Primary Colors (4 page)

“Gerald, hello.” Logan gave him a hearty handshake.

While he talked to Gerald, Magdalena joined her sisters. Four of them sat on couches and chairs or the floor, all looking a lot
like they had when they lived here. Only Ana seemed older. And more world weary
.

Hugs and kisses all around, then she sat on the edge of the couch near the baby of the family. She ran a hand down Elizabeita’s hair, long and lank. Tonight it had a pink streak in it. “Glad you could join us, Lizzie,” Magdalena said easily.

A pout, familiar to all of them. “I come as often as I can. I’m a
working girl, you know. I travel a lot for my job.”

Ana gave Elizabeita a motherly smile. “We know, baby. We just want to see you more.”

Elizabeita went to Ana and hugged her. “I want to see
you,
she said, glancing sideways at Mags, who didn’t put up with anything from her.

“Hmm.” Magdalena scanned the sisters. “Where’s big brother?”

“Check outside.”

She glanced out the window.
Lukasz and Adam were tossing a football to Paulina’s twins. She called out to the kitchen, “Hey, Logan, the boys are all outside.”

From the kitchen, Logan acknowledged her. He often rough-and-tumbled with the kids
.

“You sure he’s just a friend?” Lizzie asked, watching Logan from the family room.

“Yes, thank God. Who’d want to be part of the horror stories of his love life?”

Three
women raised their hands and said,

“I would.”

“Tell him to come to me.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Only Ana, still jaded from the demise of her marriage, didn’t join the fun. She did check out Logan, though.

Magdalena watched as he took off his sports coat, revealing an expensive polo shirt and muscles to die for. “He’s more than handsome.”

“We know, sweetie.” This from Paulina. “He was
there for all of us through the whole horrible ordeal after the accident.” And she loved him for that support.

“Where’s Nia?” Magdalena asked, to change the subject.

“In the playroom.” Paulina winked. “The hunk is here.”

“Who’s the hunk?” Ana wanted to know.

“Dreamy Rafe Castle.”

“The artist?” This from Elizabeita
.

“He’s giving Sal art lessons.”

“Shut the front door.
Why don’t I know about this?”

“You were away when it started.” Paulina turned serious. “Don’t tease Nia about him, though.”

A furrowed brow marred Elizabeita’s unlined, twenty-five-year-old brow. “Why would I?”

“Wait till you see him.”

Just then, Sal came running into the room. “Hey, everybody. Rafe and I drew animals.”

Magdalena reached for the pictures. “Wow, Sal, which one
is yours?”

His eyes rounded. “Can’t you tell?”

Elizabeita grabbed the piece of paper. “I can. This one.”

“No, Aunt Lizzie, that’s Rafe’s.” The excitement in the boy’s voice was heartwarming.

From beside her, Paulina whispered, “Speak of the devil.”

Magdalena glanced up. Holy Lord! Rafe Castle was a doll.

At the entry to the family room, Rafe stood openmouthed
as he gazed at the five women seated on the furniture. He’d seen pictures of the Ludzecky sisters on the Internet, but in the flesh they were… spellbinding. More than average height. Thick, thick hair, which four of them wore down (Nia didn’t). Cat eyes that seemed to focus on him all at once cast a powerful punch.

Shyly, Nia said, “This is Rafe Castle.”

Elizabeita stood and shook his
hand. “I saw your last exhibit at the Mitchell Gallery. I think we should have a
Castle in the Sky
hanging in the Met.”

“Wow. Anytime. It’s been a dream of mine. You work there, right?”

“Yep. We have some of Jonas Crane’s work, of course. He was your mentor of sorts, wasn’t he?”

“Uh-huh. The museum has three of my favorites.”

“I love those works, too.”

She was younger than
the others and seemed more relaxed. He’d paint her as the embodiment of confidence and fluid grace
.

The scents of butter, macaroni and cooking meat wafted in from the kitchen. Rafe scanned the scene and realized what this was. He leaned into Nia. “I’m interrupting. When I asked to come later today, I didn’t know there was a party here.”

“Not a party,” Paulina answered. “Family dinner.
We meet up when we can.”

“What a nice tradition.” He tried to keep the wistfulness out of his voice.

Donuta came to the archway between the two rooms. “Rafe, would you like to stay for dinner?”

