Hold Me Close(99)

“What? No. Really? What?” Effie had been allowing Elisabeth to lead her toward the gallery, but now she stopped short. “You’re kidding.”

“I would never joke about something like that. You just bought me a week on the beach.” Elisabeth looked solemn. “This show, Effie. It’s going to change your career.”

Effie let Elisabeth lead her another step or two before she faltered again. “Are any of...them...here?”

“The forum people? Maybe. If so, they’re behaving themselves. And if anyone bothers you, let me know. I have security here tonight,” Elisabeth said with a confidence she obviously meant to ease Effie’s fears, though it didn’t help much. “I mean it. Anyone who gives you a hard time or in any way makes you feel nervous, they’re out.”

Effie laughed. “Wow. Okay. That’s full service, right there.”

“C’mon. It’s going to be great,” Elisabeth said.

Effie had seen the photos of the room layout Elisabeth had sent in advance, but nothing had prepared her for how it would all look in real life. Fairy lights, gauzy fabric, candles, soft music. And, oh, her artwork everywhere. Her fingers and wrists still remembered how fiercely she’d worked, but seeing the number of pieces hung in frames or set on easels was still somewhat shocking.

“Let me get you a glass of wine,” Elisabeth said. “White or red?”

“White. In case I spill it all over myself.” Effie looked at her black dress. “Though I guess it wouldn’t matter.”

“There’s a cheese and fruit table back there. Desserts in the other room. Catered hors d’oeuvres. Mingle,” Elisabeth encouraged. “I’ll be right back.”

Before Effie had time even to worry that nobody was going to talk to her and she’d stand alone in the corner all night looking like an *, Naveen brought someone to meet her. To her surprise and relief, Effie had no problems after that. People came and went. Some asked about her inspirations on certain pieces. Nobody mentioned the forum or the basement. Most of them, Effie realized, didn’t seem to have any idea that any of that had ever happened.

With a second glass of wine in her, Effie had relaxed enough to have something to eat. With a plate of cheese and crackers in one hand, she waved at Elisabeth from across the room with the other. Elisabeth, though, was deep in conversation with someone and didn’t notice her. Effie watched them a moment or so. The way they stood, angling toward each other but with enough distance between them that to touch would require an effort. The guy never took his eyes off Elisabeth’s face, and she looked at the floor. Never at him.

“That’s Will Roberts. He’s a photographer,” Naveen said from behind Effie’s shoulder.

She turned. “Ah. One of your artists?”

“Sometimes,” Naveen said. “Should I rescue her?”

“Do you think she wants to be rescued?”

Naveen laughed a little. “Don’t all women want to be rescued?”

“No,” Effie said. “Sometimes we don’t need saving.”

She hadn’t meant it to sound bitchy, but Naveen gave her a slow, assessing look before he nodded. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. If she needs me, she knows I’m here.”

The conversation shifted after that. Naveen introduced her to some more people, including Will, who complimented Effie’s paintings so sincerely that she blushed. She kept herself from returning the favor with nice words about the photo in Elisabeth’s office—though she was kind of desperate to watch his face when she did. Elisabeth had disappeared, and Effie hoped she was all right.


Heath had not shown up yet. Effie couldn’t decide if she were upset or relieved. Still, every time someone walked through the door, she found her attention dragged there.

Maybe he wasn’t coming. Effie had included Lisa on the invitation to be nice, but what if the other woman had refused and forbidden Heath from coming, too? If he didn’t come, Effie thought, could she blame him? She’d pushed him into Lisa’s arms, after all. She’d told him to make it work. If that meant not being here for Effie, well...it was what she deserved.

Trying to put the thoughts of him from her mind, Effie ate cheese and sipped at a third glass of wine. With only an hour or so left in the evening, she was looking forward to getting out of here. The boutique hotel Elisabeth had booked for her was a short walk that was going to seem much, much longer while wearing these shoes. But the wine would help with her aching feet and a lot of other aches, too.

“How’s it going?” she asked as Elisabeth approached. She looked tired, but her smile was genuine. She held up her own glass of wine and shifted from one foot to the other with a wince.

“Ready to get these shoes off, I’ll tell you that.”

“Me, too. Listen, Elisabeth, I can’t thank you enough. For all of this.” Effie gestured around the room. “This has been more than I ever dreamed it could be.”

Elisabeth clinked her glass to Effie’s and drained the rest of it. “I’m so glad.”

Over her shoulder, Effie caught sight of that photographer. Will. She tipped her chin a little in his direction. “So...?”

Elisabeth didn’t even look. She smiled, shiny as a diamond and as hard. “I didn’t know he was invited.”