Page 26 of Edge of Ruin (The Edge Trilogy #3)

“You heard me. My clientele is growing, and I’m putting together high-end shows that travel, but with my gallery in New York, I can’t always be on the move.

I need a curator and site manager. You could do for me what I did for Rudolfo.

I’m talking invitational shows, darling.

Where you handpick the artists, jury the art, curate the show, plan the tour, choose galleries, lofts, ballrooms, hotels.

The money is extremely good. And it is a very canny career move for a developing artist, if I may advise you. ”

“Wow,” I said thoughtfully. “It’s a very generous offer, but?—”

“Don’t make a snap decision!” Rafael admonished. “This job has been good to me. I want to pass on the good fortune! Think about it!”

“It’s an incredible offer,” I said, touched. “It’s kind of you to think of me, but the truth is, my life is complicated right now. And I’m kind of in the middle of something here.”

“I can see that!” Rafael swung his gaze back to Jack and looked him over with blatant approval. “But let me just explain how perfect my job is for you.”

I abruptly became aware of the quality of Jack’s fierce, silent attention. “Um, Rafael, do you suppose we could meet for coffee and talk about this tomorrow? Now is not the best time for?—”

“What better time? We arranged this time in the astral plane, sweetheart! There’s no time to lose. I’m catching a plane tomorrow from Portland. Seize the moment!” Rafael took my arm and led me away from the crowd.

I glanced uncomfortably back at Jack. He followed closely, his face impassive.

“Listen carefully,” Rafael began earnestly.

“A sample month in the life of Vivi D’Onofrio, art promoter.

One week in San Francisco, eating sushi and going to the opera.

The next week in Berkeley, taking in wild experimental theater.

A tour of the wine country in between. On to Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Fe, always a different view.

No fleabag motels, no moldy campground showers.

You eat in award-winning restaurants, you sleep in five-star hotels, and you deal in outrageously expensive art.

It’s fun, stimulating, challenging. What do you say? ”

“You know money has never been a big priority for me?—”

“Oh, I know that.” Rafael patted my shoulder. “But just try making lots of money for a while, and see how fast you get used to it, angel girl.”

“The real reason is not the money,” I plodded on. “I’m?—”

“This job is your way back into the high-end art world! Everything that bastard Wilder took from you, you can have again! I’m not suggesting you be a site manager or curator forever.

I’m thinking about your long-term artistic career!

If you go this road, with the contacts you develop, you can write your own ticket! ”

“But my shop is already organized, and I?—”

“A little shop in a little town has its charm, but just think about it for a while. Work with me, and in no time, that scumbag Wilder will be eating your exhaust. Imagine the satisfaction.”

I imagined it. Then I twisted gently out of Rafael’s grip and wrapped my arms across my chest. I was shivering, although the night was warm. The crowd swirled around us, but the music faded to the background as I pondered Rafael’s offer.

The big-time art world. Success, fame, money. The life I’d dreamed of as a struggling young artist. Odd, how it didn’t make my heartbeat quicken anymore.

I lifted my gaze past my friend’s hopeful, expectant face, to where Jack stood, behind him. His stance rigid. Eyes fixed on her.

That life absolutely didn’t include Jack. The finality of that fact sent a stab of nervous panic through me. “Ah ... ah, it’s tempting, but?—”

“And you could play fairy godmother to your artist friends! You’d have the power to bring their stuff to the attention of the high-end buyers! You could change their lives! Wouldn’t that be grand?”

I took a slow breath. “It sounds great, but I found a perfect location for my shop. I’m content with that. I’m staying put.”

I twisted to see if Jack was still listening. He was close behind, but when I tried to meet his eyes, he just looked straight ahead.

Rafael’s gaze shifted, from Vivi to Jack, back again. “Ah. I understand, angel. You just think about it for a while. I won’t push.”

I turned to Jack and reached to take his hand. “The band is starting another song. Let’s go back near the stage, okay?”

Jack’s hand was stiff. “I’m ready to leave,” he said.

Rafael’s smile faded. He looked at Jack fingering the waxed ends of his moustache. “Oh dear,” he said in a low voice. “I hope I haven’t put you in a tight spot, love. But will you think about it, at least?”

“Certainly, I’ll think about it,” I told him. “And thank you. It’s a beautiful offer, and you’re a wonderful friend. I’m so glad to be back in touch.”

Rafael gave me an impulsive hug. “Give me your cell number. Promise me you’ll give it some serious thought. I’ll walk you out to the van.”

