Guarding Raine Part 21

definitely something she wasn't up for toda~ Andr~ frowned, peering at her more closely.

"You look a bit peaked, Raine. Are you sure you're feeling all

right?"

"For Pete's sake, Kla.s.sen,"

Greg said irritably, "what a great thing to say to a woman. Are you

afraid your precious schedule will be thrown off if she was to get sick for a day?"

Andre smiled a tight, humorless smile."And you have so much expertise, my friend,. in how to talk to women,don't you? What are you doing here again, anyway? Sometimes I wonderwho runs the office while you spend your days here."

"Andre, Greg, please."

Raine's voice was tired.

"Just quit. Andre's right, I didn't sleep well last night, and I'm

really not in the mood for this."

She smiled to soften her words.

"I know the two of you enjoy sharpening your fangs on each other, but

my stomach isn't up to bloodshed this morning, okay?"

Mac came to the doorway then, in time to hear her last remark and to disagree with it.

She made it sound as if the two men engaged in a casual conversational

duel to pa.s.s the time, when in fact there was a compet.i.tion afoot here.

He was surprised she couldn't see it.

He'd sensed it the moment he'd met the two, watching them vie for Raine's attention.

At least Kla.s.sen's interest seemed to be professional, as overbearing

as it was.

But Winters was definitely interested in more than Raine's tax wit holdings He shook off the irritation that accompanied the thought and

spoke.

"The men are finished in the studio, Raine, They shouldn't be bothering you again."

All heads swiveled toward him.

"All right,"

she answered with a slight smile.

"But I'll use the earplugs, just in case."

He gave her a short nod and disappeared toward the front door.

"What did he mean by that?"

Andre demanded.

"You haven't been able to use your studio, Raine? Are you still goingto be able to complete your work on time? d.a.m.n, I knew that man wastrouble. He and his crew have been a constant distraction, haven'tthey? Why in heaven's name don't you send them away until after theshowing?"

"Oh, and I suppose Raine's security can wait until then, Klas-sen?"

Greg put in caustically.

"Easy to see where your priorities are." ) " It's equally easy to seewhere yours lie," the man answered sharply. " That's enough, both ofyou!

" Raine snapped. They looked at her, mildly surprised at her unusualdisplay of impatience. " I'll be able to finish the painting in thenext few days, Andre.

Mr.

O'Neill has been careful to disturb me as little as possible.

" She didn't mention that the man had a way of disturbing her that hadnothing to do with the work that was being done on her house. She didn't even like to admit that to herself. " When will O'Neill be done around here?

" Greg asked. " Seems like he's taking a long time to put in an alarmsystem.

" Andre nodded in agreement. Raine hesitated. She was loath to discuss Macauley's role as her bodyguard. Andre had already decidedthe letters were meaningless, and a disclosure would only upset him. Heconsidered anything that took her mind off her work at this point as amajor aggravation. Greg was just the opposite. He'd worried over the threats incessantly. Knowing how seriously she was taking them wouldonly cause him more anxiety. " There's a bit more to putting in asecurity system than any of us reali~e,"

she finally said. " And Mac's been replacing doors and windows, aswell.

But things around here should be straightened out soon .

" " I hope you're right," Andre said. " Well, I'll leave you towork.

" He gave Greg a pointed look, and the younger man rose reluctantlyfrom the table even as he glowered at the other man. " I suppose Ishould go, too,"

Greg muttered. " Thanks for the breakfast, Raine.

I, uh, just came out to see how you were doing.

" He shrugged self-consciously. " Haven't talked to you in a fewdays.

" Strangely touched, Raine smiled gently at him. " I'm fine, Greg,really.

And thank you for coming this morning.

You know you're always welcome, both of you.

" Her look encompa.s.sed the two men. Greg nodded wordlessly and sent alook at Andre. The older man remained rooted to the floor. It was obvious that he wasn't leaving until Greg did. " You haven't gottenany more of those letters, have you?

" " No.

" " Or phone calls?

" " No, nothing, Greg.

