Shutter by Rhonda Laurel Page A

and artist types hell-bent on self-expression.
    Instead of last year’s dress, a nice blue dress with spaghetti straps, Felix convinced her to be daring and go for something new and different. Tonight she wore a strapless, cranberry-red ball gown that made her feel like a princess. And that was a good thing because she’d felt like crap since Antonio left town.
    Felix appeared on her doorstep a couple of days ago like a fairy godfather and whisked her away to the city for a makeover. Before she knew it, she was in a salon getting a new haircut, manicure, and pedicure. And at some point in between all the protesting about the money he was spending on her, they stopped at an elegant boutique. Her protests subsided when she spotted the dress. It seemed to call out to her. So did the ruby earrings and matching necklace. She fought back tears as she tried it on, trying to figure out where all this emotion was coming from.
    As they perused the menu at the restaurant, trying to decide what to order for lunch, she casually told him that he didn’t have to spend a mint on her to cheer her up because of Antonio. He replied that it was nonsense and that he wanted to do something nice for a good friend.
    She followed the play, thankful that Blake finally caved and replaced the lead bombshell with the person who should have originally been cast as the lead: Cheyenne. Cheyenne had a cleaner, more innocent look than the original actress. Her angelic face would, for a moment, have one believe that fairy tales could come true.
    “Am I too late?”
    Lucy turned around to see Antonio standing near the door. He looked devastatingly handsome in a tuxedo that made him look debonair and hinted at the touch of rogue that lay beneath the surface.
    She swallowed hard. “The play started a half hour ago.”
    Antonio walked over to her and stood as close as he could get to her without touching her.
    “Blake changed the leads? What made him do it?”
    “Some men know when to stop thinking with their penises and do the right thing,” she said quietly.
    He winced. “Well, it’s never too late to come around. To realize you’ve made a mistake and try and fix it. You look breathtaking, by the way.”
    “And sometimes things can’t be fixed,” she said as she bit her lip.
    “I missed you, Lucy,” Antonio said in a strained voice.
    “I didn’t miss you.”
    “I haven’t been the same since I left. I shouldn’t have left.” He sighed.
    “You did the right thing. We had no business even looking in each other’s direction.”
    Antonio took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “I missed the smell of your hair and the way you smile without showing any of your teeth and that laugh. That hearty laugh of yours.”
    Lucy pulled away from him, but Antonio kept a firm grip on her hand.
    “Men like you don’t change, Antonio. But women like me change to be with you. And I like myself just fine,” she said sadly.
    Antonio turned her to face him and leaned his forehead against hers. “I miss watching you paint those trees. For hours and hours. Painting those trees. I didn’t get it before but now I do.”
    “I can’t be with you. I wouldn’t be able to be at peace if I were with you. Always wondering when the day would come when you would leave me for some hot little number that crossed your path. Trying to keep your attention and dying inside a little each day because you didn’t love me the way that I loved you. I don’t know much about love, but I know that I’m not made for that kind of love.”
    “Always so sad, looking at those trees,” he replied.
    “Antonio. Listen to me,” she said as she closed her eyes. “You and I are too different. I know I insulted you the first day we met. And I apologize for that. You sat on the stool and the first thing you were attracted to was Monica. I was sitting right across from you and you didn’t even glance my way. We got to know each other and then this thing developed. Your eyes,