see you have a lot of local artists here.” He turned back to her. “Is there a good market for them?”
She wiggled her hand back and forth. “Depends. I say for most of them. Are you looking for something for your place?”
She didn’t even know where he lived. Did he have a house? A cottage? There were no apartment complexes in Arrowhead Bay. The closest thing was a small community of duplexes at the edge of downtown. Where, she wondered, do all those agents live, anyway? She’d never thought to ask.
He laughed. “Not hardly. I have one of the suites on the top floor at Vigilance. It’s where Avery houses what she calls her homeless agents.”
Marissa studied him. “You don’t want a place of your own?”
He shrugged. “Not at the moment. I’m usually on one assignment or another, and it works not having to worry about maintenance and upkeep.”
“Doesn’t that make it a little difficult if you want to, uh, spend time with a woman?”
Oh, for crap’s sake. She should shut the hell up.
The look he gave her scorched her body to the soles of her feet. She had a feeling his own body was heating up, and she couldn’t help lowering her gaze to his crotch. Her eyes widened in reflex at the significant bulge.
“Yes.” He spoke in a soft tone of voice. “Sometimes I do. Like the one in front of me right now.”
“Oh.” She wet her lips. “Well.”
“You have to know I would love to get together with you for more than coffee.”
“I do.” She tilted her head in a tiny nod.
“But I’ll never push. It’s all up to you,” he told her in a soft voice. “I hope you’re reading my signals, Marissa. I think we could have something going here, but it’s your call.”
Heat crept up her cheeks, but she forced herself to look directly into his eyes.
“Justin, I-I mean…”
“Just so you know, Avery has not said a word to me about you, nor have I asked. I won’t invade someone’s privacy. But I’ve been in this business long enough to know when someone’s in a thorny situation. Whatever it is, tell me or not, I will always keep your confidence and always protect you. That doesn’t change the fact that I want you. Want to see where whatever we start can be going.”
“I-I know.” And she did. God, what should she do? She felt like a dithering idiot.
“In my line of work, we learn to respect people’s boundaries. Whatever you’re dealing with is none of my business unless you choose to make it so.” He shrugged. “We’ve danced around this, Marissa. Pretended it isn’t there. Ignored it. But take it from me, it’s not going away. All you have to do is give me the signal, because it’s all up to you.” He grinned. “And if not, you’ll still be my star kickboxing student.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get any words out, the front doorbell tinkled.
“Customers?” he asked.
“I hope.” She wet her lips. “Thank you for the coffee and pastry. It was a nice break.”
“My pleasure.” His smile could have curled her toes. “Don’t forget Friday’s session.”
“I won’t. And thanks again.”
“And remember. It’s all up to you.”
Then he was gone.
She turned and smiled at the couple looking at the art hanging on the east wall. She’d have to be very careful with Justin Kelly. More than her safety could be at risk here. She wondered, with a touch of regret, if the day would ever come when she could relax, be completely free of her past, and enjoy a normal life.
Chapter 3
Marissa had forgotten how much fun special events could be, especially those in a small town like Arrowhead Bay. Last year she had managed to avoid participating in the Fourth of July festivities, other than having a special show at the gallery. It boggled her mind that what used to be a three-day celebration in this town now encompassed most of a week. Avery had insisted she join them at some of the events this year and even offered to pick her up.
“I can get there on my own, and I will,” Marissa had promised with a laugh. “At least to the biggest deals.”
She wasn’t quite sure how much she’d participate this year. She’d wait and see how she felt. But it was only Monday, and the town was already jammed with people. Out of curiosity, she took a slight detour past the marina, checking things out. The place was so full there were boats anchored just past the piers, their guests taxied back and forth by the makeshift ferry service the marina had set up. Most of the boats were decorated or in the process of being fancied up for the parade this weekend. The Driftwood Restaurant next to the marina, owned by the same couple, was already wall-to-wall people.
As she drove down Main Street, Marissa noted that, even though it was only Wednesday, the sidewalks were already jammed with both residents and holiday visitors. She was glad she’d decided to open the gallery early. Fourth of July banners hung from the lampposts along the streets and in almost every store window. She congratulated herself on bringing her own coffee and sweet roll. The lines at Fresh from the Oven and next door at Fresh Roasted snaked out both doors and down the sidewalk.
Lord. What would it be like by the time the weekend got there?
She wondered if Justin was teaching classes today, or had Avery sent him off on assignment? She hadn’t seen him since coffee two days ago, and she knew he was giving her the space he was sure she needed. He’d left a note on the gallery counter with his email, and she couldn’t count the number of times she’d started to enter it in her email program.
But she’d finally decided to talk to Avery first, confide in her. Ask her if she should clue Justin in. Right or wrong, she didn’t feel she could move forward with…whatever this was, unless he knew what he was getting into.
Maybe after this weekend, she’d ask Avery to carve out a few minutes for her. She sure didn’t want to wait much longer. Her body had turned itself into a constant state of readiness, and she was sure combustion was only moments away.
In a stroke of luck, a car was pulling away from a spot in front of the gallery just as she drove up. She was only mildly surprised to find people waiting in front, looking through the windows, and sipping coffee from their to-go cups. Or maybe it wasn’t coffee. They could be drinking mimosas or even straight vodka. She reminded herself to be calm and gracious, and lock up if the visitors got too unruly.
“Oh, you’re here.” A woman in walking shorts and a hot pink T-shirt smiled at her. “Good. We hoped you would be. My husband and I—we’re the Danforths, Laura and Howard—would really like a better look at the seascape in the window.”
“That’s one of my favorite pieces,” Marissa said, unlocking the door. “Come on in and take your time looking at it. I think you have to make friends with art before you decide to take it home.”
“Oh,” Laura Danforth said. “You are just so right. Howard, come look at this right now.”
Marissa hurried to hit the alarm panel then deposited her purse and her breakfast snack in the office. Then she slipped her handgun into her pocket and shrugged on the long vest that covered it. She had no idea what it was that had the hair on her arms standing up, or her neck itching. This was just a tourist couple out shopping. What was wrong with her?
But better safe than sorry was a motto she lived with each day. Brushing imaginary lint from her blouse, she eased back into the gallery, staying to the back so she didn’t crowd the couple. The seascape was by a local artist she’d been working to promote. This sale would be a big boost for her, especially if these people passed the word to others.
So, she occupied herself