Page 66 of Lochlan

“I'd like to know what this is about first. It must be important if you didn't want to talk over the phone.”

Aubrey appears, clearing his throat. “Your package, sir. I'll leave it here next to the table. Will there be anything else?”

“Aye, please bring the drinks cart here and could the staff make us a cold lunch…something easy to manage?”

“Yes, I'll have the cooking staff bring something out to you shortly, and I'll fetch the drinks cart now.”

I turned my attention to Kenzie. “I'm actually a wee bit hungry and unless you'd like to hear my stomach singing throughout our meeting, I’d better eat something.”

Kenzie smiles at my joke. I don't need to eat, but depending on the length of our conversation, we might be here awhile.

They bring food and drinks to us in quick succession. It's a build-a-sandwich-or-salad mini buffet. I settle for club soda, and Kenzie surprises me by requesting whiskey. She's more at ease after a few sips, with one arm draped on the armrest. I can't fathom why she came to the mansion with me without requesting more information. I try to prolong this, but there's no reason to after we've settled in.

“We built our alliance on shaky ground,” I say. “When we concluded our bargain, you let me keep the photographs from our impromptu session.” I reach into my jacket pocket for my cell. “You never saw the photos from that session. You should see them now.” I stop short of giving her my phone. “I just realized this house has a state-of-the-art home theater. If you don't mind, let's go there and look at the pictures. What do you say?”

She glances at the package. “Shouldn't I see what's in the parcel now?”

“I suggest seeing the photographs first, then the rest will make sense.”

I call Aubrey to meet me at the home theater. I follow Kenzie down into the basement, holding my package under one arm. Aubrey is already there when we arrive. He gives me a quick tour, then helps me to connect my phone to the equipment, then hands me the remote before he leaves. He points out that our buffet has been brought down and is sitting on the bar.

Kenzie is sitting in the middle of the front row. I take the seat next to her. From my seat, I dim the lights and begin the slideshow. I've seen these pictures several times before. I twist in my seat toward her to watch Kenzie watching herself as one image morphs into another. She's captivated by what she sees. I wait until the third slide slips into the fourth to speak.

“I knew there was a possibility you'd destroy these images after our bargain had concluded. This work is unique, at least for me. I wanted something from that session to remember.” I lean over to grab the parcel. The painting was rewrapped in plain brown paper so it would transport easily. I offer the painting to Kenzie. “You should open it now.”

Kenzie delicately runs her finger along the edge of the painting. Somewhere along the mid-point, her nail catches the paper, tearing it open, the pieces littering the ground with brown scraps. She studies the canvas, then glances up at the screen. The portrait frozen in front of us is the last image of the series, which is a close depiction of what she holds in her hands. “Why are you showing this to me now?”

“Logan Haxton is the painter. Do you know his work?”

She shakes her head.

“Originally, I thought I would give the painting to you, but remembering how the images came about, I thought I would keep it in my private collection. I received this yesterday from Logan. We'd like to use this image to represent Catriona. It will become the symbol of the project. We plan to have this on merchandise to sell to the public once Catriona is open. I need your written consent to use the image and, of course, we will pay you for the use.”

She places the painting on the seat beside her. “Lochlan, would you have contacted me if it weren't for this deal?”

“Our agreement was done; there was no reason until now to contact you.”

She turns her attention back to the screen and gives a sigh. “We only seem to talk when either wants something from the other. Maybe it's time for a new bargain?”

CHAPTER29

LEATHER KILT & SPIKED COLLAR

KENZIE

Sitting in the semi-darkness with Lochlan while viewing the results of that horrible night was the last thing I thought I'd do today. I can't connect to the beautiful, haunting images parading before me, not in any real sense. The only explanation I can muster is that it must be a trick of the camera. The woman on the screen and in the painting is so far removed from who I am, it's as though I'm viewing a woman from another time.

Lochlan watches me as I observe photo after photo, like an endless train clanking past me. Even his cold façade can't hide that he's anxious for me to approve his work. In some weird twist, the fates have changed and this time, I'm the one with the advantage.

“Is this decision to use my image yours alone?” I ask, breaking the silence.

A grim line forms on Lochlan's face, as if he's deciding how much to reveal.

“Fiona was in my office yesterday and saw the painting; she suggested we use it as our logo. I agreed with her assessment that this image is the embodiment of Catriona.”

“Does she know I'm the model?”

“No.”

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