A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) by Nikki Lynn Barrett

mean he wanted to put her work in a gallery? Becca had a hard time focusing on the way home. She'd silently begged for normal for months, and especially in the past few days. Normal wasn't getting a major compliment from someone who appreciated art and owned a gallery, but hey, she'd take it. Much better than thinking about dead-
    "No!" Becca scolded herself as she arrived home. "I won't let you get in my head." If she continued to think about it, she wouldn't be able to hold it in any more. Positive. Think positive. Think about the future. Hunter. Their wedding. Dreams.
    Anything but what she couldn't control or change.
    Hunter wasn't home yet, so Becca headed straight for her art studio, feeling inspired to create something.
    When she stared at her work in progress, Becca realized her inner thoughts had found a way to the canvas in a very exploring, dark manner. She didn't know what to do with this particular piece. The mix of feeling like a replacement child and the fact that someone went to lengths to keep the truth hidden got to her far more than she realized.
    Time to let this dry and then figure out what to do with it from there. No one else needed to see this.
    *****
    Hunter rushed home, eager to get to Becca. Ever since Dr. Velez called him at lunch to express her concerns about Becca, he couldn't stop worrying. Becca acted like nothing was wrong. Maybe that was a good thing, but he doubted it. She went from her shell shocked state of mind in Maryland to calm and as if nothing happened when they returned home. Did she not process the attack? Was she trying to be strong again and hide her feelings? He wondered about her breaking point. She'd had so much thrown at her. Despite his attempts to let her know she didn't have to hold it in, Becca did it anyway, probably because old habits were hard to break.
    "Becca?" he called when he walked inside. "I'm home!" The house was quiet. He'd probably find Becca in her favorite spot working on something new, so Hunter went straight for there first. Becca met him in the hallway. She had her long hair pinned up in a messy bun. He wrapped her in his arms.
    "I have some big news for you," she said with excitement after they kissed.
    "Oh? What's that? Why don't we figure something out for dinner and you tell me?"
    "Dinner ... Oh wow. I got so lost in painting, I never even thought about it."
    Hunter laughed. "We're way too alike. Come on. I'll whip up something quick. Tell me your news!" Becca followed him downstairs. He searched the pantry for something easy. Becca stood behind him.
    "Well, just as I left work today, I met a man in the lobby as he stared at my painting."
    "The one hanging over the bulletin board?" Hunter loved that one. He'd set it specifically there to catch people's eyes right away. He frowned at how empty the pantry shelves were. After being away for longer than expected, he'd forgotten that they needed to stock up on stuff. Well, damn. Guess they could go grab takeout. He was way too exhausted for a sit down dinner somewhere, but hunger pains hit. He needed something, whatever that would be.
    "Yep. We struck up a conversation after I went a round about way to see what he was doing without actually asking. I bumped into the desk." She laughed. "So that grabbed his attention, and he said something about wanting to pick the artist's brain about the painting. Liane walked in and told him I was the artist. He's one himself, and he owns a gallery."
    Hunter stopped searching the pantry and whirled around to face Becca. "Really? And?" Excitement ran through him. He had a feeling he knew how this story would end, but he waited for Becca to finish.
    "He gave me his card and wants me to call him. I can't believe it!" Becca's eyes twinkled with amazement.
    Ha! Yes! He pumped a fist in the air with triumph. "Told you! That's right, I'm pulling the I told you so card today." Hunter picked her up and twirled her all around the kitchen. She laughed and held on tight. "My