Page 6 of An Heir For Her Enemy

“You wouldn’t have. To be honest, I’m new to the wealthier circles. It can be… difficult… to break into the world of the wealthy. More difficult than it was to make the money, really. I figured that an art collection would be a good way to gain a little respect. One of my contacts suggested it.”

“I understand that it can be hard to find your place in these circles. I still feel like an outsider, and I’ve been rubbing shoulders with these types for three years now. It’s different for me, though, since I actually am an outsider as an art consultant.”

It was strange to think of Delaney as an outsider. She’d blended into the clientele of the gallery so easily that Logan would have thought she’d been born into money. She’d probably blend in well anywhere, though. She was just one of those kinds of people.

“How did you find your footing? You seem so confident now.”

“Like I told you at the gallery, I focused on enjoying myself and on my own dreams. I’ll never fit in, not really, but I can offer good advice and I can enjoy the hors d’oeuvres.” Delaney winked.

Logan smiled, but he was a little disappointed. It would never work for him to just focus on his own enjoyment and goals. It was too important that he be an accepted member of wealthy society.

“That makes sense.” Logan took a French fry. “What do you do when you aren’t attending art-gallery openings?”

“Mostly, I work.” Delaney smiled a little sheepishly. “I have quite a few clients and they all require a lot of work. Not just going to galleries, but also doing research about the latest trends in art, keeping updated on research into technique and forgeries, searching out new talent — that kind of thing. I plan to work hard now so that I can enjoy my life later.”

Logan found himself nodding along with her. “I’m the same way. I work a lot. I always have. But I like to think the time I put in now will reap rewards in the future. There’s always time for hobbies later.”

Delaney chuckled. “True. You should start working on hobbies, though. Art collection is a good way to ingratiate yourself, but so is golf. Or, I don’t know, sailing.”

“I know.” Logan sighed. “I just can’t stand golf. I played basketball as a teenager, and after the excitement of that — working with a team, fighting the buzzer, all that — golf just seems very boring.” He paused. “Sorry, I hope you aren’t a huge golf fan.”

“I’m not. I can see why it would be nice, I suppose, but these rich people talk about it so much that I don’t think I could ever try it for myself. Present company excluded, of course.”

“Thanks.” Logan grinned. “And don’t get me started on hearing people talk about hiring staff.”

Delaney chuckled. “With how much they pay their nannies and housekeepers, I sometimes wonder if I’m in the wrong field.”

“And the drivers,” Logan added. “This one man complained to me for half an hour the other day because his driver refused to go twenty miles over the speed limit when he was running late to a meeting.”

Delaney shook her head in wonder. “And then there are the property managers…”

They fell into an easy, light conversation about the strange things wealthy people did. As they talked, they ate, and Logan enjoyed the dinner of fried foods and desserts much more than he’d expected. Actually, he enjoyed this whole night much more than he’d expected. Instead of being a usual evening of boring small talk, he’d found Delaney, a woman he was impressed with and fascinated by.

They stayed in the bar, talking and laughing, until Logan glanced at his watch and realized it was getting late. He had an early meeting the next day.

Delaney saw him check his watch and looked at her own phone. Her eyes widened again.

“We’d better get going,” she said. “This has been really nice, though.”

“It really has.” Logan hesitated. “Can I walk you home?”

“Um, yes.” Delaney smiled. “You’re just lucky I live near here. You could easily be walking me home for fifty blocks.”

“I think we would have taken a cab then, but point taken. I’ll just settle up, and then we can go.”

Logan paid for the meal, along with a generous tip, then met Delaney at the door.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said as they stepped back onto the streets. Her hands were clasped again.

“It was my pleasure. Which way?” Now, after midnight, the streets were a little emptier. A few people still passed, but they were much closer to being alone.

“Along here.” They set off towards Delaney’s apartment. Unlike the quick pace she’d set on the way to the bar, though, they walked more slowly now. Logan savored the cool night air and the beautiful woman by his side. This whole evening had felt like a snapshot from another life, a life in which Logan had time for romance.

Maybe they could stay in that other life a little longer. Logan didn’t usually pursue romance. His focus was much more on work than on flirting. But something about Delaney was special, and he didn’t want the evening to end just yet.

They chatted as they walked about nothing much. All too soon, Delaney came to a stop outside an old brick building with flowers in the window boxes.

“This is me.” She smiled. “Thanks again for a lovely evening.”

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