The wide-open room with white walls that reached for the sky was dominated by a large pyramidal sculpture in the center. He was ashamed to admit he hadn’t been to the museum since it had been redone years ago. A couple hundred or so people milled around the space, chatting and sipping their drinks. A band was playing in a corner of the room, but no one was dancing yet. The far wall was peppered with special pieces that his invitation said were being offered on silent auction to raise funds for the nearby LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
It didn’t take long for Oliver to locate Lucy in the crowd. His eyes were immediately drawn to the crimson red of her dress that stood out amongst the sedate blacks, tans and whites of the people who accepted what the saleswoman pushed on them without question. The outfit looked equally stunning tonight, although now it was paired with elegantly styled hair, glittering jewelry and flawless makeup.
Altogether, it made for a woman he simply couldn’t ignore. His body was drawn to her, urging him to cross the room and join her immediately. The only thing that held him in place was his desire to prolong the anticipation.
He enjoyed watching her chat with a couple about the large Monet that dominated an entire wall of the museum. Oliver could tell she hadn’t spied him at the gala yet. When she knew he was nearby, there was something about her that changed. A stiffness, almost as though she were holding her breath when he was around. He wasn’t sure if she was just more guarded, he made her nervous or if the palpable attraction between them simply caused her to be uncomfortable in his presence.
At the moment, she was sipping her champagne, smiling and speaking animatedly with a couple he recognized from other events around town. He liked watching her with her guard down. It was a side of her he’d never gotten to see, not even in the past when they’d called a truce or shared a kiss. That was his own fault, he supposed, but it made him want to know more about this side of Lucy. Perhaps it was the last piece of the puzzle he was missing.
Oliver watched as the couple finally dismissed themselves to say hello to someone else, leaving Lucy standing awkwardly alone. She bit at her lip, the confident facade crumbling without the distraction of conversation. Now was his chance. He moved through the crowd of people to join her.
When their eyes met, Oliver felt a jolt of electricity run through him. Lucy smiled wide as he came closer, possibly relieved to see someone she knew. He could imagine that being in this situation and knowing almost no one must be quite intimidating. When she attended for Alice, she could fade into the background, but with that dress, she couldn’t hide from anyone. A familiar face, even his, would be cause for excitement. Or maybe, just maybe, she was happy to see him.
“Good evening, Miss Campbell,” he said with a wide smile of his own. Lately just the thought of her brought a grin to his face. As his gaze flicked over her beauty up close, he wished he hadn’t waited so long to approach her. “You’re looking lovely tonight.”
Lucy blushed almost as red as her dress. “Thank you. I didn’t expect to see you here this evening. I don’t recall running into you at any of the events I attended for your aunt. I thought you weren’t much of a fan of art.”
Oliver shrugged. He wasn’t about to say he’d only come because her might see her. “I’m always invited, but I usually have other engagements. Tonight was for a good cause and I had time, so I dusted off my tuxedo and came down.”
Her gaze ran over his Armani tux for a moment with appreciation before she awkwardly turned away to glance at the art display across the room. “Have you looked at the pieces they have for sale tonight? There’s some really lovely ones if you’re looking to add to your personal collection.”
“I haven’t.” The moment he’d seen her, the rest of the museum had faded into the background.
Oliver politely offered his arm and escorted Lucy to the other side of the atrium where maybe twenty-five paintings and sculptures were set up with silent auction sheets posted at each.
“Some of these were done by students at the school and others are donated by local artists. These kids show so much promise for their age. It’s amazing.”
He knew at this point he could let her arm go, but he didn’t. He liked the feel of her against his side. A lot. “Did you ever have a desire to be an artist yourself?”
“Oh no,” Lucy said with a nervous chuckle. “I love to look at it, to study it, but I can’t draw a stick figure. I mean look at this one.” She gestured toward a large painting of the Manhattan skyline with the Brooklyn Bridge stretching across the foreground. “This piece gets more amazing the longer you study it.”