They all laughed, and to Guy’s great relief talk turned away from Avery and back to Erica and Christian’s Christmas wedding.
It was late afternoon before he caught up with Avery again.
“I wanted to talk to you more about the brief for the restaurants,” Guy said to her as they walked up the pathway lined with a profusion of colorful flowers on the way back to Jarrod Manor.
“We can talk later.”
He got the feeling she was about to disappear again. “Tonight. Come up when you’re done.”
“Let’s meet in the sky lounge,” she said quickly, “I’m still working on adding some more variety to the beer list for the Christmas season.”
Didn’t she know that anyone seeing him with her would be unable to miss the attraction she held for him? Even his family had noticed. “Maybe it would be a better idea to go check out some of the competition—we’ll go to town, hit the bars and restaurants.”
Avery’s eyes lit up. “That sounds like fun.”
Guy thought so too, and that way he wouldn’t have to be so on his guard against his family’s well-meant teasing. Nor would he have to disillusion them about what kind of person Avery really was. Although it was getting harder and harder for him to remember that himself…
She truly had bewitched him.
Avery decided she could easily fall in love with Aspen. Main Street was buzzing with activity. Pickups, Porsches and even a lovingly restored old Cadillac filled the lanes. And the stores—there was everything from Gucci to Macy’s and burgers to up-market restaurants that the rich and famous were known to frequent.
Guy parked the SUV and Avery emerged from the passenger door to stare around like a wide-eyed child in a candy store. Couples strolled along the sidewalk, people spilled out of restaurants, families bundled together. Guy came round to her side. Avery scarcely noticed when he threaded his fingers through hers.
He pointed to a sign ahead. “There’s the first bar where I thought we might conduct some covert espionage.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Maybe I can get some business from them, too.” It was a thought. That way, if things were going well between Guy and her perhaps she could stay longer than the month they’d agreed….
God! What was she contemplating?
“Not until you’ve completed your contract with Jarrod Ridge.” He gave her a mock frown. “I’ll have to get that signed and sealed as soon as we get back.”
She gave a gurgle of laughter.
The next second she was spinning into his arms. His lips slanted across hers. Avery’s laughter dried up. For a moment she responded, then she pulled away, and shook her hand free of his.
Oh, my, she was even holding hands with Guy.
To cover her confusion, she said, “Oh, an art gallery. Let’s have a look.” At that point even an abattoir would’ve elicited a squeal of delight. Anything to escape the confusion of being thoroughly and publicly kissed in the midst of Aspen’s main street by Guy Jarrod.
“We’re almost at the bar.”
“I want to have a look.” She needed a moment to regain her composure. “You can wait outside if you want. I won’t be long.” She dived through the door into the gallery, grateful for the respite. There was a row of touristy watercolor paintings of the town, and the gallery keeper was securing a round, red Sold sticker to one of them. Avery walked quickly past.
To the right was an alcove—it would’ve been a misnomer to call it a room. On the far white wall, plumb in the center, hung one canvas.
Avery stopped dead.
The power of that single painting sucked the breath out of her lungs with its sheer poignant beauty.
It was a while before she became aware of Guy standing silently beside her.
“Isn’t this piece amazing?”
“Amazing.”
There was a peculiar note in his voice. Avery glanced at him, a little resentful that he didn’t share her enthusiastic admiration. His face was taut…pale.
“Guy?” Concern gripped her. “What’s the matter?”
“I’ll wait for you outside, okay?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away, his shoulders hunched as he headed for the door as though he couldn’t get out fast enough.
What had evoked such a response? Was he annoyed because she’d pulled out of his too-public embrace? Or did his reaction have something to do with the gallery? She glanced back at the painting she’d been admiring when he’d come up beside her.
The painting was riveting. But disturbing enough to arouse such a strong reaction in Guy? Avery studied what should’ve been a peaceful subject. Perhaps. It was an abstract of a river. A swollen, moving river. There was turbulence in the dark, raging colors and the brush strokes. It was full of raw power…and anger. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.
“It’s compelling, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Avery didn’t glance up as the gallery keeper came up beside her. She was still trying to fathom what it was about the painting that aroused such strong emotions.
“Margaret Jarrod loved to paint the Roaring Fork—but this is one of her last works of the river.”
Now Avery looked at him. “Margaret Jarrod?”
“Don Jarrod’s wife.” He pushed the round wire-rimmed glasses up his nose and glanced through the sheet window to where Guy was pacing the sidewalk. “I thought you knew it was her work.”
Avery shook her head numbly.
“The whole town was very sad to hear about Don’s passing.”
“Yes, it was a tragedy for the family.”
