by Kay Correll
“Perfect. I’ll be back in touch soon.” He nodded to her, waved to Paul—still busy with his customer—and walked out of the gallery.
She stood there staring at the paper in her hand. Could the type of painting she was doing now really bring her this kind of money? And the commissioned painting? The amount Del was willing to pay for that kind of blew her mind.
Paul walked up to her. “You okay?”
“I… I think so. Del just made me an offer to do paintings for a hotel he bought on Moonbeam Bay.”
“I heard he bought the old Cabot hotel. It’s closed now, and he’s remodeling it and doing some upgrades. He did such a great job on the Hamilton Hotel in Sarasota. I’m sure he’ll do a great job with this one, too.”
“I always had my agent handle the financial side of things. I’m unsure about all of this.” She held out the paper to him.
Paul took it and skimmed through it quickly. “Reasonable offer, I think. And if your paintings keep selling well, he’s getting quite a deal. They’ll only go up in value. You really have a way of showing the emotion in your paintings. Of bringing a viewer right into your worldview.”
“So, you think I should take the offer?”
“I have a lawyer I use for some of my work. Would you like him to look at the offer and contract?”
“Yes, that would be wonderful.”
“With your permission, I’ll give these to him and have him contact you. His fees are reasonable and he’s a very sharp, level-headed lawyer.”
“Thanks for your help, Paul. I feel a little out of my league with all this.”
“You could get another agent to deal with this.”
“I—I’m not ready for that, I don’t think.”
“Well then, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“I appreciate that. You’ve done so much for me. The local artist show. My solo show.”
“Oh, about your solo show. I’ve gotten some art critics to come to the opening. And someone from Florida Sunshine Magazine is coming to do an article for their art section. I’ve taken out some ads and done some promotion.”
“Paul, I don’t know how to thank you.” Gratitude flowed through her.
He reached over and rested his hand on her arm. “Think nothing of it. I love helping you. And your show will bring in a lot of traffic to the gallery, so see, in a way, you’re helping me.”
The door to the gallery opened, and a couple walked in. “I better go see to them.” Paul smiled and went over to greet them.
She stood there for a few moments trying to gather her thoughts. Things were spinning out of control in her life right now. But not in a bad way.
And suddenly she wanted to see Ben. Talk to him. Tell him everything that had happened. She whirled around, headed out of the gallery, and hurried down the sidewalk to the marina.
Chapter 25
Ben stood just outside the repair area of the marina. He’d finished up work on two boats today with the help of his other mechanic. He glanced at the sky full of fluffy white clouds. Looked like the makings for a beautiful sunset.
“Ben?” He turned at the sound of her voice, a smile already creeping across his face.
“Charlotte, you’re back.” He walked over wanting to take her hands but glanced down at his own. They still had grease on them from his day of working on the boats. He settled on just looking at her smiling face.
“I am back. And, if it’s okay with you, I wanted to take some photos of the marina. I’d love to paint it at sunset.”
“Fine by me.” Especially if it meant she hung out until sunset, which was a good hour or so from now.
“How about you start on some photos, and I’ll go get cleaned up? Meet me back at Lady Belle when you’re ready? I could round up some appetizers and we could wait for the sunset.” Say yes. Say you’ll stick around for a while.
“That sounds nice.” She smiled at him.
A smile that warmed him and made him feel special. He caught himself right before he reached out to touch her face. She probably wouldn’t appreciate a smear of grease on her rosy cheeks.
“Won’t take me long to get cleaned up.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you at the boat.”
He hurried away to Lady Belle and scrubbed up from his messy day. Luckily he kept some clean clothes on the boat. He’d been slowly moving his things aboard. His lease was up at the bungalow at the end of the month, and he planned on moving aboard by then.
He put together a cheese platter and sliced up an apple. Then he added some nuts to the side along with an assortment of crackers. He opened a bottle of red wine to let it breathe.
He quickly picked up around the boat, rinsing some dishes and straightening a stack of boating magazines. Glancing around, he decided he’d done all he could. He looked at his watch. Still a little bit of time before sunset.
“Ben?”
He hurried outside to help Charlotte board, eager to see her and talk to her. Or not talk. He didn’t care. He just wanted to spend time with her. Figure things out.
And he wanted to kiss her again… without running away in a panic.
Charlotte settled on the seating at the stern of the boat. Ben disappeared inside and came back with a tray of food and a bottle of wine. Perfect. She wasn’t very hungry and appetizers sounded like the perfect dinner as far as she was concerned. She’d take some photos, then head home to bed. Exhaustion was beginning to creep over her again and chase away the rush she’d had after all her excitement at the gallery.
Ben settled next to her. He smelled of outdoors and the faint scent of aftershave. He handed her a glass of wine. “To a beautiful sunset.”
“To a great sunset.” She raised her glass, and they clinked glasses. She took a sip of the delicious wine, then set her glass down.
“So tell me how things went in Austin.”