He saw Nia’s mouth drop. She didn’t want him here, he could tell. And he was disappointed. He’d like very much to be a part of a family tonight.

Before he could speak up, Sal tugged on his
shirt. “Can you stay?” At his hesitation, Sal added, “Please. Please.”

Helplessly, he looked at Nia again. She said, “We’d love to have you if you’re not busy.”

“I’m not. I’d like nothing better than to stay. Only if I can help out.”

“You can,” Donuta told him. “You and Salvador are to set the table.”

“Oh, wow. Oh, wow.” Sal practically shimmered with joy
.

Rafe felt some of
it himself.

At the long oval table in the Ludzecky dining room, Elizabeita whispered in Nia’s ear, “I almost can’t eat, because of those guys. Talk about the wow factor.” She snorted. “Even our brother.”

It was true, Nia thought. Adam, Rafe, Logan and Luke made quite a picture. Two blonds, two dark-haired, all with big, gorgeous eyes.

“So, Rafe?” Adam asked. “Are you
preparing for another show?”

“It’s scheduled for next spring. I’ve done three new paintings since the last exhibit. I’d like to add at least four more.”

Seated next to Rafe, her son hung on his idol’s every word. “Can I see the new paintings, Rafe? Mom and I saw some of your old ones online. I
loved
them.”

He pierced Nia with that warm blue gaze and arched a brow, a silent bid for
her response. The gesture made him appear…dangerous. No, sexy. Maybe both.

Flustered, she blurted out, “Honey, we already take up too much of Rafe’s time.”

“We do?” Sal’s voice trembled.

Sliding his arm around Sal’s shoulder, he hugged the boy close. “You do not do that, lad. Mom’s just being polite so she doesn’t intrude on my time.”

“I was, yes. What I meant is, if Rafe has the
time, you can visit his place.”

“I’ll take him,” Elizabeita piped up, watching Rafe with a glittering gaze. Nia saw Ana pull her back.

“No, I will, Lizzie,” Nia said. “Thanks, though.” To Rafe, she added, “Whenever is convenient for you. Maybe you could have your next lesson then, so you wouldn’t have to drive out here.”

“Fine by me. You, Sal? Want to have a lesson in my loft?”

He worked in a loft. Was that where he lived?

“Cool.”

Down the table, Ben scowled. Tommy said, “Can I see it, too?”

“If you want.” This from Paulina. “But some other time.”

“Where is your studio, Rafe?” Logan asked.

“SoHo. It’s my residence, too. I sort of inherited it.”

Luke leaned in. Oh, no. Suspecting the Polish Inquisition, Nia kicked him under the table
.

“Ouch.
Why’d you do that, girl?”

“Because you’re going to grill him. He’s not only our guest but he’s been very kind to Sal.”

“Uncle Luke’s going to cook Rafe?” Sal asked.

“No, honey,” she said while all the occupants of the table tried not to laugh. “It means ask him a lot of questions.”

“Like what?” Ben wanted to know.

Luke didn’t hesitate. “Where are you from? Do you have a big
family like us? Did you go to college?”

“I grew up in the city. No college. And I don’t have a big family. It was just my mother and me.”

Matka
looked over at him. “You poor boy. You missed out on all this.” She gestured to her family.

“Oh, yeah, on Luke scaring away our boyfriends.” This from Ana.

Paulina got her digs in. “On Elizabeita giving
Matka
gray hair.”

A snort from
Lukasz. “The seven of you stealing my clothes.”

And so the spotlight was taken off of Rafe. Nia was glad. She was indebted to him, but she didn’t want the family to get too close to him.

And she didn’t want Elizabeita to flirt with him, either.

“Walk me to the car,” Rafe suggested to Nia when she showed him to the door. He wasn’t ready to leave just yet, and he wanted
to be alone with her. She grabbed a fuzzy pink sweater from the coat tree and closed the door behind them. When they reached the BMW at the curb, he turned to her, leaned against the car and folded his arms across his light leather coat. It had gotten dark, and the moonlight cast her face in sharp relief. It wasn’t too cold out to talk, though.

He said in a low voice, “I can’t remember when
I've had such a pleasant evening.”

“Seriously?” She was genuinely surprised. He liked this about her, that she was so unassuming. So honest. “You’re probably courted by everybody in New York City.
People
magazine included you in their Sexiest Man issue.”

