Kevin put the finishing touches on the special edition dedicated to the religious paintings of old Czechoslovakia and cleared his work area. "Tanya, would you mind staying? I'd like you to meet my guests." He smiled, a gentle, proud smile. "I want my closest friend, Jeff Moore, to meet my artistic advisor." He laughed. "Oh, yes. Jeff manages my Shoppe, as well."
Tanya frowned and started to clean her brushes. Kevin's portrait stood before her, still only half way done. "I'd prefer not to meet anyone," she said. She didn't look at Kevin.
"Please?" he said, coming around in front of her and lifting her chin. He looked deep into her eyes. "I'm proud of you, Tanya. Please let me introduce you to my friends."
"I don't particularly like to meet strangers. And besides, you said you had important business to discuss. I would just be in the way."
"Never in the way! My God, Tanya, I'm proud of you…as an artist, as a person." He twisted a strand of her hair in his fingers, a confused frown on his face.
She sighed. In no way did she want to risk her safety, her hidden identity, to strangers, but in no way did she want to disappoint Kevin. She took a deep breath and turned from him. She didn't want to meet anyone. Unexpected news had come from Malcolm earlier that day. It alarmed her. A rumor on the streets reported a contract on her-for half a million dollars. Malcolm recommended she be cautious while he intensified the investigation. She sighed again, and turned to him, about to refuse his invitation, but the expectant look on his face changed her mind. "All right. One drink, and then I leave. I'll stay for a few minutes only, no more." He grinned, hugged her. "But I have to go home and change first. Look at me, old jeans and a paint-covered smock, to say nothing of my hair." She hugged him back and left.
"This is not wise," she said aloud as she hurried to her mansion. "I know it isn't wise. Malcolm would kill me." She bit her lip and entered the empty building. Edda and Charles were due to return late in the afternoon, but they hadn't appeared. Worse than that, they hadn't called to tell her they would be late. Now, she was about to meet two strangers, strangers with curious questions she didn't want to answer. She shook her head, berating herself for foolishness. Please Kevin, and risk exposure…perhaps risk her life.