“It sounds exciting,” Francesca said, Anne’s enthusiasm spreading to her. “There is one thing: If my goal is to do preliminary sketches while I’m there, I’ll need all my materials available when I arrive.”
“Not a problem at all,” James said, and Francesca was confident in the Nobles’ ability to acquire what she needed for the project. Both were patrons of art museums and avid collectors.
“But I’d still like you to relax a little before you begin working,” Anne said with a cautionary glance. “The New Year is soon enough to get started.”
“And there is celebrating to be done,” Gerard said, smiling. He casually placed his hand on Francesca’s shoulder. “I’ll go with you to speak to Lin. We’ll meet you two at Everest in ten minutes or so,” he said to Anne and James.
Francesca was glad her smile didn’t waver at Gerard’s suggestion. He’d been so kind to her today, so officious, and yet militantly polite and appropriate in their interactions. He was Ian’s family—a part of a unit where she’d so wanted to belong. She’d almost forgotten her discomfort over the fact that he’d tried to seduce her last night.
Or maybe I just want to forget, she told herself as he led her to Fusion, his hand still casually resting on her back.
A sinking feeling dampened her short-lived good mood when Gerard opened the glass door to Fusion. Even though she’d been the one to bring up talking to Lin, she hesitated. She hadn’t returned to Fusion since Ian had left. Not only had Ian and she frequently dined at Fusion, it was where they’d first met. It’d been a cocktail party in Francesca’s honor for winning a highly reputable commission to paint the centerpiece mural for the newly built Noble Towers. It all came back to her in a split second—she, so gauche in her secondhand-store dress, so determined to hide her awkwardness; Ian, so arresting and intense as he pinned her with those dark-angel eyes as he’d told her that he, and he alone, would designate the view for the painting.
“I suggest you see the view in question before you take undue offense, Ms. Arno.”
“Francesca,” she snapped, made a little defensive by all the sophistication and formality of the reception in her honor, not to mention his arrogant assumptions.
She saw that flash in blue eyes that reminded her of a storm on the horizon. For a split second, she regretted the edge to her tone.
“Francesca it is,” he said softly after a moment. “If you make it Ian.”
Gerard touched her shoulder, jerking her out of the vivid memory. He pointed across the bar. She saw Lin looking as elegant and glamorous as usual, and talking to a tall woman. She nodded. He took her hand and led her through the loud, animated crowd of Noble partygoers. A gorgeous Christmas tree glistened behind scurrying waiters and chatting people. A jazz trio had been hired to entertain the Noble employees. Several couples had taken to the small dance floor. She caught a glimpse of Elise in the open kitchen in the distance, her beautiful face sober in concentration as she stirred a pot and sprinkled some ingredient into it. Soon, she would finish her training here at Fusion and be a fully qualified chef, ready to open her own restaurant. The vision of her friend heartened Francesca, sending a spark of warmth through a chest that had gone cold at the memories of Ian.
Lin greeted them warmly, nodding her head when Francesca stated her mission.
“Of course I’ll send the documents to Belford Hall. Would you like me to arrange your flight for you?”
“No, of course not,” she said, her cheeks heating. Lin was Ian’s executive assistant, not one of his secretaries. Even if she had been a secretary, she cringed to think of Lin doing errands for her because of Francesca’s past association with Ian. All of that was over and done. Ian had made that clear. “I have it all arranged, thank you, though. I fly out very early Christmas Eve.”
Lin nodded, her gaze lowering fleetingly between Gerard and her. Francesca realized Gerard was still holding her hand. She gently extricated herself from his grip, trying to hide her discomfort.
“And you, Gerard? Where will you spend Christmas?” Lin asked smoothly.
“With Francesca at Belford,” Gerard replied, smiling at Francesca. “I wouldn’t miss James’s and Anne’s Anniversary Ball for the world.”
Francesca tried to tamp down the sudden anxiety she felt when a quizzical, concerned glance flickered across Lin’s features before she gave her usual warm smile, and wished them both a happy holiday.
* * *
When they’d started out jogging, the cool December air had been chilly. Now it felt wonderful against her heated skin.
“You were right,” Davie said as he ran next to her down North Avenue. The usually busy thoroughfare was clogged with holiday traffic as people prepared for Christmas in three days. “This weather is perfect for a jog.”
“Plus, it always makes you feel good to be on your feet when you see traffic like that,” Francesca said, grinning.
Davie glanced at her face and did a double take. He smiled when Francesca gave him a quizzical look.
“It just took me by surprise. It’s nice to see you smile again,” Davie said.
“Thanks. I’m looking forward to Christmas, which comes as a bit of surprise. I was far from being able to say that two weeks ago.”
Davie nodded as he searched her profile for a moment. “Do you think you’re getting over Ian?” he asked quietly.
Her smile faded. The void in her chest cavity ached as she focused on it. She didn’t speak for a moment as they approached a cross street, keeping her gaze averted from Davie’s. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ‘over’ Ian. I doubt I’ll ever be able to . . . you know. Feel about anyone the way I did him,” she said, purposefully avoiding the loaded word.