Instead of basking in the comment—and that she knew this fact—he raised his hand and brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “Don’t diminish
tonight. Your family. I was honored to be a part of it.”

“You’re totally right. I don’t mean to do that.”

He leaned toward her, and almost imperceptibly, she moved closer to him, too. “So, when are you coming to my loft?”

“Um…” Was she flustered? “I—I could do Friday afternoon. Sal’s off school for teacher workshops and I’m taking the day for us.”

“Great. I’ll see you then. Text
me the time.”

“All right.”

Straightening, he looked down at her. She looked up at him. The moment heated. And he couldn’t resist. Bending down, he placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. He was glad to feel her shiver. “Thanks again.”

She cleared her throat and stepped back. “Good night, Rafe.”

“Good night, Nia. Sleep well.”

“Are you okay, honey?”

“Yeah.” Sal inched closer to Nia. “I don’t like the subway.”

“I know, but it’s the quickest to get to Rafe’s place.”

“’kay.”

“We get off at the next stop.”

He huddled closer
.

It was a short walk from the subway station to Rafe’s loft in SoHo. For a moment, she stood in front of the six-story building made of red
brick. He’d said he was on the top. She wondered what a place here would cost
.

Sal rang the buzzer, and soon, Rafe appeared in the reception area. Wearing tight-fitting blue jeans and a navy T-shirt, he was barefoot. She resisted a heavy intake of breath.

As soon as he opened the door, Sal threw himself at Rafe. They hugged warmly, then he squeezed her arm. “Welcome.”

“Thanks. He’s
so excited I don’t think he slept last night.”

“Come on in.”

They took the elevator up to the sixth floor, and Sal chatted nonstop, shocking Nia. When the car stopped, the doors opened to a ten-foot corridor. “You live up here all by yourself, Rafe?”

“Uh-huh. I’m really lucky.”

Nia knew her surprise showed.

“You’re wondering how I could afford this, even several years ago.”

“No, that would be rude.”

“Let’s get inside and I’ll tell you. I’m not embarrassed by how it came about.”

The double doors were lovely. She wanted to touch the carvings in the wood. When he let them inside, Sal said, “Holy cow!” and Nia gawked.

She’d lived in the New York City area all her life but had never seen anything like what sprawled before her. The space was open, but not.
The walls of the foyer were covered in textured paint. Straight ahead was a kitchen with gleaming black-and-gray appliances, granite countertops and a vaulted ceiling exposing wooden beams
.

“Wow, Rafe. This is huge.”

“It is.” Over Sal’s head, he said, “When Jonas stopped painting, he was ready for a smaller residence. He offered me this place. I told him it was too extravagant a gift,
but I’m the only
family
he has. As I said at Stargazer’s, he adopted me when I was young.”

“There’s nothing wrong with letting people help you. When we moved in with
Matka
, all of our colleagues in construction got together and put on the addition and did the renovation for free.”

“Peter must have been well loved.”

She held his gaze and managed a small smile. “He was.” To avoid the
sadness, she went farther into his home. “I can tell some of this is newer.”

“He bought it when he started to make a lot of money. We moved in when I was thirteen. I lived here until I went out on my own, but not very far away.”

“What a lovely story. Jonas must care about you very much.”

“And the sentiment is returned.”

She gestured to the wide expanse of living area. “Tell me
what you did to it.”

They walked into the kitchen. She ran her hand over the cool, hard granite. “I didn’t do the kitchen,” he told her. “It needed remodeling and I had it professionally designed. Obviously, the wall of windows in the back and front were done by the experts.”

They walked into a huge living space, sporting the same high ceilings and beams that was all open to the dining
and kitchen areas
.

Sal raced across to the far wall and pressed his face against the glass. “Mommy, it has an outside, way up here. Can we go out?”

“Sure.”

She must have seemed worried because Rafe told her, “It’s safe. High railings surround it. Now, all that, I did.”

The roof consisted of a beautiful garden and patio. It sported lounge chairs, slate floors and a table and chairs
at the east end. Potted greens were everywhere.

“It was just a dirty rooftop. I put everything in but the door.”

They moved on to the bedroom, which was adjacent to the living area, with windows facing the street below. “I can’t believe there’s so much light, between the skylights and windows.”

“The skylights weren’t always here. I had them put in, as well as the wooden beams in the
ceilings.”