Page 105 of Sawyer
She snorted. “Here we are again. Talking about you. When we should be talking about me and Sawyer. Horatio? What do you think? If my dad calls Beverly, are you good with this? Because I want you to be happy more than anything.”
He went over and took her hand. “I’d like to call Beverly and pitch her. If you’re willing to come on the line, River, should she go for it, that would be excellent.”
River’s brows shot to his forehead before his booming laugh filled the small room. “Your new beau might have aprofessorial air, but he’s got backbone. He’d have to in order to keep up with you, wouldn’t he?”
“A backhanded compliment.” Her tone was jocular. “How surprising. That’s your cue to call Beverly, Sawyer.”
He frowned. “Now? But it’s New Year’s Eve.”
“Sawyer,” River practically rumbled, “I happen to know Beverly bailed out an artist when she was sitting shiva for her mother. Plus, I’m right here. Might be good toprofité,as the French say.”
Right. Pulling out his phone, he thought through what he wanted to say. When Beverly came onto the line, he laid out the issue as succinctly and neutrally as he could. When she didn’t say anything, he laid the incentive at her feet. He swore he could hear her breathing change to near panting.
“You’re telling me that River Kennison—the bane of my agent existence—would be willing to let me arrange a show for him in exchange for setting up a bigger show for you at a top gallery of my choosing in New York? Sawyer, I know we’ve only just met, but this is not something to joke with Beverly about.”
He almost laughed at the use of third person. “It’s not a joke.”
“But why would he do that?”
He gulped. The moment of truth. “I happen to be in love with his daughter, something I struggled with mentioning because I didn’t want to seem unprofessional.”
“Give me the phone.” River grabbed it from Sawyer’s hand. “Beverly! How wonderful to talk to you again so soon! Isn’t that the best news about Pheebes and your newest protégé? Am I serious? Would I joke about this? After all of these years? Okay, fine, I’m an ass. But this isn’t April Fool’s Day. We both know how much my daughter means to me. I don’t like what Ivy pulled this time. So yes, you have me for one show. One show only. Twenty paintings.”
Phoebe smothered her laughter with her hand. Sawyerwas too shocked by him lowballing the number to say anything.
“No!” His voice was emphatic as he sent them a wink. “Thirty won’t work, Bev. Fine, twenty-five. I’ll talk to Howard and then let you two work everything out. Yeah, you go ahead and get on that. I know you’ll want to call Ivy too and tell her about the change in plans. Tell her Happy New Year for me and Pheebes, will you?”
When he hung up, he and Phoebe laughed until they were holding on to each other and wiping aside tears while Sawyer savored the feeling of freedom. He would have a show free of entanglements, and it was going to kick ass. He couldn’t wait to tell his roommates about it—and that he seemed to have River Kennison on his side too.
Mind-blowing.
“You just launched your own nuke, Daddy,” Phoebe finally managed after settling down.
“Not my first. Felt good too. I’m tired of trying and keeping the peace between you two. I believe my role at shuttle diplomacy is over. Thank God!”
Their shared elation had Sawyer smiling. He was glad Phoebe had him in her camp. “Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” River gave a wolfish grin. “I can be insufferable about things like this. I mean, I still remind Phoebe of that time I drove all the way out to some dumpy apple farm in Westchester so she could go on a pony ride. It was the saddest, most worn-out nag of a horse you’ll ever see. But she skipped around for days.”
“You were trying to keep me from interrupting your painting time the following week,” she reminded him. “Look, we’re talking about you again, Daddy, and you’ve had your quota.”
“We still haven’t talked about your career.”
“Another time—I want to celebrate this fabulous turn of events with my man.” She launched herself off the couch andinto his lap, twining her arms around his neck. He pushed back the hair that had escaped one of her curlers. God, she was beautiful. Any earlier turmoil from her eyes was gone. They were sparkly and full of light. Exactly like he wanted for her.
“You all good?” she asked sweetly.
He laughed. “Yeah. I just got everything I could ever have wanted. Because I could not in good faith or with any honor make you wear that gorgeous dress you brought last night to Nanine’s and walk into your mother’s gallery for my first show. What kind of gentleman would do that?”
She fingered the collar of his shirt. “Not my Horatio.”
“Who the hell is Horatio?” River blustered.
They were both sputtering with laughter as they kissed.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
