“But I’m not the kind of person who likes to be in the spotlight, and I’m not good at—”

  “Is this about Vegas?” he interrupted bluntly. “About what happened?”

  He watched the color drain from her face. “I don’t want to talk about—”

  “I’m sorry, okay,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry I’ve acted like a jerk since then. But I wasn’t expecting it and didn’t know how to react, and frankly, I didn’t want to make things worse.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m pretty sure things can’t get any worse.”

  “You know I care about you, Leah.”

  She gave an annoyed groan. “Oh, please, spare me. Or better yet, forget I said what I said. In fact, forget everything about that night. Forget the past few weeks. It’s what I’m trying to do. Get back to ignoring me like you’ve done for the past four days.”

  Sean propped his hands on his hips. “I wasn’t ignoring you. I was giving you some space. You’re angry, I get that, but I don’t quite know how to handle this.”

  “You don’t,” she retorted, eyes blazing, “because I don’t need to be handled. Forget I ever said it.”

  “I can’t,” he said. “It’s out there.”

  “Wow, it’s out there, how about we call the love police,” she mocked, glaring at him. “Get over yourself, Sean, because believe me, I have.”

  It was a pointed remark, but he didn’t believe her. Leah was a passionate, deep-feeling woman. And that made him feel like the biggest heel of all time, because she deserved way more than the meager attention he offered.

  “I’m sorry that I’m not wired that way, Leah.”

  “How about you do us both a favor and stop talking,” she insisted. “I’ve heard enough.”

  Sean’s irritation grew and he turned, striding toward the door. When he reached the entrance, he stopped and exhaled heavily. He quickly swiveled around. “Okay, we’ll park this conversation for the moment, but it’s no reason to cancel the show at the gallery. I already have RSVPs coming back, and I’d prefer not to have to backpedal and can the whole thing. Think about your career, Leah. This is what you want, right?” he said and waved a hand in an arc at the studio. “This place, this life...so however you need to do it, muster the courage.”

  She was still glaring, still regarding him as though he was her least favorite person on the planet. But then she nodded. “You’re right. I made a commitment to see this through, and I will. I’ll borrow my brother’s horse trailer to shift the bigger pieces on Friday afternoon, and the rest can go in my truck.”

  “Tell me what time, and I’ll make sure I’m here to give you a hand.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “Joss and Grant said they would drop by and help me take it over.”

  She didn’t want his help. Right.

  “Leah, can we just—”

  “I’ve spoken to your mom, and the catering is all sorted and the space at the gallery will be available from Thursday,” she said, cutting him off with a wave of her hand. “So everything is taken care of. I’ll see you Saturday.”

  Sean was about to bail when he spotted a car coming up the driveway. His mom’s car. Soon after his mother and Ivan got out of the vehicle.

  “Book club lunch,” Leah said, clearly picking up on his surprised expression. She strode through the studio and stood at the entrance, then turned back to face him. “I think our parents are dating. But I also think it’s meant to be a secret. Don’t ruin it for them, okay?”

  Sean scowled. “You think I would?”

  “What? You? The Grinch-Who-Stole-Happily-Ever-After? Of course not.”

  Sean’s chest tightened. “Just because I didn’t say that I—”

  She strode off toward the car and said something to his mother. Gwen replied and looked in Sean’s direction. She said something he didn’t catch, and Leah quickly responded. He was grateful for the intervention as he walked toward them and stood beside Leah.

  “Don’t give him too hard a time,” Leah said and smiled, although Sean was sure it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “He’s been busy planning the show at the gallery. She grabbed his arm, squeezing hard. “Oh, and considering Liam’s job offer at the hotel, right?”

  His mother’s face creased into a broad and delighted smile. “Oh, that’s wonderful. You’d be such an asset there, and I know Liam wants to step back a bit. He needs help now that Connie is about to go on maternity leave.”

