A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) by Nikki Lynn Barrett Page A

annoyance and kept her tone cool. "I figured I'd run into him. I just wish he'd leave me alone. I don't want to talk to him." Maybe Brock said something, since Liane just said he talked about her artwork. Harmless. Becca should have figured word would get around about Vince. Hopefully they didn't know all the details of their tangled history. Those were better left buried, or at least not so out in the open for others to know about.
    "I'll do my best to warn you beforehand when I know he's here. Get out of here and prepare for your dinner. I can't wait to hear all the amazing details!" Liane patted her shoulder. "Your art is great on our walls, but I expect to see galleries far and wide picking up a great name. I can say I knew you when."
    Becca laughed. "You've been hanging around Hunter way too long," she teased, grabbing her purse. "I'm going, I'm going. Have a great weekend."
    The trip home took twice the time, but Becca made it in one piece. The snow fell heavy in some spots and light in others. She debated on canceling, but the worst of it wasn't supposed to hit until overnight. As soon as she made it through the front door, her phone rang.
    "Hi Hunter," she answered after checking the caller ID.
    "Hey, you make it home yet? It's snowing pretty bad here. Todd wanted to know if I could stay a while longer, but he knows you have a dinner tonight." He sounded torn.
    "Why not meet us at the gallery then?" Becca suggested. She wanted him to be there the whole time, but if Hunter at least made it to the gallery, she'd be okay.
    "Are you sure? I can head home now."
    "It's okay. Help out at the airport if you're needed. I promise I'll call and update you with anything."
    "How's the weather at home?" Loud sounds cut into Hunter's words.
    "Hit and miss," Becca replied, climbing the stairs to put her purse in the bedroom. "It's fairly light now, but driving home took twice the time."
    "I hope the worst doesn't hit until we're both home safe. Okay, if you're sure..."
    "It's totally fine! Call me when you're done and I'll let you know where we are." Becca opened the closet door and stared at the row of her clothes, debating what to wear.
    "All right. I don't want you to be so nervous. After what you said the other night..."
    "I'll be fine. Promise." She had her worries, but she'd shove them aside.
    "I love you, angel."
    "Love you too." Becca smiled. They hung up and she set her phone on the charger to keep it full, in case anything happened this evening. She faced the closet again, indecisive on what to wear. If Rissi were here, she'd be all over the place, pulling clothes, accessories, and shoes out. Stylish stuff Becca had always left to Rissi. She missed her best friend, but at least she was here in spirit.
    Finally, she settled on a forest green turtleneck that came with a long scarf worn around the neck. The scarf was a lighter green with the same dark green fringe at the end of it, and a pair of black pants. She found a pair of thick heeled boots. Becca showered and changed, then fixed her hair in a simple ponytail. She stood in front of the full length mirror on the inside of the closet door and studied herself. Turning left and right, Becca nodded in satisfaction. Brock wasn't going to be picking at her clothing. He wanted to talk art. She looked fine.
    She grabbed her phone and purse, then headed out the door. Outside, the temperature had to have plummeted at least another five degrees in the less than one hour time frame she'd been in the house. Large snowflakes fell in between tiny ones. So pretty, but she wished it would wait. Mother Nature waited for no one.
    Becca drove carefully through the flurries. Cars slid, but most of them gained traction and avoided a crash. She cringed each time a car spun out of control, fearing an accident. Maybe she should have canceled, but she was more than halfway there now. It was a little too late to turn back. She'd looked up the address online and had a map, which was a good thing,