HowMuchYouWantToBet (16 page)

Victoria sighed. “No, but I saw her a couple of days ago. I was trying to help push her to make things right between you two, but I didn’t expect her to do this.”

“It’s not your fault. I should take the blame. If I hadn’t…”

“Stop. Don’t put this on you. Buying her paintings may not have been the smartest idea, but it may have made her realize what she needed to do, and that’s a good thing.”

Watching Neil being bombarded with questions, he couldn’t agree. “I should be there right now,” Gib said, more to himself than to his mother.

“I know you want to, but now you have to give her some time.”

“Time?” He said it through clenched teeth. “ I moved out of the guest house. I haven’t called or seen her for two weeks.”

“Then wait another two, until all this dies down. She doesn’t need to drop this kind of bomb on the public and then have her name in every tabloid because you guys are together. It’s bad enough that a lot of people are going to see her as some leech, instead of as someone who did something right for her family.”

The thought of waiting, of not being with Neil through this, brought Gib out his chair. “There has to be something I can do.” He hated the feeling of helplessness. His anger at it damn near choked him.

“You’ll make things worse if you do. You know Neil, and you know that she wouldn’t want you stepping in.”

“Chez is there.” The phone made a small cracking sound and he loosened his grip around it.

“He’s there to corroborate the story. This is hard for you. You want to be there with her.” Victoria hesitated. “But I think you should wait and let her come to you.”

Too frustrated to listen anymore, he got off the phone with his mother. Then he turned the volume up on the television and just watched.

*****

After the press conference, Neil did what she had never thought she’d do—she hid. Not even her own stubborn pride would allow her to be barricaded in her own home. Instead, she left Whistle Lake behind and retreated to the old family cabin, where no one would find her. She hadn’t thought of the place herself in years, other than remembering the afternoon when her father had painted her there. Releasing a breath, she went out onto the porch, where the rocking chair still beckoned, rocking gently in the piney breeze.

Chez stood looking out on the landscape.

“I wanted to thank you again for all you’ve done.”

Chez turned to her. The lined face looked even more tired with the sun setting behind his back. “I needed to do this. For me.” He sighed heavily. “And for you. When I saw one of your pieces on the market, I knew I had to do this.” Neil hugged herself as she listened to him, not knowing what to say. “I was Nathanial’s friend before I was his agent. I forgot that. If you can forgive me…” Chez’s voice thickened, and he turned back to the trees surrounding the cabin and the lake spread before it.

Feeling the old hurts healing, Neil said, “It’s already forgotten.”

He nodded, getting himself together. “In about a week, you can go home.”

Neil shook her head. “There are others to think of, like my neighbors, for one. The people in Whistle Lake aren’t equipped to deal with the locust-like invasion of the press. The editor-in-chief of
The Linton Herald
may be a close friend to many of the reporters.” She shook her head more vehemently this time. “But for everyone else to be squeezed for minute details about my life would be unfair. Sure, many of those vultures will still try, but they at least won’t be camped out on my doorstep.”

Chez smiled for the first time since she’d seen him. “You’re right. Eventually they’ll get tired and go on to another story.”

“Yeah,” Neil agreed.

She moved from the door to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He put his hand over hers and the weight of the day finally hit. She’d dropped a huge story on the world. Her past was now in her past. All she could do was wait for the excitement to die down, but her world was starting to feel right again.

She turned to the sound of her ringing phone. The only person who had the number was Linny—despite what was going on, she still had a job to do, responsibilities she wouldn’t ignore. She had given her word, and right now that was all she had.

“I’ll be back,” she said to Chez, but she wasn’t sure he heard her. Picking up the phone, she answered,

“Yes?”

“I have incredible news.”

She had expected Linny to call and tell her of the problems she needed to fix. “Right now may not be a good time.”

“I think you’ll want to hear this.” She leaned against the kitchen counter. “Shoot.”

“I went by the house today.”

Did he see Gib? Was he okay? Had he seen her on the television? Was he proud of her? She bit back the questions. “And…?”

“I’ve decided to make it official. You’re the new worksite manager.”

“Oh.” She deflated, suddenly without hope of hearing about Gib. She couldn’t bring herself to ask.

