Page 24 of Beyond Reach

“We can talk now if you like. In my office.”

“We’re in the middle of your celebration dinner. I don’t think Marcella would like us going off together while she tells her story about your ‘romantic’ meeting—or should I say re-meeting?”

He agreed, but she had the feeling he wanted to do just that.

Putting space between them in case she got notions, she moved away. After Marcella’s millionth giggle and gush over her good fortune, Chanda needed to leave the room. She decided to explore Garner’s home. He wouldn’t mind. They were family after all.

She snorted in amusement as she strolled down the hall. The clang of pots and pans informed her of the kitchen’s direction, so she took a different route. With rooms everywhere on the first floor, the place was a mansion. Just how much space did one man need? She could understand if he and Marcella planned to have lots of children.

Distaste stirred in her gut, and she pushed the thought aside. A shut door at the end of the hall drew her curiosity, and she listened outside it. No sounds emitted, so she tried the knob and found it unlocked. A mini-museum met her startled gaze.

“Oh wow.” She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.

Wall after wall was covered with amateur paintings in every medium. Not that the art wasn’t good. It was definitely done by a skilled artist. The vivid colors and depictions of landscapes took her breath away. Everything from realistic to impressionistic pieces covered the space.

She explored, studying paintings at her leisure. “You’re kidding. He did all these?”

“Yes.”

She jumped a mile and spun around. “Garner, what are you doing here?”

He grinned, and his eyebrows rose. “I thought this was my house.”

r /> “Funny. I mean…um…sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy.”

“Didn’t you?” He seemed happy to find her in his special room and shut them in together.

She chewed the inside of her cheek, fighting between running to escape and taking the time to talk to him. “You painted all these? I don’t remember you being an artist. I mean you doodled a little back then.”

“It was my way to deal with a difficult time.”

She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t. I didn’t come here for an apology.” He approached her, and she took a step in reverse.

Rushing to the nearest aisle, she pointed. “What motivated you to do this one?”

He arrived behind her, closer than she liked. Every inch of her body was aware of his nearness. The air around them was charged with energy, and the thought to escape came again. She steeled herself not to move.

“You.”

“Huh?” She glanced at him over her shoulder. His gaze was on her rather than the painting. So full of warmth, his eyes drew her in, wanting to consume her until there was nothing left.

“It’s not the best because I did it near the beginning.” He raised his hand like he would touch her face but didn’t. “I apologize. I sound like I’m trying to make you feel guilty. That’s not my intent.”

“Could have fooled me.” She walked along the aisle and realized rolling wall panels had been brought into the room to offer more spaces to hang paintings. Why weren’t they just distributed all over the house, or maybe given to a gallery to sell?

“This one too,” he said.

She looked and was shocked again at what she saw. It was a portrait of her, the only portrait in the room from what she could see. “That’s me.”

She studied the painting. So Garner wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t nearly as good at drawing people as he was creating trees and buildings and the ocean. Her features were recognizable but so distorted to almost be comical. Maybe he’d done it on purpose.

“I hide this one back here because it’s terrible. I can’t do people,” he said, confirming her initial thought. “Or maybe it’s because I didn’t want you to be too perfect.”

They were both silent for several moments.

“Garner, there’s something I have to tell you that might help you to understand just a little about why I left.”

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