Page 8 (1/2)

He experiencedon his wife Ex-wife They should never have gotten e hadn’t worked for either of them They were mismatched, and as tiether He hoped Georgia didn’t resent hi to his hometohere he’d spent soain, wanted to redeem himself, in his own eyes and those of his family and friends Maybe Shirley Bliss would help hiallery He’d felt an immediate attraction, but it was more than that She was a , and therefore available, so perhaps that meant he’d moved beyond his compulsion to seduce women already involved with other e to stray--boredom, the thrill of conquest, the need to prove his own enuinely interested in Shirley and impressed by her talent

Will wandered over to his desk The Harbor Street Art Gallery was doing well, better than he’d expected That was due, in no sestions, many of which he’d used The idea for the new display cases had coeted for, but they orth it

In appreciation for all her help, he’d made Shirley, orked with fabrics, the featured artist for January and would be pleased to inforest piece she had on display He had a check for her, and he thought she’d be as excited about this sale as he was

When he picked up the phone, he did so with a sense of anticipation Aside from his pleasure in her success and consequently his own, he felt challenged by her And not merely as a potential lover This was the perfect opportunity to get to know her better She hadn’t revealed any interest in hi, but he knew he looked good; at sixty he’d gained a stateliness that suited hient and had a natural charia--had told him The possibility existed that Shirley was still in love with her dead husband From what Will understood, it’d been a year or so since the accident that had claiths and his weaknesses He hadn’t gotten this far without identifying his assets and using theot what he wanted; he’d also adia had called hi he only wanted woot them he lost interest He didn’t deny it but he believed that Shirley would change all that

He dialed her nus the answering e, he heard someone pick up

"Hello" Shirley sounded a little breathless

"Hello," Will returned, slad they’d been able to connect

"Who is this?" she demanded, irritation in her voice

"It’s Will Will Jefferson from the Harbor Street Art Gallery," he told her That she hadn’t recognized his voice stung his ego He’d hoped, despite her previous reticence, that she’d been thinking about him, too Apparently that wasn’t the case

Her hesitation was just long enough to be noticeable "I apologize if I snapped at you"

Will wasI phoned at a bad time"

"I usually try to hile Tanni’s in school"

Tanni was Shirley’s teenage daughter He’dman with an unusual first name Shank? Shiver Shaw…that was it Shaw

The kid had talent So did Tanni, although she was the one who’d brought Shaork to Will’s attention Shaw’s portraits, especially, had a lot of promise He’d shown the kid’s work to an old friend of his, Larry Knight, as a successful and influential artist, and who happened to be in Seattle recently Larry had confirured it, Shirley would be grateful for his help And Will ratitude

"I understand," he said s or closer to dinnertime"

"I’d appreciate that"

"Your exhibit’s done well," he told her

Silence

Since she didn’t seeed ahead "I wanted to know if it would be convenient for ain "Is there a reason?"

The question put hie; he’d expected a warmer welcome He was disappointed that he needed an excuse, but then he’d already made more than one incorrect assuood reason," he said "I have a check for you The wildflower panel sold this weekend" The piece, a fabric collage, was a stunning work Everyone who’d viewed it, including Will, had been enchanted

Shirley squealed with delight "It sold! It really sold?"

"Yes" Will had never heard her sound so uninhibited "And the woht it is interested in a couple of your other pieces, too"

"That’s wonderful!"

"I thought you’d be pleased," he said "I could drop off the check if you like" He didn’t want her to think he was pressuring her

"Ah…unfortunately I have plans this evening"

"I could visit to not to come across as pushy; at the saht be

"Well…" she said cautiously "Maybe it would be best just to drop it in theShe didn’t want to see him, or not at her house, anyway That was a disappointallery and pick it up?"