Everything's been fine.

" " Because if you want, I can come out here each day and get the mailin for you.

I don't like the thought of you opening those by your selL " Macalready does that for me, Greg, but thanks anyway.

" Greg didn't look happy at that piece of news, but he finally noddedand walked out of the kitchen. Showing the two men out the door, Rainebreathed a sigh of relief. She didn't remember ever being in a biggerhurry to get rid of them. Her nerves were definitely a bit frayed thismorning, and dealing with their animosity was beyond her today. She'd never quite figured out just where that animosity sprang from. The two really shouldn't have many matters they needed to collaborate on. But each insisted on b.u.t.ting into the other's side of her business, andafter months of playing peacemaker, Raine had finally given up. Theyappeared to like to bicker, and as long as she didn't have to listen toit she just shrugged it off. Today, however, it had been particularlyexasperating, She headed for the stairs.

Already the hammering was beginning outside, but she would retrieve herearplugs and ~o to her~ studio. If Maeauley was right and she wasn'tdisturbed, she'd be able to get quite a bit finished on her painting.Today she was in need of the kind of solitude and peace she was able toattain only when lost in a world of her own. " Mr. O'Neill, may haveI have a word with you?

" Mac turned quizzically to face Andre Kla.s.sen. " In a minute," heresponded. Turning to the workman he'd been talking to, Mac continuedthe instructions he'd been giving the man. The worker listened intently, nodding a few times in understanding. When he was finished,Mac faced Andre. " What's on your mind?

" Kla.s.sen stepped out of the way quickly, narrowly avoiding two workmenwalking by carrying some long planks. " Maybe we'd better go inside,"he suggested. " I don't want to have to shout over this racket.

Mac looked at him, noting how incongruous the man looked in hisSaville Row suit and five-hundred-dollar shoes amidst the organizedchaos of the workers. Turning on his heel without a word, he led theway to the house. He didn't really have time for this, but it would bebetter to get Kla.s.sen out of the path of his men before that Ivy Leaguehaircut was creased by a two-by-four. Leading him into the study, hestopped in the middle of the room and turned to him. " I wanted to talk to you about Raine," Andre began. He waited, but when Mac made noresponse, he continued.

" This whole mess you're creating here really couldn't have come at aworse time, actually.

You do know she's getting ready for a show, don't you?

" " I'd heard something about.

~ that," Mac answered sardonically. " You probably aren't aware, then,~of the amount of work and concentration that goes into something likethis.

" The man made a dismissive gesture with his hand. " No one is,really.

But I handle practically everything, so there's little Raine has to doexcept paint her exquisite pictures.

" When Mac still said nothing, Andre felt compelled to explain further." She cannot accomplish that, Mr. O'Neill, with you and your menconstantly underfoot.

This incessant noise must be a serious drain on her concentration, andI'm going to have to ask you to cease it at once.

" Mac crossed his arms and rocked on his heels. He'd seen plenty ofmen like Andre Kla.s.sen, self-important and certain of their own power.He'd never lost his amus.e.m.e.nt for them, however. He shook his head wryly. Locations in the world were different, but its inhabitants never were. He was a master at sizing up people a.n.a.lyzing their goalsand predicting the lengths they would go to achieve them. This man wasn't even a challenge. " "Fraid I can't do that, Kla.s.sen," he saidlaconically. The man frowned. " I'm going to have to insist.

You may start again as soon as the show is over.

Heavens, you may start as soon as Raine is finished with the last pieceshe's doing.

But you must see that she's unlikely to finish as long as she'ssurrounded by all this commotion.

" " The work will proceed on schedule," Mac answered. " You don't have the authority to give me orders.

You're Raine's agent, right?

Stick to selling her paintings.

That's your job.

Her security is mine.

" Andre's mouth tightened. " I'm more than her agent, O'Neill.

I make a lot of the decisions around here.

I decide what is appropriate for Raine, and I know a lot more about her

well-being than you do.

" " Is that so?

" Mac asked softly. " Then maybe you'd like to explain one of those