Crazy Love (Emerald Lake Billionaires 3) (2 page)

Blake dropped a business card on the table between them. “Here’s the link. While you’re signing your life away, I’ll call Sudan. It’s great doing business with you.”

Daniel wasn’t sure he could say the same.

***

Holly Miller walked into Angel Wings Café and nodded at some people she knew. When she’d first returned home after eight years away from Bozeman, she’d felt like a stranger. It had taken a while to make new friends and catch up with people she used to know, but she was finally beginning to feel like part of the community.

She headed toward the back of the café and smiled at a petite brunette.

“You look cold,” Mia said as she pushed a chair out from the table. “I ordered you a hot chocolate. It arrived a few minutes ago.”

“You must have read my mind. How does the catalog for the charity art auction look?”

“Tell me what you think.” Mia smiled and slid a copy across the table. “It still needs a few changes, but we’re almost there.”

Holly opened it to the first page. “This is amazing. Did Molly O’Donaghue take the photos?”

Mia nodded. “We were lucky. She had a couple of days between assignments and was able to fit us into her schedule. People would buy a copy of the catalog just for her photographs.”

She looked at the next few pages. The painting that Mia had been working on was featured in the center of the catalog. It was one of Holly’s favorites. Dark purple swirls of color mixed with burnt orange and emerald green created an abstract view of the Bridger Range. It was the kind of painting she could look at for hours. “The photo of your canvas looks incredible.”

“Thank you. It photographed really well.”

“It photographed really well because it’s a beautiful painting. How’s the next one in the series?”

“It’s taking a lot longer than the first one. At the rate I’m going I’ll only have one painting ready for the auction.”

“You could always take some time off work.”

“Definitely not going to happen. We’re short-staffed. The head of the art department doesn’t want any of his teaching assistants taking time off work. Are you okay? You look a little unhappy.”

Holly took a deep breath. “I’m fine. Tell me about the auction. Have you had any inquiries from other artists wanting to donate their work?”

Mia looked at her closely. “The answer is yes, but I’m worried about you. Have you heard from Rourke lately?”

Holly bit her lip. She wanted to forget her ex-boyfriend, almost fiancé—and the reason she’d left New York. “He called last night to say he was getting married. I told him not to bother contacting me again.”

“Good for you. You deserve someone better than him.”

Holly sent Mia a wobbly smile. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t called the day after we broke up.”

Mia reached across the table and squeezed Holly’s hand. “That’s what friends are for. Rourke would sell his grandmother to the highest bidder if he thought he could make a profit. You don’t need someone like that in your life.”

“You’re right. Next time a tall, dark, handsome investment banker comes along I’m going to ask him to complete a pop quiz about his personality. It’s got to be better than second-guessing myself all the time.”

“It was your subconscious telling you what an idiot he was. Next time you need to listen to the voice screaming inside your head.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mia blew on the top of her drink. “We’ve got more important things to discuss than Rourke. Right now, fifteen artists are going to be featured in our auction. I’m not sure it’s the best idea we’ve ever had, but it should raise a lot of money for Tommy’s operation.”

“It’s a brilliant idea. I’m sure Tommy’s family will be grateful for any help we can give them.”

“Were you able to see his parents yesterday?”

“I did better than that. I saw Tommy, too. He’s such a cute baby. If I didn’t know he had a life-threatening condition, I wouldn’t be able to tell. His skull only looks a little misshapen.”

“What did their specialist say?”

Holly leaned closer to Mia. “The good news is that he’ll probably only need one operation. The bad news is that they can’t book a date until their finances are in place.”

“Don’t worry. The auction is going to be a success.”

Holly hoped so. For Tommy’s family’s sake she wanted to raise enough money to cover most of his medical expenses.

Mia picked up the catalog. “You missed Claire and Hannah’s paintings. People have already been making inquiries about them.”

Holly looked at the pages Mia had found. Two big, bold, oil paintings stared back at her. She remembered the first time she’d met the two sisters. Six months ago she’d started the Bozeman Art Collective with Mia. Other artists had joined them including Claire and Hannah. They met most weeks, sharing their painting techniques and enjoying each other’s company.

“You haven’t looked at your painting.” Mia turned the page to the photo of Holly’s canvas. “Granddad thinks it could sell for more than fifteen thousand dollars.”

“Nick is biased. He’s selling my paintings in his gallery.

“He’s seventy-three years old. He knows an incredible painting when he sees it.”

Holly ran a critical eye over the photograph. “I hope it sells for a good price.”

The café’s doorbell jingled and Mia looked over Holly’s shoulder. “Claire and Hannah have arrived. Wait here while I order them a hot chocolate each.”

Claire sat down beside Holly. “Another artist wants to join our group, but that’s not the most exciting news we have.”

“Wait until Mia gets back from the front counter,” Claire said. “She’s nearly finished.”

Holly looked at each sister. “You haven’t quit your jobs have you?”

Claire laughed. “Not this time. The retirement village wouldn’t be the same without us.”

“This is more exciting than our jobs,” Hannah said. “It could change our lives forever.”

Mia arrived at their table with two cups of hot chocolate. “What could change our lives?”

Claire glanced at her sister before replying. “Men. For all of us.”

Holly’s mouth dropped open. “What have you done?”

“Nothing yet.” Hannah pulled a newspaper out of her oversized tote bag. “Claire saw this advertisement in today’s Bozeman Chronicle. Someone’s looking for single men and women to trial a new computer program. It’s supposed to match you with the love of your life.”

