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“Do you think that would be possible?”
She blinked and focused on the owner of the Overlook Lodge. “I’m sorry?” She let out an embarrassed laugh, praying she wouldn’t have to admit she wasn’t listening.
“I want to feature your art in the lodge lobby. I think the tourists and locals alike would love to see the work of someone who spent much of their formative years growing up in Rocky Ridge. What do you say?”
Rose couldn’t breathe. The air had been completely knocked from her lungs. Her whole body went numb, and her throat dried up. “What?” she squeaked.
He chuckled as he dug something out of his pocket. “I’m sure we can work something out. I’ve seen several pieces of yours on that wall over there, but I’m guessing they’re all claimed already. That’s fine. I’d rather you create something exclusive to the lodge anyway.” He held out a business card between two fingers. “Give me a call when this is all over.”
She stared down at the card, her hand shaking. Was this actually happening? She hadn’t lifted a paintbrush in so long. What if she couldn’t do it anymore?
“Honey? Could you come help me with these trays?”
Rose’s vision blurred. If she agreed to a meeting with the owner of the lodge, she could be setting herself up for failure. She shouldn’t take it. It would be too disappointing if it didn’t work out.
Then again, Mike would insist she needed to get back out there.
“Rose!”
She jumped, her head snapping up to find her mother holding a tray of empty champagne flutes. Rose lunged forward. “Mom, what are you doing? They have people for that.”
“The server had an emergency and needed to go to the restroom. I said I’d take this one and another back to the kitchen.” She tilted her head, peering at her daughter. “Are you okay, dear?”
Rose lifted the business card again. “Yeah. I think I might have found an interesting opportunity.”
“Oh?”
She shoved the card into the pocket of her dress and retrieved the tray her mother held. “Yeah. Someone wants to commission some art from me.”
“That’s… nice. I’ve never quite understood why people make such a big fuss over paintings.”
Rose didn’t know what she’d expected her mother to say, but she shouldn’t have been surprised by the utter lack of interest. Neither of her parents had been thrilled by her interest in art. This could be all the sign she needed to get her head on right.
As soon as they entered the kitchen and put down their trays, her mother shooed her from the premises. “Go enjoy the party. You’ve done a lot to help Mike and you should take some time to visit.” She waved her hands toward the doorway. “Go on.”
Rose glanced over her shoulder as she left the room but rather than head into the fray, she wandered up the stairs and sat about halfway between the two floors. She peered down at the party through the bars in the railing. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities. From the looks of it, she’d have great news to share with Mike.
The warm feeling in her stomach returned, as did her smile. Whatever it was that had developed between them was only going to continue growing, and she couldn’t wait to see what that looked like.
“I’m telling you, those are the supplies I went to pick up. It can’t be a coincidence.” Ethan’s hushed voice drew Rose’s attention as he pulled Becca to a nearby corner of the entertaining space.
“What are you suggesting? Mike had to fix this place up. All of those supplies would be needed for a project like this,” Becca insisted. “You can’t tell me that just because you saw a box of tools that it means he’s reverted to his old ways.”
Rose scooted closer to the edge of the stairs. Her ears prickled with curiosity as their conversation continued.
“All I’m saying is that it’s possible he stole them. And if he did, we need to say something to the sheriff.”
“Oh, come on, Ethan. What good would it do, anyway? It’s not like they’d arrest him.”
“They might. We don’t know.”
Becca folded her arms, her focus sweeping through the room. “I think it’s a bad idea. But you do what you think is best. I’m going to get another drink.”
She hurried off toward the living room, leaving her husband to stare after her with frustration. Thankfully, Ethan didn’t hang around, or he might have noticed Rose eavesdropping.
She scooted away from the rail to sit on her hands. If Ethan was right, what would that mean for her future with Mike? She valued honesty and loyalty above all else, and that meant she wasn’t sure she could tolerate it if she found out Mike was still taking what didn’t belong to him.
No. That wasn’t the Mike she had gotten to know. He would never steal something just so he could work on the house. He could have borrowed any number of items from her uncle or Ethan.
