Country Roads Read Online Free Page B

blind.”
    Claire was unwrapping the next painting Bud had carried in. “This one is as good as the first!” she said, leaning it against the wall and walking away to gaze at it. “Maybe better.”
    Paul was still hovering in front of Julia. Reckless in her newly restored confidence, she asked, “What do
you
think of them?”
    His eyebrows shot upward in surprise. “Me? I told you I’m not an art expert.”
    “Neither are most of the people who buy art,” Julia pointed out.
    He gave her a searching look and pushed off the floor, towering over her as he straightened to his full height. He moved in front of the easel, and she felt nerves squeezing her throat closed again. As he said, it shouldn’t matter what he thought. After all, Claire was the expert, and she was bubbling over with excitement. But Julia wanted his approval too. She wasn’t sure why. She just did.
    She surged out of the chair, sending it rolling into the desk with a bang. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry,” she said as Claire started. Paul didn’t seem to notice. He stood stock-still, his arms crossed over his chest.
    Julia tiptoed around so she could see his expression and wished she hadn’t. He looked as though someone had walloped him in the belly when he least expected it.
    “You don’t like it,” she whispered, the jubilation draining out of her.
    It took him a moment to focus on her. “You painted this?” He shook his head in wonderment. “It’s so…so big and wild and you’re so…so, I don’t know.” He made a gesture toward her.
    Claire came to his rescue. “So small and fragile-looking. To be painting with such emotional power.”
    “Right,” he said. “I can’t make the connection.”
    Julia turned to the painting, trying to understand what he meant. It was one of the pictures she called
Night Mares
, a massive black horse with glowing eyes galloping through a riot of colors and shapes.
    “I have to admit, I’m sort of stunned myself,” Claire said, coming to stand beside Paul.
    “I guess I can’t afford this, but I sure as hell would like to own it,” he said.
    “You would?” Julia asked, his enthusiasm warming her.
    “Paul, when did you become an art lover?” Claire asked.
    “When I found something I liked.”
    “It’s yours,” Julia said.
    Both of them looked at her as though she’d lost her mind. “I’m much obliged, but I can’t accept this,” Paul said. “I know what your paintings are worth.”
    “It wouldn’t be worth anything if you hadn’t rescued me from the side of Interstate 64.” Julia grimaced at the memory of all those cars whizzing past her. “I want you to have it for being kind to a total stranger. There should be a reward for that.”
    Claire’s dark eyes sparkled with laughter. “Oh God, please don’t make him worse. We call it D-I-D syndrome. Paul has a compulsion to save damsels in distress.”
    He chuckled, but Julia noticed he was tapping his fingers against the side of his thigh.
    “Well, I’m a very grateful damsel, and I want you to have the painting.”
    “It’s out of proportion to my contribution.”
    He wasn’t taking her offer seriously, she could tell. “Well, then consider it your retainer since you’re my lawyer now.” She felt an overwhelming desire to know her painting was hanging somewhere Paul Taggart would see it every day.
    His face relaxed into a smile. “It would take me the rest of my career to work this off.”
    “So you’ll accept it?”
    “No, ma’am. When it comes to the law, I only accept cash.” His tone was light, but she heard the rock-hard refusal beneath. His pride wouldn’t allow him to accept something he thought was too valuable.
    Claire had been standing halfway between the two of them, simply watching, but now she interjected, “I could give you an advance against sales, if cash is a problem.”
    “You could?” Julia felt uncertain again. Her uncle handled all her financial affairs, an arrangement she’d never minded until