His By Design (24 page)

“Oh thank goodness. I don’t want him to go to jail, though. He doesn’t deserve that for trying to help me.” Jen got up and shut off the bright light. The soft glow of her desk lamp was much more soothing, and less revealing. “So, what can I do to make things right?”

“Russ, I cannot begin to thank you for . . . everything.” Zoe hugged him and walked him to the office. Althoug
h Russ had repeatedly assured her that sale of his paintings was not important, she was delighted that two of his canvases had sold. She had banked a record profit from the gallery’s grand opening and was able to write a check for Russ to take with him. He had stayed in town for Amanda and Dev’s wedding yesterday.

It was an intimate affair with only the bride and grooms parents, Zoe as maid of honor and Chris Majewski as best man. Marjorie hosted a slightly larger reception at her bed and breakfast so that the crew from Dev’s radio station—those not working, anyway—and Zoe, Jeff and Russ could celebrate the couple’s union. Now Dev’s SUV idled at the curb, waiting to take both sets of parents and Russ to the airport.

“Stay in touch, Russ.”

“I will, never fear. Call me if there are any new developments.” He gave her shoulders a squeeze. “I’m happy you and Jeff worked things out between you. I wish you the best of luck here.”

“Thanks, Russ. Please stop in whenever you’re nearby. You know the door is always open.”

“Will do.” He shouldered his bag and headed for the front door. Jeff met him there and they shook hands. “She’s dynamite, my friend. You are one lucky S.O.B.” He lowered his voice as Zoe came out of the office. “Don’t let her get wind of our plan though. I don’t think she’ll approve.”

“Yeah, no worries, pal. I’ll be in touch.” Jeff clapped him on the shoulder and held the door. “Have a good flight.”

Zoe joined him and slipped her arm around his waist. She blew Russ a kiss and turned to Jeff. “What were you two whispering about up here?”

“Just the usual guy talk. Congratulating me on snagging a hot babe.” Jeff winked. “What’s on your agenda for today?” He slid both arms around her and hugged her. “I don’t suppose you have any free time for your poor, neglected boyfriend?” He dropped a kiss on her nose.

“Well, now that I’ve hired Jamie and Dan to man the gallery on Sundays, I may have a few moments to spare. What did you have in mind?”

The heat in Jeff’s eyes started an answering fire in her belly. She felt her nipples peak as Jeff tilted her face to accept a deeper kiss. “Mmm. Upstairs?”

“Oh yeah.”

Sometime later Zoe lay back with a satisfied smile. “Have I mentioned lately what a marvelous lover you are?”

“I think it’s been over twenty-four hours. I may get an under-appreciation complex.”

“Not likely, Studley. That self-satisfied smirk on your face every time you make me come says it all.”

“What can I say? Everything improves with practice . . .”

“Yeah, and you’re certainly willing to put in lots of practice time.” She ran her hand over his well-cut abs. “But I’m for the shower. We have to pick up more canvases for Jen and bring a few more of her finished works here. Her paintings are flying off the walls.”

The Memorial Day weekend started her summer off with a bang indeed. Tourists had poured into Blue Point Cove for the holiday and eager vacationers packed the sidewalks on their way to and from the marina. The gallery’s location just a few doors down from Donatelli’s restaurant and bakery brought lots of browsers in to admire her wares. If her sales kept up at this rate, she’d easily qualify for a bank loan by August. Then she would pay Fredrick Barker off and become sole owner of her gallery.

She hoped.

She had a plan to protect herself—and Jeff—from accusations of art forgery and fraud by the Sleazebag, but it made her nervous just thinking about it. Well, nothing could happen until she had the money, so she pushed her worries to the back of her mind.

For now.

Chapter 24

Jeff was in love with . . . tourists. All of them. No matter the age, the weight, the gender—he loved ‘em all. Even the brainless teenager so busy texting that she crossed the street in the middle of the block and almost made him lay is bike down to avoid putting tire tracks on her pretty pink bikini.

Yep, even her.

