Read Online The Jewel of His Collection by Fae Mallory - Free Book Online Page A

who’d looked right through her. Once she was on his arm and dressed to display her beauty, she’d be the subject of many a longing gaze, but by then it would be too late. She’d be his. Only he saw her true value. Therefore it was only right that he be the one to claim her.
    Blinking his eyes open, Ian turned the car on and headed for home. Although he’d always enjoyed the peace of Owensport, lately the house had been feeling a bit too quiet. Something was missing, and the source of his unease was more than the half-empty Madden gallery. Although he was loath to share his paintings with others, since meeting Violet, Ian longed to show her the rest of his collection and watch her eyes go wide with wonder as she cooed over brush strokes and color choices. They’d stay up until dawn dissecting each painting and arguing over critical approaches. Would Violet put more stock in her personal response than the artist’s intended meaning like he did?
    He wouldn’t find out tonight. His business in New York was far from concluded, and he hadn’t really been able to spare the time to attend the preview. Ian simply hadn’t been able to stay away. Even if he hadn’t had the chance to talk to Violet as much as he’d hoped, at least he’d seen her.
    Tomorrow morning, he’d be forced to return to the city and finish sorting out the company’s finances, but before he left, he’d send her flowers—something that would let her know how much he was thinking about her and ensure that she didn’t forget about him.

Chapter 4
     
    The moment Violet woke up the morning after the preview, she raced for her computer. Three of the six metropolitan papers she’d invited had sent reporters to cover the opening, and if they had good things to say, it would put the Owensport Museum on the map.
    Her stomach knotted as she called up the first paper’s website, but her fears were alleviated the moment she read the headline—”Madden Exhibit a Coup for Owensport Museum.”
    Violet squealed out loud, drumming her feet happily against the floor before she remembered her downstairs neighbors. Tucking her feet under her, she all but pressed her nose to the screen as she read the accompanying article which talked mostly about Madden’s paintings, but also made a point of noting the exhibit’s unconventional layout and “electric atmosphere.”
    “I did it.” Violet laughed breathlessly, leaning back in her chair and throwing her arms wide. The weeks of work and stress and no sleep had all paid off. The Madden exhibit was a bona fide hit.
    The other two papers reached similar conclusions, although the Boston reporter managed to get in a dig at the food. Putting her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle, Violet decided not to let Martha see that one. She’d posted about the exhibit on a few message boards, and a quick search assured her that she’d gotten the general public’s attention. Even if Ian hadn’t offered to pay for the premiere, leaving the museum to foot the bill itself, it would have been money well spent to get this kind of word of mouth.
    By the time she finished reading all of the different responses to the preview, it was time for her to leave for work. Cursing under her breath, she yanked on a dress and twisted her hair up into a bun, opting to skip breakfast so she’d have time to complete her basic makeup routine. She was so pale that going entirely without makeup wasn’t feasible if she didn’t want newcomers to the museum to think she was a ghost.
    Her stomach rumbled over her missed breakfast, but Martha flagged her down as she passed the bed-and-breakfast on her way into town. Violet pulled over, taking the brown paper bag and travel mug the older woman handed her through the car window. “Honey, I could kiss you.”
    “What happened?” Violet asked, taking an appreciative sip of coffee.
    “The phone’s been ringing off the hook all morning. I’m booked solid for the next four months with people wanting