Sullivan's Woman by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online

most of the night lecturing herself. By morning she felt she had herself firmly in hand. There had been absolutely no reason for her to be annoyed with Colin. His brisk, impersonal attitude over the dress was only to be expected. As she rode the trolley across town, she shifted the dress box into her other arm and determined to preserve a cool, professional distance from him.
    He’s simply my employer. He’s an artist, obviously a temperamental one. She added the modifier with a sniff. Deftly she jumped from the cable car to finish the trip on foot. He’s a man who sees something in my face he wants to paint. He has no personal feelings for me, nor I for him. How could I? I barely know Colin Sullivan. What I felt yesterday was simply the overflow of his personality. It’s very strong, very magnetic. I only imagined that there was an immediate affinity between us. Things don’t happen that way, not that fast. All there is between us is the bond between artist and subject. I was writing scenes again.
    Cassidy paused at the base of the stairs that led to Colin’s studio. Still, he might have thanked me for finding the dress he was looking for, she thought. Never mind. She made an involuntary gesture with her hand as she climbed the steps. He’s so self-absorbed he probably forgot I suggested the shop in the first place. With a quick toss of her head, Cassidy knocked, prepared to be brisk and professional in her new employ. Her resolve wavered a bit when Gail Kingsley opened the door.
    â€œHello,” she said and smiled despite the cool assessment in Gail’s eyes. For an answer Gail made a sweeping arm gesture into the room that would have seemed overdone on anyone else. Flamboyance suited her.
    Gail was just as striking today in a shocking-pink jumpsuit no other redhead would have had the courage to wear. Colin was nowhere in sight. Cassidy was torn between admiration for the redhead’s style and disappointment that Colin hadn’t answered the door. She felt juvenile and ragged in jeans and a pullover.
    â€œAm I too early?”
    Gail placed her hands on her narrow hips and walked around Cassidy slowly. “No, Colin’s tied up. He’ll be along. Is that curl in your hair natural or have you a perm?”
    â€œIt’s natural,” Cassidy replied evenly.
    â€œAnd the color?”
    â€œMine, too.” Gail’s bold perfume dominated the scents of paint. When she came back to stand in front of her, Cassidy met her eyes levelly. “Why?”
    â€œJust curious, dear heart. Just curious.” Gail flashed a quick, dazzling smile that snapped on and off like a light. It was momentarily blinding, then all trace of it vanished. “Colin’s quite taken with your face. He seems to be drifting into a romantic period. I’ve always avoided that sort of technique.” She narrowed her eyes until she seemed to be examining the pores of Cassidy’s skin.
    â€œWant to count my teeth?” Cassidy invited.
    â€œDon’t be snide.” Gail touched a scarlet-tipped finger to her lips. “Colin and I often share models. I want to see if I can use you for anything.”
    â€œI’m not a box lunch, Miss Kingsley,” retorted Cassidy with feeling. “I don’t care to be shared.”
    â€œA good model should be flexible,” Gail reproved, stretching her slender arms to the ceiling in one long, luxurious movement. “I hope you don’t make a fool of yourself the way the last one did.”
    â€œThe last one?” Cassidy responded, then immediately wanted to bite off her tongue.
    â€œShe fell desperately in love with Colin.” Gail gave her quick light-switch smile again. Her sharp, rapid gestures skittered down Cassidy’s nerves. She was a cat looking for something to stalk. “Worse, she imagined Colin was in love with her. It was really quite pathetic. A lovely little thing—milky skin, dark gypsy eyes.