Danny closed his eyes and tried to ignore the pit in his stomach as Texas faded below him.
* * * *
One year after that…
Victoria put her hands on her hips and gazed at the painting.
“It’s beautiful, Vee.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Tasha.”
“Well, I’m out of here.” Natasha glanced at her watch, “You should head home, too.”
Still looking at her painting, Victoria said, “I will soon.”
“The wall looks amazing.”
“Thank you.”
A sense of pride washed over her. She finally did it. She dedicated a wall in her gallery to sell her own paintings. They were no longer stacked on the painting room floor, hidden away along with the pain of her past. And, surprising to her, they were selling well.
Her story had received national attention, which brought extra awareness to her talent. That was the silver lining, she supposed. She painted every day to keep up with the demand, and was even taking requests now.
Selling thirty years of paintings was beyond liberating for her. It was a release. A much needed release from the past.
During William’s second week in jail, he received divorce papers from Victoria. Thanks to a prenup and the judge’s sympathy for all she’d been through, the paperwork was expedited and the divorce was final weeks later. She received enough to buy a new house and start her life over. She was finally free of him.
Victoria walked back to her office and hit the power button on her computer. As it closed down, she walked into her personal paint room and drew the curtains.
Taking a quick glance over her shoulder, she reached up, pulling on one of the sconces on the wall.
Silently, a small corner of the wall opened to reveal a small safe. She knelt down and keyed in the code.
A smile crossed her lips as she opened the heavy door and looked at the sparkling Ruby. That was one piece of the past she was going to hang onto.
She quickly closed it back up, turned off the lights and decided to take one last look at her personal exhibit in the gallery before heading home for the evening.
Standing in the silent room, surrounded by her paintings, Victoria glanced out the front windows of the gallery. The sun had just set and bright red and pink streaks of light illuminated the sky.
It was fall, again.
The season held many memories for her. Some that she wanted to forget, and some that she wished she never had to let go.
After neurotically switching two of the paintings, she nodded in approval then turned to leave.
Tap, tap, tap.
Her heart skipped a beat as she stopped in her tracks. She turned to face the front door.
Standing outside was a tall, muscular man, his face darkened with shadows. Goosebumps ran over her body as she walked up front and unlocked the door.
Her breath caught. “Hi.”
“Hi.” A smile spread across Danny’s face as he stood across from her.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she smiled back.
“May I come in?”
“Of course.”
He was dressed casually, in jeans and a sweatshirt and he smelled like clean soap as he stepped past her.
She was flooded with memories and her heart started to race.
With a sparkle in his blue eyes, he looked her up and down.
She was wearing flowing, tan linen pants, a snug-fitting sweater and flats–no heels. Her hair was loose and down, and a lighter color that accentuated her green eyes even more than before. She was as beautiful as ever, but something was different about her. She was softer. Less guarded. Happy.
In almost a whisper, she said, “I didn’t expect to ever see you again.”
Looking into her eyes, he smiled.
“You moved to California, correct?”
He nodded and lightly touched her face. In a low, soft voice he said, “I’m back.”
Her butterflies turned to tingles all over her body. “You are?”
“Yes.” He tucked a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “I accepted the Chief of Police position at the station.”
Her eyes lit up as he stepped closer.
For a moment they stood face to face, gazing into each other’s eyes. Finally, he grabbed her sides, pulled her closer and kissed her.
She melted into his lips, into his arms.
After what seemed like a lifetime, yet not long enough, she pulled away and breathlessly whispered, “I love you, Danny.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off her feet, and whispered in her ear, “I’ve always loved you, Vee.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda McKinney
After walking away from her career to become a stay at home mom, Amanda quickly realized she needed a creative outlet that didn’t involve removing stains from onesies.
Being an avid reader all her life, she sat down with her laptop and began writing about murder, mystery, sex and seduction, with a few laughs sprinkled in.
After completing her first book, Lethal Legacy, she dove in head first writing her next, and promises many more to come.
Amanda lives in Arkansas with her handsome husband, two beautiful boys, and three obnoxious dogs.
Visit her website at
www.amandamckinneyauthor.com.
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