“You wanted it to be your father,” Norm said softly.
Nodding miserably, Theo mumbled, “Yes…when he found out about Norm, my father told me he would be so proud to walk me down the aisle. That’s when I realized nothing made sense…that there had to be a mistake because my parents were so happy… so how could they suddenly…” Unable to finish his thought, Theo broke down and sobbed for everything that had been taken from him that fateful day.
Ignoring his bear’s growls, Smokey knew there was more to the story, but it would have to wait. Moving next to Theo, Smokey pulled him against his chest, holding him tight as his mate’s tears fell upon him.
Joining his mates, Norm slid to Theo’s other side, sandwiching Theo between Smokey and himself, murmuring reassuring words. While he was hurt that Theo hadn’t told him about the call, Norm pushed that feeling aside as the puzzle pieces—the frequent bouts of crying, the sudden interest in gardening and, more importantly, the frequent humming of the song his mother used to sing to him—finally fell into place. Whatever Theo’s mother said to him during that call must have allowed Theo to finally accept the truth about what his parents had done. And knowing how goodhearted his honey bunch was, he knew it had to hurt him deeply. Softly rubbing Theo’s back, Norm made a promise to himself that someday, somehow, his mate’s parents would pay for the pain they’d inflicted on him.
~/~/~/~/~
“Of all the fucking mornings to run late, it had to be today,” Kahn muttered to himself while searching for a parking spot close to his destination. He’d spent longer than planned talking to his mother, but that was after he learned of Rudy’s plan to marry CeCe.Another fucking asshole. A real prick, just like my father. Shit, they could have been brothers.
Sighing, Kahn turned his thoughts to his upcoming meeting. He wasn’t sure what to do about Rudy, but he was determined to protect his mother and sisters from him. And this meeting had the potential to insure the funds needed to make good on his promise to them.
Finally spying a place, he maneuvered his car into the tight spot, thankful it was close to the gallery. Getting out, he opened the door to remove a number of canvases, leaning them against the side of his car before locking it. His arms loaded, Kahn headed for the gallery, grateful that someone was at the door to hold it open for him.
Once inside, he walked to the back where Emilia Miralles’ office was located and peeked in. She was on the phone to someone, so he set his paintings on a table outside her office. Hoping to settle his nerves, he strolled over to the artwork covering the gallery walls, eager to view some new arrivals.
Emilia’s eye for discovering talent was well known in the San Francisco art community which made it all the sweeter when she’d approached him after seeing his work in a small gallery. He now had a following and, according to Emilia, his works were flying off the walls.
Moving slowly, Kahn studied each painting, mentally noting the artists of those he liked, paying special attention to those done in watercolor, his own medium. Turning a corner, he smiled at the sold sign on one of his own pieces, remembering the feeling he’d poured into creating it.
Glancing back at Emilia’s office, he saw she was still on the phone, so he continued checking out his competition. While all the artwork was exceptional, none in particular jumped out at him. But after turning a corner, his gaze landed on a drawing, that stopped him cold. It was exquisite—far better, even, than his own work. It was so life-like, he almost wanted to touch it to make sure it really was a drawing.
“I see you like my new discovery,” Emilia said enthusiastically, as she joined him at the drawing.
Giving her a smile before his eyes returned to the artwork, Kahn nodded. “This artist is amazing…to be able to capture the subject’s emotions like that. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Do you have any more?”
“I do,” Emilia replied, walking over to the opposite wall.
“Where did you find him…or is it a her?”
“It’s a him…Fionn Evans…and actually, he found me,” Emilia said, smiling. “He and his husband came in, wondering if I’d be interested in his drawings.”
Following Emilia’s finger, Kahn saw five more drawings and, while all were exquisite, his attention zeroed in on one—a man enveloped in a shining light, his wings fully extended, holding up a sword. But it was the eyes that told him he was looking at a wolf shifter, portrayed as the White Knight. Inhaling sharply, he wondered if the artist had used a model or worked from an image in a book. Examining the drawing more closely, he surmised it was too realistic to have been created from an illustration.
His eyes roamed over the muscled chest, drooling over it before they followed the happy trail leading to a sizable bulge the artist had made sure to highlight. He wondered who the man in the drawing was; he wouldn’t mind meeting him.
Noticing Kahn’s interest, Emilia murmured, “I think that’s my favorite, also. Too bad the man in the drawing is taken, or else I’d be begging Fionn to introduce me.”
“He is?” asked Kahn, inwardly sighing at the news.
“Fionn wouldn’t confirm it when I asked him, but I’m pretty sure it’s his husband.”
“Do they live here…in San Francisco?” asked Kahn, not sure whether that would be a good thing or not.
“I don’t think so…when I first met them, Hunter…that’s Fionn’s husband…said they were here for a day. But I got the impression they lived somewhere in California.”
“Did they say where in California?” asked Kahn. He was reluctant to use his relationship with Emilia to find out, but with his mother and sisters staying with him for the foreseeable future, it was essential to know if there might be danger lurking close by.
Frowning, Emilia tapped her chin with her finger, thinking about his question before saying, “No…not that I remember, but Fionn has a Scottish accent so I’d guess he’s from there.”
Breathing a sigh of relief at that piece of information, Kahn asked, “Did you look at the paintings I brought? I wasn’t sure what you wanted or why…”
Eyes sparkling, Emilia turned her attention back to Kahn. “What would you think about me doing a show exclusively of your works?”
Oh my gods! It’s my dream coming true…and couldn’t have happened at a better time.“I think you will make me very happy!”
Chapter 37
