An Irresistible Bachelor(13)

She was about to disabuse him of the error when she decided to keep quiet. There was no reason to tell the man her life story, and if he thought she had money, it worked in her favor by putting them on more equal footing.

As she fell silent again, he let out a frustrated noise. "Fine, no more chitchat. When can you start?"

"As soon as you want me to."


"Can you be in Boston the day after tomorrow?"

"Boston?" She stiffened.

"The painting is going to be shipped to my home on Tuesday,"

"Oh. I'd assumed it would stay here."

"I don't live here."

"But you could have the portrait bonded and leave it with me," she said hopefully.

"That's not what I had in mind."

And she could tell his mind was made up. "This changes everything."

"Why?"

"All my contacts are here. My, ah, work space. My tools."

"None of that will be a problem," he said smoothly.

Maybe not for him, she thought.

"I'll see to everything for you," he continued. "And I'd like you to stay at Buona Fortuna while you work."

"Where?"

"My house. Buona Fortuna means good fortune in Italian. My great-great-grandmother had a fondness for the Renaissance period." He took another croissant from the basket. "I'm going to dedicate studio space to you, get you whatever equipment you need. You can set up everything exactly as you want it."

She pictured herself sleeping under the same roof as him and the pool of heat that set up shop in her stomach made her want to get away from the man, not move in with him.

"I don't know whether that would be such a good idea. It could be at least six weeks. That's a long time for a guest."

"True. But it's a big house."

Yeah, well, the damn thing could be the size of a football field and it would still be too small, she thought.

"I don't know."

"I won't charge you for the hospitality," he said with disapproval. "If that's what you're worried about. I'll still pay you the same."

And then he named a price that almost made her fall out of the chair.

With that kind of money, she wouldn't have to worry about rent for a year and then some. She'd be able to do a job search in comfort. She could start a nestegg.

Callie tried to keep her voice level. "That's very generous."

"It's the going rate for a professional. And remember, I'll get you anything you need for your work on the painting."

She hesitated, finding it hard to imagine doing the job in a private home. It wasn't impossible, but it would complicate things.

"Why is it so important that the work be performed at your house?"

"No museum is going to get the mistaken impression that my painting is hanging on any wall but my own. I've been burned a few times, having to wrestle pieces back once they'd been conserved, even if I've footed the bill for the restoration. The attachment can become personal for some conservationists and their museums, which is another reason why you're attractive to me." There was a slight pause. "You're unaffiliated with an institution, so there'll be no confusion."

"But I'll need equipment that will be either prohibitively expensive or hard to get."

"There are no such things," he said, pouring himself some more coffee.

Taking a sip, he looked at her over the rim and she shifted her eyes to his pinkie ring. She was close enough to see that it had a crest on it and she thought that with the money and connections he had, there was probably nothing Jack Walker couldn't get his hands on.

No material possessions, at any rate.

"If there's something you absolutely can't do on-site, we can take it to the MFA. I've already spoken with their head of conservation and he's offered to help even though I've made it clear that I'm going to have an independent do the work." He wiped his mouth on his napkin and leaned back in the chair. "So, you see, everything is arranged. All you need to do is show up."

Callie wavered, thinking the job was taking her in directions she wasn't entirely comfortable with.

Moving sharply, Walker threw down his napkin and got to his feet. "I've got a meeting in ten minutes. I know my terms are generous so I’m not inclined to negotiate. Are you in or out?"