Because for the past two months those wonderful nameless, faceless individuals had put thousands of dollars into his bank account.

As a result of their generosity, Jen would come back to Blue Point Cove today with a face that looked almost like the one she had two years ago. A bit puffy, and pink around the edges where the scars peeked out from behind her right ear. But her new haircut with the soft curls hid most of them. Her mouth was perfect, her lips soft and full without any hint of a sag at the right corner. That was how she looked two weeks ago. The last time he’d driven up to Baltimore. She looked so much better that she had a ‘coming out’ party with all of her old friends. Two of whom had already called her for dates. He might need to check those guys out.

“Jeff. Stop pacing. You’re starting to make me anxious.” Zoe rubbed his back, then smacked him smartly on his ass. “Staring out the window won’t get them here any sooner.”

“I know. I know. I can’t help it though. Wait until you see her, Zoe. She’s beautiful again. Dr. Guiness is a miracle worker.” Jeff couldn’t keep the smile from sneaking out.

“Let’s get these last three canvases hung so there won’t be anything left to do when she arrives but chat.”

“Right, you’re right. As usual.” He tugged on her long French braid, then lifted her up and swung her in a circle, depositing her back on the ground with a quick kiss. “I’ll go bring them down from the storage room.”

It was early Sunday morning and the gallery didn’t open until noon. Jeff wanted plenty of time to show Jen around the place. He wanted her to see how great her paintings looked hung with enough white space around them to make each one stand out like a rare jewel. Zoe always kept one of his sculptures at the entrance to Jen’s small exhibition area. The rest were scattered throughout the gallery, wherever Zoe felt they captured browsers attention. He’d just finished hanging the last canvas when his dad’s white van slid to the curb out front. He hustled outside and opened Jen’s door.

“Hey, Bug.” He offered her a hand.

“Hey, bro.” She clasped it and swung her legs around using her long skirt to hide her brace. She slung her bag over her shoulder, grabbed her cane and straightened carefully. She gave him a wink and nodded toward the gallery. “So, this is the place, huh?”

Jeff nodded.

Zoe gave Jeff’s dad a hug. “Hi, Frank. How are you?”

He sported the same wide grin as his son. “I’m doing fine, Zoe.”

She turned to Jen and gave her a welcoming hug as well. Then she leaned back and studied Jen’s face at arm’s length. “Jen, you look amazing! Gorgeous. I’m so happy for you. Come on inside and let me show you around.”

They all trooped through the front doors. Jen glanced around, her eyes bright with interest, then she pulled Zoe aside and stage-whispered in her ear, “Before I can saunter around and give everything here its due, I’m gonna need to use the ladies’ room.”

Zoe slid an arm around Jen’s waist. “Allow me.”

Jeff watched the two women, their heads close together, laughter trailing behind them, as they headed to the back. His shoulders relaxed. He swiveled toward his dad and caught the same film of moisture in his dad’s eyes as he felt in his own.

“Yes, sir, she’s looking real good, isn’t she?”

“She is, son. Thanks to you.”

“No thanks to me, Dad. I almost blew it all to hell. If Zoe wasn’t the kind of person she is, I could be sitting in a jail cell right now.”
And Jen would still be hiding in her apartment . . .

“Hell’s bells, son. Give yourself some credit. You may have made a few missteps but you’ve worked damn hard to make their dreams come true. Both of them.”

Jeff waved off the praise. “Come on back to the office and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”

“You read my mind, son.”

“Leave your purse in my office and
Jeff and I will give you the fifty-cent tour.”

Jen obliged, and Zoe linked arms with her.

“Later, I’ll show you some pictures of this place before Jeff worked his magic, so you can see what an awesome job he did with the renovations.” Zoe touched one of the movable interior walls and pointed to the floor lock that kept it in place. “These are Jeff’s pride and joy. I can move most of these walls around and make larger or smaller spaces to showcase an individual artist.”

“Wow, fantastic idea, bro. Really makes this big cavern of a space versatile.” Jen’s face glowed with pride for her older brother.

