe glanced back to wave at him.
The man glowered at him as Julian waved back.He waited until the piano started playing, and the haunting melodyof her voice filled the air before he walked down the hall and intothe bar.
Kyle still wasn’t here, and Cassidy stood onthe stage beneath a dim spotlight. Her voice was more beautifulthan he remembered as he listened to three songs. Tapping his foot,he glanced at his watch and realized he still had half an hourbefore Kyle was due to arrive.
With nothing to distract him from the humansfilling the bar, the beat of their hearts drowned out the sound ofCassidy’s voice.
He had to get out of here. Slipping throughthe shadows of the bar, he dug his fingers into his palms untilthey bled as he made his way to the front door.
CHAPTER 4
Aida stood in the middle of the gallery as sheexamined the paintings hanging on the white wall. Nicolette hadleft her in charge of putting the final touches on the display, orat least that’s what she said. Aida fully expected a 6:00 a.m.phone call telling her to come in to rearrange things.
Nicolette did this every time they had ashowing. She’d entrust Aida to make sure everything was all set,but every time, Nicolette came in early and decided she didn’t likeAida’s work. They’d spend a few hours rearranging, and when theyfinished, everything would wind up almost exactly where itstarted.
Aida didn’t know why she was still standinghere when it was all going to move, but she couldn’t get herself towalk away until she approved of it.
She should find a new job; it wasn’t likeNicolette appreciated her, but trying to get hired at anothergallery would be almost impossible. Those jobs were snapped up thesecond there was an opening, and by people with more experiencethan her.
