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remained fixed on Stephen Edmond.
    Aimee studied the other man. A speculative gleam lit Edmond’s eyes. He glanced at Aimee’s paintings, then back to Peter. “Hoping to get lucky and discover another Leslie?”
    Aimee’s breath caught at the mention of Peter’s ex-wife.
    “Hardly,” Peter said.
    The coldness in his voice was like a vise around Aimee’s heart, crushing her with his rejection, bringing back her earlier musings.
    “As I told you, Mr. Edmond…” Aimee said, unable to look at Peter and see the rejection of her work in his eyes that she heard in his voice. She couldn’t help wonderingagain if the rejection was of her as a woman, as well. “…Gallagher’s does not represent me or my work.”
    Noting the other man’s doubtful expression, Aimee explained, “My relationship with Peter has nothing to do with business. It’s…it’s personal.”
    “Ah,” he said, his eyes sharpening as he looked from her to Peter. “I seem to remember your relationship with Leslie started out that way, too. Didn’t it, Gallagher?”
    “Aimee’s not Leslie.”
    Edmond looked at Aimee again, then at her paintings. He shrugged. “No. Perhaps not.”
    Aimee winced, unexpectedly stung by the words. She couldn’t help feeling that as far as Stephen Edmond was concerned, she hadn’t measured up as an artist or as a woman, compared to the talented Leslie.
    Did Peter feel the same way? she wondered yet again. Had he found her lacking, as Stephen Edmond obviously had? She cut a glance to Peter’s face, dreading what she would see. The coldness that she had heard in his voice was there in his eyes, along with a simmering anger.
    As though sensing her scrutiny, Peter shifted his gaze to hers. His expression softened, his eyes warmed with a tenderness and vulnerability that confused her.
    “Still,” Stephen Edmond continued, scanning her paintings once more. He tapped the edge of his chin with one finger. “There is something about her work…”
    “Stephen.” Liza moved beside the art dealer. “Why don’t you let me show you that painting of Aimee’s I was telling you about?”
    “Maybe another time. I have to get back to the gallery.”
    “Of course,” Liza murmured.
    “Gallagher.” He tipped his head toward Peter. Smiling, he turned his attention to Aimee. “I’d still be interested in seeing your portfolio. If you decide not to go with Gallagher’s, give me a call.”
    Aimee blinked, more than a little shocked by the unexpected offer. “Thank you,” she finally managed. “I will.”
    “Of course she’ll call you,” Liza added. Moving to Edmond’s side, Liza walked him to the front of the shop, with a frowning Jacques behind them.
    “Forget about him, Aimee. You don’t need Stephen Edmond, or his brother,” Peter told her. He scowled at the other man’s retreating back. “I meant what I said. I’ll put some of your paintings in Gallagher’s.”
    Frustrated, confused, Aimee didn’t know whether she wanted to kiss Peter or to strangle him. His offer was genuine, and he would honor it. Of that much, she was sure. But an hour ago she couldn’t have gotten him to even look at her work. And now he was offering to place it in his gallery.
    It was a moment she had dreamed of often, had wanted desperately. But now that he had offered it to her, she knew she had no choice but to refuse it. Even if she was sure Peter’s offer stemmed from his belief in the quality of her work—and it was something she wasn’t at all sure about—accepting it would cost her any hopes of ever winning his trust.
    “I’ll send someone over to pick up some of your paintings this evening and have them brought to the gallery.”
    Studying Peter’s closed expression, Aimee silently cursed the absent Leslie for the number she had done on him. It wasn’t fair, but Aimee was the one who was having to pay for the other woman’s sins. But she really didn’t have any other option. Because just as she knew the week