Venus in Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

museum would be closing soon, and she remembered that she had yet to show Lee the new Cranach piece. She wavered between excitement of wanting to show Lee the exhibit and the anxious compulsion to check her displays just once more.
    “Would you like to see the Cranach? It should be hung by now. It was what I was doing when I was interup—when you came. It was the last holdout before opening night on Friday.”
    “I would love nothing more, Morgan. Lead on.”
    Morgan unlocked and opened the door leading to the closed gallery and motioned for Lee to enter first. Morgan took this opportunity to feast her eyes on Lee. Lee was tall and slender with broad shoulders and small, pert breasts. Her hair was shorter now, although not as wild and unruly as she had remembered. Her exceptional looks and striking eyes were enough to make any woman or man stop and take notice.
    Morgan was still staring shamelessly when she realized Lee had turned to face her and was now watching Morgan. Lee’s expression was one of both curiosity and intrigue. When Lee’s slight grin turned into a sparkling smile, Morgan was unable to hide her blushing response.
    “Uh, okay, right…so…Welcome to the Musée du Louvre’s latest exhibition, the Three Graces: Charities of Time.” Morgan made a sweeping gesture with her hand as she made the introduction.
    In the center of the room stood a floor-to-ceiling panel of clear, solid glass, and at its center, illuminated by a single beam of light, was the Louvre’s latest acquisition. Along each of the four walls of the room were nearly twenty more glass panels angled outward toward the room’s centerpiece. Each of those panels, similar to the main one, hung equally beautiful but distinctly unique representations of the room’s common theme, like Regnault’s The Three Graces and Blanchard’s Venus and the Three Graces Surprised by a Mortal. Just as the focal point, each framed masterpiece seemed suspended in air and floated delicately. In addition to the paintings was Botticelli’s brilliant fresco of Venus and the Three Graces and large marble sculptures from ancient Rome and Greece. A lengthy glass case contained various artifacts and antiquities, each bearing an image or representation of one or more of the Graces.
    Morgan and Lee moved slowly between the displays, pausing for silent reflection and appreciation. Although there was enough space between each panel for nearly ten people, Morgan was enjoying the closeness that was forced upon them. Neither of them chose to occupy any of the additional space available. Morgan was content to remain only inches apart.
    “What do you think?” Morgan asked.
    “I’m…It’s…extraordinary.”
    “Thank you.” Morgan smiled shyly. “It’s been my life, my baby, for the last year. I can’t believe it’s finally complete.”
    “Your life? This is yours?”
    “Yes. Well, mine as well as my colleagues’. I was the lead exhibition organizer on the project, but I had a lot of help.”
    “I didn’t realize. It’s very good, Morgan. You have an amazing talent for this.”
    As Lee said it, Morgan’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, Morgan wanted nothing more than to have this delicious stranger take her in her arms and devour her.
    Morgan felt her face flush at the unexpected fantasy, and she forced herself to look around the room for something else, anything else. She glanced at her watch and realized that the museum had closed nearly an hour ago.
    “Wow, it’s nearly eleven o’clock. I had no idea. You must be exhausted.” Until that moment, Morgan didn’t even realize that she was exhausted. But now the day’s events were catching up to her.
    “No worries. I was enjoying myself immensely. But I guess I am rather beat. I should be going.”
    Morgan led Lee through the mostly deserted museum, save for a few lingering staffers, like herself. She was taking Lee to the main entrance where she was sure Lee wouldn’t have any trouble finding