Guarding Raine Part 69

clinging to him, but, he thought, aggrieved, it would have been nice in

this instance.

Maybe it would have alleviated this gnawing sense of indecision, the edginess along his spine that nagged about details overlooked.

He elbowed his way through the crowd to go in search of her.

But the mill of people had obscured his view, and he wasn't certain which direction she'd gone with Winters.

He found a corner to wait in and leaned against a wall.

When he looked up, he was faced with his own likeness.

Shock rooted him in place.

Seconds ticked by as he stared, stupefied, at the painting she'd done

of him, without his ever having the slightest inkling.

He pushed away from the wall, coming to stand before the picture for a better view.

The instant he recognized the scene in the painting, his stomach

clenched in remembered response.

Though he'd been in her room many nights since, the night depicted here was the first time he'd made love to her.

His breathing grew choppy as he studied the painting.

All the emotion that Raine had so freely offered to him was reflected

here.

She'd told him in a hundred different ways that she loved him, and itwas on display, for the entire world to see.

His gaze dropped the caption, and reading it was like taking a punch tothe gut.

Out of the Darkness.

It could mean the treatment of night shadows in the picture, but heknew there was a deeper meaning.

He felt raw, exposed, yet strangely humbled that she had turned herawesome talent on him.

The picture seemed to represent his last chance to leave the guilt andregrets aside and take what she was offering.

His throat tight, he abruptly turned and practically mn over a womanwho'd come up Her sleek hair was perfectly coiffed, and her dresstightly sheathed a curry body.

When he would have muttered his apology and gone by, she laid a hand onhis arm to stop him.

"That's quite a tribute,"

she purred, indicating the painting with an elegant hand.

"Do you know Miss Michaels... well?"

"Why?"

Rather than being put, off by his terse tone, she seemed to find itintriguing.

Her hand on his arm tightened.

"The picture evokes all kinds of emotions, darling. One has to wonder if that's because of the subject, or because the artist painted whatshe was feeling herself. Either way,"

she said, her long, taloned fingers kneading his arm sensuously, a.s.soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it.

I.

believe Andre is discussing the deal with Raine as we speak.

" Without regard for niceties, he pulled his arm from her grasp. " You'll have to excuse me," he muttered brusquely, striding away. The thought of this woman, or someone like her, buying that painting madehim want to throw something through the nearest window, His need to seeRaine, to talk to her was greater than ever. Resuming his search, heleft the room and turned down a hallway. Light spilled from one doorat the end of it that stood partially open. The shade flapped softlyat the window inside. He stopped in the act of entering when herealized the room was occupied. " That is my last word,"

Raine was saying firmly. " I told you yesterday that painting wasn't for sale, and I won't change my mind.

I don't care what she offered to pay for it.

" " I just wish you'd see reason," Andre answered, his voice sharp. "

You could always paint another, Raine, if you wanted one for yourself.

This offer is very generous.

" " It's also out of the question," she answered unequivocally. " And that's final, Andre.

I won't change my mind.

" After a long pause, he heard Andre say, " Perhaps it's time I shared

something with you, Raine.

I really didn't want to burden .

you with my worries, but.

I've been having some financial problems recently.

I'm counting on this show to help bail me out.

I don't mean to push.

" The h.e.l.l you don't, Mac thought caustically. He fought the urge tobarge into the room and take Kla.s.sen by the throat. But Raine wouldn't welcome his taking the decision out of her hands. He had been a slow learner when it came to that lesson, but he'd learned it well.

"But every little bit is going to help.

If you can possibly see your way to selling this painting, it would bea tremendous boost for me.

I never dreamed that there would be a buyer for it, but since thereis.

I hate to sound as though I'm trespa.s.sing on our friends.h.i.+p, but it'svery important to me.

Would you at least think about it?

" Not trusting his response if he listened to another word, Mac slipped away.

