An Irresistible Bachelor(53)

As Jack nodded to the waiter, she had no idea how she was going to sit at the table for another moment. It was a relief when they were finally done and Jack, who insisted on paying, left to find Nico.

Gray regarded her steadily and smiled. "I'm in town for the next few weeks. Would you like to get together again?"

She hesitated, but then Jack came back to the table.

"Yes, I would."

"Yes, what?" Jack asked.

Before Gray could say anything, she stood up. "This has been lovely."

Which was partially the truth. Under different circumstances she would have enjoyed getting to know Gray. He was charming and witty, though he could have been a troll for all the attraction he had for her.

No, she saved her lusty thoughts for the unattainable. Lucky girl that she was.

After they thanked the chefs and Nico, she and Gray waited outside the restaurant while Jack went to get the car.

"So how do you like working for Jack?" Gray asked.

"I love the painting." It was as close to the truth as she could get at the moment.

"It is a masterpiece. When Nate Six went bankrupt, he sold it off and Jack was infuriated. At the time, he was just out of business school and starting at J. P. Morgan in New York. He was working his tail off, but he didn't have enough money of his own to meet the asking price. He's waited for years to get that portrait back."

Callie stared at Gray in surprise. Bankruptcy and the Walker name were two things she never thought would get linked.

"How did Mr. Walker go—what—er, what did Mr. Walker do for a living?"

"Not much. And I don't mean that pejoratively." Gray rubbed his jaw and then shrugged. "Well, maybe I do. He was a philanthropist. The man donated money to charities and universities as if it were his profession. He funded the Walker Chair in Art History at NYU. You went there, right? So you must have heard about it."

"Yes." She cleared her throat. "If Mr. Walker lost his money, how did he pay for..."

She didn't go any further. She couldn't believe she'd started to ask such a nosy question.

"Jack. Jack paid for everything. Still does."

"Mr. Walker must have been grateful." In spite of what Jack had said about their relationship.

"Not in the slightest. He thought Jack was a money-hungry reprobate. It was ironic as hell. If his son hadn't been so strong in business, Nate Six's declining years would have been spent in something far more modest than Buona Fortuna." Gray shot her a meaningful look. "Jack's dad was a bastard, to be honest, and an alcoholic. I don't think many people outside of the family knew how bad it was. In public, the man was a perfect gentleman. He saved the ugliness for those closest to him."

"How awful."

"Yeah. I like to think Jack turned out all right in spite of his father, not because of him. Although I worry."

She waited for him to explain.

"About what?" she asked after a moment.

Gray crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes staring through the people walking past them.

"He's under a lot of pressure. The Walker Fund employs several hundred people, for example, and I know he feels personally responsible for each one. If he runs for office, someone's going to have to take over for him and no one will ever match his commitment. And if he wins, he's going to have to think seriously about the future of his business." Gray frowned. "Hell, there's the election itself. I know he thinks he's prepared for it, but I'm not sure he really understands how bad it could get. He's an extraordinary man, but everyone has their limits and stress does funny things to people."

There was a pause.

Gray looked over at her, smiling slowly. His eyes took on some heat. "But enough about Jack."

Callie heard the purr of the Aston Martin as the car came around the corner and was kind of relieved.

"It was nice to meet you," she said.

"My pleasure, I assure you. I'll call you at Jack's." 'With a small bow, Gray opened the door to Jack's car and offered his hand to help her inside.

"You want a ride?" Jack asked, bending across the seat to meet his friend's eyes.

Callie shrank back, trying to avoid contact with him, and saw his mouth tighten.

"Thanks, but I don't think I could fit in that backseat. Besides, with the way you drive, it's safer to go through the back alleys on foot." Gray shut the door with a smile and strode off in the opposite direction.