“Let’s just say, not as expected. I wasn’t needed, so I headed back.” She really didn’t want to get into the whole trip again. She wanted to put it behind her. “But I do have some exciting news.”
He looked at her expectantly.
“Del Hamilton bought a hotel that he’s remodeling on Moonbeam Bay. He wants to hang some of my paintings in the hotel and he commissioned a painting.”
“That’s great news.”
“Paul’s lawyer is looking over the contract and the offer. I always let my agent deal with the money stuff so I’m a bit unsure of it. But I’m determined to figure it out and handle it all myself.” She could do it. She could. She’d just teach herself all she needed to know. No more letting someone else run things for her or make her decisions for her.
“I’m good at numbers if you need help,” he offered.
“No, thanks. I’ve got it.” She glanced at him and saw a hint of hurt in his eyes when she turned down his help.
“Okay.” He looked away and took a sip of his wine.
“Ben… I…”
“Just wanted to put the offer out there.”
“I appreciate it… but it’s something I need to do myself.” She changed the subject. “So what have you been doing recently? I haven’t seen much of you.”
“Well, let’s see. Mom decided to join a knitting group at the community center. I’m glad about that. She’s finally getting out of the house some. She’s had a hard time since Dad died.”
“I’m sure she has.”
“Oh, and I finished up work on two boats. And I’ve decided to move aboard Lady Belle at the end of the month.”
“Sounds like a lot has happened with you in just a few short days. So, you’re moving here?” She would miss having him just a few bungalows away from her, not that the marina was more than a short walk away.
“Yes, it’s been a dream of mine to live aboard a boat, and now that Lady Belle is all fixed up, it’s time.” He looked at her, then took her hand in his.
The warmth of his hand spread through her, connecting them.
“But I’ll miss having you as a neighbor.
”
“I guess I’ll just have to visit you here.”
“Often.” His eyes shone with anticipation. Then he leaned closer, tilted her face up, and kissed her.
A kiss that she wanted. Needed. It seemed like forever since he’d kissed her like that.
He finally pulled back. “Ah, that’s what I needed.”
She smiled. Sometimes their thoughts were so in sync it seemed like they were two of a kind.
Chapter 26
The next morning Ben was hard at work on his boat, hoping to get her finished and move aboard.
“Ben, are you here?”
He almost dropped the cloth he was holding to polish The Lady Belle’s wooden door to the cabin. He must be hearing things because he swore that sounded like his mother’s voice. But, of course, it wasn’t. She never came to the marina anymore and would never come to Lady Belle. It held too many memories of his dad.
He frowned, set down the cloth, and popped out of the cabin to the back deck. Then he held onto the railing in surprise. “Mom?”
“Morning. I wanted you to meet my new friend, Mischief.”
He knew his mouth was hanging open, but really, he couldn’t be more shocked. “Mischief?” He stared at the dog at the end of the leash his mother was holding.
“Isn’t he adorable? A bit of an imp, but so cute, right?”
“Are you walking him for someone?” He couldn’t quite process this. His mother was not a dog person.
“No, he’s my dog.”
He gripped the railing with two hands now, trying to steady himself. “Your dog?”
“Yes, he needed a home. I heard about him at knitting club and went to go see him.” She smiled and shrugged. “Next thing I knew he was coming home with me. We made a stop at the pet store for food, bowls, and things like that.”
“Your dog?” He knew he was repeating himself, but how in the world did his mother end up with a dog?
She looked up at him and frowned. “Are you okay?”
He swung off the boat and went to stand by her. “I could say the same thing. A dog is a lot of work. We never had one when I was growing up. I thought you didn’t even like dogs.”
“Your father didn’t like dogs. I do.” She shrugged.
“Are you sure you’re up to all the responsibility?”
“Ben, I’m not a child, and I’m not some feeble person. Quit treating me like one.” She leaned down and petted the dog. “We have big plans for the day. We’re going to meet Mary Lyons and Dorothy and go for a walk on the beach. Mary has a dog, too. Stormy. An adorable cavalier.”
He should be happy that she was getting out and making friends. But a dog? He just didn’t picture his mother as a dog person. And she’d come to the marina, and she’d come to Lady Belle.
He looked at her and decided to chance it. “You want to come aboard and see the changes I’ve made to Lady Belle?”
She looked at the boat for a long moment, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Maybe next time. I’m sure Mischief and I will be back soon. We better run along now. Don’t want to keep Mary and Dorothy waiting.”
He watched while she walked back down the long dock, the dog trotting merrily by her side.
A dog. His mother had a dog. He just hoped she could keep up with the dog because he sure wasn’t going to take care of him for her. The last thing in the world he needed was a dog in his life.
Charlotte set down her coffee on the kitchen table when her phone rang. She glanced at it and frowned. The Desert View Art Gallery.
“Take it.” Robin nodded from across the table.
She answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Charlotte Duncan?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a hard one to find. We’ve been trying to get in contact with you. We want to know your arrangements for coming to the opening of your show here in Palm Springs.”
“My what?”
