to be here.”
Holly knew the portrait was good, but that didn’t mean she wanted it displayed at the entrance to the exhibition. “It would look just as good with the other portraits.”
“Nonsense. It would make the other paintings look inferior. This is where it belongs.”
Regardless of where Nick decided to hang her painting, she was really pleased with it. She’d wanted to create something that would be a reminder of the love that surrounded Tommy. On one of the days she’d visited his family, Tommy’s grandmother had been sitting in a rocking chair, holding her baby grandson and singing softly to him. The light streaming through the window beside them had softened the worry on her face. The connection between Tommy and his grandmother had been strong and sure and almost magical.
Holly glanced at the table in the center of the room. “What about hanging one of Natalie’s paintings at the entrance? Her reputation will bring a lot of buyers to the auction.”
“My dear, you underestimate the reputation you have built amongst my clients. Natalie isn’t the only artist who will make this auction a success. I have already sold the last painting you gave me.”
“You did? That’s amazing. I didn’t think many people would be interested in my landscape.”
“You paint from your heart. Your landscape had the same intensity as your portraits. They tell a story and fill the imagination with what might be. You have a rare gift, something that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
Holly kissed Nick’s cheek. “We make a good team.”
“Are you kissing granddad again?” Mia said from behind Holly. “You’re going to disappoint all the Greek women in Bozeman if they find out.”
The grin on Nick’s face was full of love for his granddaughter. “It is a small price to pay. When was the last time you gave your grandfather a hug?”
Mia put down the canvas she was holding and wrapped her arms around her granddad. “How’s that?”
“Much better. I tried calling you last night, but you weren’t home.”
“I know you’re desperate to see me married, granddad, but don’t get your hopes up. I was helping Holly arrange all of the paintings.” She glanced at the portrait Holly had donated for the auction. “I couldn’t convince Holly to hang her painting here. I’m glad you changed her mind.”
“He didn’t. Your granddad did this on his own.”
“He knows quality when he sees it.” Mia looked proudly at Nick. “Anyone who sees your portrait will want to buy it. Has Tommy’s family seen it?”
Holly shook her head. “Not yet. They’re coming to the pre-auction viewing. I hope they like what we’ve done.”
Nick walked toward the table in the middle of the room and picked up one of the canvases. “Tommy’s family will be very grateful. I know just the place for this painting. After we’ve finished, I’ll share my apple and cinnamon muffins with my two favorite girls.”
“Granddad wants something,” Mia said, nudging Holly’s arm. “He never shares his muffins with anyone that easily.”
Nick frowned at his granddaughter. “Your papouli wants nothing more than to spend time with you.”
“Of course, you do, granddad. I’ll get the other painting out of my car.” After leaving a quick kiss on her grandfather’s cheek, Mia walked out of the warehouse.
Holly picked up the canvas she’d brought inside and followed Nick across the room. She tilted her head sideways as he held a painting against the wall. “A little higher and to the right.”
“Better?”
She nodded. “It looks beautiful against the black wall.” Claire’s oil painting looked stunning. Blue and green paint swirled across the canvas in a random pattern. It wasn’t until you looked closely that you realized there was a subtle pattern in the abstract form.
Nick attached a hook to the wall. “Tell me about Mia’s plan to find a boyfriend.”
Holly frowned at his back. “I didn’t know she had
Holly knew the portrait was good, but that didn’t mean she wanted it displayed at the entrance to the exhibition. “It would look just as good with the other portraits.”
“Nonsense. It would make the other paintings look inferior. This is where it belongs.”
Regardless of where Nick decided to hang her painting, she was really pleased with it. She’d wanted to create something that would be a reminder of the love that surrounded Tommy. On one of the days she’d visited his family, Tommy’s grandmother had been sitting in a rocking chair, holding her baby grandson and singing softly to him. The light streaming through the window beside them had softened the worry on her face. The connection between Tommy and his grandmother had been strong and sure and almost magical.
Holly glanced at the table in the center of the room. “What about hanging one of Natalie’s paintings at the entrance? Her reputation will bring a lot of buyers to the auction.”
“My dear, you underestimate the reputation you have built amongst my clients. Natalie isn’t the only artist who will make this auction a success. I have already sold the last painting you gave me.”
“You did? That’s amazing. I didn’t think many people would be interested in my landscape.”
“You paint from your heart. Your landscape had the same intensity as your portraits. They tell a story and fill the imagination with what might be. You have a rare gift, something that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
Holly kissed Nick’s cheek. “We make a good team.”
“Are you kissing granddad again?” Mia said from behind Holly. “You’re going to disappoint all the Greek women in Bozeman if they find out.”
The grin on Nick’s face was full of love for his granddaughter. “It is a small price to pay. When was the last time you gave your grandfather a hug?”
Mia put down the canvas she was holding and wrapped her arms around her granddad. “How’s that?”
“Much better. I tried calling you last night, but you weren’t home.”
“I know you’re desperate to see me married, granddad, but don’t get your hopes up. I was helping Holly arrange all of the paintings.” She glanced at the portrait Holly had donated for the auction. “I couldn’t convince Holly to hang her painting here. I’m glad you changed her mind.”
“He didn’t. Your granddad did this on his own.”
“He knows quality when he sees it.” Mia looked proudly at Nick. “Anyone who sees your portrait will want to buy it. Has Tommy’s family seen it?”
Holly shook her head. “Not yet. They’re coming to the pre-auction viewing. I hope they like what we’ve done.”
Nick walked toward the table in the middle of the room and picked up one of the canvases. “Tommy’s family will be very grateful. I know just the place for this painting. After we’ve finished, I’ll share my apple and cinnamon muffins with my two favorite girls.”
“Granddad wants something,” Mia said, nudging Holly’s arm. “He never shares his muffins with anyone that easily.”
Nick frowned at his granddaughter. “Your papouli wants nothing more than to spend time with you.”
“Of course, you do, granddad. I’ll get the other painting out of my car.” After leaving a quick kiss on her grandfather’s cheek, Mia walked out of the warehouse.
Holly picked up the canvas she’d brought inside and followed Nick across the room. She tilted her head sideways as he held a painting against the wall. “A little higher and to the right.”
“Better?”
She nodded. “It looks beautiful against the black wall.” Claire’s oil painting looked stunning. Blue and green paint swirled across the canvas in a random pattern. It wasn’t until you looked closely that you realized there was a subtle pattern in the abstract form.
Nick attached a hook to the wall. “Tell me about Mia’s plan to find a boyfriend.”
Holly frowned at his back. “I didn’t know she had
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