Holly leaned forward and read the small advertisement. “You’ve got to be joking?”

Claire and Hannah shook their heads.

“We’re all single,” Hannah said, “and we’re not getting any younger. If we want to meet someone special, we need to try something different.”

Claire nodded. “It’s better than singles night at the bar or speed dating at the library.”

Mia read the advertisement. “It sounds like fun. You can count me in.”

Holly stared at her friend. “You told me you’re happy being single.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to meet someone amazing.”

“But a computer won’t find you someone amazing. It will find someone who’s the closest match to the person you think will be amazing.”

“It’s the same thing,” Hannah insisted. “At least this way you know you’ll have at least one thing in common.”

Holly sipped her hot chocolate. “Answering an advertisement doesn’t count as having something in common. A computer can’t choose the perfect person for you. Who’s to say the person you’re matched with isn’t a criminal or someone with a disturbing past.”

“Some of the guys I meet in bars are already disturbed.” Hannah’s smile turned to a frown. “We have to be quick if we want to be part of the trial. Registrations close tomorrow.”

Holly couldn’t believe anyone would want to apply. “It could be dangerous.”

“Maybe in New York,” Claire said, “but not in Bozeman. We could all register.”

Holly shook her head. “Not me. You can sell your soul to a computer program if you want to, but I’d rather be single.”

Mia nudged Holly’s arm. “What if you met the love of your life? It wouldn’t be so dangerous then. If someone’s found a way to match people with their perfect partner, the program would be worth a fortune.”

“It might be worth a fortune to the developer, but I’m still not doing it.”

Mia gave Hannah back her newspaper. “You shouldn’t let Rourke scare you off men, Holly. What if this was the best chance you had of meeting someone who loved art and music - someone who appreciated who you are and bought lots of expensive gifts to make you happy?”

Claire grinned at Mia. “I want one of those perfect men. Come on, Holly. If you don’t like the person you’re matched with, don’t go out with him. What have you got to lose?”

“My sanity. And before you think of another ten reasons why I should add my name to the trial, my answer’s still no.”

Hannah sighed. “Is that a definite no or a possible no?”

“Definite,” Holly said firmly before Claire or Mia tried to change her mind. “We need to talk about how we’re going to promote the auction. Does anyone have any ideas?”

Hannah pulled her iPhone out of her pocket. “Just one. If I’m going to concentrate on the auction I need to register for the trial first. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”

Claire and Mia didn’t need any encouragement to follow Hannah. Before Holly could blink, all of her intelligent and creative friends were filling out the online registration form.

She just hoped Hannah’s good feeling was better than the last one she’d had.

***

A week later, Holly parked her car outside the red brick warehouse they were using for their auction. Nick Costas, Mia’s grandfather, stood on the sidewalk.

“You’re early,” Nick said in his deep, Greek-accented voice.

Holly looked at the brown paper bag in his hands. “You’ve been to the café again, haven’t you?”

“What does my doctor know? I’m seventy-three years old. A little sugar won’t kill me. Where did you hide Mia?”

“We brought separate vehicles. Six paintings arrived this morning for the auction.”

Nick undid the big metal lock on the door behind him. “I’ve been getting calls from clients all week. When is the catalog going to be ready?”

“In a couple of days. We need to make some small changes to the layout and then we’re all set for the printer.” Holly opened the trunk of her car and took out two carefully wrapped parcels. “Wait until you see these paintings. Natalie has been working on them for the last three months.”

Nick rolled the large wooden door along its track. “Natalie is a good girl. You were lucky she was able to help you. Her exhibition in London isn’t far away.”

“She knows Tommy’s family.” Holly passed the paintings to Nick and closed the trunk. “I’ve got another two paintings in the car. Where do you want me to put them?”

“I’ve set a table up inside the warehouse. When we’ve unwrapped the paintings we can decide where we want to hang them.”

Holly slid another canvas along the back seat and followed Nick into his warehouse. Yesterday she’d spent two hours with Mia, placing the paintings against the walls, moving each canvas around until they’d found the perfect place for them.

Nick must have come into the warehouse early this morning and hung them on the walls. With the fluorescent lights shining against the paintings, the old warehouse had become a chic inner-city gallery.

“This looks amazing.” Holly walked toward the first painting people would see. “I don’t want my painting here.”

Nick frowned. “You are too content to be in the background. This is one of the best portraits I’ve ever seen. It deserves to be here.”

Holly knew the portrait was good, but that didn’t mean she wanted it displayed at the entrance to the exhibition. “It would look just as good with the other portraits.”

“Nonsense. It would make the other paintings look inferior. This is where it belongs.”

Regardless of where Nick decided to hang her painting, she was really pleased with it. She’d wanted to create something that would be a reminder of the love that surrounded Tommy. On one of the days she’d visited his family, Tommy’s grandmother had been sitting in a rocking chair, holding her baby grandson and singing softly to him. The light streaming through the window beside them had softened the worry on her face. The connection between Tommy and his grandmother had been strong and sure and almost magical.

Holly glanced at the table in the center of the room. “What about hanging one of Natalie’s paintings at the entrance? Her reputation will bring a lot of buyers to the auction.”

“My dear, you underestimate the reputation you have built amongst my clients. Natalie isn’t the only artist who will make this auction a success. I have already sold the last painting you gave me.”

“You did? That’s amazing. I didn’t think many people would be interested in my landscape.”

“You paint from your heart. Your landscape had the same intensity as your portraits. They tell a story and fill the imagination with what might be. You have a rare gift, something that I haven’t seen in a long time.”