Lost and Found

“And this is my partner, Denzel,” Greg said, sliding an arm around the man. “He adores your work, Nate.”

Nate shook hands with Denzel. “Thanks.”

“What’s up for you next?” Greg asked. “You’ve been back in the States for a while now. No more traveling?”

Here came the stuff he’d been dreading—the questions, the curiosity…the pity. “Not sure,” he murmured. “I’ve been taking some time off. I haven’t made plans yet.”

“I heard you were going to be working on a book. That’s so exciting!”

“Mmm. Well, that got put on hold for a while. Not sure when I’ll get back to that.” He didn’t know if he’d ever get back to that. But he wasn’t about to say that. Krissa squeezed his hand, and he felt taller. Stronger.

“If you’re still interested in doing a book, you should meet Blake Remata. He works for Zenith Publishing. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Nate and Krissa followed Greg to another group of people where he performed more introductions. Meeting another publisher was great, except Nate still had no idea if he was ever going to be able to photograph again. Although…his eyes roamed around the room. It wasn’t exceptionally bright in there, but nor was it dark. His eyes felt surprisingly good without the glasses.

They mingled and chatted, drank more wine.

“You have such a sense of composition,” one woman told him.

“I love the minimalism,” another guest said. “It’s almost Zen-like. Beautiful balance. Harmony.”

Nate absorbed all the compliments and praise for his work. His ego had been battered lately and all the adulation helped build him up. And having Krissa at his side made it all that much better. She squeezed his hand or his arm at every accolade, and the look of pride on her face was worth more than every word of praise from someone else.

He loved having her at his side. Some warm emotion washed over him and he pulled her away from the crowd, off to the side. He set his wine glass down on a table, put his hands on her hips.

She smiled up at him, and he took her wineglass, too and set it next to his. Her hands came to rest on his chest. He pulled her against him, pelvis to pelvis.

“What?” she asked.

He lifted a hand to stroke her hair, push it behind one bare shoulder. She looked so beautiful tonight, glowing and proud and sexy. He couldn’t wait to get her back to the hotel room and fuck her mindless. His dick leaped at the thought.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

He bent his head but stopped with his mouth a breath apart from hers. “You’re gorgeous, Krissa. Thank you for coming with me.”

Her eyelids drifted closed as she waited for his mouth to touch hers, and then, over her shoulder Nate saw a group of people he knew walk into the gallery. People he knew very well.

He lifted his head.

“Nate!” His mother spotted him, put out her arms and made a beeline across the room to him. “Oh, Nate!”

Oh, Christ.

Krissa opened her eyes and turned in his arms. Nate’s first impulse was to push her away from him. But it was too late for that. His entire family trailed along behind his mother and had already seen him in the heated clinch with Krissa. Jesus.

He gently stepped apart from her, and moved her to his side. She tossed a questioning glance at him, and he gave her a crooked smile, then turned to his mother as she threw herself into his arms.

He’d forgotten what a little thing she was. He’d been bigger than her since he was twelve. Something twisted inside him and he hugged his mother, whom he hadn’t seen for over two years. He looked over her head as his father and two brothers, along with their escorts, approached.

His dad smiled, but his eyes were wary and he appeared to be fighting his emotions. Both his brothers looked—a

He greeted them all with hugs and back slaps, a big family reunion he hadn’t pla

“Nate, this is my girlfriend, Tara,” his brother Bryan introduced them. His other brother, Rich, presented his girlfriend Helen and Nate then introduce Krissa to everyone. His parents eyed her with interest, their gaze dropping to Nate and Krissa’s clasped hands as they stood there. Then Nate’s mom spotted the ring on Krissa’s left hand.

“Oh my God!” she cried, reaching for Krissa’s hand. “Nate, did you get married? And not tell us?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nate’s stomach rolled. “Uh…no. No, Mom.”

Still holding Krissa’s hand, his mother looked up at him. “But…oh.” She slowly released Krissa. “Oh.”

Nate saw the flush creep up Krissa’s face. “I’m married to Nate’s friend Derek,” she said. “Derek Hallson.”

“Oh, of course, I remember Derek! What a charming smooth talker that boy was. Still is, probably.” Mrs. Cowan chatted brightly apparently trying to cover her blunder.

“Yes, he is,” Krissa agreed. She glanced at Nate.

“I’ve been staying with them for the last month or so,” Nate told his mom.

Her brows slanted down. “Oh. You’ve been home for a whole month? And never came to see us?”

Guilt smacked him in the back of the head just like his mom used to do when he was a kid. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’ve had some problems and I didn’t want to be a burden to you guys.”

“Nate.” His mom’s voice was firm. “How could you possibly be a burden? We haven’t even seen you since…since Lauren died.”

Nate glanced around at the other guests. “This isn’t really the place to be talking about all this.”

“You’re right,” she immediately said, linking her arm through his. “Show me these pictures.”

So Nate led his family through the gallery, along with Krissa, talking about the photographs hanging on the walls and the stories behind some of them.

By ten o’clock almost every picture hanging had been sold. Nate’s mind reeled from the money he’d just made. Greg beamed and shook Nate’s hand vigorously as they prepared to leave. Only a few guests remained, including Nate’s family.

His mom still had the guilt trip thing down pretty good. “How long are you in L.A.?”

“We’re going back to Montecito tomorrow.”

Her face drooped. “Oh, no! Without even seeing us!”

Nate glanced at Krissa. “Krissa has business to get home to, and a husband.”

“Well, at least have breakfast with us. I need to know what’s going on with you…you’ve been so out of touch.” Her eyes reproached him, her head tilted, her mouth pouting. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m sorry, Mom, but we can’t.”

The disappointment on her face grabbed at his gut and twisted it.

“Nate.” Krissa spoke beside him, voice low. “You should have breakfast with your family.”

He glanced at her. “But you need to get back…”

“A few hours is no big deal. Go ahead.”

“But…you…”

“I can entertain myself for a few hours.”

“You’re welcome to join us, Krissa,” Nate’s mom said, her gaze moving back and forth between them. Krissa met his gaze and he felt her encouragement.

Nate wanted to say no. “Okay, then.”

They made arrangements to meet the next morning in the restaurant of the hotel where he and Krissa were staying. When everyone had gone, Nate turned to Krissa. “I guess we should go.”

Her eyes met his. He knew they were both thinking the same thing, both thinking about what was going to happen next. His skin tightened and tingled and his groin ached. Sex with Krissa had been in the back of his mind all night, adding an edge to the excitement he’d been feeling.

“Yes,” she said.

He let Krissa drive to the hotel, averting his eyes from glaring headlights. They let the valet take the vehicle and walked through the elegant lobby. The boutique hotel’s décor was retro-chic, with fifties-style furniture sitting atop shag carpet. Dark wood paneled the walls, and floor lamps with huge cylindrical shades provided ambient light.

“That was fun,” Krissa said with a sigh as they walked into their room. She set the little envelope she called a purse on the dark wood dresser.