Questions swirled around her head. Guy had never mentioned his mother. She wanted to know everything. But it seemed…invasive…to ask the gallery owner while Guy cooled his heels outside.
“For everyone. The resort helped draw people to Aspen. The Food and Wine Gala that’s on now is only one of the events that Don set up to benefit everyone in the town. There are fears that his children might abandon the resort—or, God help us all, sell it to outsiders.”
Avery didn’t know how to reply. “I’m here for the festival—and it’s been wonderful” was what she settled for. With a smile she excused herself, “I must go, Guy is waiting.”
Outside, Guy’s face still wore that closed expression that had perturbed Avery.
With a burst of sudden longing she wanted the man who’d planted that joyful kiss on her lips back. But he’d vanished under the mask of stony indifference. Avery was determined to find him again.
She had a feeling it wasn’t going to be easy.
But she’d always relished a challenge.
Best would be to put him off guard. To that end, she threaded her hand through the crook of his arm, “Lead the way. I’m ready to examine the competition.”
The bar Guy took her to had attracted a well-heeled, casually-dressed crowd, where jeans were the order of the day. Mostly designer brands—Diesel, Calvin Klein. Although Avery also spotted the odd pair of working Levis—and footwear ranged from Jimmy Choos to dusty cowboy boots. But certainly these Colorado cowboys were ranch owners rather than hired hands, and the glitter at women’s throats were diamonds rather than rhinestones.
The bartender took their order, and Avery turned her attention to the cocktails chalked up on the blackboard behind the bar, then inspected the wine and beer list.
“Not bad,” she said at last. She smiled her thanks when her drink arrived, while Guy paid for the round. Expenses, she told herself, suppressing the urge to object. This wasn’t a date. He stuffed his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and settled himself onto a wooden barstool.
“But you’d do better.” He made it a statement.
“Of course.” She set the wine list down on the counter and met Guy’s gaze with confidence.
“Tell me how.”
“I’d add some of the newer wines that are taking the country by storm.” She warmed to her topic. “Then I’d look to add some international flair. What they’ve done here is to stick to the well-known Napa Valley wineries. They’ve done the same with the cocktails—the names might be risqué but there’s nothing here that’s new and refreshing. No imagination.”
“What you’re telling me is they’ve played it safe.”
“Exactly!”
“You’d take more risks?”
The smile that tugged at his lips warned her of the trap she was headed for. “Forget it. I’m not going to go ballooning, Guy. I’ve got too much imagination.”
The smile widened into a grin that had her innards melting.
“Did I even ask you to?”
“You didn’t need to…I know where this is going.” He was the most persistent devil she’d ever met. But she could be even more stubborn…and she would prove it.
Their next rendezvous was one of the most popular bar-and-grills in town, located in a brightly lit mall. They strolled along Mill Street, which gave Avery a chance to admire the store frontages. As they passed a busy eatery, Avery was startled by the loud sound of metal clanging. “What’s that?”
“Probably a bear.”
“A bear?” She stopped and stared at Guy. “You’re joking, right?”
He shook his head. “Nope. About a year back they started moving into town.”
Just then two boys ran around the corner, one of them brandishing a Stop sign. Guy gave them a quelling look.
“Where did you get that?”
“Sorry, mister, we’ll put it back.”
With a scuffle they disappeared back around the corner, the sound of giggles following in their wake.
“Well, there goes your bear. Hope the little devils put it back.”
“I’d say they were first-time offenders,” Guy replied. “They didn’t look sulky enough to be hardened miscreants.”
“You recognize the difference?”
“I was a boy once upon a time.”
“Well, at least it wasn’t a bear this time,” Avery said as Guy held a door open for her. “Boys I can handle—even in a place like Aspen which seems too glamorous for kids. But bears?” Halting at the bar, Avery wasn’t ready to let the subject go.
The bartender had come over to greet Guy and take their order, and overheard her amazement. “You’re hearing about our black bear problem?”
“So Guy wasn’t having me on.”
“Oh, no!” The bartender crossed his arms. “There was even a bear in the tree in front of the courthouse.” Avery blinked.
“In front of the courthouse?” Laughter bubbled up in her throat. “Does that mean the sheriff had to arrest him for trespassing?”
Guy shook his head. “Nor the momma bear that stood watch while her cubs raided someone’s kitchen after momma had broken the door down.”
“Wow.” Avery knew her eyes must be as wide as saucers.
“Don’t feed any bears you might see.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Avery loved Guy’s honesty, his determination to protect the bears, and his insistence that people should take responsibility for their actions. “Trust me, I’ve got no intention of getting within a hundred yards of any bear.”