“Oh?” Linny echoed.

Isn’t this what I’ve been breaking my back for? Where’s the enthusiasm?
Neil thought. “I mean, Yay!”

“I know I’m a man, but even I know when a woman is faking it.”

Neil sighed. “I’m sorry, Linny. I am excited.

I’ll take the job and the raise. I can never have too many tools.”

“Celebrate.” He paused. “I’ll talk to you later.” Neil hung up the phone, feeling hollow. She should be excited. She should be screaming at the top of her lungs, but she wasn’t because, besides wanting the job, wanting to paint again, she wanted Gib.

CHAPTER 15

His home, elaborate, eclectic, and comfortable, was done. Gib couldn’t bring himself to go and see it. He didn’t know how he could live in it, knowing Neil had been there, worked there, touched everything, left a piece of herself there because she had the passion to build it. She had seen the passion in his blueprints and built it for him.

His mother wasn’t any help. After giving him advice to give Neil time, she constantly reminded him that maybe, now, he should go see her. “Quit being such a chicken and go check on her.”

He knew Victoria had gone to see Neil since she’d come back, but he still couldn’t make himself do the same. It wasn’t often he made a gamble that didn’t work to his advantage, but that’s what he’d done when he bought all her paintings. He had thought he was doing for her what she had done for him, giving encouragement and hope. He doubted that on his own he would have enrolled in college to finish his architecture degree, but her faith in him, even when she hadn’t cared too much for him, had made it easy.

School started in a week. Meanwhile, the business was coming together so that in another month or so he’d have it as he’d envisioned. He had everything but Neil.

The intercom on his desk buzzed. He pressed the button. “Yeah.”

His secretary’s voice chirped, “A man named Linny Walker is here to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment.”

Gib smiled. His secretary’s driving force was to make sure no one got in without an appointment. “Send him in.”

Gib stood when Linny came through the mahogany doors. His friend looked cleaned up and spit-shined, unfamiliar in a business suit. Gib raised his eyebrows. For as long as he’d known Linny, he’d never seen him in a suit. “Now, who stuffed you into that outfit?”

Linny laughed and sat in the chair in front of the desk. “No one. I’m here on business—have to dress the part. I’ve been hearing in the streets that you’re starting your own architectural business.”

“True.”

“I want to hand you a proposition.” Gib sat down in his chair. “Go ahead.”

“I want to do the construction end, but only for the areas surrounding Linton County. It won’t be large scale to you, since your company will probably hire people in New York and here in San Francisco, but…”

To stop his childhood friend from floundering further, Gib interrupted him. “Being associated with my company will increase your business. Do you have the manpower to handle something that size?”

Linny grinned. “I have an incredible new worksite manager who can handle anything. She recently finished a large estate that would have taken some at least a full year to get the job done. She did it in six months. On top of that, she dumped all the skeletons out of her closet and was still able to run a tight operation while she was in hiding. She can handle anything you give her.”

Gib’s gut clenched with the mention of Neil. “I suppose.” He leaned forward. “Is she okay?”

Linny shifted in his seat. “You’ll have to talk to her. Matter of fact, she’s ready to give you the keys.” When Gib didn’t say anything, Linny continued. “I don’t know what was between you guys, but she isn’t the same person anymore. I don’t think she’s been to the Tavern since she’s been back, and the press isn’t even hounding her anymore. She doesn’t curse or spit like she used to, just mopes around looking introspective.” Linny shivered, as if there weren’t worse things for Neil to be. “I want my old hot-headed, spitting, cursing Neil back.” Linny stared him down, letting his unspoken words sink in.

“I know.” He tapped his pen against the desk and then his eyes narrowed. “You know, I’ve been wanting to play some pool for a while.”

“Did you not hear what I said?” Gib smiled, reaching for his phone. “I heard every word.”

*****

The newspaper rustled under her feet as Neil reached for another paintbrush. She found it fitting to make use of the front pages with her face on them. She tilted her head, looking at the chin of the man she’d been inspired to draw when she woke up. Neil cursed when the doorbell rang and held the paintbrush like a weapon as she opened the door.

“Good thing we weren’t the Girl Scouts,” Linda said. “That face would have scared them silly.”

