Martine The Beginning (Cruising to Love, The Prequel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

better food than Alfredo’s,” she smiled at him.
      “That’s because I cooked it just for you, Tina,” he smiled back.
      He had poured them each a glass of white wine, and they took the glasses, still half full, to the sofa after dinner.  Lucas had some soft easy listening music playing in the background.
      “Would you like to watch television?” he asked her.
      She shook her head.  “I would just like to sit here,” she told him, “relax and talk to you, since you say we have to take it slowly.  If you like, you could kiss me,” she added hopefully.
      Lucas laughed.  “Darling, once I start kissing you, we won’t be talking.”  But he did kiss her once, very lightly.
      “You said Belinda was bringing in a pile of paintings.  What do you have in mind?”
      “I’d like to do my first Show.  She’s brought me twenty two paintings.  Ten are average, ten very good and two are brilliant.  I want to do a proper show, advertise it, send out invitations, see if I can attract some reviewers, have a wine and cheese Opening.  Run it for ten days, try to create some urgency to buy.   I think I can just about afford it, if I keep the budget to eight hundred pounds.”
      Lucas frowned.  “How big is your mailing list?”
      “Only about two hundred names.”
      “Hmm…you can expect about a four percent positive response from any mail out for a function, that’s only eight people.  Half of whom will buy and half won’t.
      “Oh, that poor?”
      “Statistically, yes.”  Lucas leaned back and closed his eyes, thinking.
      Presently, Lucas spoke again.  “We need to invite about two thousand people.  That way, we’ll have between eighty and a hundred show up.  And Belinda’s paintings will sell out.  And some of your other stock as well. 
      “If we invite the right people that is…”  He leaned back again and closed his eyes.  Thought. Smiled.
      Martine liked the way Lucas said “we”.  Very much liked the way he said “we”.
      “Got it, Tina!  We’ll make it a charity event, a Charity Gala.  Give ten or fifteen percent of the sales on opening night to a specific charity.  They’ll turn over their mailing list to us.  A free way to build your mailing list, darling. 
      Martine smiled delightedly, “And the reviewers will come because of the big name of the charity.  And the people who come will buy to support the charity.  So, I’ll be doing some good for the charity and for Belinda and for the Gallery!”
      Lucas nodded.  “Do you have any pet charities?”
      She shook her head.
      “How about we make a list, and I’ll give a ring around and see if I can find one that would appreciate our efforts.  One that has some well heeled patrons?”
      “Would you do that for me, Lucas?”
      “Darling, I would move mountains for you.”  He smiled down at her.  “Wet your lips, Tina. Drive me crazy.”
      Martine did as she was told.  Lucas leaned down and kissed her, and gently pushed her back on the sofa. His arm was draped across the back of the sofa behind her, and he pulled her close to him.  She snuggled up beside him.  He dropped a kiss on her hair. 
      “So nice, Lucas, to be sitting here with you, like this.”
      “So nice to have you sitting here with me, darling.”  With his free hand he tilted her face up toward him, and kissed her again, his tongue probing, his lips demanding.  She gave a soft moan from the back of her throat.
      His hand dropped to her breast, and he gently stroked her.  She felt her nipple grow hard
    under his touch.  He could feel it through her blouse and cardigan.  He pulled his lips away from hers and smiled down at her.
      “Is this a first, Tina?  Am I the first man to touch your breast?”
      Martine nodded, her eyes huge.
      Lucas kissed her throat, “And is this a first, Tina?  Am I the first man to kiss your throat?”
      “Yes, Lucas, yes, you are…”  She was