He didn't want to think of that painting in anyone else's hands. It was too d.a.m.n personal, revealing too much of both him and Raine. But he didn't have the right to make any demands on her, now less than ever. Feeling as though his skin had grown two sizes too small, hewent into the large room. The guests were dwindling, leaving incouples and small groups. Sarah waved gaily at him as she left with adark-haired young man Mac didn't recognize.

He nodded laconically in return. " Well, it's been quite a night,"Harold Bonzer said expansively, stopping next to him. " I was glad youmade it tonight.

Couldn't quite believe Raine when she said she didn't think you'd behere.

" " To tell you the truth," Mac replied remotely, " I'm not quite surewhat I'm doing here, myself.

" " Give it time, son," the older man advised, his eyes twinkling. " I'm sure you'll figure it out.

" " Something doesn't feel 'right," Mac murmured, his edginessincreasing as he surveyed the dozen or so people left. The tightnessin his gut hadn't lessened singe he got here. If anything, it had grown worse. Greg Winters walked by, nodded at him and went out thedoor. " You've got some thinking to do," Bonzer answered. " Nothingis going to feel right until you reach a decision on whatever it ischurning in your craw.

" Mac turned a jaundiced eye on him, but the man laughed and clappedhim on the shoulder. " My driver is already here.

I'm going to collect Raine and take her out for a celebratory drink atSheena's.

Do you know the place?

" Mac nodded. A small, intimate eatery, it was just around the corner." Good.

Why don't you meet us there?

Maybe between now and then out just what it is that's bugging you.

" Chucklin the Going out for an with Raine was the last thin i Mac thouthis itchy feeling. But he knew he'd go. He'd seize the opportunityto be with Raine, even if they weren't alone. The last of the guestsleft, and still Andr~ and Raine hadn't come out of the office.

Fighting the urge to go and drag her away with him, he strode to therest room. When he emerged and returned to the front door, the whitelimo was pulling away from the curb. Andre was locking the front door." I never thought you were such an art lover that you'd be the last oneout of here,"

the man snapped, barely civil. " I have varied tastes," Mac repliedtauntingly. Striding toward his van, he hoped like h.e.l.l that Kla.s.senwasn't going to join them tonight. He felt like crawling out of hisown skin, and a good fight sounded like a satisfying way to cure thefeeling. Entering Sheena's, Mac squinted in the dimness. SeeingBonzer in the corner, he approached the table. " Where's Raine?

" asked Bonzar. " Raine?

" Mac repeated, uncomprehendingly. " You said she was coming with you.

" Harold shook his head. " I thought so, but at the last minute shedecided to go look for you and see if you'd agree -to come tonight.

" " d.a.m.n," Mac swore, turning to stride rapidly away. He met Andr~ at the door. " Give me the gallery keys," he demanded. " Have youfinally taken complete leave of your senses, O'Neill?

" Kla.s.sen demanded. Remembering what the gallery owner had told himwhen he'd questioned him about security, Mac grabbed Andr~'s s.h.i.+rt. " Give me the d.a.m.n keys.

Raine must be locked in there, and the d.a.m.n lights are on a timer.

They'll be going off any minute.

" Kla.s.sen jerked out of Mac's grasp. " There wasn't anybody left inthe gallery when I closed up.

And if she was there, she's fully capable of calling us here.

" Mac didn't waste any more time arguing. Thoughts of Raine alone,even for the slightest amount of time, in near darkness in unfamiliarsurroundings made his muscles contract. He already knew too well howthe news of Burnett had affected her. He'd seen the night-light andrecognized the ghosts that refused to be banished. He didn't want her to be traumatized any more.

Lowering his face to Kla.s.sen's, he gritted out, " Last chance,Kla.s.sen.

Give me the keys, now, or I'll take them off your unconscious body.

'~ Recognizing the threat in Mac's face, Andr~ reached into his pocketand pulled out a set of keys.

Mac s.n.a.t.c.hed them away and ran out the door.