His By Design Read Free

tell Zoe who the artist really is and you can meet your adoring public.”
    “I’m not so sure there will be an adoring public, Jeff. I think you’re overestimating the salability of my paintings.”
    “I’m not. They’re terrific, Bug. Remember what your art instructor at Towson University said?”
    “Well, yeah, but that was . . .”
    Back before he’d driven her home from modern dance class that fateful day. Now not only could she not dance anymore, she had to wear a damn brace to walk any distance. His heart twisted in his chest every time he thought about her future.
    “. . . a long time ago,” she finished in a whisper.
    She sounded dubious, but at least it wasn’t a flat out “no.”
    Now all he had to do was figure out a way to convince Zoe.

Chapter 2
    “May I speak with Mr. Petrosky, please?”
    “I’m sorry. Mr. Petrosky doesn’t live here. This is his son, Jeff. Can I help you?” He’d recognized her voice immediately but couldn’t resist busting her chops just a tad.
    “Jeff, are you always such a pain in the butt?”
    “Probably about seventy-five percent of the time, so I’m told by my closest friends.”
    “And how many close friends do you have, Jeff?”
    “Okay, you got me there. Not many, but I’m looking forward to adding you to the short list.”
    “I’m not interested in becoming your friend, Mr. Petrosky. I’m interested in becoming your boss.”
    “First, Mr. Petrosky is my father, so if you’re interested in hiring me you’ll have to use ‘Jeff’. Second, I’d much prefer the term ‘employer’. Boss sounds so . . . dominating.”
    “You know, Jeff , maybe this was a mistake. I thought from our brief conversation yesterday that you were looking for work. But if I have to spar with you over semantics every time we chat, you’re going to be more trouble than you’re worth.”
    Ah, crap! Why did he always go the one step too far that put him on the wrong side of the humorous/annoying dividing line? He didn’t want to do that with Zoe Silvercreek. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d like to add her to his list of friends.
    “A thousand pardons, Ma’am. It’s early, I haven’t had any coffee, and my smartass gene seems to be in overdrive this morning. If we could start over, I would be delighted to entertain an offer of employment from you.”
    He heard the sigh and held his own breath for the few seconds it took her to decide.
    “Fine, Jeff. I’m at the gallery and have a Thermos full of coffee. Why don’t you come by and we’ll talk about what I need done here?”
    “Yes, Ma’am, I can be there in ten minutes.”
    “Good. And stop ‘ma’am’-ing me. I’m not over fifty and if I have to call you Jeff, we can both be on a first name basis, okay?”
    He almost said, “Yes, boss” but caught himself in time. He’d be on his best behavior, for a while at least. “Okay, Zoe, see you in ten.”
    He flung himself out of bed and dove for the shower. He’d worked in his studio till two a.m. last night, which was pretty routine, as was sleeping in until ten. Zoe apparently liked to get an early start since it was only eight, but for a boss who looked like her he’d be willing to get up at six every day and five on Sundays. Since he told her he’d be there in ten, he’d be there in ten. Which meant no shave. He raked a brush through his unruly hair, donned his cleanest pair of jeans and a fresh T-shirt, grabbed his keys, and was out the door in seven minutes. He’d make it to the gallery with seconds to spare.
    Zoe paced off the length of the storefrom the front windows to the wall that separated the office and restroom from the main studio. She made a note on her clipboard and added a question mark next to floor covering. The hideous vinyl that currently covered it would have to go and she hoped she’d find a hardwood floor beneath that could be refinished.
    She already regretted the phone call to Jeff. She’d asked Marjorie about him and got