“I’m…”

“Busy, yeah, yeah.” Anna moved into the house, the others following behind her.

“We’ve decided you need a night of booze and more booze,” Barbara said.

“You only have yourself to blame,” Janice pointed out. “We’ve been calling you, with no answer. We get a little feisty when ignored.”

“Hear, hear,” Neil mimicked.

“Hey, she’s catching onto our sarcasm.” Linda pretended surprise.

When they all crossed their arms ready for battle if she said anything besides yes, Neil let go of the doorknob. “I’m in the middle of something.”

Anna placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. She was the only one Neil didn’t think she could take. Neil grabbed for her last anchor and again lifted the paintbrush for them to see.

“That just means you need to change clothes, because you have paint all over yourself,” Anna said. “Hear…”

“Hear,” Barbara finished for Janice.

“We will get you naked and drag you upstairs, into clothes, and out the door.” Linda gave her an I-mean-it look.

Neil narrowed her eyes, fighting the smile. “You’re nothing but bullies.”

“I consider myself your friend,” Linda said.

“And to me, that’s synonymous when a friend becomes a hermit.” Barbara turned to Janice. “Does it look like she’s bathed? Because she doesn’t look like she’s bathed, to me.”

“Hear…”

“Okay, I hear you. I’ll be back.” Neil ran up the stairs and threw on the first pair of jeans and shirt she could find, unsure if they’d think she was stalling if she took more time to find something decent to wear. She didn’t want to be dragged in her panties to The Tavern. She found the living room empty when she came back downstairs, but glancing out the glass doors she could see the four of them standing around her painting. Fear clutched her throat.

Once outside with them, she said, “It’s not ready.”

“It’s beautiful.” Janice spoke softly.

“I love it,” Barbara agreed.

“Damn.” Linda shook her head. “You’ve got talent.”

“Hell, it’s Gib.” Anna pointed out the obvious.

Neil laughed. “It’s not done. It’s a sketch.”

“Don’t be modest,” Linda said. “It’s not like you.”

Neil tilted her head and tried to see what they saw. For one, it was Gib, and two, for a washed-up forger, it wasn’t bad. Yes, everything in her life was starting to line up like it was supposed to. Neil thought of Gib, as she’d been doing a lot lately.

Maybe it was time to call him. God, how she wanted to hear his voice.
Baby steps,
she told herself. “I’m ready to go to The Tavern.”

“Hot damn.” Anna clapped her hands. “Let’s go.”

*****

Gib, watching the door, finally saw Neil. She was laughing at something Linda had just said. He let out a breath, only to have it catch in his throat when her gaze met his. She was okay—mad, from the way her eyes narrowed at him, but okay. He turned from her and picked his cue stick from the rack. He had to get his mind on the game, because this time it was important. He heard Linda say, “Well, look at what the cat dragged in.”

He turned to see disbelief on Neil’s face. She was onto them. “What a coincidence. Out of all the places you guys drag me to.” She glared at the gang as she said it, but the gang was looking at him expectantly.

It was his turn now. He’d asked them to bring her here, on yet another gamble. But isn’t that what love is, betting against the odds, and hoping like hell to win? He leaned against the pool table, dropping a quarter in the coin slot.

“How about a game?” he said.

She stuffed her hands in her back pockets. He couldn’t read her face, and for a moment he thought she’d turn and leave. “Why should I?”

“I hear you’ve beaten every player in this joint.”

She bit her lip and looked down, and he could see her trying to hide a smile. When she met his gaze again, he saw the gleam. “You do know how to play, don’t you? I’ve seen your hands up close, and they are definitely manicured.”

Neil’s heart beat in her chest as that smile, that wonderful smile of his, broke across his face. He said, “Last time, I recall, I beat you.”

“You don’t play fair.”

And because it was love and pool, she crossed the sea of green to him, making sure their bodies touched as she did.

Neil held his gaze when she reached for a pool stick. “It’ll be in your favor to remember that. Rack ‘em.”

She saw the confusion fill his gaze, but he moved to take the balls out of the pockets. He placed them in the middle of the table and lined them up. She watched him, her heart still in her throat. Neil wanted to go to him, smell him, touch him, kiss him, but she needed to know one thing.