Perfect Touch Read Online Free PDF

Jay had shrugged out of his jacket and put it around her shoulders.
    She almost groaned at the heat of it.
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    â€œMy pleasure.” He turned to Barton. “Don’t blame Sara for Liza’s unhappiness. Or me.”
    â€œEasy for you to say. I’m stuck between mother and you.” Barton scowled. “Ask me how much fun that is.”
    â€œNo need. I was there.” Jay’s expression softened as he thought of his half brother as a redheaded tyrant clutching for the world with bothchubby hands. “Remember when I carried you on my shoulders and you yelled ‘Giddyup’ all through the house?”
    â€œSo you were older than I was. So what? I’ve grown up since then,” Barton said impatiently.
    The pouting line of his mouth contradicted him, but Barton couldn’t help it if he had inherited his mother’s lips.
    But he sure could help himself by acting his age, Jay thought. The older he gets, the less adult he seems .
    Being Liza’s son didn’t do him any favors.
    Irritation snaked through Jay. At some point, Barton had to become responsible for his own life, his own choices. As far as Jay was concerned, that point was overdue. And yet, every time he argued with Barton, Jay felt like he was kicking a puppy.
    â€œSince you’re all grown up, you know Liza doesn’t have anyone to blame for her life but herself,” Jay said evenly.
    Sara knew she should fade into the sidewalk and leave them to what was obviously a long-standing family quarrel, but Jay’s coat was draped around her and she had barely stopped shivering.
    â€œYou could have just given the damn paintings to her,” Barton said.
    â€œI followed JD’s wishes. He was real clear about the paintings.”
    â€œSo? He’s dead.”
    â€œI gave my word,” Jay said.
    â€œHow the hell would JD know? He’s dead!”
    Sara felt the tension in Jay’s hand on her arm and waited for the explosion. But when he spoke, his deep voice was calm.
    â€œIt’s done,” he said to Barton. “Get over it and get on with your life.”
    â€œIt takes money to live,” Barton said in a rising voice.
    â€œThat’s why people work. Any time you want it, you have a job on the ranch.”
    Barton looked down, visibly fighting not to lose his redheadedtemper. “Look,” he said finally, meeting Jay’s waiting eyes. “I found a guy who could help us sell those paintings.”
    â€œWas he wearing seersucker and a purple tie?” Jay asked.
    For a moment Barton visibly wondered if the answer should be yes or no. “Uh, I didn’t notice.”
    â€œDid he give you a card?” Jay asked.
    â€œUh, yeah.” Barton fished the card out of his suit pocket. “Masterwor—”
    â€œNo,” Jay cut in. “He already approached me. I turned him down.”
    â€œBut this guy’s the real deal. Knows a lot of Hollywood types, closes big deals.”
    â€œNot with me.”
    Tension simmered for a long moment before Barton shrugged. “Okay, you don’t want him. That’s cool. How about I handle the paintings then?”
    Jay studied his brother. Barton alternated between careless and relentless, yet Jay felt a stubborn obligation to help out the kid who had once shrieked with laughter while he rode Jay’s shoulders through the rambling ranch house.
    â€œYou mean it?” Jay asked.
    â€œSure. I do big deals all the time.”
    Jay’s gut told him to refuse. The perennial hope that Barton would turn out to be something more than hot air urged Jay to agree.
    â€œI’ll think about it,” he said finally.
    â€œI could totally handle it.” Barton straightened for the first time. “You’ll see. I’m good at business.”
    â€œWould you do an auction or a consignment?” Sara asked quietly. “Sotheby’s or Christie’s? Or would