companionship. Wendy got tired of dividing her time between being on tour with me and training for her riding competitions. The horses won,” Flynn shrugged and turned away. It was hard to admit the failure of his third marriage. “I’m going to brush my teeth.” Flynn headed back to the bathroom.
“ Take your time, it doesn’t start for a couple hours,” Drew said and sat back to wait.
Chapter Four
It never rains but it pours , Nicholas thought. Not that Teri noticed. She was preoccupied with staying in her Lexi persona so she didn’t notice the way Flynn watched her yesterday. And she was busy talking to Chris at lunch so she wasn’t aware of Drew’s seemingly harmless questions. Nicholas doubted Drew was asking for his own sake.
Then there was Paul Lovett. Nicholas wondered if he should mention that he could have sworn he saw Kayley at the restaurant.
While Nicholas was debating whether to ruin her evening, possibly in error, or risk a meltdown later, Teri finally entered the lobby in black slacks and a silver tank top that shimmered as she walked. A silver comb pulled back her short, dark curls and let diamond studs twinkle in her ears.
“ You look lovely,” Nicholas said as Teri reached him.
“ I feel naked,” Teri complained, but she smiled at his compliment. For once, she didn’t have a heavy camera bag on her shoulder and only carried a clutch purse.
“ Well, you’re lighter now and able to walk without being lopsided. Try it for a night, you may like it.”
“ Silly.”
It was a short ride to the gallery and Nicholas watched as Teri closed her eyes and repeatedly took deep breaths.
“Getting into character?”
“ Yes. I kind of wished I would have kept my mouth shut yesterday.”
“ No you don’t. You got some great pictures and impressed the hell out of Chris and Troy.”
“ Chris did seem pretty happy.”
“ Drew was impressed,” Nicholas carefully broached the subject, planning to lead into Flynn’s interest.
“ Chris said he was a shutterbug. I imagine he’d have opportunities for some great shots. Traveling around like they do I mean.”
“ He wanted to talk to you but you were busy with Chris. Flynn wanted to come too but had another commitment.”
Lexi shrugged. “Another time maybe.”
“ There’s the gallery, they have it lit up like Christmas. Are you ready, Lexi, my dear?”
“ How long do we have to stay?”
“ I’ll let you know when it’s safe to leave,” Nicholas promised.
“ Who is this artist again?”
“ Someone Troy knows.” Nicholas brought out the invitations Troy gave them. “A. Polstein, no idea if ‘A’ signifies male or female, so whoever finds out first tells the other, deal?”
“ Deal. Painter, right?”
“ We’ll find out in a moment.”
The taxi stopped and Nicholas leaned forward to pay the driver. He got out and held out a hand to help Lexi out of the cab.
“You always seem taller as Lexi,” he whispered as he closed the cab door again.
“ It’s the heels. It’s weird because they’re part of Teri’s wardrobe.”
“ You’re going to need therapy after a few more years of this. Come on.”
The gallery had a number of people already milling around for the opening of the Polstein exhibition. Nicholas didn ’t see Troy, but it was early yet. Nicholas appreciated what artists were capable of in their chosen medium, but not so much that he frequented exhibitions. He wondered if he should start bringing Teri to more for social interaction.
Since the artist was clearly a painter , Nicholas and Lexi set about mingling quietly and eavesdropping to see if “A” was male or female. They hadn’t gone far before Nicholas was kicking himself for not paying attention to the invitation and asking Troy who the artist was.
“ Amberlyn,” Lexi whispered in his ear.
“ Thank God, that’s a load off my mind.” Nicholas relaxed and looked around again. “Now, do you see Troy?”
“ No, but I see
“ Take your time, it doesn’t start for a couple hours,” Drew said and sat back to wait.
Chapter Four
It never rains but it pours , Nicholas thought. Not that Teri noticed. She was preoccupied with staying in her Lexi persona so she didn’t notice the way Flynn watched her yesterday. And she was busy talking to Chris at lunch so she wasn’t aware of Drew’s seemingly harmless questions. Nicholas doubted Drew was asking for his own sake.
Then there was Paul Lovett. Nicholas wondered if he should mention that he could have sworn he saw Kayley at the restaurant.
While Nicholas was debating whether to ruin her evening, possibly in error, or risk a meltdown later, Teri finally entered the lobby in black slacks and a silver tank top that shimmered as she walked. A silver comb pulled back her short, dark curls and let diamond studs twinkle in her ears.
“ You look lovely,” Nicholas said as Teri reached him.
“ I feel naked,” Teri complained, but she smiled at his compliment. For once, she didn’t have a heavy camera bag on her shoulder and only carried a clutch purse.
“ Well, you’re lighter now and able to walk without being lopsided. Try it for a night, you may like it.”
“ Silly.”
It was a short ride to the gallery and Nicholas watched as Teri closed her eyes and repeatedly took deep breaths.
“Getting into character?”
“ Yes. I kind of wished I would have kept my mouth shut yesterday.”
“ No you don’t. You got some great pictures and impressed the hell out of Chris and Troy.”
“ Chris did seem pretty happy.”
“ Drew was impressed,” Nicholas carefully broached the subject, planning to lead into Flynn’s interest.
“ Chris said he was a shutterbug. I imagine he’d have opportunities for some great shots. Traveling around like they do I mean.”
“ He wanted to talk to you but you were busy with Chris. Flynn wanted to come too but had another commitment.”
Lexi shrugged. “Another time maybe.”
“ There’s the gallery, they have it lit up like Christmas. Are you ready, Lexi, my dear?”
“ How long do we have to stay?”
“ I’ll let you know when it’s safe to leave,” Nicholas promised.
“ Who is this artist again?”
“ Someone Troy knows.” Nicholas brought out the invitations Troy gave them. “A. Polstein, no idea if ‘A’ signifies male or female, so whoever finds out first tells the other, deal?”
“ Deal. Painter, right?”
“ We’ll find out in a moment.”
The taxi stopped and Nicholas leaned forward to pay the driver. He got out and held out a hand to help Lexi out of the cab.
“You always seem taller as Lexi,” he whispered as he closed the cab door again.
“ It’s the heels. It’s weird because they’re part of Teri’s wardrobe.”
“ You’re going to need therapy after a few more years of this. Come on.”
The gallery had a number of people already milling around for the opening of the Polstein exhibition. Nicholas didn ’t see Troy, but it was early yet. Nicholas appreciated what artists were capable of in their chosen medium, but not so much that he frequented exhibitions. He wondered if he should start bringing Teri to more for social interaction.
Since the artist was clearly a painter , Nicholas and Lexi set about mingling quietly and eavesdropping to see if “A” was male or female. They hadn’t gone far before Nicholas was kicking himself for not paying attention to the invitation and asking Troy who the artist was.
“ Amberlyn,” Lexi whispered in his ear.
“ Thank God, that’s a load off my mind.” Nicholas relaxed and looked around again. “Now, do you see Troy?”
“ No, but I see
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