Page 99 of Sawyer
He loved that she got right to it. “My gut isn’t settled about Sawyer’s first gallery show.”
“Me either!” She gave one of her famous dragon breaths. “I was impressed as hell with Phoebe’s dress gesture. But we know Sawyer. He’s going to agonize about the show enough. It’s going to be so much harder to bring his A game if the show’s at the gallery owned by the now-estranged mother of his girlfriend.”
“Are you worried Phoebe’s mother might make things difficult?” Kyle asked. “I know she’s a pro, but it’s a dicey situation now that she and Phoebe are openly feuding.”
“Axel, you’ve met her.” Brooke turned in her chair as he brought over a platter of eggs and a bowl of porridge topped with milk, honey, cinnamon, and melted butter. “What do you think?”
He set the dishes down before detouring for his flute and taking a seat next to Brooke. “This is a lot of speculation. Human nature being what it is, she could do any number of things. But I agree it will not be a joyous showing. There are too many negative factors.”
“Do you think there’s a bigger play here?” Kyle watched with amusement as Brooke dished up everyone’s plates. “Would his agent be open to making a change?”
Axel drank his champagne thoughtfully as Kyle took a taste of the porridge. Damn, it was good. Usually, he wasn’t a fan. The scrambled eggs were even better. Slightly salty, slightly smoky. He dug in with the rest of them as Axel sat quietly, considering the situation.
“The only play would be a full show,” he said at last. “That would include twenty-five to thirty paintings. The time frame would be different. No near-term capitalizing on theLe Mondearticle. At Sawyer’s current rate, I expect he’d have them ready in three months. The show would be scheduled anywhere from six months to a year afterward to allow for a full marketing campaign. Exclusive invites. Sneak peeks. Brochures. Advertising. A few parties to soft launch Sawyer and tease out his work. Some traveling, depending on the gallery. I would think New York would be the best choice, personally.”
“Me too,” Brooke said with a hum. “Breakfast is really good, my love.”
“Thank you.” He took her hand and leaned over to kiss her softly.
Kyle watched them, his insides in knots. God, he wanted that! And he knew he could have it with the woman next to him if she would just stop being so stubborn!
“When you can make gruel taste this good, Axel, you’ve got the magic touch,” Madison said, spooning up more porridge. “Where do you get your salmon?”
He flashed her a broad smile. “I’ll give you his card. He’s a fisherman who knows the River Gaula like no one else I’ve ever met.”
“Great! Thanks. Now, back to Doc. I don’t know anything about art like you guys, but this plan sounds better.”
“Sawyer will have to talk to Beverly, of course, if he wants to change their agreed-upon approach,” Axel continued, breaking off some bread and chewing slowly. “That’s the biggest obstacle I see.”
“The only other one is money.” Kyle laid his palms flat. “Doc hasn’t mentioned anything more about his resignation, but I figure he was flush enough to make the jump before his first show. I know he has savings from investing in Nanine’s. A longer time frame pushes off his payoff. But he has commissions?—”
“Yes, whichsomeone”—Brooke cleared her throat and glanced at Axel—“should finalize and maybe give him a down payment on. I’ll tell Dad too. I really want that painting of Nanine and Madison, so I can buy it now. I’d love to hang it in my new office.”
Kyle ran through some numbers, although he had no idea what the sales prices for the paintings would be. “They have room and board, he and Phoebe, if they want to stay.”
“She’s got a trust fund, I imagine, but good point.” Brooke grabbed a strawberry and bit into it, giving a throaty purr. “I’ll tell Sawyer that if he needs anything, we’ve got him. Like we did with Thea.”
“Can we talk about Phoebe now?” Madison reached for a croissant. “I talked to her more than the rest of you about her bitch of a mom when I broke into her apartment, and I don’t like the thought of that woman winning. Call me a vengeful bitch myself, but what she did isn’t right. I just don’t know how to help. Offering Phoebe a job in my kitchen isn’t going to work.”
Brooke burst out laughing. “Yeah, I’m not hot about that either. I told Axel everything last night, and he rightfully reminded me not to let my own mother issues cloud the situation. But still, I want to help. I wondered about offering her some space in my new store.”
“It is a nice suggestion,” Axel noted, “but your store is for luxury home décor, while she wishes to run a gallery. Not that your decorating clients—or mine—wouldn’t appreciate curated art. Still, you aren’t in the gallery business. But youcould host a pop-up gallery event. They are very popular among the younger set.”
“A pop-up gallery!” Brooke bit into another strawberry. “I like that. Good press for both of us. I could also help her secure a few coveted locations for the pop-up to move to. Maybe have my store sponsor them and get some fashion people to post about it and attend. Create buzz.”
Kyle spooned more eggs onto his plate. “I thought about having her curate art for PRG, but we’re a little early on that one. Plus, it wouldn’t be a full-time gig.”
“But it brings her a client for her portfolio,” Brooke added. “Assuming she’d want to do that. Well, seems we need to talk to the happy couple when they emerge. Do you think they’ll show up at Dean and Jacqueline’s for the New Year’s party? I know Sawyer was planning to come.”
“But that was before the lovebirds started cooing like pigeons.” Madison gave an amused snort. “Doc looked like someone had spiked his drink the whole night. Holding her hand. Gazing into her eyes. I don’t think he could have come up with one of his brainy quotes if his life had depended on it. He was as mushy as Axel’s porridge.”
“Thank you, Madison.” Axel gave a wry smile. “I’ve always wondered how to describe Nordic porridge. Now I’ll say it’s like when two people are madly in love with each other.”
“Then we’re porridge every day, aren’t we, darling?” Brooke asked, caressing his jaw.
“If you say so,min elskede.”
The intense way they held each other’s gaze had Kyle swallowing thickly. Especially since Madison was sitting stiffly beside him.
