Insight by Raney Deborah

Author:Raney, Deborah [Raney, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Raney Day Press
Published: 2016-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The wood floors felt like concrete beneath Reed’s bare feet as he paced back and forth in front of the studio windows, one ear tuned to the doorbell.

He wondered how Olivia would be with him today. Or if she’d even come to work. Even though it had gotten him into trouble in the first place, he’d decided that one last time he was going to speak his mind. That had to be better than leaving things unsaid between them. He thought it would help her to know where he stood, but if he were honest, he was doing it as much for himself as for her.

He turned to stare at the canvas propped on the easel. If the sorry excuse for a painting that sat there now was any indication of how this whole incident was going to affect him, he was in trouble. He’d promised Olivia that she could have a job with him, and he would keep that promise. He would have no trouble keeping her busy. But they had to clear the air first or he wouldn’t have a job to offer her.

He heard the doorbell chime. She’d had her own key to let herself in for several weeks now, but she always gave him a warning ring before coming in. His heartbeat quickened when he heard her shoes on the kitchen tiles. He shot up a prayer. Lord, please give me the right words to smooth things over.

She appeared in the doorway a few second later. “Good morning.” She didn’t meet his eyes.

“Hi, Olivia.”

“You want me to finish those frames?” Her tone was tentative.

“Yes, but…can we talk first?”

She nodded and leaned against the worktable, her arms folded protectively across her midsection.

He went back to the easel and picked up a paintbrush. He was too nervous to use it, but it felt better to have the canvas as a barrier between them. “I just want to apologize again about…about Friday.”

She held up a hand as if to stop him, but he plowed ahead.

“Olivia, I just want you to know that I realize how foolish it was for me to say those things to you. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He dipped his head. “Well, yes, I do know.” He looked up with a guilty grin. “But I did not need to say everything I was thinking. I realize that it’s way too soon for you to think about…being with someone else. I respect that and I just want you to know that you don’t have to worry about me. I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

He couldn’t read her face as she waited for him to go on, but he plunged back in. “Things are going really well for me right now and I can use all the help you can give me. If you can give me full-time hours, I’ll have no trouble finding work for you, and as I said, you have a raise coming on this next paycheck.”

Eyes downcast, she whispered his name.

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