Read Online Surrender by Metsy Hingle - Free Book Online Page B

wouldn’t end without the city getting at least one heavy downpour to take the edge off the summer’s heat, she knew Peter still didn’t trust her or her love for him. Accepting his offer would only reaffirm his belief that her love was linked to what he could do for her career.
    “Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll make that appointment with Mr. Edmond.” She slipped the card into the slim pocket of her skirt.
    Peter blinked. “Why?”
    “To discuss his gallery selling my work, of course.”
    “That’s not necessary,” he told her. His expression grew grim. “I meant what I said. Gallagher’s will rep your work.”
    Aimee sighed. “I know. And like I said, I appreciate your offer. Really I do. But I’ve thought over our…our conversation upstairs. And…”
    Peter winced, remembering his cruel words to her earlier, wishing he could take them back. It had been his own fears that caused him to lash out at her unfairly. He regretted what he had said. He hadn’t meant to sound so cold, so unfeeling. What he regretted most was the stricken expression that had marred her face.
    “You were right,” Aimee continued. “It’s better if we don’t mix business with pleasure.”
    Panic shot through Peter with the swiftness of a laser. His heart began to race. Beads of cold sweat broke out across his brow. “Forget what I said. I was wrong. There’s no reason we can’t work together. I mean it, Aimee. We—”
    “You know, Gallagher, you really are a jerk,” Liza declared as she stormed over to them. “What were you trying to do? Blow Aimee’s chances?”
    “Liza, please…” Aimee began, trying to intercede.
    “She’s right,” Jacques added, coming up behind Liza. “This Edmond fellow was interested in Aimee’s work—even without Liza making the eyes at him.”
    “I was not making eyes at anyone,” Liza insisted.
    Ignoring the bickering pair, Peter focused his attention on Aimee. Frustrated, concerned, he asked, “What’s going on, Aimee? You know I don’t like playing games.”
    “I’m not the one playing games,” she whispered, and started to walk away.
    Peter caught her arm and turned her back to face him. “Aimee, look at me,” he said. When she didn’t respond, he tilted her chin up with his finger.
    Her ghost-blue eyes remained devoid of laughter, and were even sadder now than when she had left the apartment. There was also a distance, a coolness, that hadn’t been there earlier.
    The coolness sent a shiver through him that had nothing to do with the temperature inside the shop. He sensed that Aimee was pushing him away, closing some part of herself to him…locking him out.
    And it scared the hell out of him.
    Peter’s mouth grew suddenly dry as another surge of panic shot through him, leaving him cold…shaken…trapped in darkness. He felt the way he did after one of the nightmares, but this time it was worse.
    “Aimee.” Instinctively he reached for her, drawing her close, needing her nearness, her warmth, to stave off the darkness and the cold that always followed the nightmares.
    Aimee resisted. She shook her head, placed both her hands against his chest, keeping him at arm’s length.
    Still, he didn’t release her, afraid of what would happen if he did. “Aimee, please.”
    “Don’t let him sweet-talk his way out of this one,” Liza inserted. “I am not going to let you screw this up for her, Gallagher.”
    Peter glared at the blonde over Aimee’s head.
    “Do you want me to throw him out, mon amie?” Jacques asked.
    “I wouldn’t try it, if I were you,” Peter warned, incensed with the Frenchman.
    Aimee tensed. She pulled herself free from his grasp. “Liza. Jacques,” Aimee said, her voice firm. “Please, I’d like to talk to Peter alone for a few minutes.”
    Liza started to protest. “But, Aimee—”
    “You are sure?” Jacques asked.
    Aimee nodded.
    Unbidden, jealousy fired through Peter. He watched the big Frenchman’s gaze shift from