Page 43 of The Artist

Peter sighed.“I buy clothes for my mother and sister.They both like that boutique, and Annie has their measurements so I can be sure that whatever I buy will fit.And because she’s very familiar with both of their tastes in clothing, I know what she picks out will be something they’ll like.It saves us all time and heartache at Christmas and birthdays.”

She released a pent up breath.“I’m sorry.It’s none of my business.I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s fine.Don’t worry about it.”He looked out the passenger window, presumably at the scenery.

She knew better.“It’s obviously not fine.You’ve become very quiet.”

“All right.”He looked over at her.“I don’t like being questioned like I’m some sort of lothario out to take advantage of women.For the record, I’m not.”

She clenched her jaw, knowing she was wrong.She needed to stop judging all men by the one asshat she’d dated…Horace Beecher.Thank goodness, she’d come to her senses quickly and stopped dating him after about six weeks.“I know, and I’m sorry that I made you feel that way.I…I was feeling jealous and inferior, knowing that you’d bought clothing for someone else.”

“You have no reason to feel either way.You’re not inferior to anyone.You’re a bright and beautiful woman and a successful entrepreneur.Remember that.This is just a temporary setback.Your gallery will be rebuilt, and you’ll do better than ever.”

His words made her feel wonderful.She suddenly saw herself like he saw her…and she liked what she saw.“Especially, with you doing a one-man show.Everyone will want to see your paintings.They’d come in if it was only one painting and not a gallery full.”

He grinned.“Seriously, tell me how you feel.You’re really good for my ego.”

She playfully swatted his closest arm.“Oh, go ahead and make fun, but it’s the truth and you know it.”

They were now home, and she pulled into the garage and killed the engine.

“I’m trying to get you to realize that even though your gallery burned to the ground, you’re still a lucky woman.It could have been you in that gallery instead of Heather.”

Alexis closed her eyes, her throat burning, and let out a sob.“It was supposed to be me.Don’t you understand?I was the one scheduled to open that day, but then Heather called and said she needed the extra hours and asked to open.She died instead of me.How am I supposed to live with that?”She buried her face in her hands, crying for the friend she lost and the guilt she felt.“It should have been me.”

Peter removed his seatbelt and turned his body toward her.“It’s likely the people who burned down the gallery thought she was you.I think you were targeted and supposed to be the one to die.I took you away from there to keep you alive, as much as anything.”He lowered his voice.“I don’t want you to die, Alexis.I care for you and want you to live.My man in Aspen should be calling with an update in the morning.Tonight, we will have a nice dinner, go to a fundraiser, and do some dancing.We will not think about the gallery, or Horace, or even Heather.”

She sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks.“It feels wrong to enjoy myself in the wake of all that has happened.”

He reached over and placed a hand on her leg.“It’s not wrong to continue to live.Do you honestly believe that Heather would want you to blame yourself for something that was totally out of your hands?Could you have known this would happen?Did you know for certain that Horace would hire men to start the fire and put you out of business?”He shook his head.“No.You didn’t.You couldn’t.None of us thought Horace was that evil.

“Whatever happens now, you need to promise me you won’t be alone with Horace.”He grabbed her hand and squeezed it.“Even if he didn’t mean for Heather to die, his men did it.I believe that and, unless it’s definitively proven that I’m wrong, I will always believe that.”

“I appreciate your concern.”Although she took comfort from his touch, she retrieved her hand from him.“But I can handle Horace.I’ve been handling him for years.Yes, he might have upped his game, so to speak, but I can still handle him.”

“Perhaps, but can you handle his goons?They’re the ones you need to fear.”

Alexis shook her head.“I can’t live in fear.I won’t.”

Peter sighed.“Let’s forget this for now and just have a nice time tonight.I need it, and so do you.It’s been a trying few weeks.”

“All right.Tonight will be for pleasure.”

“Good.”

Peter exited the car and came around to open her door.Then Peter carried her dress when they entered the house and carried it up to her room.

Alexis made herself comfortable on one of the stools at the island in the kitchen.She looked around and decided she could be happy in a kitchen like this.Granite countertops and a farmhouse sink with a bronze-colored fixture, were in front of her on the island.

She saw an eight-burner range with a side-by-side double oven, one of which looked like a convection oven.He had a beautiful copper hood over the stovetop, that went up to the ceiling.The backsplash was a scene from a kitchen showing a bowl full of eggs, a standing mixer and bowl, hanging utensils, and various jars of beans and other legumes.It was done entirely in copper.

It was amazing and she’d never seen anything like it.She took out her phone and snapped a picture of it.Miranda would never believe she’d seen this if there wasn’t a picture.

“I see you’re admiring my stove.”

Alexis shook her head.“Not just the stove, but the entire kitchen.How did you or where did you find copper appliances?I mean the stove, I might could see, but the refrigerator and the dishwasher?Where did you find those?”

Peter laughed.“You’d be surprised what a little money can get you.People will build anything for the right price.”