The Artist (The Game Changers #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it was the perfect arrangement.”
    “And you never took her on a romantic vacation to St. Croix?”
    He laughed. “No, I just bought the property a month ago, right after we decided to end things. I’ve only been once to complete the inspection and sign the papers.”
    “What happened with ten years, if you don’t mind me asking something so personal?” Hey, he brought it up.
    “She decided she wanted to get married and have kids. I’m forty-three and haven’t ever once considered starting a family. Why in the world would she think I would want kids now?” Yes, Ward was definitely closer to my mother’s age.
    At his shocked expression, I laughed. “Her clock was ticking?”
    He laughed. “I guess so. Too bad I’m more interested in punching the time clock than uprooting my entire life for her biological clock.”
    “Well, at any rate, I’m sorry it didn’t work out. It must have been nice to find someone you could tolerate for ten years at the very least.”
    “How’s everything?” my mother asked as she came sweeping back to the table. I watched as Ward fell back into his pleasing persona.
    “Wonderful. You daughter’s as lovely as I expected, but I’m afraid I need to head back to the office.”
    My mother checked her watch. “Yes, we must be going as well. We have fittings for the Governor’s party to get to.” Yet another surprise for me. I loathed fittings with my mother. It took mental preparation to be able to tolerate her opinions on my body and the dresses for the hours it took to get through a fitting.
    “Thank you for lunch, Mrs. Peters,” Ward said as he held my mother’s coat then kissed her cheek. He then turned to me and kissed my cheek. “See you soon, Katherine.” My name was whispered as if the use of my real name was our little secret. He winked just before turning and heading to the car that was waiting for him. My mother took his whispering and winking as flirting.
    Charles opened the door and helped us into our car. Once the door was closed, my mother said, “You’re going to be alone forever if you can’t make it work with him. He was smitten with you.”
    Like usual, I had the urge to laugh at my mother’s poor assessment of the situation, but I knew better. Instead, I nodded and turned to stare out the window and count the hours until I could lock myself in my condo…alone.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    I avoided my parents for the next couple of days until I was forced to have lunch with my father and Blythe. It was uneventful, for the most part, considering they mostly discussed possible investments and maximizing earning potential. Blah, blah, blah. It wasn’t until the moment when Blythe and I headed to the parking garage together that I was reminded of her connection with a certain tall, dark fantasy of mine.
    “So, you met Adam…” she said once we had started walking away from my father.
    I nodded and refused to meet her curious eyes. “I did. We ran into each other at the coffee shop by my condo, then again at your art show. You were the one who actually introduced us, though.”
    “He’s a great guy, Kitty.”
    I wasn’t sure what to say to that. Was she bragging about her boyfriend? “Yes. He seems very nice.” Polite and friendly was the only way to tread carefully. I could feel this leading up to something, but there was no way I was going to be the star player in their kinky little threesome fantasies.
    “I’m not trying to pry, but I saw how you two looked at each other. The sexual tension was undeniable. If I hadn’t come in the room, you two would have stood there all day imagining each other in any number of compromising positions.”
    Using all of my strength to appear unaffected, I simply replied, “I don’t know what you mean.”
    She stopped walking and threw her hands on her hips. “Give me a break. I’m eccentric, not blind.” She started walking again then added, “What’s the hold up? He’s hot.