  Sean knew that Leah knew he had no intention of accepting his brother’s offer. She was simply sticking it to him because she could, and clearly got some perverse pleasure out of seeing him squirm.

  “We’ll see,” he said and discreetly shook off her hand, even though deep down he was hungry for her touch.

  “And you should tell your mom how you’ve said you’ll donate half of your salary to the hospital,” Leah said, clearly enjoying herself. “Such a generous gesture.”

  “Darling,” his mother said and hugged him, “you really do make me proud to be your mom.”

  Sean forced back his scowl. “Ah, yeah, right.”

  He glanced toward Ivan and noticed the older man was watching the exchange with interest and wondered how much he knew about his relationship with his daughter. Not that he and Leah had a relationship. But enough, by the look on his face. He’d avoided Ivan for weeks, abandoning their chess games, and faced with it, felt like a complete coward.

  “Ivan,” he said as lightly as he could, “is the chessboard set up?”

  The older man nodded. “Where we left it, son.”

  Guilt pressed down on his shoulders. “Feel like finishing that last game we started?”

  Ivan grinned. “Great idea. Ladies,” he said and gently slapped Sean on the shoulder. “Excuse us.”

  They were sitting on the veranda within minutes and Ivan made his first move. Sean tried to concentrate, tried to think about something other than the fact that Leah was alone with his mom in the studio and who knew what the hell they were discussing. Him probably.

  Another ten minutes passed and they hadn’t returned to the house, and figuring they were having a deep and meaningful conversation, his gut began to twitch.

  “Something wrong?”

  He barely registered Ivan’s voice and jerked his gaze back to the game. “Ah...no.”

  “You know, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t say that I was concerned about my daughter. But I think you know that already.”

  “I never meant to mislead her.”

  Ivan offered a quizzical look. “Is that what you’ve done?”

  “Like I said, I didn’t mean to—”

  “I don’t know a whole lot about women,” Ivan said and grinned. “But I know they view relationships different to how we do. Take your mother, for instance. She’s reluctant to get too involved because she’s been hurt so badly in the past.”

  Sean squirmed a bit in his chair. “Ivan, I’m not sure I want to have the conversation about my mom.”

  “No more than I want to have it about my daughter,” Ivan remarked. “But since she often comes home at eight in the morning after spending the night at your house, I have to be, well...modern in my thinking. When you have a daughter of your own, you’ll understand. Leah is very emotional, which probably explains why she’s so creative.” Ivan sighed. “She fell fast and hard for those two idiots in her past, but I’ve never seen her quite like I’ve seen her these past weeks.”

  “Like what?”

  Ivan sighed. “Happy. Except for these past few days. Right now, I just want to hold my little girl and make all her hurt go away. Or at least find someone who can.”

  Sean’s chest tightened. He knew what Ivan was asking. But it was impossible.

  I don’t believe in love.

  It doesn’t last.

  It ends up tasting like betrayal.

  Like his parents’ marriage. Like any one of the dozens of phony relationships he had witnessed over the past decade. It was better to stay away from it. Less risk.

  And yet as he watched Leah and his mother walk from the studio, arms linked, he realized he was looking at the two people he loved most in the world.

  And it terrified him.

  Chapter Twelve

  Leah couldn’t stop her palms from sweating. She’d spent the better part of ninety minutes searching for something to wear to her art showing, tossing aside pantsuits, a skirt and a sensible blouse, her little black dress. None of it was truly her. In the end she settled on an ankle-length flowing multicolored skirt in soft silk, a bright orange silk halter top and a long purple coat. She teamed it with her favorite boots and big hoop earrings. The ensemble made her feel comfortable, confident and able to handle anything.

  Except Sean.

