Page 48 of He Who Sleeps

Chapter 20

Back at work at thegallery, Petra smoothed down her skirt and fixed her fitted vest as she stood and walked toward her boss. Lorne Miaski was a tall and imposing man, but he never once intimidated her. He had a pleasant smile, a fair way of dealing with people, and he had one hell of an artist’s eye. He had been instrumental in starting the careers of fifteen different local artists.

“Ms. Franklin. What’s on the docket today?”

She opened her tablet and started to read off the list. “And you have a meeting at eleven, but the agenda doesn’t say with whom.”

“Ah, yes. No worries on that. Full day. I’ll need you to handle the intake for the Reynolds show and I’ll need you to take the info...” She listened to him go through his day, basically leaving only two of the fifteen things for himself.

“Wonderful. I’ll start on that now.”

“You do that.” He looked down at his cell phone. “Ah, I have to take this.” He walked away, lifting the phone to his ear, leaving her to get on with the laundry list of tasks alone.

The morning rolled by, Petra on the phone for most of it, and in the database updating the four sales that she had facilitated. Three people had come in, two picking up and one looking for a piece of art, but for the most part, it had been business as usual.

Until the door opened and Easton stepped in.

"Hey, you." His grin was as genuine as it was unexpected. "How are you doing?"

“Better now,” she said softly so no one could hear it, just him. God he looked good. Jeans, boots, a green Henley, a black leather jacket and that fucking smile. Gods, he was sexy. Louder she said, “Mr. James. Nice to see you. Can I help you?”

"I have a meeting with Lorne at eleven," he told her. "Now that you know who I am, I have a series of artworks I can show and Lorne called me last week to say you have a sudden vacancy next week. One of your other artists pulled out. If you'll arrange for a porter, they're in my van out the front."

“Of course.” She nodded. “I’ll have Michael and Gabe bring them in.” She called back to their warehouse guys and then looked to Easton. “I’m sure it will only be a few minutes ‘til I can send you in.” She bit her lip, looking him over. “So what’s the new show?”

"You know what? I don't think I'm going to ruin the surprise," he told her, his lips tightening as he clearly tried not to smile.

“Meanie.” She shook her head on a chuckle, then leaned against the desk. “You doing okay? Carter told me you were the one to check in on me the other day. Thanks for that.”

"Of course," he told her. "I just wanted to make sure you had food. We used you hard. And I'm not a meanie. I want you to experience this artwork without any prior thought or feeling going into it."

She nodded. They had. “Well, it was delicious. And thoughtful.”

Lorne came out from his office then to see them standing there. “Easton!” He smiled and shook hands with him. “Tell me you brought the work!”

"It's in the van," he told Lorne with a grin. "Petra has kindly arranged for the guys to bring them in. I think you're going to like them."