Chapter 19

"This one."I pointed at the photo in the top right space on my table. "It is from early in your career, and the starkness is striking."

Talia pursed her lips. "It is a simple shot."

The house's roof was caving in at one end. The tree on the other side was leafless. The area surrounding the house was dirt, with only a few weeds growing. The mood was somber. The property appeared to have long stood empty, and it was haunting.

"The balance is excellent, and the starkness is also calming."

"It wasn't a happy time," Talia muttered as she frowned at the print.

"Your work is sly. At first, you only see the simplistic settings. As you study the print, the emotions are there, and many touch the heart." I turned to see how she received my opinion.

"You are one of the few who understand," she whispered roughly as her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Sometimes, I need to be reminded that I have a heart."

I didn't know what to say. Talia was a typical artist who did not care about all facets of her business. She angered quickly but also showed kindness and generosity often.

She pulled two other prints from consideration.

"Not all the photos are as impactful, and the selection process was time-consuming. Decisions couldn't always be made until I could see them grouped together." I pointed to the fifth print. "There. I can almost feel the clouds moving as the storm approaches. Although I don't get an emotional hit from it, I do feel a charge of energy."

Talia leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs in front of her. "Pick twenty prints. I'm tired of looking at them." She stood. "I feel like we've been working on this forever."

I started moving the choices around into a different order. "You have so many saved that have never been shown. It has taken time." I didn't add that her inability to control her frustration had made the process take longer. "Why don't I make my choices, and then you can give the final yay or nay?"

"I'm tired of this." She began to pace. "I leave in two days, and Sig wishes to accompany me."

"Does he have business in L.A.?"

"Who knows?" She continued her way around the room. "He's going to get in my way. I know it. The last time he and Justin were together, I thought Sig would punch him."

I didn't understand their relationship, but it was none of my business.

"The only good part is that when I go shopping, Sig can follow behind and carry my bags." Her grin was mischievous. "I'll need your measurements."

"What?"

"For the ball." She rested her hand on the table. "Unless you packed a gown?"

"I'm not going." I wasn't a ball type.

"You'll go with Bredon. He's a male. He has no idea how much work it takes a female to prepare. He'll tell you the day before that you will be his date."

"Talia, I'm not Bredon's anything." Things had cooled between us.

"He stares at you when you aren't looking. He…yearns. I wish I could photograph the looks he gives you."

"I think you're insane." I hated how my stomach warmed at her words.

"Sig tells me that at least once a week. I may be." She shrugged. "However, I've known Bredon for many years, and you are the first he has treated in this manner."

"You mean ignored," I said snottily. It stung that he had again made himself scarce with no explanation or apology.

"Bredon is not reckless. He has to be cautious," she explained. "If he's behaving this way regarding your affair, there are reasons."

"It's not an affair," I snapped.

"What is it then? Love? Attraction?" she asked archly.

"A flirtation." I fought the grin that tried to take over my face. "Yeesh." I combed my fingers through my hair, forgetting I'd pulled it back in a braid. I had to jerk my fingers free, which painfully pulled my hair.

Talia narrowed her eyes as she watched me wrestle with my hair. "I cannot picture Bredon flirting."

I had only caught a few glimpses of Bredon's game. It was not impressive.

"I don't know if he has ever spent time with a woman like you."

"What does that mean?" I asked sharply.

"You are upset." Her brow wrinkled in apparent confusion.

"What's wrong with me?" I felt defensive. "I know that I don't have a trust fund. I work to earn my money." I looked around the room. "I'm not from an important family. BUT…I'm a good person. I donate to charities. I don't honk my horn if someone needs extra time when crossing the street."

"Sage," she began.

"Tell me why he hasn't made a real move." I needed her insight, seeing as how she knew him so well. She was my employer, but I thought we were getting along well.

"It was not my intention to upset you," she began slowly. "I like you very much."

"Thanks." I blew out a frustrated breath and started to pack the prints.

"Bredon doesn't show interest in females because Anton has tried to match him to a female of his choosing. I think Bredon decided to stop looking for a…partner to thwart Anton's machinations."

"Why would his brother have a say in who he sees?" There were so many odd happenings and rules here. If I thought about them too long, I got mad, which didn't matter. I would be leaving soon.

"Anton controls us."

I opened my mouth to comment and closed it abruptly. Who was I to criticize the interworkings of their family dynamics? As a child, I ran my mother's and my daily lives.

"Bredon made himself a hermit so those with available females would overlook his single status."

I was frustrated. I couldn't accurately read what was happening in this household and town. I was attracted to the elusive Bredon. A few nights of sexual release might be fun, but a part of me knew it would be more. That was the problem. I would be going back to Chicago and looking for a new job. I didn't want to leave with a broken heart.

Bredon would be here. Long distance wouldn't work, and I didn't think a lover who came and went would be popular with the people here.

I sighed. "Talia, I'm leaving in a few weeks, and having an affair with your family member is a bad decision. No matter how attractive I find Bredon, I've outgrown the allure of short affairs."

"I would believe you more if your gaze wasn't filled with regret as you spoke those lies."

I shook my head at her. "We are done here." I pointed toward the door. "You need to pack, and I need to figure this out."

She stood. "I know when to drop a topic."

"Night, Talia," I called over my shoulder.

I e-mailed the print choices to Justin and included short notes on why I chose them.

A gallery's curator had a great deal of power as they shaped the collections they displayed.

This offer gave Talia more power; she could decide what they would offer on their website. I hoped what I'd pushed her to sell would resonate with buyers.

I changed into my sleep pants and a thermal shirt. I'd kept on my socks because my feet were always cold here. Once I was in bed, I started to chuckle. "A ball."

I needed to end Talia's insistence that I needed a dress. However, if she did find a dress, I would need shoes.

"You are ridiculous." I rolled onto my side and tried to find sleep.