Page 87 of Where Dreams Begin

“Good morning, Mrs. Brooks. What do you think of my angel?”

“She’s very beautiful, but I wish Violet could be proud to appear in the mural rather than frightened witless.”

“That’s her problem,” Rafael exclaimed. “Now the light is perfect this morning, and I want to take advantage of it. Got your camera?”

“Yes, I’ll get one of the angels right now.” Catherine was still seeking the best angle to shoot through the scaffolding when Luke walked up behind her. She went ahead and took the photograph before he distracted her completely, but unwilling to apologize, she waited for him to speak.

“Did you sleep well?” he whispered.

She turned around slowly. His sunglasses obscured his expression, but the sly smile which had always been her undoing tugged at his mouth.

“That’s classified information,” she responded coolly, “and to renew your security clearance, you’ll have to reapply.”

“That bad, huh?” Luke shook his head. “I didn’t sleep well, either. I kept thinking about how much you like to plan ahead while I don’t. I imagine we’re going to run smack into that difference over and over again. Unless, of course, one of us changes his point of view.”

“Is that even possible?” she asked.

He was dressed in the same tattered Levi’s he’d worn the day they’d painted his office, but his T-shirt was a souvenir from a beach city’s ten kilometer run. “I’d like to believe anything is possible,” he hedged, “but that would be admitting a better future might exist.”

“Careful, Dr. Starns, you’re straying dangerously close to my side.”

Again Luke dropped his voice. “I’m interested in a hell of a lot more than your side. Let’s try to make it to a movie tonight so we’ll have an excuse to hold hands.”

“I’d like that. Maybe we could just go into Old Town, stroll around until we find a place to eat and then see what’s playing in the theaters.”

“Are you suggesting we plan not to plan?” Luke teased.

“For the moment, yes.” She enjoyed this playful banter so much more than the unavoidable confrontations which constantly sprang up between them. “Now we better get to work before the kids start pointing and giggling at us.”

“Maybe we ought to just get that over with now.” Luke slid his arms around her waist and kissed her so soundly all the kids scattered around the porch and scaffolding began to hoot and holler.

Toby and Dave, who had just rounded the house carrying paint, nearly dropped their buckets in surprise. “What the hell are you doing, Luke?” Dave called to him.

Luke laced his fingers in Catherine’s and drew her along with him toward the house and the two men. “Catherine and I have been seeing each other almost since her first day at Lost Angel. I asked her to keep it quiet, but I should have been up front about it with you.”

Toby just laughed. “I knew it, but you remember what I said, Catherine. It still goes.”

Dave, however, regarded Luke with a darkly threatening glance. “You knew what my feelings were.”

“Yes, I did, but the choice was hers, Dave, not mine.”

Rather than reply, Dave left the yard and returned to Lost Angel before Catherine could say anything to ease his shock. Clearly he was furious with them both for carrying on right under his nose and lying about it.

“I hate secrets,” she blurted out. “Now, Rafael says it’s a great day to paint so let’s get to work.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Toby replied. “Just point me in the right direction.”

“We don’t need you out here,” Luke said. “Go pound on some metal in your studio.”

“That okay with you, Catherine?”

“Sure, Toby, we’ll call you if we need you.”

“You do that,” Toby called ov

er his shoulder, and he left them to attend to his own work.

Catherine turned and nearly bumped into Tina Stassy. “Oh, Tina, I’m sorry. What do you need?”

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