  She’d steered clear of him for the better part of the week, only dealing with him on a superficial level, trying to ignore that she was broken inside. He hadn’t tried to talk again. He had kept his distance, just as she had told him to do. When she arrived at the gallery, Gwen, resplendent in a stylish gray pantsuit, greeted her excitedly, and Leah was delighted to see that her father had accompanied the older woman. Mitch and Tess were there, as were Winona, Grant, Hank and Joss. David and Annie, back from their honeymoon, arrived just as she was heading into the main gallery, and she hugged them both.

  “This looks amazing,” Annie said. “We’re so proud of you.”

  “Thank you. I can’t believe it’s happening.”

  David hugged her. “You deserve this, sweetheart. You’re so talented, and it’s time the world got to see that, too.”

  People were starting to file into the building, more than she had expected or hoped for. The O’Sullivan clan, of course, and her own family. En masse, the Culhanes were a formidable force, and she was so glad they had all turned out to support her. Several local business owners also arrived, and she watched keenly as people continued to enter through the main doors. There was a discreet quartet in one corner, playing something classic and melodic. Waiters had begun circling the room, offering beverages and tasteful canapés. Leah politely declined a glass of wine, too nervous to drink. And she had to admit, the room, the ambience, the way her artwork was displayed on pillars or diases, showcasing each item as though it was a priceless commodity, was incredibly effective. Each piece looked impressive, important and valuable—and exactly what she had dreamed it could be.

  Sean certainly knew how to pull a shindig together.

  Ellie quickly found her and she hugged her cousin. “Wow, this is incredible. So where is your manager slash agent slash boyfriend?”

  Leah made a face. “He’s none of those things. And honestly, I don’t know where he is. I thought he’d be here by now. Maybe he decided to give it a miss.”

  “Isn’t all this his handiwork?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “I’m betting he won’t miss a second.”

  And then she saw Sean, making his way through the crowd, slicing through people with a greeting or a nod, dressed in a dark suit that she suspected cost more than all the money she had in her checking account. He sought her out with his gaze, and her back straightened.

  “Showtime,” Ellie said and grinned.

  Leah took a breath and walked toward him, taking the hand he held out as she approached.

  “You look stunning,” he said as their fingers touched. “As always.”

  “I’m scared out of my wits,” she admitted.

  “I know,” he countered. “But don’t be. You look incredible. Your work is outstanding. And you’re with me. You got this.”

  You’re with me...

  It sounded so natural. So...real. But it wasn’t true. She wasn’t with him. She offered her love and he’d shut down. This was business for him. She was his pet pity project. Something to keep his mind occupied.

  “There are so many people here,” she proclaimed. “I have no idea how you pulled this off.”

  “I know people.”

  “Do you mean you say jump and people say how high?”

  He chuckled. “Not exactly. But I called in a few favors.”

  “For me?”

  “For you,” he replied.

  She looked across the room and spotted a tall man in an outrageously flamboyant orange and white suit. “Isn’t that...” Her words trailed as she tried to recall a name. “Isn’t he famous? Some sort of musician?”

  Sean smiled and led her toward the man. “Rapper. And yes, he’s very famous. I’ll introduce you. He has a mansion in Beverly Hills that really could do with one of your sculptures in the foyer.”

  The following hours felt like a dream, and not the nightmare she’d always imagined. Instead of hiding from the attention, she embraced it. Instead of thinking her work wasn’t good enough...that she wasn’t good enough, Leah experienced an overwhelming sense of empowerment. And somehow, her doubts and resistance disappeared. She talked to people she’d never dared to imagine she would talk to. She discussed her art with prospective buyers. She referenced her sources of inspiration—from the Black Hills to the local indigenous people, to the colors of the sky and trees to the beauty of the river itself. And people listened. No one mocked her or thought she was weird. No one judged her. She was an artist showcasing her art. She was exactly who she wanted to be. And amazingly, she sold her work—several pieces in fact—and took orders for half a dozen more.

  When it was over, when the last of the invited guests left and she was alone with Sean, Ellie, David and Annie and Gwen and her father, Leah slid into a chair, completely exhausted. But also elated. Not in her wildest dreams had she believed anything so wonderful could happen to her.

