Under A Painted Moon

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  Whiskey Creek Press

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Copyright ©2006 by WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  UNDER A PAINTED MOON

  by

  Rayne Forrest

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Published by

  WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

  Whiskey Creek Press

  PO Box 51052

  Casper, WY 82605-1052

  www.whiskeycreekpress.com

  Copyright ©

  2006 by Rayne Forrest

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  ISBN 1-59374-589-3

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston

  Editor: Sue Vetter

  Printed in the United States of America

  WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT

  MOUNTAIN HIGH, THE COMPANION STORY TO UNDER A PAINTED MOON

  Five Hearts from The Romance Studio

  The opening scene to this story is just perfect; no other way to describe it. It is just about the most vivid description of a man in love that I've seen in many a story. The plot running parallel is suspenseful and very well written. An excellent story and most definitely a recommended read for all romantic suspense fans.

  Glenda K. Bauerle, Reviewer

  Five Unicorns from Enchanted in Romance

  Mountain High is a wonderful story of a second chance at love with the spice of trouble and danger lurking around many corners. Rayne Forrest paints a wonderful and vivid picture of small town life and love between two people that gently wraps you up to the story. It also tangles you, refusing to let you go until the final page. I highly recommend Mountain High and look forward to reading more from this wonderfully talented writer.

  Nikita, Reviewer

  WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT

  SKIPPING HEAVEN

  Skipping Heaven is an incredible story. Thinking you are reading a typical love story, Rayne Forrest catches you by surprise with a little twist. This one is well worth your time.

  Rayne Forrest did an excellent job with Skipping Heaven. She carefully unfolds little hints that things are not as they should be and then zings you with the twist. Daniel and Justine had wonderfully passionate love scenes that were poignant and tender. They made a wonderful couple and seemed to be made for each other. All this combined with an intriguing plot makes this story one you won't want to miss.

  Elise Lyn eCataRomance Review eCataRomance.com

  WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT

  RIGHT FROM THE START

  This story, even though short, is a temptingly seductive work of the written word. Dana is not looking for “Mr. Right,” but she is surprised when she meets Randy. He is a man that makes her start believing he is “it.” Randy knows that there is something special about Dana, but is not sure about her feelings for him. These two characters make getting to know each other a sensual delight and makes you believe in happily ever after. I loved this book, and give Ms. Forrest the thumbs up.

  Shery

  Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

  Dedication

  To Celeste, who has been a true friend since we were eight years old. Thanks for your love, your shoulder, your steadying presence. I'm glad you share my life.

  Thanks to the special ladies of my email loop, Team Butler. You keep me sane—most days.

  Thanks of a different kind to Sue Vetter and Jinger Heaston—the best editor and cover artist a girl could ask for.

  As always, to Ron. Thanks for your love and your steadfast belief in me.

  Chapter 1

  Courtney Nichols Collins loved flying. She just hated airplanes. Airplanes did all sorts of unexpected things. Like crash.

  Today, however, she wasn't thinking about that. Today, all she wanted was for the blasted plane to get in the air and then land in New York intact. Artist Barry McWaters was having the biggest show of his career. He owed part of that to her, not that she felt anything was due her. She'd given him a break more years ago than she cared to think about. He'd invited her to be with him when the show opened. She felt honored.

  She stowed her carry-on bag and settled in her seat. Looking out the window, she couldn't see much yet. Workers scurried to and fro across the tarmac performing myriad last minute details before the plane took to the air. It didn't take her mind off the fact that she'd allowed her upset over a conversation with her ex-husband lead to her saying some very unkind things to Barry when last they'd spoken. Unkind and unfair.

  And Barry, with typical Barry reserve, had simply told her to ‘sleep well’ and said good night, ending their phone call. His understanding only made her feel worse about unloading on him.

  She didn't really listen as the flight attendant gave the standard welcome and instructions. She'd already heard it more than enough times. She fastened her seat belt and leaned back, closing her eyes with the hope of getting a nap. The seat next to hers was vacant so she didn't need to make polite small talk with a total stranger.

  The next thing she knew the flight attendant was gently touching her shoulder and telling her they would be landing in ten minutes. She looked out the window at the magnificent New York skyline.

  Her skin prickled uncomfortably as her eyes traveled to where the World Trade Center towers once stood. This was the first time she'd been to New York since they'd been destroyed and the world had changed.

  Once on the ground, she retrieved her one suitcase without any hitches and grabbed the first available taxi. She settled in her room at the Soho Grand Hotel, trying not to be dismayed that Barry had booked her a room here.

  The Soho Grand was close to Tribeca and the Hawke Gallery. It made sense to have lodging as close as possible. That didn't bother her.

  What bothered her was that Barry had the room next to hers.

  And what really bothered her was she didn't know if she was angry or hopeful. That's what Barry McWaters did to her these days.

