Black Ice. Sandy Curtis
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Only now the memory was bittersweet, the passion an anger that swung occasionally to despair.
Caught between the need to walk away and an overwhelming desire to see her again, he wavered. Finally, desire won. At least he might be able to find out why she had left him without even a word of explanation. And why, four months later, the private investigator he'd hired had photographed her in the arms of another man, and reported she was also living with that man. After what they had shared, she owed him that much.
The gallery entrance was sandwiched between the small window displaying the painting and a Swiss bakery on Noosa's famous Hastings Street. Two diamond-glassed doors sparkled in the afternoon sunshine as they swung open at his touch. He walked inside, his boots making no sound on the smooth carpet.
He'd seen her sketches before, but not a finished painting. Now, looking around at the paintings hanging from the pale walls and dividing panels, he was surprised at the extent of her talent. Some of the paintings were delicate pastels. He didn't need to look at the artist's name to know they weren't hers. But the others, the brilliant colours and vibrant, breathtaking seascapes and landscapes, the rainforest animals with their almost-alive eyes, were as much her signature as the Kirri that flourished in the bottom right-hand corner.
He walked slowly between the hessian screens dividing the room in half. Like the painting of the old cottage doorway, these paintings also drew him, made him want to reach out and touch, to dip his hand in the water, run his fingers over the glossy rainforest leaves.
Then he saw her. She was talking to a middle-aged couple whose clothing and cameras betrayed their tourist status. He watched the animation in her face, the smile that had once set his heart racing, and cursed as that same sensation gripped him once again. She was a little thinner than he remembered, and there was a maturity now that had lessened but not dimmed the vivacity of her movements, her speech.
He felt a familiar tightening in his chest as he observed her, and wondered if the benefit of closure was worth the risk of renewing the pain of rejection. When the couple turned to leave she looked across, caught him staring at her. She walked towards him, smiling. Her expression didn't change as she stopped in front of him.
'Can I help you?'
Stunned disbelief swept through him. She didn't recognise him, had spoken as though he was just one of many strangers who passed through the gallery every day. For a few seconds he simply stared at her, then the shock gave way to incredible anger. He saw her expression falter, then the smile picked up.
'We have more paintings in the next room. Would you like me to show you?'
He knew if he spoke the anger would pour out, so he simply nodded. She turned and walked towards the far end of the narrow room. He watched the gentle sway of her hips, the way her dress moulded to the curves he had once caressed. Blue Monarch butterflies scattered across the brilliant white material and he wondered if she had painted them. He remembered how fascinated he'd been by the hand-painted vest she'd worn when they'd first met.
She stopped, turned slightly to see if he was following. The movement pulled the soft material against her breasts. He walked quickly forward, hoping to disguise his involuntary reaction.
How could she have forgotten him? Hell! They'd spent nearly three weeks together. Three weeks in which they'd fallen in love, made love, the best lovemaking he'd ever experienced. Three weeks of laughter, of talking, of sharing confidences and hopes and dreams. And at the end of those three weeks he had asked her to be his wife. Twenty-nine years old and he'd never even contemplated asking anyone that before. Until he'd met Kirrily Smith and fallen in love.
'Have you seen anything you like?' Her question jolted him back to the present. Something was wrong. Her smile was a little too bright, a little too strained. She was nervous. But she hadn't been shocked to see him. There'd been not the slightest sense of recognition in her eyes, and he'd once learned that her eyes gave away her thoughts. Or they had. Perhaps she was only pretending now.
'The cottage - the one in the window - I'd like to buy it.' The words were no sooner said than he wondered why. He didn't want any reminders - the pain was only slightly more bearable now than it had been two years ago. A strange expression flickered across her face, but was gone so quickly he wondered if he'd imagined it.
'I'm sorry, that painting's not for sale.'
Suddenly it became important that he have it. 'I'll pay whatever price you want.'
The expression was back, this time long enough for him to identify it. Hurt, and incredibly, fear. What the hell was going on? He was about to ask her when she spoke again.
'It's not for sale.' This time more definite, and with a tinge of panic. Then the blue eyes flashed, her shoulders straightened just a fraction more, and she gestured towards the doorway. 'Perhaps you'll find something else in here.'
Before he could reply she walked into the next room. As he stepped behind her he caught a hint of perfume, a light fragrance that hurtled him back through time and conjured up memories of warm nights and balmy breezes and the taste of her so sweet on his lips. A groan of frustration escaped before he could stop it and she turned towards him. He read concern in her eyes, the way they darkened from summer sky blue to a deeper shade. When they'd made love that depth had intensified and her voice had taken on a husky timbre.
Hell! What was she doing to him! He'd had two years to get over her and he was no more able to control his feelings now than he had been from the moment he'd met her. And she didn't appear to have a damn clue who he was!
He turned abruptly and focussed on the wall of paintings. Again the mix of delicate pastel-hued watercolours and Kirri's colourful oils. He walked slowly, pretending to study each painting while his head reeled with questions. He felt rather than saw her hesitate, as though she would prefer to flee rather than stay in his presence.
'Your accent …' her voice, too, was uncertain, 'it's American, isn't it?'
He looked back at her, at the uncharacteristic nervousness betrayed by the hand that rubbed at the base of her neck. He'd seen that action only once before, and his heart had twisted in his chest as she'd confessed the reason.
'Seattle, in Washington State on the west coast.' He waited for a reaction. None came. He cursed silently. Enough was enough! He couldn't stand the emotions churning through his gut. Two strides and he was in front of her, his right hand extended. 'Daniel Brand.'
With just a second's hesitation she slipped her small pale hand into his. 'Kirrily Smith.'
He almost said I know, but that strange mix of fear and apprehension was back in her eyes.
'Are you on holidays?' she asked. 'With … family?'
'No. I'm alone.'
He looked down at their joined hands, the way his engulfed hers, her pressure strong in spite of its delicacy. As his eyes raised he glimpsed a small painting behind her, and his heartbeat soared erratically.
The child was about twelve months old, her chubby fist clenched on the ear of an obviously long-suffering grey speckled dog. Black curly hair framed a determined, olive-skinned face with broad high cheekbones and a wide mouth. She was dressed in long white pants and a white tunic, both with fringing attached.
'Who -' his voice was a croak, and as he cleared his throat he felt Kirri's hand pull from his grip. He looked into her face. 'Who is the girl?'
She flinched, and he felt a barrier slam into place around her. 'My daughter. I painted her a few months ago.'
Daniel moved forward, staring intently at the painting. Kirri stepped away, as though weighing her chances if she had to run from this madman. 'And it's not for sale either. Everything else in the gallery is, though.'
'Kirri,' a voice interrupted from the doorway, 'I'm sorry to intrude, but there's a lady here who wants to buy two of your paintings and she'd like some discount. If you could …'
'I'll be right there, Jenny.' Kirri turned her attention back to Daniel, 'If you'll excuse me?'
Daniel