Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,126

gladly gone home with him, but he’d never taken it that far.

And now, he never would. He laughed again as he pulled into the driveway. She brought me flowers.

Investing in Rivka Delaney’s art was the best decision he’d ever made. The afternoon took forever to drag by, but at last it was time to head over to The Gallery on Second. Parking his hunter-green Chevy Tahoe in the back lot, Tom let himself into the gallery with the key Rivka had given him. The lights were dim, but he heard voices from the back.

"Tom!" Rivka rose and kissed his cheek. Mick and Martin stood and shook his hand. Tom turned to Lila, who smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Not in front of my sister," she murmured into his ear. "She doesn’t know."

"We were talking about the opening night party." If Rivka had guessed anything about her sister and Tom, she didn’t let it show. "I want it to be the best party this town has seen in a long time!"

"She wants to make it a costume party." Lila raised one eyebrow. "Sort of a masque."

"Lila-love’s not thrilled, as you can tell." Rivka nudged her husband. "But we love it, don’t we, Mickey?"

"You love it because you want to dress like a sheik and a harem girl." Lila rolled her eyes.

Rivka rolled eyes shaded in spangled eyeshadow. "So? What’s so bad about that?"

Martin cleared his throat and cut off Lila’s response. "A costume ball would certainly attract the right people. The mayor always attends the Art Council’s annual masquerade."

"So, a masque it is!" Rivka clapped her hands and shot her sister a triumphant look. "Tom, what do you think? It’s mostly your money after all."

"If it’s what you want, Rivka, go for it," Tom replied gallantly. "You’re the artist."

"See?" Rivka stuck her tongue out at Lila. "Tom likes my idea."

Lila raised her hands helplessly. "All right, you win. But I’m choosing my own costume."

The last time Lila had gone to a costume party, Rivka had insisted on costuming her. Lila had spent the entire night in the bathroom, scrubbing off the silver paint that was giving her hives. A lovely water nymph she had been…not.

"Fine…whatever." Rivka waved her hand airily. Her bracelets jangled. "Come as Gumby for all I care."

Tom wouldn’t mind seeing Lila in a harem girl costume. As if she could read his thoughts, Lila caught his glance and smiled. The smile lit up her eyes and suddenly had him wanting to bend her over the table and make love to her right there.

"I wanted me and the boyos to make the music," Mick said. "But my Rivka says she can’t have me away from her side."

Rivka shook her head. "I’ll be too nervous. We’ll have a DJ. I need you with me, Mickey."

Martin smoothed graying hair. "I’ve already made arrangements for the paintings to be hung. We’ll have all of Rivka’s originals here, even some which have been purchased. The owners have agreed to lend them for the night. Of course, we’ll also be offering all her prints for sale. We’re going to have a drawing to win one of her latest portraits, too."

"It’s going to be fantastic!" Rivka let out a little scream. "I’m so excited!"

Lila laughed at her sister’s antics, but didn’t resist when Rivka leaned over the table and gave her a hug. Watching them, Tom noted how much they looked alike.

"The Foxfire is going to do the food, right?" Rivka turned to Tom.

"Sure."

"Can you and Lila take care of that? I think you two will work great together."

If only she knew. "I think we can manage that. Lila?"

Lila bit back a smile. "Oh, I’m sure we can come up with a lot of interesting ideas."

Rivka looked back and forth between the two of them as if she sensed an undertone to their conversation but didn’t know what it was. "Great. I’ll leave you to it then. Don’t worry, Lila-love. It won’t be hard."

Lila seemed to be stifling a giggle. "That would be too bad."

Rivka peered at her sister. "If I didn’t know you better, Lila-love, I’d say you were making a dirty innuendo."

Lila returned her sister’s look with exaggerated innocence. "Me?"

"Don’t worry, Rivka." Tom gave Lila a steady gaze. "I’ll keep your sister firmly in hand."

Now Rivka turned to look at him with narrowed eyes. "What’s going on between you two?"

"None of your business." Mick gave her a stern look. "Leave them alone. They’re jesting with you."

Rivka appeared about to