“Yeah, and since they don’t go all the way to the ceiling it helps with air circulation, too. Cuts down on cooling and heating costs.” Jeff pointed to the track lighting overhead. “Movable lighting is what makes changing the configuration possible.”

“Right now I have your works spread throughout the gallery, but what I’d really like to do Jen, is have a major exhibition of all of your paintings with lots of advertising for our new, talented young artist.” Zoe gave her arm a squeeze. “You’ve been hiding your light under a bushel for too long, girl. Let’s get you noticed. Get a little buzz going . . .”

Jen shook her head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for something that big, Zoe. Maybe . . .”

“Okay. I understand you might be a teensy bit nervous. All budding artists are when they face their first big show.” Zoe glanced from Jen to Jeff, and tapped her finger to her lips. “You know, I have an even better idea.” She held her arms up and spread them wide. “How about ‘The Silvercreek Gallery Presents the Petroskys,’ a brother/sister show where you can both share the spotlight?”

For a few silent seconds Jen and Jeff shared a look, the Jen’s face split in a big smile. “Now, that I could handle. What do you say, bro?”

“Whatever makes you happy, Bug.” He draped an arm across her shoulders.

Zoe’s smile turned thoughtful. “If you’re both up for it, I think it would be very helpful to have an interview with you two that we could publish in the newspaper and maybe get picked up by a couple of art magazines. We could play up the angle that Jeff was just standing in for you until you got out of the hospital. We won’t give a lot of details about why—” Zoe added quickly as Jen began a negative head shake. “Something like that would cut the legs out from under Barker’s threat to have Jeff arrested for art fraud.” She glanced hopefully between the two.

Jen immediately changed her head shake to a nod. “Absolutely. Good idea, Zoe. I’m all for it and I don’t mind explaining why I was in the hospital, as long as we don’t use any ‘before’ pictures. I’ll drum up so much sympathy for Jeff that Barker bastard won’t even try to go there.”

Jeff was a bit less enthusiastic. “If you think that’ll help, I’m game.”

Zoe sighed with relief. She’d been working on a plan to thwart Fredrick Barker’s threats of exposure to both herself and Jeff and this should solve half of that problem. She’d need a lot of help with the other half, but Andy, one of Dev’s radio announcers, had agreed to give her a hand with those plans.

“Let’s go upstairs so I can show off the gorgeous apartment your brother built for me. Jamie should be here any minute and she can open the gallery while we have lunch.”

Jen’s face fell. “Um, stairs are kinda hard for me. I can do them but it takes me a while. You guys go ahead up and— Hey!” she yelped as Jeff swept her up in his arms. She pushed at his chest. “Put me down, you idiot. Do you want to give yourself a hernia?”

“Oh for Pete’s sake, Bug, you weigh less than half-grown poodle. Just be quiet and quit squirming.” He started up the steps in spite of her continued protests. “By the time you quit mouthing off, we’ll be there. See?” He set her down in front of Zoe’s apartment door.

Jen gave him a solid punch on the arm.

“Really? That’s the best you can do?”

Eyes narrowed, Jen drew her arm back for another try.

Zoe stepped between them. “Enough. I will not tolerate any injuries on the premises. I got into trouble that way once before.” She slid a sideways glance at Jeff.

Zoe looked at Frank and he winked back. “Just like old times . . .” He chuckled.

After a quick tour they sat at the kitchen counter while Zoe laid out meats and cheeses, sliced tomatoes, pasta salad, crusty rolls, and condiments. “I’m sure by now Jeff has told you about my abysmal skills as a chef. So help yourself while I pour drinks.”

How lucky am I to have found a man with such a wonderful family? Jeff’s been the protector his whole life. Now it’s my turn to protect him. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe from my former boss.

Zoe paced as she waited for Amanda to arrive.

The paperwork was finished.
Amanda had done profit and loss statements, one, three, and five year projections on income, and thirty-five other documents Zoe had never heard of. They had an appointment with the bank’s loan officer at three o’clock.