  She kicked off her tennis shoes and flopped on the bed. It was three o'clock. She had to be at the Hawke Gallery by eight. Plenty of time to call room service, eat, get showered and dressed.

  She hopped off the bed and started unpacking. She hung up the dress she'd be wearing tonight, examining it with a critical eye. It had traveled quite well. So had the little jacket that went with it.

  Shoes, hose and jewelry all came out of the suitcase. She wasn't going to stand out in the crowd, but she'd at least make an acceptable showing. The room service menu was on the dresser and she'd just picked it up when there was a knock on her door. She didn't need to be psychic to know who it was.

  She opened the door. Barry McWaters stood there, almost hidden from view by a large floral arrangement.

  "Hello, Courtney. Welcome to New York.” He brushed past her to set the flowers on the desk.

  "Hello, Barry. Come in,” sh
e said dryly as he pulled a small button carnation from the arrangement and handed it to her. “The flowers are lovely."

  And so were his green eyes with their incredible long, dark lashes. She had to get a grip on herself. She'd known him too long to be reacting like this.

  "Hmm. I've been getting them all day from all sorts of people."

  "Female people?"

  He flashed her that roguish grin he had. “Mostly."

  Courtney wasn't surprised. At six foot two, Barry's height turned female heads. And that was before they noticed the unruly black hair and mischievous eyes.

  And when he had that scruffy three or four days worth of dark beard on his face, like he did right now, he was almost irresistible. Almost.

  She was having a difficult time of resisting lately, and she wanted to resist. Her recent divorce still stung.

  Of course, being an artist, Barry turned a lot of male heads, too. It was a constant source of embarrassment to him and amusement to all his friends. Courtney had a sudden flash of insight. She plucked the card from the arrangement a split second before Barry reached it.

  "'Love, Jules.'” She grinned at him. “And just who is ‘Jules?’”

  "Don't ask."

  "So I get the flowers Jules sent you? Gee, Barry, how thoughtful."

  "Listen, I'm out of places to set all the arrangements in my room. I thought you'd enjoy them.” He looked her up and down with that damn cool gaze of his. “I'll just go piss off somewhere now. How's that for thoughtful?"

  "Barry, wait.” She grabbed his arm as he brushed past her on his way back to the door. “I'm sorry. I meant to tease you. The flowers are lovely, no matter where they came from."

  She wanted to curl up into a ball and pull the covers over her head. No matter what she did these days, it didn't seem to be right. And it wasn't only with Barry.

  Saying the wrong thing had become a way of life for her since she'd parted company with her cheating husband. She wondered sometimes if the universe was punishing her. She was tired of it.

  He looked out the window then picked up the room service menu she'd been looking at. “Okay. Are you hungry? There's a little bistro up the street we can try. My treat."

  Courtney nodded. He was holding out an olive branch that she'd better accept. They'd not get through the evening if she didn't.

  "I'd love to. Thanks.” She plopped down on the edge of the bed and reached for her sneakers. She tied the laces and glanced up at Barry. He was smiling.

  "What?"

  "You and me. The only two people in a twelve block radius wearing sneakers."

  She snorted. “I don't care. I'll be doing fashion later tonight. That will be plenty for one day."

  Barry didn't quite agree. He loved seeing her dressed up. She wasn't fashion model beautiful, but Courtney had a sparkle that he'd never quite been able to define.

  She wore her light brown hair in a simple, shoulder length cut. Very little makeup accented her dark brown eyes. Her idea of perfume was that none was best, something he'd come to wholeheartedly agree with over the last few years. Her medium height and build didn't truly attract the sort of men who required physical perfection in the women they wore draped over their arm.

  She'd ended up married to that sort of man and paid a high price for it. It made him despair of her ever looking at someone like him.

  He'd grown up dirt poor. None of the finer things had graced his mother's home until he achieved a small measure of success.

  But there was something about Courtney, something Barry couldn't resist.

  Only, he couldn't get close to her. He was always screwing up and doing stupid things like forgetting to remove the card from the flowers. He'd been screwing up for fifteen years where Courtney was concerned. It stung a bit.

  He opened the door for her. She held up her room key, grinning. He grinned back.

  They rode the elevator down to street level in silence as a very young couple provided an opportunity in voyeurism. Barry envied that young man. It was clear he'd not be spending his night alone.

  Well, he didn't have to either if he didn't want to. He'd been in the city three days and had at least nine propositions. A few were even from women. He just wasn't interested.

  "How's the Elizabethtowne series coming?"

  Barry snapped back to attention at Courtney's question. He was doing a series of prints of the historic homes in her hometown, back in Pennsylvania. The series would be marketed from the expansion she and her best friend and partner, Tyler Morgan, were planning there.

