a certain sculpture to the Art Institute. In my name.”
It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Although now, in retrospect…
But it was too late for caution, too late for regrets.
She lifted her chin. “Yes, I did give Bertrice’s sculpture to the museum. I told them there was only one condition—they had to display your name prominently. Everyone who goes to the museum will look at that cockroach, then look at the name Garek Wisnewski. I’m sure that everyone who knows you will immediately understand the connection—”
“You may be right,” he said in a disgustingly calm voice. “Tell me something—was it worth five thousand dollars?”
“It was worth ten times that amount!” She shivered, but from rage now, not cold. “I know this is beyond your comprehension, but I don’t want your money, I never did! I only took that five thousand dollars because you were so rude. But now I’m glad I took it because it helped Bertrice, and I’m glad that out of all the misery you’ve caused, at least one person benefited, and I’m glad that the whole world can see now what an insect you really are—”
“Are you finished?”
She gripped the back of the leather chair. “Yes. I am. Will you at least wait until I can find another place to take the art before you close Vogel’s?”
“I’m not closing the gallery.”
She thought she must have misheard him. “What did you say?”
“I want the gallery to stay open—and I want you to continue to run it.”
Tense and disbelieving, she stared at him. “Why?”
“Maybe I’m afraid you’ll sell your story about our marriage to the tabloids.”
“I said I was only going to do that if you turned Robbie in,” she pointed out.
“Are you saying that I can close the gallery and not worry about reprisals?”
“Yes. I mean, no…that is—”
“Would you go out to dinner with me?”
He couldn’t be serious. And yet, his eyes were dark and intent, his mouth a straight, unsmiling line.
“I’m surprised you’d want to go out with a ‘criminal’ like me,” she said, trying to gather her scattered wits.
“I’m making an exception in your case.”
“Why?”
“Does there have to be a reason?”
“Yes,” she said decisively. “There does.”
He put his hands in his pockets. “I suppose I thought we could be…friends.”
“Friends?” she repeated in disbelief. After using her, insulting her and accusing her of trying to trap him into marriage, he wanted to be friends? She didn’t think so. “No, thank you,” she said coldly. “I’m very particular about my friends.”
He didn’t seem offended by her rudeness. “I can be a very good friend.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I can put a lot more money into the art foundation. I can move your gallery to the fashionable part of town. I can—”
“Are you trying to bribe me into going out with you?” she asked.
“No, of course not.”
“That’s good. Because the answer is still no.”
His gaze was inscrutable. “The silent auction Stacy Hatfield arranged is this Saturday at my sister’s.”
“So?”
“You have to be there. It’s business.”
“I’m sure Stacy can handle it.”
“It’s imperative that you be present. Donors like to see the people involved before they give money.”
“They can see your sister and you.”
His eyes narrowed. “I can also be a very bad enemy.”
She gaped at him. “Are you threatening me now?”
“I’m only trying to ensure the foundation is a success,” he said smoothly. “I’ve invested a lot of money in it.”
“Yeah, right. I suppose I have no choice, then.” She glared at him. “Tell me, do you always have to blackmail women into a date?”
“No,” he said grimly. “You’re the first.”
“You should never have made me go through with this,” Doreen Tarrington hissed at Garek as she smiled and nodded at a couple helping themselves to shrimp and prosciutto appetizers. “It’s going to be a disaster.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not,” Garek drawled in a bored tone. His sister had been nagging at him ever since he’d ordered her to go ahead with the dinner party. She’d whined and complained and dragged her sizeten feet, but in the end, when faced with the prospect of paying the cost of her next facelift herself, she’d reluctantly agreed.
“I warn you, Garek,” Doreen said in threatening accents, “if that tawdry little girlfriend of yours or her car-toon-character friend embarrass me in front of my friends I will never speak to you again.”
Garek thought of several unkind responses, but managed to restrain himself. His object wasn’t to be at odds with his sister all evening. “I’m sure Ellie and Caspar will behave in a