Flirting With Forever by Gwyn Cready (new books to read TXT) 📕

him. Anastasia found out about Cam’s time travel. Anastasia caught wind of the Wednesday Afternoons horror. Anastasia was part of the Wednesday Afternoons horror. Cam’s finger flew to her lashes. “Oh?”

“He’s an interesting fel ow.”

Gulp. “Real y? Where, um, was this?”

Anastasia’s eyes darted back to the stapler. “Can’t remember, actual y. A bar downtown, I think.”

Cam tried to picture Peter ordering a drink. “Rhenish”

would have earned him nothing but confused looks.

“Men seem to have a thing for you.”

Cam felt like she was being tested, though for the life of her she had no idea what the answer was. It was like one of those nightmares about the SATs. “I, uh—Pardon?”

“Men. You engender some primitive protectiveness in them.”

“Like Jacket?”

“Of course Jacket. Who did you think I meant?”

“Yes, I can see where screwing the woman who designed my engagement ring was the ultimate act of gal antry.”

“He loves you. Anyone can see it.”

Cam squirmed. It was true. Love and faithfulness occupied quite different gal eries in the complicated floor plan of Jacket’s head. “I’l admit he’s making progress.”

“C’mon, Cam. Give him a break. How much does one guy have to suffer in your world?”

A good question. But even if the answer was “a lot,”

hadn’t Jacket satisfied the requirement?

“How’s the book going?”

Cam rubbed her neck. It was like watching a Federer–

Nadal tennis match, trying to fol ow the subject line here.

“Good, actual y.”

“Kinda weird you’re writing about Peter Lely, and your friend’s named Peter Lely.”

“Yeah, wel , he kind of inspired it.”

“Is he an art col ector?

“Mmm. I don’t know for sure. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know. I just wondered if he col ected paintings or drawings or art-related letters, that sort of thing?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. He’s a real art fan.”

Anastasia nodded, her bob swinging brusquely. “He looked different when I saw him.”

“Different?”

“Sexy.”

“Peter?” Cam forced a laugh. It was exactly the same thought she’d had at Bal ’s, right before her world imploded.

He wore the clothes of the twenty-first century as if he belonged here.

“Have you thought about sleeping with him?”

“Jeez, Anastasia, first you’re practical y shoving me into Jacket’s arms, and now you’re asking if I’ve thought about sleeping with Peter?”

“Have you?”

Only every night since Guy Fawkes. “No.”

“Good. I know you value fidelity. Once you’ve entered into a relationship, even at the very, very start, you would never do anything to jeopardize it. You’l laugh, but I admire that about you. You know me. I’ve always been a bit of a slut.”

Like calling K2 a bit of a hill.

“But you … You’ve always honored that connection you have with your partners. You’ve always been honorable and faithful and true—”

“Yes, yes, yes, we’ve established I’m the Mother Teresa of the dating world. What is this al about?”

“Nothing.” Anastasia stood and brushed off her wide, tasseled sash. She spotted the dry-cleaner’s bag hanging on the back of the door, and her eyes popped. “What’s this?”

“Evening clothes. I’m sure you’ve heard of them. They have them in Stalingrad, I believe.”

“I don’t mean the outfit. I mean the color. I’ve attended over a dozen museum parties with you, and I’ve never seen you in anything more daring than black. And now you’re wearing olive and white? What gives?”

Cam flushed. “I-I was told I look nice in olive.”

“You do. You definitely do.” Anastasia walked by the dress, considering. “Now, about tomorrow. The board meets at one. One of us is going to walk out of there the director. I think it’s me. Which isn’t to say you’re not the most qualified candidate—apart from me, of course. But I have a friend who’s chummy with three or four of the members. He hears things he passes along to me. The tide has turned in my favor. The selection wil be finalized tomorrow.”

Cam drew her finger along her lashes with a bold swipe.

Anastasia was prone to exaggeration. “They may change their minds when they see the Van Dyck. It’s exceptional.”

“They may. But they’ve known about the acquisition for three months now. You’ve already gotten whatever credit you’re going to get out of it. The only thing it could do for you now is lose you points.”

“Lose me points? How?”

“I don’t know. Not being as good as they expect. You’ve sold it as a blockbuster, Cam.