An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady #2)(80)

“How am I ever going to thank you?”

“That, my dear, is simple.”

She laughed with a choked sound, finding it hard to imagine she could offer him much of anything.

“You, Callie Burke, are going to do the same thing for someone else when you are well along in your career and a younger colleague has a problem. Twenty-five years ago, I was working on a Titian when I managed to spill raw turpentine in one corner.” When he heard her gasp, he laughed merrily. “It was awful. After I retired to la salle de bains wherein I revisited my lunch in a most unpleasant way, I came back, told my mentor what I had done, and the two of us took care of it. The painting is hanging in the Uffizi to this day, and every time I go for a visit, I make sure I take a hard look at that canvas. I can still see the strip we had to repaint. Few others can, of course, but it always reminds me of my folly. I will say this. Egos are far more damaging in our line of work than mistakes. So when someone calls on you years from now, remember this experience and do the right thing. Help. Do not judge.”

“I feel so ashamed,” she whispered. “That I have to come to you like this.”

“And that is good. What your regrets will do to you will be far worse than the harsh words of someone else. We all go through this, cherie. Just make sure it is only once.”

When Callie hung up the phone, she wiped her eyes with her palms and looked down at Artie, who’d come over to offer his condolences. He gave her a little wag as he put his head on her thigh.

Her sense of failure warred with her relief that Beauvais was willing to help, and it was a while before she could go back to the house and face anyone. Not saying anything to Jack made her feel uneasy, but she trusted Beauvais implicitly and she knew the man was right. It would be far easier to present the problem to an owner if the solution were offered as well.

As soon as she opened the back door, she was enveloped in a wall of cooking smells. It was like being hugged.

“You call that dough?” Thomas was saying to Nate while gesturing with a wooden spoon. “It looks like something you’d put wallpaper up with.”

Nate cracked a smile as he kept kneading on the counter. “Why don’t you give those onions a stir, old man. Before they have to be taken out of the pan with a jackhammer.”

“Hey, Callie!” Thomas grinned. “Welcome to my nightmare. Two cooks, one kitchen.”

As gratitude for some uncomplicated friendship washed her eyes with tears, she knew she was in a vulnerable place. If she was smart, she’d go up to her room and stay there. Now was not a real good time for her to be around other people. Particularly nice ones.

When the front door knocker sounded, she volunteered to answer it and nearly let out a cry of joy when Grace and her bodyguard were on the other side.

She embraced her half sister. “I am so glad to see you.”

The hug she got back was just as strong as the one she gave.

When they pulled apart, Grace motioned to the imposing man behind her. “You remember Ross?”

Callie smiled as she felt her hand taken in a firm grip.

“It’s good to see you again,” she said, looking up into his stark face. The smile he gave her made him look almost approachable, in spite of his black leather jacket and his hooded eyes.

She motioned the pair inside. “Come on in. It’s cold out there.”

Ross bent down and picked up a couple of leather bags like they were weightless.

“Where’s Jack?” Grace asked, taking off her coat.

“He’s still out, I think. But Nate’s here.”

“You’re kidding me.”

As Callie shook her head, the man in question came around the corner while wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Gracie!”

Grace let out a laugh and went to him. As they embraced, she said, “It’s good to see you, stranger.”

“You, too. Who’s this?” Nate looked over at the other man.

“This is my fiancé, Ross Smith.”

Callie gasped. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you. It just happened last night. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

When Grace and Ross were seated in the kitchen, having a drink while Thomas and Nate cooked, Callie found the shouts of laughter and private jokes a little hard to bear.

Making a quick excuse, she slipped upstairs to her room, promising to return when the meal was on the table.



Jack parked his mother’s Jaguar in its bay, turned off the ignition, and stared at the back wall of the garage. He was suddenly exhausted, but didn’t want to close his eyes because he’d only replay scenes from the synagogue and the graveyard. He couldn’t get the image of that small coffin out of his mind, no matter what practicalities he tried to distract himself with.

When he finally walked over to the house, he saw Grace and his brother through the windows, laughing while one poured dressing on a salad and the other tossed. Standing in the pitch dark, looking at two of the people he loved most in the world, he was grateful to be home. Grateful that his loved ones had not suffered as the family of that little girl had. As she herself had.

He opened the door and frowned when he didn’t see Callie.

“There he is!” Grace exclaimed, rushing to him. She pulled up short when she got a load of the cast. “I heard all about your accident. I’m glad you’re okay.”