skort by blotting her damp palms on her hips. The encounter ahead wouldnât be fun. âWhereâs the painting?â he demanded. âI didnât bring it.â The fire of excitement had fizzled soon after he roared off in his boat. Doubts about putting herself out there had dogged her as she showered and dressed for work. Then sheâd realized his demand that she bring the painting wasnât even about her. His eyebrows lowered. âWhy?â âWhile your offer is generous and flattering, itâs Miriâs restaurant. I want to check with her first.â His eyes narrowed. âDid she call you?â âNo. Why?â âNever mind. She has to accept that the stuff on the walls needs replacing.â âThatâs your opinion. She might disagree.â He strode to the door and yanked it open, motioning for Jessie to go first. He loomed behind her like a hovering hawk as she went to the kitchen in search of Miri. On the way, she checked out the current wall artâsomething sheâd only done superficially before because sheâd been too busy watching the patrons. Each piece was of good quality. But all needed some TLC. Miri glanced up from the pie crust in front of her when they entered. Her rolling pin stilled. âTell her to bring her painting,â Logan demanded, and Miriâs expression turned uneasy. Jessie gave Miri a sympathetic smile. âI thought Logan should ask why youâve never replaced the ones you have.â A tiny smile curved Miriâs lips. âJack gave them to me. Each one commemorates a moment of our lives together.â Jessie shot Logan an I-told-you-so look. âHer art has sentimental value. You canât just discard it.â Logan rocked his jaw back and forth. âIâm trying to update this place and make both of you some money.â âI donât want it at Miriâs expense.â Miri laid a hand on Jessieâs forearm and gave her a squeeze. âYouâre a dear and I love you for thinking of me, Jessie. But I want to help you. Truly, I do. And if youâre as good an artist as Logan says, this exposure could be good for youâeven if I have to buy easels to display them. Please, bring your paintings.â Miriâs encouragement fanned the ember Logan had lit. How could she make this a win-win situation? âI have an idea. Follow me.â Jessie grabbed a clean rag, dampened a corner of it, then led them to the oil of one of Key Westâs historic Victorian homes that hung behind the cash register. âTell me about this one.â Miriâs face softened. âThatâs the bed-and-breakfast where Jack and I honeymooned. Itâs the first piece of real art he bought me.â âThen it definitely should stay. Itâs a quality piece. But Iâm guessing these have been here since the days when smoking was allowed inside restaurants?â Miri nodded. Jessie gently rubbed one side of the frame where it wouldnât be visible to guests, then displayed the sooty residue for Miri to see. âAll it needs to revive the original colors is a professional cleaning. I could hang one of mine while yours is out for restoration. Iâll help you find someone reputable to do the job, at minimal cost. Itâll come back as good as new.â She knew how to do it because sheâd interned at an estate auction house her senior year of high school, but she couldnât volunteer to do the job without giving too much away. Looking sad, Miri shook her head. âI never even noticed the grime. All I see is the memory. Thank you, Jessie. Thatâs a grand suggestion.â âMiri, the alcohol deliveryâs here,â one of the kitchen workers called. Miri held up a finger. âBe right there. Iâll take this one down tonight after we close if youâll bring one of yours in tomorrow morning for our weekend crowd to