Page 24 of Embrace My Heart

“So I’m forgiven?”

“If you hurry up with my tea.”

Oliver did as he was told. “This is progress,” he said when handing her the tea. “Wasn’t long ago when you would’ve lashed out at Dad or me something fierce for even hinting there was a guy we wanted to set you up with.”

“Is that what you’re trying to do?” Vectra blew across the surface of the tea. “Set me up with Qasim Wilder?”

“I’m worried about you, girl.”

Vectra saw how serious he was. Carefully, so as not to drop her tea, she eased back on the bed and patted the space beside her. “I thought you’d be happy that I wasn’t bringing home any more idiots.”

Oliver gulped his coffee, apparently unaffected by its hot temperature. “You didn’t exactly bring Keith Freedman home. Mom and Dad were responsible for that.”

“Hear, hear.” Vectra raised her mug in toast.

Technically, Oliver was correct. Keith Freedman’s parents had been hired by Oscar and Rose to work as gardeners on Carro. Keith had started out as a childhood friend who’d turned into an adult nightmare for Vectra.

“We just don’t like seeing you lock yourself away.”

“It’s easier.”

Oliver bumped her shoulder with his. “Like my decision not to spend nights over. Easier.”

Vectra smiled.

Oliver shrugged. “That is, until the time and the man are right.”

She nodded once at his play on her words. “I’ll be sure to let you know when that happens.”

“Hasn’t it already?”

She sipped at her tea, considering her response. “Qasim’s only a friend. He’s been one for a while, you know?”

“I know a lot about having female friends who are just friends, Vecs. I also know a lot about having female friends I want to take to bed. Sim Wilder doesn’t look at you like a female friend who’s just a friend.”

Vectra dissolved into actual giggles, and she only gave in to them when she was around her big brother.

“Should you be telling me this? Aren’t these playa secrets or something?”

Oliver shrugged. “Sim’s a good guy.”

“And you and Dad approve, is that it?”

“As far as me and Dad are concerned, nobody’s good enough, but, yeah, we approve even though we know you don’t give a damn.”

“I approve, too.” She wiggled her brows when Oliver looked stunned. “But it turns out Qasim isn’t as interested as you think.” She tapped out a morose tune against her mug. “He thinks he’s too rough around the edges for me—seems pretty set on us not being more than what we are.”

Oliver winced. “Hell, kid, I’m sorry.” He looped an arm around her shoulders, tugged her close.

Vectra accepted the refuge of the embrace. “At least it ended before we made total fools of ourselves.” She closed her eyes and tried to dismiss the fact that she may have done so for a chance with Qasim Wilder.

Chapter 7

Giving a struggling artist cause to celebrate made Vectra feel like celebrating, as well. A good thing, too, given her frame of mind lately. The artist, Yancey Croachman, created pieces that, to the naked eye, looked like mere splotches of paint dashed against the canvas in no discernible design.

A closer look, however, proved that there was, in fact, some method to the young British-Canadian’s madness. Hidden in the wild splatters of paint were intricately designed portraits that, once spotted, took the observer’s attention completely away from the more eye-catching explosions of color.

Vectra had been extremely optimistic about the showing after having enjoyed the hours she’d spent studying the artist’s work. She’d been surprised each time she honed in on one of the hidden drawings.

Yancey and her agent brimmed with excitement. The young artist had not yet gained a huge following in the States.

“A showing of scale is what my client needs,” Yancey’s agent, Cooper Perkins, said to Vectra. “My client on a respected stage like yours,” he spread his hands. “She’ll be the new darling of the art world.”

Yancey caught Vectra’s eyes amidst the man’s rambling. Her expression told Vectra that she didn’t buy into all that “new darling” stuff but that she was definitely over the moon about her first big showing at Vectra’s well-known and respected Gallery V.

“Well, my staff and I like to give our artists the virtual run of the gallery.” Vectra recrossed her legs at the booth table and leaned in a bit. “Short of knocking down walls and giving the place a new paint job, we’d like the spot to reflect more of who you are. Furniture, lighting, even music we leave to you. We’ll set up time for you to discuss those things with our floor managers and see what you guys come up with.”

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