  "Good. I'll show you while we wait for lunch.” His hand rested in the middle of her back, guiding her across the street. She didn't protest when he slid his hand around to rest on the swell of her hip as they walked.

  "Let's sit out here,” she suggested as they reached the bistro. “It's warm today."

  He nodded in agreement, holding her chair for her, and making sure he moved his chair closer to hers as he sat. The waiter appeared with menus and disappeared to get their iced tea. Barry retrieved his digital camera and several memory cards from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.

  "These are the houses I have in mind for the E-town portfolio. Tyler suggested most of them and I agreed they were good choices.” He flipped to a large Tudor mansion. “I added this one. It's unique in the area."

  Courtney scanned through them. “These are great. I think you should begin with this one.” She held it out for him to see. It was a photo of a smaller Georgian home. “There was a huge fight over the Weaver estate when we were in high school. The historical society won, thank goodness."

  He hated to have to remind her of one important fact. She was sensitive about everything these days. The lingering effects of her divorce, he guessed.

  Barry looked at it, drew a deep breath, and slowly let it out.

  "What's wrong with that idea?” Courtney asked quietly.

  "Oh, nothing. Nothing. I was planning to use The Maples as the series debut."

  Courtney started. “Oh, damn, Barry. I'm so sorry. I forgot you were doing Tyler's parent's home. Absolutely you should start with that one.” She looked away, chewing her upper lip nervously.

  "Hey, it's okay. I'll do the Weaver house second.” It really was fine as far as he was concerned. He didn't understand why she'd be upset over it.

  "I didn't mean to sound bossy by suggesting you do the Weaver house first."

  "I didn't take it that way. I didn't want to hurt your feeling by having to reject your suggestion."

  They were headed downhill again. It always happened. Maybe he should just stop trying. He should throw in the towel and admit defeat when it came to Ms. Courtney Nichols Collins.

  Collins. He'd do well to remember that. She hadn't stopped using her married name. The marriage had ended years ago, regardless of the more recent legal divorce.

  "Would you like to share this?” Courtney tapped a short, manicured nail on one of the appetizers on the menu.

  "Sure. Looks good."

  As if by magic, the waiter reappeared and took their order. Courtney looked out at the busy street.

  "Here.” Barry put a different memory card in the camera and handed it to her. “These are the rest of the pictures I took of your hometown."

  Courtney accepted the camera and scrolled through the snapshots. She sighed.

  "These sure make me feel nostalgic. I wish I had time to drive down and visit Tyler before flying home."

  "You'll love what she's doing with that old warehouse."

  Courtney lifted the digital camera. “These gadgets are wonderful! She's emailing me pictures all the time."

  Barry held out his hand for the camera. Courtney handed it to him. Their fingers touched and she quickly pulled away. The sound of barking dogs and shouted Italian caught her attention.

  She turned in her seat to see what the commotion was. Barry clicked off two shots of her profile while she wasn't looking. He slipped the camera back into his pocket. He knew her well enough t
o know she'd scream bloody murder if she learned he'd taken her picture with her hair all windblown.

  Their food arrived and they ate in silence. When they were finished, Barry turned to her.

  "Would you like a sneak preview of the show? I have a key to the gallery."

  "No, I think I'd better get back to my room and get showered. I can't believe it's all ready five-thirty."

  "It is?” Damn. He'd no idea that much time had flown by. He grabbed their waiter and handed the fellow some bills, telling him to keep the change. The boy smiled and thanked him.

  "Come on, then.” He pulled Courtney's chair out for her. “There's a limo arriving at seven-fifteen for me. I hope you won't be stubborn about riding with me."

  "No, no. I won't turn down a ride in this town.” She accepted his arm when he held it out to her.

  Barry patted her hand as it curled around the bend of his elbow. He would have left his hand on hers but feared she'd pull away. She'd allowed him to buy lunch. She'd accepted his arm. She'd accepted a ride with him. More would be pushing his luck. Maybe.

  Probably.

  He wasn't going to risk more, anyway, not today. Not when her usual sparkle was so subdued. Sometimes he had to act like a gentleman, even if he didn't want to.

  He saw her to her door at the hotel and waited until it had closed between them. Stepping into his own room, he immediately spotted the champagne chilling in a little ice bucket. Two flutes stood in attendance near by. He looked around for a card.

  Congratulations! You earned this! Tyler and Chris.

  He smiled and slipped the card into one of the pockets of his suitcase. He gingerly popped the cork on the bottle, quickly pouring the rising foam into a nearby coffee mug. As soon as the foam settled, he grabbed the flutes and the bottle, and knocked on Courtney's door.

  Surely she'd like to share a celebratory drink.

  The door opened. Courtney's eyes widened in surprise. The door slammed in his face.

  Barry stared at the door, but he didn't see the fine mahogany wood.