tomorrow. I’ll give it a look and let you know what I think.” Where did that come from? What was she thinking and why? She had no intention of relinquishing one smidgeon of Cameron’s...
“Tell me, Mr. Forsyth, why are you so determined to buy me out? You could probably purchase bigger and better known galleries across the United States. Why mine?”
Quiet for a moment, he said, “Did you ever consider there’s more to life than the family business? Wouldn’t your father have wanted that for you?”
She stiffened at his words. Hadn’t she and Mrs. Hardy had this conversation, not so long ago? “My father groomed me to one day take over Cameron Gallery. His death came earlier than I’d expected, but rest assured, I was ready for the responsibility and have done a good job thus far. I have no need for anything else,” Erin said coldly.
“That’s not true and you know it. Think about what you really want, Erin.” He rose, as did she, and added, “I can tell you right now what I want from you, and what I’ll willingly give in return.”
The words were soft, the meaning deep and her blood roiled with heat as Erin realized the sexual innuendo in the words he’d just spoken.
They had reached the front door. Erin held it open for him to leave. “Like I said, put it in writing. Good night, Mr. Forsyth.”
Chapter 5
D AY AFTER DAY , Erin went to the office in the guise of Cam. She’d read the offer Tristan had dropped off, briefly spoken with him and assured him she’d take the paperwork straight to Erin. By Friday, Erin’s nerves had grown ragged. Their prior conversation ran through her mind, she’d handled the papers so often she’d dog-eared the corners of them.
Was he right? Could Tristan’s knowledge of what it took to make a gallery an international success be a good enough reason for her to reconsider his offer? In the past, she’d wondered what it would be like to have that much fame in the art world. For the last time, Erin tossed the papers down and sighed. Yes. It was an opportunity to learn even more about the business, to be involved with the greatest galleries in the world... But to sell the gallery would be to sell her family home as well as her legacy. And if she did that, where would she and Mrs. Hardy go then?
What would her parents have said? Would they have thought this a good business venture? Confused and exhausted, she rubbed her face with her hands and jumped when Mrs. Hardy spoke to her.
“You’re fretful today, Miss Erin. Are you ill?” Mrs. Hardy asked.
Fidgeting in her chair, Erin rubbed a finger around the rim of her coffee cup. “I’m fine, really, I am. Cameron’s is hosting an opening soon and there are tons of details to attend to.” Erin glanced at the housekeeper and whined, “Margery Beiderman usually comes in to help Meredith, but the woman is on vacation. I have to pick up the slack for Mrs. Beiderman and handle my job and Cam’s at the same time.”
“Would you like some Brie cheese with that whine?” Mrs. Hardy asked good-naturedly.
Erin smirked and admitted, “I don’t know why this is getting to me. I’ve done the whole gallery show thing so many times I could set it up in my sleep.” She rose and slipped her jacket over her white blouse. Cam was heading to work. “I’ll be here for supper.”
“We’re having rosemary roasted chicken tonight, so bring home a good appetite,” Mrs. Hardy called after her.
“Yum. I will,” Erin called back.
The Starbucks stop wasn’t part of her schedule. Erin drove past the coffee shop without a glance and headed into Greenwich. Her first stop was the dry cleaners, the second was the chocolate shop to order dainties for the opening. The final stop was her office.
Parked behind the gallery she noticed Tristan, behind the wheel of his gorgeous Jaguar, follow her in and park alongside her.
“Hells bells. Not now,” she mumbled then stepped out of her car with a smile pasted on her face.
“Good
“Tell me, Mr. Forsyth, why are you so determined to buy me out? You could probably purchase bigger and better known galleries across the United States. Why mine?”
Quiet for a moment, he said, “Did you ever consider there’s more to life than the family business? Wouldn’t your father have wanted that for you?”
She stiffened at his words. Hadn’t she and Mrs. Hardy had this conversation, not so long ago? “My father groomed me to one day take over Cameron Gallery. His death came earlier than I’d expected, but rest assured, I was ready for the responsibility and have done a good job thus far. I have no need for anything else,” Erin said coldly.
“That’s not true and you know it. Think about what you really want, Erin.” He rose, as did she, and added, “I can tell you right now what I want from you, and what I’ll willingly give in return.”
The words were soft, the meaning deep and her blood roiled with heat as Erin realized the sexual innuendo in the words he’d just spoken.
They had reached the front door. Erin held it open for him to leave. “Like I said, put it in writing. Good night, Mr. Forsyth.”
Chapter 5
D AY AFTER DAY , Erin went to the office in the guise of Cam. She’d read the offer Tristan had dropped off, briefly spoken with him and assured him she’d take the paperwork straight to Erin. By Friday, Erin’s nerves had grown ragged. Their prior conversation ran through her mind, she’d handled the papers so often she’d dog-eared the corners of them.
Was he right? Could Tristan’s knowledge of what it took to make a gallery an international success be a good enough reason for her to reconsider his offer? In the past, she’d wondered what it would be like to have that much fame in the art world. For the last time, Erin tossed the papers down and sighed. Yes. It was an opportunity to learn even more about the business, to be involved with the greatest galleries in the world... But to sell the gallery would be to sell her family home as well as her legacy. And if she did that, where would she and Mrs. Hardy go then?
What would her parents have said? Would they have thought this a good business venture? Confused and exhausted, she rubbed her face with her hands and jumped when Mrs. Hardy spoke to her.
“You’re fretful today, Miss Erin. Are you ill?” Mrs. Hardy asked.
Fidgeting in her chair, Erin rubbed a finger around the rim of her coffee cup. “I’m fine, really, I am. Cameron’s is hosting an opening soon and there are tons of details to attend to.” Erin glanced at the housekeeper and whined, “Margery Beiderman usually comes in to help Meredith, but the woman is on vacation. I have to pick up the slack for Mrs. Beiderman and handle my job and Cam’s at the same time.”
“Would you like some Brie cheese with that whine?” Mrs. Hardy asked good-naturedly.
Erin smirked and admitted, “I don’t know why this is getting to me. I’ve done the whole gallery show thing so many times I could set it up in my sleep.” She rose and slipped her jacket over her white blouse. Cam was heading to work. “I’ll be here for supper.”
“We’re having rosemary roasted chicken tonight, so bring home a good appetite,” Mrs. Hardy called after her.
“Yum. I will,” Erin called back.
The Starbucks stop wasn’t part of her schedule. Erin drove past the coffee shop without a glance and headed into Greenwich. Her first stop was the dry cleaners, the second was the chocolate shop to order dainties for the opening. The final stop was her office.
Parked behind the gallery she noticed Tristan, behind the wheel of his gorgeous Jaguar, follow her in and park alongside her.
“Hells bells. Not now,” she mumbled then stepped out of her car with a smile pasted on her face.
“Good
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