Page 79 of Where We Bloom

His pieces are owned by royalty, celebrities, and anyone willing to pay a lot of money for them.

“We’re on the island right now,” he says, “but we’ll be headed over to Galway in about a week. I have a show opening in the Galway gallery in two weeks.”

I narrow my eyes. “You don’t say. What might an old mate of yours have to do to get two tickets to that?”

“Buy one of my pieces that night, and we’ll call it even.”

“I can do that. I also want to talk to you about a commission.”

Miller pulls up in front of my house, and I walk inside and straight through to my office, where I put the call on speaker and set the phone on my desk.

“What do you want?” he asks. I can hear the scowl in his voice, and it makes me chuckle.

“You know, for someone who charges a feckton of money for his art, you sure complain about making it.”

“That’s part of the job,” he says easily. “What are you after then, mate?”

“I want a piece for my Montana home, but it’s a gift for my girl.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “Say that again.”

“Shut up.”

“No, did you just say that you have a girl? Wait, thisisConnor Gallagher, and I didn’t dial the wrong bleeding number, right?”

“You’re a prick,” I inform him, finally making him laugh. “I want blues and greens, inspired by the mountains. I can send you pictures of the scenery around here. Or you can swing through here on your way to Ireland if you have time.”

“It’s always better to see it in person,” he murmurs, and I can tell the wheels are turning. “But I don’t think I can make it work before Galway. I could do it on the way back.”

“I can make that work,” I confirm. “I’d like the piece here in a few weeks.”

There’s another heavy pause. “Are you an eejit? I don’t dance on command, and you know it. That timing is impossible.”

“Kane—”

“However,” he continues, “I have a few pieces already done that aren’t coming with me to Ireland, and I have one particular in mind that might work. I’ll send you a photo now.”

I pick up my phone, and when the image comes through, my eyebrows lift. “Aye, that’s beautiful, mate. I’ll take it.”

“It was meant for the museum, so it’ll cost you.”

“I’ll pay double your standard fee.”

He growls in my ear, and I laugh because Kane never passes up extra money, despite being good and wealthy in his own right.

“Fine. We’ll make it work. Tell me about her.”

I shove my hands in my pockets and stare out at the mountains I’ve grown to love over the past year.

“She’s everything, mate. That’s the long and the short of it.”

“Welcome to the club,” he says, sounding cheerful for the first time. “I’ll see you soon.”

He hangs up, and I sit at the desk and dial another number.

“This is Cassie,” my chef answers. “How can I help you, Mr. Gallagher?”

“I’d like to make some changes to our arrangement.”I outline exactly what I expect of her moving forward. When I’m finished, I can hear the smile in her voice.

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