Page 54 of Edge of Ruin
I was so enthralled as I stretched up to whisper into his ear, I barely noticed the large hand tapping on my shoulder.
A big, booming voice intruded on my consciousness. “Vivi? Viv D’Onofrio? Sweet thing, is it really you?”
I turned. A stocky blond man with a goatee, a waxed moustache, and a purple silk shirt stood smiling at me. A narrow tie dotted with suns and moons adorned his shirt.
He grinned widely, revealing his trademark golden eyeteeth.
“Rafael!” I cried out, as he enveloped me in a bear hug. “Is it you? What happened to the beard, the dreadlocks, the tie-dye?”
“And this is my disheveled pixie Vivi? You look stunning. That long, long hair! I could just eat you up with a spoon! Give me another hug!”
“Put her down.” Jack’s voice was quiet, but authoritative.
Rafael swiveled his head, leaving my feet dangling a foot off the ground. He took one look at Jack, and let go abruptly. I thudded heavily to the ground.
Rafael’s widened eyes traveled the length and breadth of Jack’s body. “Vivi!” he exclaimed. “You naughty little minx! Where did you find this one?”
“Jack, this is Rafael, my buddy from art school, the guy I told you about. Rafael, this is Jack Kendrick. My van got stuck in his mud.”
“How provocative,” Rafael murmured. “The van clued me in that you were here. I saw it in the parking lot, and I’ve been prowling the grounds looking for you. And what does this Jack Kendrick do?”
Jack blinked at him, quizzically. “Uh ...”
“He grows flowers,” I supplied.
“Oh, my God. How picturesque.” Rafael’s golden teeth flashed. “What are you doing in these parts, angel? Apart from, ah ... the obvious.” His gaze flashed toward Jack, eyebrows waggling wildly.
“I’m starting a business in Pebble River,” I said.
Rafael’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really? Putting down roots, are we?”
God, I hoped so. “I’m burnt on the crafts fairs,” I told him. “But enough about me. Tell me about your incredible transformation. Are you respectable now?”
“Prosperous, my dear. Different from respectable,” he said, fingering a diamond that glinted discreetly in his ear. “Remember Rudolfo, the promoter of the show we did in Monterey? He made me his site manager, and one thing led to another, and now I’m a promoter! And making quite a killing at it, if I do say so myself.”
“That’s great, Rafael! I’m so happy for you!”
Rafael twirled a diamond solitaire ring on his finger, batting his eyes. “Thank you. I was so ready to change my lifestyle, and my image. You should see me in full regalia! Armani, Prada. I look like a million bucks.”
I tugged at his tie affectionately. “That makes me happy. What brings you here?”
“Business,” he said. “I was in San Francisco, setting up a gallery show. And I’m heading back to New York tomorrow, because some clients are flying in from London on Saturday?—”
“Whoa, you’re riding high!” I was impressed. “The last time I saw you, we were roasting hot dogs around a campfire!”
“I know, but life marches on! The art in my New York gallery can be seen by appointment only, I’ll have you know,” Rafael informed me proudly. “Artists would kill to show me their work. I act disgustingly self-important. You’d laugh your head off if you saw how I behave. Anyway, this band is a fave of mine, so I popped over from Portland to see the concert before I fly back to New York, and am I ever glad that I did! I’ve been desperate to get in touch with you, but you have dropped completely off the grid, girlfriend! I have the perfect job for you. Which is to say … mine!”
I gazed at him in total confusion. “What? Yours? How?”
“You heard me. My clientele is growing, and I’m putting together high-end shows that travel, but with my gallery in New York, I can’t always be on the move. I need a curator and site manager. You could do for me what I did for Rudolfo. I’m talking invitational shows, darling. Where you handpick the artists, jury the art, curate the show, plan the tour, choose galleries, lofts, ballrooms, hotels. The money is extremely good. And it is a very canny career move for a developing artist, if I may advise you.”
“Wow,” I said thoughtfully. “It’s a very generous offer, but?—”
“Don’t make a snap decision!” Rafael admonished. “This job has been good to me. I want to pass on the good fortune! Think about it!”
“It’s an incredible offer,” I said, touched. “It’s kind of you to think of me, but the truth is, my life is complicated right now. And I’m kind of in the middle of something here.”
“I can see that!” Rafael swung his gaze back to Jack and looked him over with blatant approval. “But let me just explain how perfect my job is for you.”
