too quickly in her relationships. If you don’t watch out, pretty soon she’ll be mother-henning you, too. And you’ll be one of the family, like it or not.”
Taylor ate her lunch and wondered why the prospect didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Chapter 5
Jesse walked through the gallery alone. Yesterday’s lunch had gone long, and the three women had acted like best friends before they’d left Dave’s. The dark, old, dive bar had been the last place he thought prissy Miss Taylor would agree to eat. His mom had that effect on everyone, though. The ability to break down class barriers. He wondered how Susan and her husband would react to the Angie experience.
Standing in front of a modernist take on a landscape, Jesse found himself not thinking about the angles of the painting. Instead, he thought about the angles of Taylor’s face. He’d worked on the drawing of her for the last week, trying to find the missing spark, the look he saw every time their eyes met. But his skill level had failed him, and he’d started over time and time again, frustrated with the results. Three weeks and this semester would be over. Would Susan agree to keep him on as a private student, even though he was taking over the gallery? Was there some sort of conflict in the two items? He hoped not. Besides, if everything worked out, he’d be more of a silent owner for the next few years, allowing Taylor to stay on and manage the gallery.
If she agreed
.
He stepped to the next painting, trying to focus on the technique. But his mind returned to Taylor. Maybe Angie was right. Maybe he was drawn more to the woman than the actual business. If Taylor wouldn’t stay he’d just hire a new gallery manager. Angie didn’t want to take over the business. She’d agreed to share the open receptionist position that a college student on summer break currently held. Angie didn’t love art, not the way Taylor did. Or the way a gallery manager should, he corrected himself. The gallery manager didn’t have to be Taylor. His lips curled into a smile. It would just be a bonus if she stayed on.
As if his thoughts had made her materialize, the girl he couldn’t capture on paper walked out of her office. With the suit behind her. The same man she’d had dinner with on Tuesday. Today, she wore a sleeveless summer shift dress that showed off her well-toned arms. No wonder the man kept showing up. He was marking his territory, Jesse guessed. She walked the man to the door, then turned and spotted Jesse standing in the gallery. The girl had the grace to flush.
She strolled toward him, and he could see her processing her thoughts as she made her way over. She nodded to the painting. “Nora Wilson is the artist. She sells well here. You’ll probably want to keep her happy if you take over.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Don’t you mean when?”
Taylor flushed a beet red. “Yes, of course. Sorry for the poor choice of words.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m late for an appointment. Busy day.” She started to step away.
“I was hoping I could shadow you today.” His words stopped her forward movement.
Turning, she frowned. “I thought Angie and Barb were doing that yesterday.”
Jesse leaned against the wall, watching her. “It’s a big investment. I’d like to know what I’m buying.”
She arched a brow at him. “How will shadowing me help?”
“You’re the manager. The manager knows everything. Just ask Barb.” He let his gaze drop to her suntanned legs. Damn, the woman didn’t have a flaw on her body.
Or at least the parts of her body you’ve seen.
He inwardly shivered at the thought. He slowly brought his gaze back up to her face. His attention had been noticed, and now there was a hardness in her eyes. She was angry with him. Probably for making her feel something after her suit of a boyfriend had just left. Oh, well.
He watched her consider his request. Finally, he saw her surrender, and she sighed, verbalizing it. “Fine,
Taylor ate her lunch and wondered why the prospect didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Chapter 5
Jesse walked through the gallery alone. Yesterday’s lunch had gone long, and the three women had acted like best friends before they’d left Dave’s. The dark, old, dive bar had been the last place he thought prissy Miss Taylor would agree to eat. His mom had that effect on everyone, though. The ability to break down class barriers. He wondered how Susan and her husband would react to the Angie experience.
Standing in front of a modernist take on a landscape, Jesse found himself not thinking about the angles of the painting. Instead, he thought about the angles of Taylor’s face. He’d worked on the drawing of her for the last week, trying to find the missing spark, the look he saw every time their eyes met. But his skill level had failed him, and he’d started over time and time again, frustrated with the results. Three weeks and this semester would be over. Would Susan agree to keep him on as a private student, even though he was taking over the gallery? Was there some sort of conflict in the two items? He hoped not. Besides, if everything worked out, he’d be more of a silent owner for the next few years, allowing Taylor to stay on and manage the gallery.
If she agreed
.
He stepped to the next painting, trying to focus on the technique. But his mind returned to Taylor. Maybe Angie was right. Maybe he was drawn more to the woman than the actual business. If Taylor wouldn’t stay he’d just hire a new gallery manager. Angie didn’t want to take over the business. She’d agreed to share the open receptionist position that a college student on summer break currently held. Angie didn’t love art, not the way Taylor did. Or the way a gallery manager should, he corrected himself. The gallery manager didn’t have to be Taylor. His lips curled into a smile. It would just be a bonus if she stayed on.
As if his thoughts had made her materialize, the girl he couldn’t capture on paper walked out of her office. With the suit behind her. The same man she’d had dinner with on Tuesday. Today, she wore a sleeveless summer shift dress that showed off her well-toned arms. No wonder the man kept showing up. He was marking his territory, Jesse guessed. She walked the man to the door, then turned and spotted Jesse standing in the gallery. The girl had the grace to flush.
She strolled toward him, and he could see her processing her thoughts as she made her way over. She nodded to the painting. “Nora Wilson is the artist. She sells well here. You’ll probably want to keep her happy if you take over.”
Jesse cocked his head. “Don’t you mean when?”
Taylor flushed a beet red. “Yes, of course. Sorry for the poor choice of words.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m late for an appointment. Busy day.” She started to step away.
“I was hoping I could shadow you today.” His words stopped her forward movement.
Turning, she frowned. “I thought Angie and Barb were doing that yesterday.”
Jesse leaned against the wall, watching her. “It’s a big investment. I’d like to know what I’m buying.”
She arched a brow at him. “How will shadowing me help?”
“You’re the manager. The manager knows everything. Just ask Barb.” He let his gaze drop to her suntanned legs. Damn, the woman didn’t have a flaw on her body.
Or at least the parts of her body you’ve seen.
He inwardly shivered at the thought. He slowly brought his gaze back up to her face. His attention had been noticed, and now there was a hardness in her eyes. She was angry with him. Probably for making her feel something after her suit of a boyfriend had just left. Oh, well.
He watched her consider his request. Finally, he saw her surrender, and she sighed, verbalizing it. “Fine,
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