Irresistible You Read Free Page B

you here permanently and your father being semi-retired frees up my time to work on other projects I’ve been planning for several years,” she said as she casually turned and followed him back to his desk.
    It’s now or never, she reminded herself as she artfully changed the subject. “Did I mention that I’ve decided to invest in some property?”
    She stopped in front of his desk and stuck her finger into the soil of an orchid she’d placed there a week ago in hopes of bringing a little life into the bleak surroundings. The beautiful, perfectly formed petals were still in bloom, but the moss covered plant-mixture was as dry as the Sahara.
    “No.” He answered absently still scanning his computer screen.
    She went into the office’s private bathroom and filled a glass with water. When she returned to the office, she found her son at his desk and completely engrossed in work. “It’s a wonderful opportunity that just came up for sale a few months ago. The location is perfect. It’s just across the street from the art gallery. It’s an old vacant community center. The building was nearly complete when it was foreclosed on.”
    “Sounds great,” J.T. said as he continued to scan through several screens of e-mail messages and notes. His eyes never left the monitor.
    “Oh, it is. I already have some wonderful ideas planned for the center. As a matter of fact since I always wanted to open a neighborhood art and dance facility and sponsor major recitals and exhibits, this is the perfect place.”
    “Really…” he said.
    “Oh yes, I’m hoping that the entire center will be completely self-sufficient. Sets, costumes, studios, dance and art instruction—everything can be handled in-house.”
    “Good,” he said, nodding absently.
    Taylor knew he wasn’t paying attention, but she continued talking as she poured half the water onto the moss than waited as the dried moss and plant mixture greedily soaked in the water. “We’re planning for it to open in about twelve months or so. We already have a very impressive list of prospective students.” She rearranged the glass marbles and river rocks then added the rest of the water.
    “Uh-huh.”
    “It’s a lot of work but ultimately it’s going to be a labor of love, a wonderful opportunity and a tremendous investment.” She glanced down at her son, waiting for a response.
    “Aha,” he muttered as his fingers began clicking the keys in front of him. She went back into the bathroom to return the glass.
    “The basic premise will be to offer an after-school and weekend program to help promote the arts and dance in the community,” she said as she returned to the desk.
    “Really.”
    “But as with most programs, it will be expensive. The price of setting up the locations with dance studios and room for a large art studio, not to mention teachers and supplies, can add up. The cost to put on a ballet performance can cost anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars or more. Of course we intend to raise money from patrons of the arts, auctions and fundraisers, including the annual Fairy Tale Ball.
    Taylor fingered the orchid gently turning the porous ceramic container to showcase the flower to the best effect. “To begin with, we’ll offer a fine and graphic arts program, sculpture, painting and drawing. And for dance, we’ll offer ballet, modern, jazz and of course, to get the kids interested, hip-hop dance. Then, in the following years, we’re going to develop a music and drama program,” she added, knowing that she didn’t have his complete attention.
    “Sounds nice,” he said still concentrating on the computer monitor.
    “Of course I’ll head the arts program.” Taylor continued as she dusted a speck of nothing from her lapel and sat down. “And I have a wonderful partner who was a dance professional. She’s a choreographer now and she has an amazing classical and traditional dance program already in place.”
    “Aha.”
    “She’s the