Read Online Better Than Chocolate by Pat Amsden - Free Book Online

his heart hammered in his chest. He was only too aware of her presence, of how close she was.
          “Just business?”
          “If that’s what you want.”
          She nodded mutely. “At least for now.”
          “When this is over?” he said moving towards her and capturing a strand of hair in his hands, smoothing it down.
          She shook her head, unable to answer.
          He drew her to him, kissing her softly. “I’ll wait,” he said gruffly.
          “I, I can’t promise anything,” she stammered, eyes filling with tears as she turned away from him.
          But already he was regaining his professionalism, surrounding himself with it like a cloak. “I like your houses, they’ll add something to the gallery.”
          She nodded. “After this I’m going to another artist who does glass work. I think he’s got some work that will fit in perfectly.”
          He felt a small stab of jealousy. “An old friend of yours,” he enquired idly.
          “Went to university with him,” she responded automatically.
          “Maybe I’ll come with you,” he said easily.
          “If you like,” she said, surprised.
          “In the meantime I’ve done up a business plan.” They went over it together at the kitchen table.
“It, it looks good,” she said. “Do I really need that much money though?”
”You’re better off with too much rather than too little. You might not get
    everything you ask for and you don’t have to spend it all.”
          “I guess.”
          He smiled at her. “As long as you get customers you’ll be fine.”
          “What if I don’t?”
          “You will, “ he said confidently.
          “Shouldn’t you be lining up financing,” she said.
          “I am.”
          “I thought you said you were coming with me.”
          “How long can it take to visit one artist?”
          She shrugged. “I was figuring a day or two.”
          Again the flash of jealousy. “I found you here,” he said easily. “I’ve got a few phone calls to make from town and then I’ll catch up.”
          “You might not get so lucky when you ask for directions the next time,” she warned.
          “I’ll risk it,” he said with a great deal more confidence than he felt.
    Bottom line. He was not letting her spend a couple of days alone with an old artist friend.
    He spent a few frantic hours in Nanaimo using phones, faxes and the internet to set up financing for her. Calling in a few favours also didn’t hurt.
          By the times he’d finished he’d lined up financing for her at two percent below prime with a couple of sources. Of course it also meant they’d have to spend a couple of days in Vancouver. Shouldn’t be a problem he thought smugly, snapping his laptop shut and preparing to meet up with her at ‘The Adventure Zone.” Did none of her artist friends hang out in cities? And did they have to be male?
          She on the other hand, was wishing she had waited for Brad to make this trip. Truth to tell she wasn’t all that used to navigating off the beaten track up and down the island. The last time she’d come here with Bente and a few friends from university to celebrate the opening of ‘The Adventure Zone’ by their friend Race. What his real name was she wasn’t sure. He’d spent his life going from one adrenaline rush to another as far as she could see. Then he’d met his match and settled down, as much as could be expected with his soul mate Lydia.
          Together they’d opened ‘The Adventure Zone’. It consisted of zip line adventures run by Race, bungee jumping into Nanaimo River and quad racing up and down mountainous terrain. In quiet times Race did glass blowing in his studio turning out icicles made of glass that looked as if they were jewels made of iridescent colours carved out of mountains and forest among