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His eyes drifted to the man at her side. They seemed intimate. Boyfriend? Lover? He felt his heart pounding inside his chest as his gaze returned to her. She had done something different to her hair, and the thick, heavy strands were in curls drifting around her face.
The dress molded her slender figure like a loving hand, and the urge to tear it off her to get to skin was so potent that he had to suck in a breath.
"Deacon?"
Closing his eyes briefly to gather his composure, he turned to look at Jason.
"I am sorry, I was miles away." He managed to say quickly.
"I was just saying that the piece here might be what you want."
Taking one last look at the woman who was creating havoc inside his body, he willingly went along with Jason.
*****
"I think Lori is contemplating buying that piece." Delores pointed her glass of champagne cocktail to where her sister-in-law, surrounded by Sara and Angeline, stood over one corner of the room, admiring a painting by a little-known artist.
"It's her money to spend or waste," David said blandly, causing her to look up at him.
"I never asked you before. Does that offend you? The fact that she is an heiress."
"Sometimes." Lifting a hand, he brushed tendrils of hair from her cheek. "I am content to live on my substantial salary as a cop, but she is used to fancy things, and it would be unfair of me to deny her or stop her from spending her money. Besides, she does work, even if she does not have to."
Taking his hand in hers, she squeezed it. "And for that, I admire your way of thinking. I was listening to Jerri talk about how she and Jackson came to be together, and it makes me wonder."
"About?" He stared at her. "Hold that thought. Isn't that your esteemed boss?"
"Jerry?"
"No. I guess he is your boss' boss." She whirled around at that and felt the jolt straight to her bones. Deacon Manchester was bearing down on them, and she could not escape.
"He is coming over here."
"So?"
"He might just get it into his head- Mr. Manchester! What a surprise." She gripped David's hand like a lifeline as they both turned to face him.
"Ms. Pennant." He gave her a curt nod before directing his gaze to David.
"Oh, this is David Pennant, my brother."
"Nice to meet you." David eyed him as he held out a hand and saw the tension easing out of the man's face. He could have sworn that he had thought David was a rival.
Deacon shook his hand briefly before looking at Delores. "I had no idea you were an art lover."
"I am here to speak with Andrea Gayle; she has agreed to sign with us. You know she is doing a book on Jackson and Jason."
"Your commitment to your work is laudable."
She was not sure if that was meant to be a compliment or sarcasm. The man was so opaque, it was ridiculous.
"Isn't she?" David put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "One of a kind, she is." He saw the flash of what appeared to be jealousy before it was effectively cloaked.
"Would you give us a minute?" He asked David coolly.
"Of course." Bending slightly, he kissed his sister on the cheek before sauntering away.
"David is a cop." She said in the uncomfortable silence following his departure.
