“She is a very special young woman, besides being my sister.” Aspen watched Malayna and couldn’t help but to smile. She had gone through such trauma, it was surprising that she had come s

o far so quickly. Her eyes dashed to the Mulicheck men and immediately she noticed the anger in Star’s eyes, and Border looked about ready to flip out. She followed their eyes and heard the music change to a slower song as Boian took Nalia’s hand and pulled her close. The other women were asked to dance as Pierre Lafranchess bowed before Malayna and asked her to dance. She realized in that instant that Nalia had been right. The Mulicheck men were in love with Malayna, despite their insistence to Malayna that they were only her rescuers and nothing more.

“Seems I may have some competition for her work,” Ellington stated and took a sip from his wine glass.

“Not necessarily. Pierre’s galleries are all over the world. You have multiple here in Chicago and in Texas.”

“That’s why I would like to meet with Malayna. Despite her confidence, and of course her beauty, there seems to be a shyness about her. I can’t imagine her work on display in Manhattan or even Paris or Milan. She seems more quaint and would be more marketable and approachable in a smaller venue. Of course, it’s up to her. Her paintings and her photography skills are superb.”

Aspen smiled. She hadn’t even seen all of Malayna’s work but what she did see she knew was special. As she watched Pierre talking to Malayna and making her smile and laugh, she caught sight of Border and he didn’t look happy.

“Perhaps I need to cut in,” Ellington said and placed his wine glass down, fixed his bow tie, and headed out to the dance floor. Aspen watched as he interrupted the dance, smiled at Malayna, and asked to cut in. Pierre looked none the happier, but accepted Malayna’s agreement to dance with Ellington. That was when the night got even more interesting.

* * * *

“Are you enjoying your party, Malayna?” Ellington asked her as he held her close and whisked her around the dance floor. He was quite the handsome man and he smelled good as well, but she felt a bit queasy. She gripped him tighter and his eyes squinted at her. “Are you feeling okay?” he asked.

“I didn’t have a chance to eat anything or to drink. I think I’m feeling it. I’m so sorry but I think I should get something.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’ll accompany you and we can talk some more,” he said and wrapped his arm around her waist and walked with her off the dance floor. They headed toward the dining area where a large assortment of food was being served, everything from appetizers to entrees. He grabbed a bottle of water. “Here. Take a sip of this,” he said, opening up the top. She took it from him, watched his blue eyes hold her gaze, and she realized that he was actually a very nice man. He was older, like Krane and his brothers. That thought had her looking around and locking gazes with Border. He looked angry. She gave a nod toward him and a light smile. Was he jealous, or was he just acting protective? She turned away and Ellington guided her along the food table, helping to add items to a plate. He grabbed two forks and held her waist. The warmth of his large hand made her skin tingle and she wondered if she were wasting her time feeling an attraction to the Mulicheck men when it seemed they didn’t feel the same way about her.

Thirty minutes later, as she and Ellington shared the plate of food and talked about the art industry, she realized that it wasn’t a romantic attraction she had for Ellington, but a professional one. He seemed to feel the same way. Especially midway through them flirting and him smiling as he spoke to her about his galleries, he seemed to pick up on the men watching them.

“Seems you have more than two guards this evening,” he said to her.

She took a deep breath and exhaled. “It comes with the territory, but I don’t mind. For years I was all alone,” she told him.

“No guards, or friends and family?” he asked.

She swallowed hard. Surely Aspen must have told him some of her story.

“Nothing like that, and the guards were enemies. It was a terrible time in my life and I don’t talk about it to anyone, Ellington.”

He reached over and covered her hands with his.

“I understand. I’m reaching here, but I noticed one particular painting that looked like a view from a window overlooking a partial garden and a very old, stable looking wall. Was that a memory from where you were?”

“It was,” she said and looked away from him. Her eyes locked onto Star’s and he squinted at her, obviously picking up on her emotions. She smiled and then looked at Ellington.

“Malayna, if there are other paintings, other memories from that part of your life that makes you sad, or perhaps has been the ignition in you creating your pieces, maybe presenting them in a gallery would help you heal.”

She was shocked at his idea. She shook her head.

“I don’t want to sell those pieces. They’re part of me, of what I experienced.”

“You don’t need to sell them. I can understand they are part of you. You’ve painted other pieces, I’m sure. You could even work on some more while we plan an event.”

“I’m not certain I feel comfortable with that.”

“I’ll help you and so will Aspen. Has she told you about Marianna Spaulding?” Malayna shook her head.

“Marianna is a very good friend of mine and she has a gorgeous gallery in Salvation. It’s very upscale, yet she handpicks the artists she displays there. You see, she had a tough life for many years, but she worked hard and established her gallery with the help of her husbands, Jax and Jameson. I have a brother who was in the service with Jameson. Anyway, if you want to explore options, and visit a few galleries to see other artists’ work, to see how the galleries showcase artists like yourself, we could organize that.”

She stared at him, uncertain of why he was doing this.

“Why do you want to help me? What makes you think my artwork and photographs are so special?”

He widened his eyes and then she smiled as he squeezed her hands. “Sweetheart, it’s not only the paintings that are special, it’s you. There’s just something amazing about you, intriguing and charismatic.”

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