  Everyone was talking among themselves, discussing the evening. Except for Sean. He stood off to one side, near the largest of her sculptures, which had found a home with the rap star. She got to her feet and walked over, standing beside him, close enough that she knew only he would hear her every word.

  “How did you really do it?” she asked. “How did you get so many celebrities and successful business people to come to a small town in South Dakota, to see an art exhibit for an unknown, insignificant artist?”

  He looked at her. “Ten years of experience in how to handle people.”

  “Like Vance Beaumont?” she asked. “Who owed you a favor?”

  He nodded. “Well, yeah. And like the rapper came to my studio six years ago with good lyrics, lots of heart and no money. I gave him a chance to realize his dream and he hasn’t forgotten that. The world is full of talented, creative people like yourself, Leah...sometimes all you need is one person to believe in you and the rest takes care of itself.”

  He was right. And he was also that one person who believed in her. Whatever had transpired between them, she could never repay him for his support and encouragement. No one had ever believed in her so much.

  “Thank you,” she said shakily. “For everything you’ve done. For helping me believe in myself. I’m not sure how I can ever repay you.”

  “I don’t want or need repayment.”

  Leah shuddered back a breath. “Can I ask you something? Why did you do all this? What’s in it for you?”

  “Seeing you shine,” he replied. “Like you did tonight. You’re glowing, Leah. You’re doing what you were meant to do, what you were made to do. That’s payment enough.”

  “But the hotel in Vegas, the airplane tickets, the limos, the way you arranged all this so effortlessly... I need to settle the tab.”

  “I thought of something...you could stop hating me.”

  She swallowed hard. “I don’t hate you.”

  “You don’t?”

  Leah shook her head. “No, I don’t. The truth is, I love you.”

  His gaze narrowed. “That might just gratitude talking.”

  “It’s not,” she admitted. “It’s my heart talking. I know you’re not in love with me, Sean. I also know I promised that this wouldn’t happen...that we’d keep it casual. I know I’m not even your type. But I can’t help how I feel...just as you can’t help how you feel.”

  She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, inhaling the woodsy masculine scent that was uniquely his. He didn’t flinch. And she knew it was over. They were done.

  “I’ll drive you home.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll drive myself.” She smiled at him. “Thank you for being you.”

  And that, she thought, was the end of it.

  * * *

  Sean was back in Rapid City the following Tuesday for his follow-up hearing appointment. He went through the same discussion with the audiologist, and for the first time, talked about the possibility of hearing aids. It was a hard conversation—one of the hardest of his life. But he listened and took the reading material he was given. He had a lot to think about. A lot to consider.

  Once he left the appointment Sean texted his mother and said he wanted to catch up with her the following day, knowing he couldn’t avoid it any longer.

  He thought about hanging around town for a while, maybe grabbing lunch, but he was tired of his own company. He’d parked across the street and pulled his keys from his pocket. It was windy day, miserable by the usual standards, but the streets were busy since it was less than a couple of weeks to go until Christmas. The holidays were coming up. He knew what to expect. Family and presents and suffocating concern. He’d considered taking off for a few days, and then knew his mother wouldn’t forgive him if he bailed. Which meant he needed to start thinking about shopping. Usually he sent gift baskets. They were easy and no fuss. This year he figured he wasn’t going to get away with so little effort.

  Sean looked at the department store down the block, and since he had some free time, quickly changed direction and stepped off the sidewalk. In a split second he heard a voice, like someone yelling, but it seemed far away. Only it wasn’t. And within seconds there was another sound, this one screeching, and suddenly a bicycle collided directly with his left side and sent him flying across the pavement. He experienced a sharp and searing pain as he hit the ground, and had the fleeting thought that he hoped there was no other traffic coming as the last thing he wanted was to be hit by a bus. He also wondered if he was going to hit his head and black out. Or worse.