Zoe’s palms were already damp. Summer heat notwithstanding, she wore her good black suit and white silk tank. She took a last look in the mirror, attempted to project a serious, businesslike demeanor and headed downstairs.

“Dan, I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but I’ve got my cell so if you need me for anything—”

“Call. I know. I’ve got you covered, Ms. Silvercreek. Don’t worry about a thing.”

Dan was an artisan himself and exactly the type of person Zoe wanted to attract to Blue Point Cove. He was neat, personable, and at ease with customers. She was delighted to find he needed some extra income, until his handmade kaleidoscopes and wind-chimes provided more revenue. Zoe didn’t think it would take long. She loved the sound of his chimes and kept a small fan stirring the branches of Amanda’s ficus tree so she could hear them in the gallery.

Amanda beeped her horn and Zoe grabbed her portfolio and headed out the door.

“All set?”

“Thank God you’re coming with me this time, Mandy. Last time I tried to get a business loan I was so nervous I’m sure the man thought I’d never succeed.”

“We’re going to a different bank this time. The loan officer is younger and eager to make a name for herself. Being a female should help our cause too.”

“Tell me honestly. What do you think my chances are?” Zoe resisted the urge to scrub her palms down her pant legs.

“Honestly, I think you’ve got a seventy-five percent possibility of success this time. Your numbers are healthy, your building passed their inspection, the stars are aligned, and I had the Jamaican lady who cleans Dev’s building kill a chicken this morning and read the entrails . . .”

Zoe laughed. “Thanks, I needed some comic relief right about now.”

Forty minutes later, the pair climbed back into Amanda’s car. Zoe heaved a sigh. “That went a whole lot faster than I expected. I hope the speed is a good sign.”

Mrs. Anderson was pleasant and informative about the bank’s processes. Zoe got a positive vibe from the firm handshake she gave as they left. She told them it would only take two days for the bank to decide, which was quicker than Zoe expected. Still, forty-eight hours of agony loomed ahead.

She had to get that loan. While her bank account was healthier than it had ever been, she didn’t have fifty thousand dollars to hand over to Fredrick. If she couldn’t come up with that by Labor Day, nothing else would matter.

“Have you guys figured out what to do about Barker’s
other
demands?”

Zoe rolled her eyes and sighed.

“As soon as I get the loan, I’ll call Fredrick and make an appointment to see him at his gallery in D. C. so he can sign off on the legal paperwork when I hand over the check for fifty thousand. While I keep him busy at the gallery, Jeff is going to get into Fredrick’s townhouse and exchange the original painting for my copy, which Russ has managed to get from Judge Abernathy.”

“What serendipity that Russ knows him.”

“Tell me. I owe that man plenty.”

“Well sometimes fate does work in your favor.”

“I guess. But I’m really worried Jeff will get caught breaking in the Fredrick’s place. He’s already scoped the place out and says the lock on his sliders in back are notoriously easy to pick. I gave him the alarm code to disable it, but . . .”

“Considering Mr. Barker’s ethics, I don’t have much moral sympathy for the man. But I’d be worried too if it was Dev taking the risk.”

“I’m going to try and get Fredrick to admit he swapped the paintings. On tape. I can use it as backup insurance.”

“What do you mean ‘on tape’?” Amanda frowned.

“I’m going to wear a wire. You know, like they do on TV.”

“Are you serious? You know how to do that?”

“I have no idea, but I asked Andy about it when he worked on the gallery’s website. He’s got mad skills in that area and he’s going to fix me up.” Zoe clutched Amanda’s arm. “Don’t tell anyone, Mandy. If Jeff finds out, he’ll call the whole deal off.”

“I wouldn’t blame him. It sounds pretty risky to me.”

“No riskier than Jeff swapping those paintings.”
That’s what’s keeping me up at night.
“There is no way I’ll let that sleazebag hold a gun to my head or Jeff’s. It will all work out, Mandy. Don’t worry.”