19

Lights from media cameras flashed around Sean like stars as he climbed the steps to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tonight was the opening of the Van Gogh exhibit, which the Worthington family had funded. Ava Worthington had long been a patron of the arts, and it was rare for her to miss an opening. However, she’d left a message on Sean’s cell, asking if he would represent the family tonight instead, since he was in town.

The darling of the press, in contrast to his more reclusive, executive brother, Sean put on a good show of loving the limelight. In truth, he was tired of being photographed, interviewed, and stalked by paparazzi. He also detested the artistic style of Van Gogh’s people portraits, which were the main focus of this exhibit. He only found the landscapes and flowers palatable. But he could talk and act a good game when he needed to.

However, when microphones were thrust in his face right before he entered the impressive stone building, the reporters didn’t ask about his love for art. Instead, most asked the same question: “Are you going to run for governor of New York?”

Sean flashed his most charismatic and enigmatic smile. “We’ll see, won’t we?” Then he proceeded to usher Renee, the beautiful model accompanying him for the evening, inside.

Why not let the speculation swirl? No one was going to trap Sean into revealing anything he didn’t want to. He loved leaving things in a rather mysterious light.

After the exhibit, he ushered Renee home. She made an offer for him to come upstairs. He declined, claiming jet lag after flying halfway across the world, to avoid hurting her feelings. Then, to avoid the paparazzi, he sneaked out the back door of the building.

Let them think what they want. They wouldn’t believe the truth.

The truth? His apartment was empty when he arrived there and sank onto the decorator couch he hated. He didn’t want a vapid woman to fill it for a night. He wanted a woman with a lively intellect and a quirky smile. He wanted . . . Elizabeth.

But what was he thinking? His best friend had declared interest in her. She was off-limits now.

Or is she? He sat up as a spark of competition more fierce than he’d ever felt in the business world blazed into being.

Maybe he would have to make that trip to the state of Washington after all.

“You can’t let go, can you?” Drew strolled into Will’s office.

“Would you?” Will fired back.

Drew didn’t have to answer. The two knew each other too well.

“Okay, I admit I keep track of American Frontier. But I can’t get it out of my mind.”

Drew studied him. “So no new challenge has reared its head?”

“No.”

Will had continued to listen for the still small voice but hadn’t heard any definitive direction. Only the whisper, Wait. Now he switched the subject. “So is our plan progressing? To keep tabs on Carson and dig more deeply into his dirty dealings and background?”

Drew nodded. “I’ve got people on it. Good people. They’ll turn up something.”

The Polar Bear bombing case still haunted Will. Maybe it was because he had seen the bomber with his own eyes and had been in the area right before the bomb went off. Sure, a guy in a polar bear suit was a little weird, but nothing in the guy’s eyes or behavior had flagged him as a terrorist.

“That’s all I need to know at this juncture,” Will said. “I’m going to give Sarah a call to see if anything’s new with the criminal negligence case. At least anything she can tell me officially.”

“Got it.” With those two cryptic words, Drew headed back out of the office.

When the large double wood doors swung shut, Will placed the call to Sarah.

“Things are progressing, but much too slowly. There are too many loose ends. No way can we go into court like this. But we’ll prove it—we’ll get Sandstrom,” his sister declared. “Darcy and Jon are helping with some details officially and on the side.” She chuckled. “You know how it goes. And both Darcy and I have teams of investigators on it.”

“Great. I always liked those two—honest, straightforward people with integrity.”

“Yeah, Jon’s like a Dad clone, only younger and with a reporter’s voyeuristic edge and instinctual snoopiness. Mostly quiet but a good listener.” She laughed. “You know what Mom says about still waters running deep.”

The words sounded like his sister but didn’t have her usual sassiness. They were tempered with what sounded like admiration.

Sarah? Who swore off dating after that TV producer jerk?

Will couldn’t even remember the guy’s name, just that he and their parents couldn’t stand him. One dinner together with him and his pompous manner had sealed the deal. Sean had said the guy was a jerk from the first time Sarah mentioned his name. He’d refused to give specifics, but he’d insisted that Sarah deserved far more. But he’d also told Will that their sister was too headstrong to listen. She had to learn for herself—and she had, the hard way.

Was she intrigued by Jon Gillibrand? Will smiled, considering the possibility. He’d have to mention it to Laura and get her take, even if he knew what she would say.

“Stay out of your sister’s love life,” she’d chide. Laura had hated it when her parents and brother finagled dates for her when she came home from college. “As if I couldn’t find one for myself,” she’d told Will in a heated moment, when they were getting to know each other that first summer in Chautauqua Institution. Sure enough, Laura had found the right match. Will was thankful every day it was him.

But then he knew what Laura would do next. She’d take his arm and whisper, “So, what’s he like? Would I like him? Would Ava like him?”

In spite of her repeated vocalization against trashy romance novels, which ended predictably with the woman finding the perfect match, Laura was a romantic at heart. She and Ava would love it if Sarah at last found her match. Ditto for Sean.

Only time would tell, but it would be interesting to watch . . . even if his wife did make him stay out of it.