“Back where I come from, we fry up the eggs for breakfast and throw the shells away,” he remarked, laughing.
“And home is Oklahoma or Texas?” she asked, recognizing his southwestern drawl.
“Beaver, Oklahoma, to be exact,” he announced proudly.
“And you?”
“I was born and raised in Atlanta.” She walked to the next display case containing pictures of the Romanov family shortly before their deaths. “But I’ve lived in Nashville since I was in college.”
“Never went to college myself,” the man disclosed, shaking his head as he followed her. “I left home right after graduating high school with a fifty dollar bill in my pocket and an old guitar slung over my shoulder.” He grinned. “That was fifteen years ago and I’ve been here ever since.”
“So you’re in the music business?” she asked politely.
The man looked shocked for a moment before giving her a wide grin. “You’re about the sweetest thing I’ve come across in a long time. What’s your name, darlin’?”
She caught sight of Luke coming toward them like a charging bull. “Haley, I need you to come with me.” The censure she detected in his voice startled her.
“Haley is it?” the man beside her repeated, smiling. “Pretty name for a pretty lady.”
She ignored the man’s compliment as Luke came to stand on the other side of her. “Is something wrong?”
“No. I just want to get your opinion on one of the paintings offered here that I thought would make a nice addition to the office.” Before she could respond, he glared at the friendly man standing beside her. “You’ll have to excuse us.”
When Luke took her by the elbow and strongly urged her in the opposite direction, she gave the man an apologetic smile. “It was nice talking with you.”
He nodded. “You, too, Haley. That’s just my luck, though. All the pretty ones are already spoke for.”
She frowned as Luke hurried her toward a gallery on the opposite side of the atrium. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, leading her to an abstract painting. “Right now, I want your opinion on this. Do you think this would be appropriate for the reception area?”
She stared at him before she finally shook her head and turned her attention to the painting. “I’m not the person you should be asking about this.”
He looked surprised. “Why not?”
“Because I prefer a more realistic rendering,” she elaborated, pointing to a beautiful landscape down the long wall. “I especially love scenes like this.”
“Really?” Shaking his head, he glanced from one painting to the other. “I wouldn’t have guessed that about you.”
“I’m sure there’s a lot about me you’d never guess,” she murmured, moving on to view another canvas. If he was surprised by her taste in artwork, he’d be shocked right down to his Italian loafers to learn how she truly felt about him.
While Luke arranged the purchase and delivery of the landscape she had chosen for the Garnier office on Monday, Haley continued looking at the array of artwork.
“You know, that picture looks like something my nephew did when he was in kindergarten,” a familiar voice remarked from behind her.
Turning, Haley smiled at the man she’d talked to earlier in the room displaying the Romanov treasures. “You wouldn’t happen to be following me, would you?”
He grinned. “Would it bother you if I said yes?”
“It wouldn’t set well with me.”
Haley glanced up to see Luke walking toward them, his expression anything but pleased. “Come on, Haley. It’s time I took you home.”
“There you go again, trying to steal her away from me,” the man said good-naturedly.
Luke placed his hand to her back. “Pal, she’s not yours for me to steal away. She’s already mine and you might as well give up the chase. It’s not going to happen tonight or any other night.”
Surprised by his possessive words, Haley didn’t even think to protest as Luke guided her to the exit. But when they stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the museum and she finally found her voice, she asked “What was that all about?”
He gave the valet instructions to call for his limo before turning to face her. “Do you even know who you were talking to?”
“No. Why?”
Luke’s frown eased a bit. “That was country music’s bad boy, Chet Parker. Surely you’ve heard about his womanizing. He has quite a reputation.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the museum’s entrance. “You can’t be serious,” she said, amazed that she hadn’t recognized the country music superstar.
“He’s divorced again,” Luke advised disgustedly. “And I’d say he was sizing you up as his next candidate.”
Haley shook her head. “I doubt that. We were just chatting about the displays.”
“Guys like Parker don’t strike up a casual conversation with a woman. Not without an ulterior motive.” When his limousine pulled up to the curb, Luke helped her into the back, then slid in beside her. “Just keep in mind that you and I have a deal. And it doesn’t include the likes of Chet Parker.”
A mixture of anger and disappointment settled in the pit of Haley’s stomach. Luke wasn’t acting possessive because he cared for her, he was just concerned that she might find a reason to renege on their agreement.
Thankful the ride to her place was short, when the driver parked the car in front of her apartment, she gathered her evening bag and readied herself to escape Luke’s presence. If she didn’t, she wasn’t entirely certain she wouldn’t bop him on top of his thick head with her sequined clutch.
Unfortunately, he had other ideas. When the chauffer opened the door and Luke got out to help her to her feet, he wrapped his arm around her waist and started up the walk to her door.
“There’s no need to see me inside. I’m perfectly capable of finding my own way.”
“I’m sure you can,” he said as he continued to escort her to the front step. Taking her key from her, he fit it into the lock and opened her door. “But I always make sure my date gets inside safely.”
“Your date? I wasn’t aware that’s what I was tonight,” she retorted, unable to stop herself.
“Of course you were.”
She shook her head. “Let me see. You didn’t ask me to go to the event with you, you told me that we were going. Then this evening, I was introduced as your executive assistant and immediately dismissed in favor of a potential client. And at no time during the evening do I remember You referring to me as your date or being treated like one, unless you want to count that little display of macho possessiveness with Chet Parker.”
He looked at her like he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “You are my assistant and I’m sure you recognized the client I was talking with. I don’t need to tell you how profitable his business could be for Garnier Construction. And as far as Parker was concerned, he needed to get the message that you’re unavailable.”
Suddenly too tired to explain what he was obviously missing, she reached for her key. “On second thought, just forget it. You probably wouldn’t understand if I drew you a picture.”
“Oh, I get it.” He held her key just out of reach. “You feel that I neglected you this evening.”
“No,”