“Your solo show.”
“I don’t understand.” She frowned, trying to follow the conversation.
“We’ve been trying to get ahold of your agent, Reginald. But he’s not answering our calls. He set the show up a year ago. We book way in advance for the Palm Springs Festival of Arts week. It’s a very coveted spot.”
“I—he—didn’t tell me about it. We’ve been—out of contact.”
“Hm… we’d heard some rumors about him. But I had hoped since this show was set up so long ago that it wouldn’t be a problem. I apologize for the late contact, but it took us a while to find a way to contact you directly.”
“A solo show?” She still couldn’t get over the shock. After all this time?
“We have the work ready to hang, and the brochure for the Palm Springs Festival of Arts has been out for months.”
She couldn’t believe she was finally going to have another shot at a big showing in a city known for supporting the arts. The Palm Springs Festival of Arts was one of the big draws to the area and a well-known art show. Having a showing in The Desert View Art Gallery that week would certainly get her name out there again.
She looked over and grinned at Robin. “This is exciting news.”
“So, you’ll still do it?”
“Of course.” She gave Robin a thumbs up. This Palm Springs showing would put her back on top. Get her name going again after Reginald had stopped getting her new showings.
“Do you have a new agent who I should contact with the information?”
“Ah… no. Not yet.”
“I will say that Michelle Isling was asking about your work.”
Michelle Isling? Only one of the best agents in the business. “She was?”
“Yes, do you mind if I give her your contact information?”
“Ah… no. I mean, no, I don’t mind. Yes, give her my information. That would be great.”
“I’ll give her a call. In the meantime, I’ll send you the information regarding the show this afternoon. Why don’t you give me your email?”
She gave her email address, clicked off the phone, and set it on the table.
“What’s going on?” Robin raised an eyebrow.
“I finally got a good show. A really nice, prestigious one.” She hopped up from the table and twirled around. “I’ve still got it.”
“Of course you do.”
She grinned and sat back down. “Things are finally starting to turn around for me. I’ll do this show and maybe I’ll get back on the circuit again. And Michelle Isling asked about me. She’s like one of the top agents in the business.”
“Does this mean you’ll move back to L.A.?” Robin looked solemn.
“What? No. This is my home now. I mean… I might have to be gone some.” She frowned. This is what she’d wanted for so long. Ever since Reginald had messed with her and stolen from her. It would be easier if she lived in California and got back into going to the parties and got her name out there again. And Michelle Isling! That was exciting.
She looked at her phone when it rang again. “Hello?”
“Charlotte?”
“Yes?”
“This is Michelle Isling. I just got off the phone with the curator from The Desert View Art Gallery. She said you aren’t currently represented by anyone.”
“I’m not.”
“My firm would be interested in talking to you about representation. Do you have time to fly out and talk to us? All expenses paid, of course.”
“Yes, I could make time.” She grinned over at Robin and mouthed the words Michelle Isling.
“Could you come this week? Say Wednesday?”
“Yes, that would work.”
“Great, I’ll make the arrangements and send you your flight information.”
She set her phone on the table, staring at it. How had so much changed so quickly? She looked across at Robin. “She wants to represent me. I’m going there Wednesday to talk to her agency.”
“That’s great, Char. Great. I know this is what you’ve wanted.” Robin stood, walked over to the
sink, and placed her cup in it. “And if you think L.A. is where you need to be, I support you one hundred percent. But I’ll miss you like crazy.”
Chapter 27
Charlotte hurried over to the marina, anxious to tell Ben her good news. She almost skipped like a little kid along the town’s sidewalks. Her own solo show. And in the middle of the Palm Springs Art Festival week. It didn’t get much better than that for a relaunch of her name.
She found Ben working on Lady Belle. He stood on the back deck, his shirt off and his tanned chest and shoulders gleaming in the sunshine. His broad shoulders narrowed down to his lean waist. He turned around, and she tried not to stare at his well-defined abs.
“Charlotte, hi.” He reached over for his shirt and snagged it from the railing. Unfortunately, he then slipped it on.
Oh, well, better to concentrate while she told him her news. “I have news.”
He reached down a hand for her and she climbed aboard. “I have news, too.”
“Okay, you go first.” She was feeling bubbly and generous. Her news could wait.
“Mom did the craziest thing. You’re not going to believe this, but my mother got a dog.”
“She did? Good for her.”
“Good for her? I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s so much responsibility. She barely gets out of the house to do anything. How can she take care of a dog when she’s barely taking care of herself?”
“Maybe a dog is the perfect thing for her. I’m sure she’s lonely all alone in that house. And she’s not old, Ben. You’re treating her like an old person. She’s not. She’s a young widow. And anyway, are you ever too old to have a dog? Maybe she wants the company. They’re great companions.”
“She’s never owned a dog. What does she know about dogs?”
“Everyone is a first-time dog owner at one time.” She didn’t know why he was so upset about this.
“Well, I think it’s a ridiculous idea.” He shook his head. “What’s your news?”
