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“I must have this,” he said lowly “It’s perfect”
My heart seized up in ht I’d just heard Oceanic was one of the largest canvases—and it was expensive
“I’m sorry?”
Rafiq turned and repeated, “I must have this one” He reached his hand in his fine jacket and pulled out a snakeskin wallet From within it, he produced a platinum credit card, the likes of which I had only seen once or twice e this Is your assistant here to help us wrap it for transport? I probably owe hiy, too”
“He’s not here at theto keep my voice steady “He only helps with special events”
“Not a proble his smartphone from a different pocket He sent a quick text as he simultaneously explained, “Ahmed has been with my family for years, and he has very delicate hands He has helped est it if it would put the painting at risk”
His forthright concern for the artarry as I still felt about the Sheikh’s behavior, I wasn’t about to argue my way out of this meal ticket My rent would be paid for three months on this sale alone
“Then I’ll be right back,” I said, rushing through to the back to fetch a step stool and the wrap for the painting
When I returned, Ahnized hiht before, who had looked as stunned as Rafiq when I stood up to hiht, but Ahreen bean, his bronze face wrinkled with age and sun, a thick black moustache neatly manicured under his nose He and Rafiq spoke to each other in Arabic, pointing at the painting Judging by the look on Ahmed’s face, he liked it as much as Rafiq did
“Miss Pryce,” said Rafiq He held out a hand to me, and reluctantly I took it He planted a tiny kiss on the back before gesturing with his other to the driver “This is Aheline Pryce, the artist”
“Ah,his head politely toward her “A fine job you’ve done here, a fine job Your work esture
“Thank you, sir,” I said, blushing
I watched with some reservation as the men carefully took the canvas froh that the step stool was entirely unnecessary They wrapped it until it was fully protected from any errant drop of rain or worse My heart felt a little broken, as it always did when one ofup a little part of myself
Once the painting was safely loaded in the town car, Ahmed returned to the driver’s seat, and Rafiq followed allery to wrap up his transaction He waited across the counter as the credit card ure bill
“Thank you for your business,” I said to hilad we could find you a piece after all”
Rafiq smiled, and this time it most definitely was a charmer He tookme a second chance”
Heat rushed through lint in his eye, Rafiq could see it, too
I nodded and pulled lad you enjoy my work”
“I enjoy it a lot,” he said “In fact…”
Rafiq turned on his expensive shoes andfor so I watched curiously from behind the counter until he came back up to me
“Actually, I’ve changed my mind about my purchase,” he said
My heart sank “You have?”
“Yes,” he said “I’d like to buy all of the price” He slid his platinum card back across the counter toward me
My jaw dropped “What? You can’t be serious!”
“Why not? Are some of them already sold?” he asked with a frown
“No, no, it’s not that…” I shook my head and closed my eyes for a second,“Did you say you want all the paintings…all of them, and at double the price?”
“That’s correct,” he said He pointed to the card again and smiled “I will have to send a truck for them, unless that’s inconvenient”
My mom hadn’t raised a fool, and it wasn’t like I’d just blown into the big city from Nowhereville, USA