Beautiful Lies
Page 6
No matter how off limits he is.
Mr. Rivers approaches the microphone and at his simple, “Good evening,” an attentive silence falls over the crowd.
I am not able to take my eyes off Luke, who has assumed a professional smile. He wears that humbly honored smile all through Mr. Rivers’ announcement, that a certain Luke Fraser has been awarded the commission for an art installation in the Swan Pointe Botanical Gardens.
Of course, I knew this. I’m the reason it happened.
Mr. Rivers, my gallery’s best client, asked me for a recommendation for this installation and I gave him Luke’s name. I almost didn’t. Because I knew it meant I’d be faced with this moment.
I even tried to think of other people I could recommend with a clear conscience: the glass artist in Michigan, the one in Texas, the one in British Columbia.
But in the end, there was only one person who fit the bill.
Now, faced with the consequences of that decision, I try to remind myself of all my valid reasons for giving Luke’s name. The sizeable finder’s fee. The fact that finding an undiscovered gem like Luke would mark an important step up for my gallery. The fact that Luke truly fit every criteria Mr. Rivers was looking for.
The fact that it would help Luke, too.
That was the factor that tipped the scales more than anything else, actually. How could I not want Luke to have such an amazing opportunity?
But now, watching the unobtainable love of my life with blissful anguish, the real reason becomes clear.
I just enjoy torturing myself.
My attention is starting to sharpen on something else, though. Even from this distance, I’m picking up on something underneath Luke’s professional countenance. He seems weighed down. There’s a somberness there that makes me want to go to him and find out what’s wrong.
“Breathe,” Cat whispers.
I inhale, realizing I’ve been holding my breath. “God,” I whisper, “why is this so hard?”
“You’re okay,” she says reassuringly. “It’s only one night.”
“There will be another reception for the installation.”
“Okay, two nights. But that one won’t be for a while.”
“I haven’t even talked to him yet. I still have to go talk to him.”
She nudges my hand. “Take a drink.”
I take a hearty swallow, then nearly choke on it when Mr. Rivers says this: “Mr. Fraser has also been granted a six-week residency here in Swan Pointe.”
“Wait, what did he say?” I spin on Cat, but she’s exchanging a panicked look with Marcus. “He’s building it here?” I ask. “Why is he building it here?”
“I don’t—”
“I can’t do six weeks of this.”
“Yes, you can. You’re just...” Her eyes go back and forth between mine as she tries to come up with something comforting. “It’s just hard right now because it’s been so long and you’re not used to seeing him. But you used to see him every day and you survived that.”
“Barely.”
“Now, now,” Cat says, rubbing a soothing hand down my arm. “It won’t be like before. You won’t have to see him all the time. And when he’s done, he’ll go home.”
Applause erupts around us. The announcement must be over, but I don’t look away from Cat’s face. “They’ll go home.”
She gives me an understanding look as I remind myself, for the millionth time, about the reality of this situation. She nods sympathetically. “That’s right.”
My eyes go back to the general direction of the stage; Luke and Mr. Rivers are descending the steps and some people are already moving forward to meet the artist. But I’m scanning the area for someone else.
Luke’s wife.
His elegant, beautiful, high-class wife. The niece of his beloved mentor. The bane of my existence.
The reason why Luke and I will never, ever happen.
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He’s my ex and now my client.
There are so many reasons to say no to him.
So why can’t I stop saying yes?
KEEPING HER is the standalone prequel to the Hearts on Fire series, available exclusively to newsletter subscribers.
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BOOKS BY JORDYN WHITE
THE FIREWORK GIRLS
“Like an addictive TV show where you feel like you’re friends with the characters and are glued to every development.” - SPR
FORBIDDEN HEAT
Isabella and Shane (Firework Girls #1)
MIDNIGHT HEAT
Chloe and Grayson (Firework Girls #2)
ETERNAL HEAT
Ashley and Erik (Firework Girls #3)
NUCLEAR HEAT
Sam and Jack (Firework Girls #4)
HANDLE THE HEAT
A Firework Girls Short Story
Sam and Jack (Firework Girls #4.5)
HOLIDAY HEAT
Bobby and Sophie (Firework Girls #5)
THE BEAUTIFUL RIVERS SERIES
“I loved the Firework Girls series but I think I'm loving Beautiful Rivers more!” – Mary M, Five-star Amazon review
BEAUTIFUL MINE
Connor and Whitney (Beautiful Rivers #1)
BEAUTIFUL FALL
Lizzy and Brett (Beautiful Rivers #2)
BEAUTIFUL DARK
Corrine and Mason (Beautiful Rivers #3)
BEAUTIFUL DEEP
Rayce and Emma (Beautiful Rivers #4)
BEAUTIFUL LIES (a novella)
Rita and Dallas (Beautiful Rivers #5)
HEARTS ON FIRE SERIES
HEART OF GLASS
Mia and Luke (Hearts on Fire #1)
LOVE ON THE ROCKS
Raven and Spencer (Hearts on Fire #2)
Coming summer of 2019
For a complete, up-to-date list of all Jordyn’s books and shorts:
Jordyn White’s Reading Order Page
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