it a simple affair with just their closest friends and family. Lori’s mom and sister, Gregory, and a handful of Gideon’s art pals had attended. Gideon had won over her mother in a heartbeat.
As they walked into the huge room which displayed Gideon’s sculptures, one face leaped out at her. Rick. What on earth was he doing at an art showing?
As if sensing her, his head swung around, and their gazes locked. Lori felt Gideon stiffen and pull her in close. She looked up at him and smiled. “He’s old news, Gideon.
We don’t have to worry about him.”
A muscle in Gideon’s jaw twitched. “I should kill him for the way he treated you.”
“No. He’s not worth the trouble.”
“He’s right,” another voice interjected. When she swung her head around, Rick was standing in front of her, eyes full of remorse.
“What did you say?”
“Your husband is right. I was a jerk, Lori, and I’m sorry.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. Rick had never apologized. Only accused. “Why so humble all of a sudden, Rick?”
“I’m curious about that myself,” Gideon ground out.
“I had a run in with an eighteen wheeler. Made me see things a little differently.”
Lori could see the change in him. He was thinner and walked with a slight limp, and his arrogance was gone. Still, there was one thing left unexplained. “I never would have taken you for an art lover.”
Rick shrugged. “I’m trying new things. I’m here with a friend.” He turned and motioned a handsome African American man forward. When their fingers intertwined, Lori’s jaw nearly dropped. “I’d like you to meet, Paul.”
By rote, Lori held out her hand, surprised when Paul smiled and took it. “I’ve heard wonderful things about you, Lori.”
“Uh, it’s nice to meet you too.”
Rick smiled up at Paul then winked at Lori. “Paul was my nurse in the hospital after the accident. We’ve been together since.”
“I see,” she said, even though she really didn’t. After all, what was a woman supposed to say when she finds out her ex has turned to the other side?
As they walked away, she heard Gideon snicker. She glared up at him. “Don’t even say it.”
“Sorry, love, it’s just sort of funny.”
“What is?”
“The effect you have on men.”
It took all her willpower not to laugh. “I’m actually happy for him. And a lot of things make more sense now.”
Gideon stroked a hand over her lower back, immediately easing the aches and pains.
60
“What things?”
“He was never happy with me. As I think back, I’m convinced he was denying his true feelings.”
They both watched as Paul leaned down and whispered something into Rick’s ear.
Rick smiled. “Well, he’s not anymore.”
“No, he’s not. Seems everyone got what they wanted out of the deal.”
“Yeah, it does,” Gideon murmured.
When their gazes locked, Lori’s heart soared. She owed Margaret big time for insisting she go to that party. Tomorrow she’d send her a box of chocolates. Tonight, she had other plans.
Lori opened her mind and brought up an image of washing Gideon very thoroughly from head to toe.
Gideon’s eyes narrowed as he leaned close to whisper, “You’re playing with fire.”
She licked her lips and said, “Too much caution is boring.”
“Mmm, I couldn’t agree more, baby.”
They lasted two hours before managing to slip out a backdoor.
61
About the Author
Anne lives in a small town way out in the middle of nowhere-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. She never wants for anything and she always loves everyone. Of course, she wasn't always this way.
It all started on one Rainey day, as she was sitting on her comfy couch, reading a romance novel and sipping a hot chocolate. She realized the book she was reading seemed to lack a certain 'vavavoom!' Thus, the talented, beautiful, and rich Anne Rainey was born.
Clearly, Anne is a mere figment. A
As they walked into the huge room which displayed Gideon’s sculptures, one face leaped out at her. Rick. What on earth was he doing at an art showing?
As if sensing her, his head swung around, and their gazes locked. Lori felt Gideon stiffen and pull her in close. She looked up at him and smiled. “He’s old news, Gideon.
We don’t have to worry about him.”
A muscle in Gideon’s jaw twitched. “I should kill him for the way he treated you.”
“No. He’s not worth the trouble.”
“He’s right,” another voice interjected. When she swung her head around, Rick was standing in front of her, eyes full of remorse.
“What did you say?”
“Your husband is right. I was a jerk, Lori, and I’m sorry.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. Rick had never apologized. Only accused. “Why so humble all of a sudden, Rick?”
“I’m curious about that myself,” Gideon ground out.
“I had a run in with an eighteen wheeler. Made me see things a little differently.”
Lori could see the change in him. He was thinner and walked with a slight limp, and his arrogance was gone. Still, there was one thing left unexplained. “I never would have taken you for an art lover.”
Rick shrugged. “I’m trying new things. I’m here with a friend.” He turned and motioned a handsome African American man forward. When their fingers intertwined, Lori’s jaw nearly dropped. “I’d like you to meet, Paul.”
By rote, Lori held out her hand, surprised when Paul smiled and took it. “I’ve heard wonderful things about you, Lori.”
“Uh, it’s nice to meet you too.”
Rick smiled up at Paul then winked at Lori. “Paul was my nurse in the hospital after the accident. We’ve been together since.”
“I see,” she said, even though she really didn’t. After all, what was a woman supposed to say when she finds out her ex has turned to the other side?
As they walked away, she heard Gideon snicker. She glared up at him. “Don’t even say it.”
“Sorry, love, it’s just sort of funny.”
“What is?”
“The effect you have on men.”
It took all her willpower not to laugh. “I’m actually happy for him. And a lot of things make more sense now.”
Gideon stroked a hand over her lower back, immediately easing the aches and pains.
60
“What things?”
“He was never happy with me. As I think back, I’m convinced he was denying his true feelings.”
They both watched as Paul leaned down and whispered something into Rick’s ear.
Rick smiled. “Well, he’s not anymore.”
“No, he’s not. Seems everyone got what they wanted out of the deal.”
“Yeah, it does,” Gideon murmured.
When their gazes locked, Lori’s heart soared. She owed Margaret big time for insisting she go to that party. Tomorrow she’d send her a box of chocolates. Tonight, she had other plans.
Lori opened her mind and brought up an image of washing Gideon very thoroughly from head to toe.
Gideon’s eyes narrowed as he leaned close to whisper, “You’re playing with fire.”
She licked her lips and said, “Too much caution is boring.”
“Mmm, I couldn’t agree more, baby.”
They lasted two hours before managing to slip out a backdoor.
61
About the Author
Anne lives in a small town way out in the middle of nowhere-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. She never wants for anything and she always loves everyone. Of course, she wasn't always this way.
It all started on one Rainey day, as she was sitting on her comfy couch, reading a romance novel and sipping a hot chocolate. She realized the book she was reading seemed to lack a certain 'vavavoom!' Thus, the talented, beautiful, and rich Anne Rainey was born.
Clearly, Anne is a mere figment. A
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