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“That’s correct. Even if it’s one of your favorite art magazines, we’ll have to give permission. But we want the image everywhere, so we’d be unlikely to withhold it.”
“There’s no mention of my maintaining the mural, so if the paint starts to peel—”
“Then it peels,” Luke stated for him. “It won’t last forever, but our photographs of it will.”
“I might sell the house next year,” Toby warned.
“It’s your house; you have that right.”
Toby looked torn momentarily, then used his thigh to steady the contract and scrawled his name on the appropriate line. He shook the pages into order, and handed the contract and the pen back to Luke. “You’ll give me a copy?”
“Of course,” Luke refolded the contract and slid the pen into his shirt pocket. “Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about Mrs. Brooks.”
Toby responded with a taunting grin. “One of my favorite subjects.”
Luke hated Toby’s smirk, but he succeeded in fighting back his temper. “I can see that, but you’re definitely not one of hers. You’re embarrassing her, and you can’t keep coming on to her, especially not in front of the kids. She deserves your respect as well as theirs, and I intend to see that she gets it.”
“Cut the bullshit,” Toby responded angrily. “You want her for yourself. Now, access to my studio wasn’t part of your contract. Get out.”
Luke turned on his heel and left rather than risk having Toby relight his torch and use it as a flamethrower. He wasn’t surprised the artist had guessed the truth. He’d bluffed a professional detachment he didn’t feel, and Toby had seen right through it. For some bizarre reason, that actually made the guy a lot more likable.
Tuesday morning, Luke was waiting for Catherine when she drove into the center parking lot. “I just wanted to encourage you to use the same technique you used on the bookcases to make the kids believe they’re running things.”
“They will be,” she insisted. As always, the first time she saw him each day, she was struck by how handsome he was when he smiled. The affection brightening his gaze was most welcome as well.
“I’ll be manipulating them just as deftly as you, though, won’t I?” she asked.
He was relieved she appeared to be in better spirits that day. “I always think of it as guiding them toward independence.”
“Which is merely a rationalization, as I’m sure you know. Did Toby sign the contract?”
“Yes, and if he so much as winks at you today, come and get me.” He paused to reroll the left sleeve of his Madras shirt, but his gaze remained locked with hers.
“And just what is it you plan to
do? I think you could take him in a fair fight, but he doesn’t strike me as a man who’d fight fair.”
“I’ll bet you’d like to see it, though,” Luke teased.
“I’ve seen you with a black eye, and it sure wasn’t pretty, so no, I don’t want to ever see you fight anyone, and most especially not over me. Now let’s attempt to be more professional, Dr. Starns, or I’ll be tempted to turn around and drive right back home.”
He squared his shoulders as though he’d been properly chastised. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll be as professional as possible. Are you free tonight?”
“Better ask me after I’ve spent the day supervising the work on the mural. I may not be able to do more than float in my tub.”
He made no effort to contain his smile. “I could go for that too.”
“Quit distracting me.” She plunked on a straw hat and forced a businesslike demeanor. “I’ve got my clipboard to make notes of who’s working so that everyone will have a turn. I plan to take photos with my camera in addition to whatever photos Dave might take with the center’s digital. Will I need your written permission?”
“No, of course not. Get doubles when you have your photos developed, and we’ll post them in the hall. Nobody photographs these kids, and they ought to get a real kick out of the pictures.”
“I hope so. I brought some bottles of water, but I’ll have the kids carry them across the street.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. They might need snacks too. I’ll buy some protein bars. I should probably go on over and have another chat with Toby. I don’t want the kids in his house for anything other than to lean out the window to paint. If they need to use the john, then they’ll have to come back here. I don’t want them to depend on Toby for anything.”
“I can tell him that,” she offered. “I thought I’d warn him not to serve anyone beer, or any illegal substances, either. I know you were worried he’d be a bad influence when we first met him, but I really think he’s more talk than trouble.”
“Then we’ve got some kids who might corrupt him, but for the first few days, anyway, keep an eye on the guy. If he’s flirting with the girls the way he does with you, then I’m going to banish him to his garage while the kids paint.”
