Read Online Surrender by Metsy Hingle - Free Book Online
Authors: Metsy Hingle
Tags: Romance
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been. While for her…
Aimee swallowed past the lump that had lodged in her throat. She blinked hard, refusing to give in to the tears that threatened. She wasn’t sure which was more painful—the realization that Peter didn’t love her and probably never would, or letting go of her dreams of making it as an artist.
“Personally, I like Aimee’s portraits best,” Liza said.
The other woman’s voice pulled Aimee from the bruising fog of self-discovery.
“I think one of the best things she’s ever done is a piece that she gave to me,” Liza continued, smiling. “It’s a portrait of a young boy. If you’d like, I’d be happy to show it to you,” Liza offered.
She deserved a good cry, Aimee told herself. And she intended to have one, just as soon as she ended this farce. Offeringthe man a smile that she was far from feeling and in no way matched the one her friend was wearing, Aimee decided to let the guy off the hook. “I’m sure Mr. Edmond’s not interested in seeing any more of my work, Liza.”
Stephen Edmond looked at her then out of shrewd brown eyes. “Actually, Miss Lawrence, I would be interested in seeing more of your work.” He gazed over at the paintings again, stroking his jaw as he did so. “There’s something about your style that I find quite…intriguing. I especially like the portrait you’ve done of the young woman. You’ve managed to capture her strength of spirit, while still showing her vulnerability.”
“Thank you,” Aimee murmured. His praise was a balm to her wounded confidence in her ability.
“I’d be interested in seeing whatever else you might like to show me, particularly more of your portrait work.”
Surprised, pleased, Aimee tingled from head to toe. “You would?”
“Yes. I would,” Stephen Edmond assured her, smiling. “Why don’t you come by my office with your portfolio? If your other work is as good as Liza says, perhaps we can discuss placing a few pieces with my gallery. Just give my secretary a call, and she’ll schedule an appointment.” He handed her his business card.
“I see you’re still doing your brother’s legwork.”
Aimee’s stomach tensed at the sound of Peter’s voice. She hadn’t heard him enter the shop. In fact, considering her parting comments, she would have sworn he had left right after she walked out of the apartment. So why was he still here, standing in the doorway?
The smile on Stephen Edmond’s face disappeared. His eyes narrowed to thin slits as Peter came into the shop and stood next to her. “William and I are equal partners, Gal lagher. My brother does his own legwork.”
“Sure he does.”
An angry flush reddened Stephen Edmond’s cheeks.
“I didn’t realize Edmond’s had changed their policy of requiring exclusivity rights on the works of the artists they represent,” Peter said.
“You know we haven’t,” Edmond returned, his voice hard. He leveled his gaze on Aimee. “I didn’t realize that Miss Lawrence was represented by anyone. You should have told me Gallagher’s was handling your work.”
“But it doesn’t,” Aimee advised him, confused by the undercurrents she sensed and wondering why Peter was implying otherwise. “None of my work is carried by Peter’s gallery.”
“Not at the moment,” Peter added smoothly. “But I’m considering featuring a few of Aimee’s pieces in a special exhibit.”
Surprised, Aimee swung her gaze back to Peter. What was he talking about? This was twice in one day he had led someone to believe their relationship was something more than it was. First on a personal basis, by proclaiming to Jacques that they were engaged, and now on a business level, by telling Stephen Edmond that Gallagher’s was considering an exhibit of her work. For reasons she couldn’t even begin to fathom, Peter had deliberately misled both men. But why? she wondered, shooting Peter a questioning look. If he noted the questions in her eyes, he ignored them. His gaze
Aimee swallowed past the lump that had lodged in her throat. She blinked hard, refusing to give in to the tears that threatened. She wasn’t sure which was more painful—the realization that Peter didn’t love her and probably never would, or letting go of her dreams of making it as an artist.
“Personally, I like Aimee’s portraits best,” Liza said.
The other woman’s voice pulled Aimee from the bruising fog of self-discovery.
“I think one of the best things she’s ever done is a piece that she gave to me,” Liza continued, smiling. “It’s a portrait of a young boy. If you’d like, I’d be happy to show it to you,” Liza offered.
She deserved a good cry, Aimee told herself. And she intended to have one, just as soon as she ended this farce. Offeringthe man a smile that she was far from feeling and in no way matched the one her friend was wearing, Aimee decided to let the guy off the hook. “I’m sure Mr. Edmond’s not interested in seeing any more of my work, Liza.”
Stephen Edmond looked at her then out of shrewd brown eyes. “Actually, Miss Lawrence, I would be interested in seeing more of your work.” He gazed over at the paintings again, stroking his jaw as he did so. “There’s something about your style that I find quite…intriguing. I especially like the portrait you’ve done of the young woman. You’ve managed to capture her strength of spirit, while still showing her vulnerability.”
“Thank you,” Aimee murmured. His praise was a balm to her wounded confidence in her ability.
“I’d be interested in seeing whatever else you might like to show me, particularly more of your portrait work.”
Surprised, pleased, Aimee tingled from head to toe. “You would?”
“Yes. I would,” Stephen Edmond assured her, smiling. “Why don’t you come by my office with your portfolio? If your other work is as good as Liza says, perhaps we can discuss placing a few pieces with my gallery. Just give my secretary a call, and she’ll schedule an appointment.” He handed her his business card.
“I see you’re still doing your brother’s legwork.”
Aimee’s stomach tensed at the sound of Peter’s voice. She hadn’t heard him enter the shop. In fact, considering her parting comments, she would have sworn he had left right after she walked out of the apartment. So why was he still here, standing in the doorway?
The smile on Stephen Edmond’s face disappeared. His eyes narrowed to thin slits as Peter came into the shop and stood next to her. “William and I are equal partners, Gal lagher. My brother does his own legwork.”
“Sure he does.”
An angry flush reddened Stephen Edmond’s cheeks.
“I didn’t realize Edmond’s had changed their policy of requiring exclusivity rights on the works of the artists they represent,” Peter said.
“You know we haven’t,” Edmond returned, his voice hard. He leveled his gaze on Aimee. “I didn’t realize that Miss Lawrence was represented by anyone. You should have told me Gallagher’s was handling your work.”
“But it doesn’t,” Aimee advised him, confused by the undercurrents she sensed and wondering why Peter was implying otherwise. “None of my work is carried by Peter’s gallery.”
“Not at the moment,” Peter added smoothly. “But I’m considering featuring a few of Aimee’s pieces in a special exhibit.”
Surprised, Aimee swung her gaze back to Peter. What was he talking about? This was twice in one day he had led someone to believe their relationship was something more than it was. First on a personal basis, by proclaiming to Jacques that they were engaged, and now on a business level, by telling Stephen Edmond that Gallagher’s was considering an exhibit of her work. For reasons she couldn’t even begin to fathom, Peter had deliberately misled both men. But why? she wondered, shooting Peter a questioning look. If he noted the questions in her eyes, he ignored them. His gaze
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