I pulled out my phone. “I don’t get much mobile coverage out where I live,” I told him. “I’ll give you the landline number at my shop, and at Jack’s house, too.”

We exchanged numbers as we strolled. Rafael’s eyes grew nostalgic as we stopped at the van. He turned to Jack. “Did Viv tell you that I?—”

“Yeah,” Jack said dourly. “You painted the serpent.”

Rafael’s eyes turned dreamy. “This was my best van painting. I’d be more than willing to paint the other side for you, love.

How about a portrait of the two of you? Chain-mail bathing suits, shreds of fur, a flaming sword?

You can be hugging his leg. I love it when the girl hugs the guy’s leg.

” His gaze flicked to Jack’s muscular thigh.

“Oh, no, no. That’s okay,” I said quickly. “I like just having the one.”

“I had such wild times in that van,” Rafael reminisced. “One night Billy and Ronnie and I got some tequila and limes and salt, and we?—”

“You told me that story,” I interrupted hastily.

“I painted that scene after I broke up with Ronnie,” Rafael said, wistfully. “That was my ‘man-alone-battling-his-demons’ period.”

“Yeah, that about sums up the last few years of my life, too,” I said ruefully.

I dug my keys out of my purse and gave Rafael a tight hug. “It was great to see you, Rafael. I’m happy to see you doing so well.”

“Thank you, angel. Let me know what you decide. Contact me on the astral plane, by all means, but call my cell phone, too, okay?”

“I’ll do that. Thanks.”

Jack climbed into the van and slammed his door shut. Rafael waved exuberantly as I backed out of the parking spot.

The silence was unbearable. Jack sat like a graven image in the dark, not responding to any of my attempts to speak. We got to the toll bridge, and I scrabbled in the dark for quarters. He handed me the change. The small contact gave me courage.

I flung them into the basket and let the van surge forward. “Jack,” I began.

“Don’t start.” He was using his cool, detached voice again, the one that I had not heard for weeks. Not since before we had become lovers.

“You have the wrong idea. Rafael is a good friend, but he talks too much, and he has no idea where my head is right now?—”

“Shut up and drive, Vivi,” Jack said.

I closed my mouth with a snap, stung into silence. When I pulled into the driveway at home and killed the engine, he got out without a word and headed toward the house.

I stared after him, wondering if I was even still welcome in there.

Edna leaped and bounded at his heels, licking at his hand as he unlocked the front door and shoving her way in when the door opened.

In any case, I had to retrieve my rambunctious dog, so I walked slowly up onto the porch and stepped inside, shutting the door.

It was dark inside the big room, but he had not turned on any lights, so I didn’t either.

The dark made it easier. I didn’t really want him to see my face.

“I don’t want Rafael’s job, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I told him. “It’s a fabulous offer, but it’s not for me.”

“That’s not how it looked.” Jack’s voice was bleak. “You looked tempted. And you should be. That job’s a road back to the career you always wanted. All your hopes and dreams and training. Do what you have to do. Don’t let me hold you back.”

I shook my head. “No. I have everything I need right here. Rafael was trying to help me, but I don’t need any help. His timing just sucked, that’s all.”

“No, his timing was perfect,” Jack said. “I was starting to delude myself. I owe him for bringing me back to earth.”

That drove me right over the top. I took a step closer to him and whacked at his chest with the heels of my hands.

“You were not deluding yourself! You were starting to trust me, and I deserve to be trusted! We have something special!” I whacked him again, trying to shove him back toward the couch.

“Thick-brained lug! Would you just take a goddamn chance on me?”

He trapped both of my wrists in one hand. “Don’t get in a wresting match with me, Vivi.”

“Why the hell not? What’s the point of controlling myself? Why bother?”

“Because I’ll win.” He dragged me close and cupped my ass so I could feel his erection. “Is that what you want? I’ll give it to you like that right now, if it is.”

We stared at each other, grim and furious. Angry as I was, he always aroused me. And I couldn’t back down with this guy. Something inside me just wouldn’t allow it.

My heart pounded when he pushed me back onto the couch and shoved up my skirt. His fingers parted my folds, slid inside me, found me already wet and yielding.

I clenched around his delving fingers. Ashamed, to have made it so goddamn easy for him. It wasn’t right to be so compromised. So helplessly strung out on him. I shoved at his chest, scratching at him, but I was trembling, melting down.

Wondering, too, if sex might make him more mellow and receptive.

“You like it like this?” He wrenched open his belt.