Two-Parent Family by Patricia Knoll

Author:Patricia Knoll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE Calhoun Gallery was different than Carrie had expected it to be. Given Will’s laid-back attitude to most things in life, she’d thought the gallery would have a casual atmosphere—something like a misplaced California beach gallery. While the place didn’t have a formal look, it wasn’t casual, either.

The building must once have been a home because the sturdy two-story structure looked as if it had been designed with a family in mind. Wide double front doors were flanked by tall, graceful windows and topped by a fanlight, all designed to allow breezes from the Atlantic to sweep in and cool the place in summer. Thick shutters were fastened on each side, ready to be closed in a hurry if those ocean breezes turned into hurricane-force winds.

Carrie paused to look the place over, noting the glistening white paint on the structure, the beautifully lettered sign that proclaimed the building to be the Calhoun Gallery, specializing in American art and featuring work done in the primitive style. Carrie wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but it sounded unique and certainly something on which she could capitalize when she got her advertising and public-relations campaign underway.

Before going inside, she turned to survey the neighborhood. Fortunately, Catfish Row wasn’t scented with its namesake seafood, which had once been sold from pushcarts along the street. Instead, it was redolent of history and new money. Once a poor section of town, it now sported specialty shops and private homes whose worth she couldn’t even guess.

Looking around, Carrie was impressed by the neighborhood, which she had seen only once, years ago, and by the fact that Will Calhoun was successful enough to own a gallery here. Not that she’d had any doubts that he was successful, she thought, turning to the door of the gallery. She just hadn’t realized how successful.

Carrie climbed the wide, shallow steps, opened the front door of the gallery and walked into a large room. She looked around, intrigued by the paintings displayed on cream-colored walls and by the waist-high bins of art prints arranged on the floor.

The place was warm and inviting, without the intimidating feel that permeated many upscale galleries. Rooms flowed one into another, connected by wide doorways, inviting patrons to browse.

She wondered if any of Lani Gray’s work was on display, but before she could take a good look around, a smiling young woman approached her and said, “Good morning, I’m Brenda Crest. Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see Will Calhoun,” Carrie answered with a nervous little smile. “I’m Carrie McCoy.”

“Oh, yes. He said you were coming in.” She turned and pointed to a staircase that led to the second floor. “His office is right at the top of the stairs. First door on the right.”

Carrie thanked her and crossed the room, all the while thinking that this situation was more than a little ridiculous. She had spent the night in his house, shared floor-walking duty with him and eaten breakfast with him less than two hours ago.

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