The Wives of Beverly Row 6: Lust Has a New Address by Abby Weeks Read Free Book Online Page B

had been an orgy, it had made her realize that she still had feelings for him. If he really had changed his ways, if he wasn’t going to cheat on her anymore, then she was willing to give things with him another try.
    She also knew that Becky would be thrilled about it. Becky hadn’t ever given them a hard time about the divorce, but Ariel knew she’d be pleased if her parents were dating again.
    “And what the hell are we going to do about the painting?” Gabe said. “This is going to be a disaster. The more I think about it, the more I realize it will never work. If he shows it to a single person, they’ll immediately recognize it. They’ll know that either it’s a forgery, or else it’s stolen. Either way, they’ll get the authorities involved immediately.”
    “But how were you going to handle it originally?”
    “Remember, I have the building. All I had to do was put the canvas in that safe and then let contractors find it. It would make sense that it was there.”
    “But it won’t make sense if Jake has it here in LA?”
    “No sense at all. It will look like a forgery.”
    Ariel thought about it.
    “I’ll have to tell him the truth.”
    “What?”
    “At least, part of the truth.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ll tell him it’s a long lost Rembrandt. I’ll tell him how valuable it is. I’ll tell him that it will create a complete stir in the art world when it’s revealed that it’s been found.”
    “And then what?”
    “I’ll tell him to buy it from you.”
    “Why would I sell it?”
    “Just leave it to me,” Ariel said.

IX
    A N HOUR LATER, ARIEL WAS sitting in the hotel dining room again, at the same table they’d had breakfast at, but it was just her and Jake.
    “So what’s going on?” Jake said. “I feel like this deal is going to fall through. Does Gabe even really need me to sell this thing?”
    “Listen to me,” Ariel said, “Gabe doesn’t know what he needs. That’s his problem. He’s a complete idiot when it comes to business decisions.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Do you know what this painting is?” Ariel said.
    “I don’t know much about art.”
    “ Storm on the Sea of Galilee .”
    “That means nothing to me,” Jake said.
    “Do a little research,” Ariel said. “The damn thing’s worth over a hundred million dollars.”
    “What?” Jake said. He almost spilled the cup of coffee that was in his hand.
    “Just do the research, and call me when you’re ready to make some money. Some real money,” she said.
    She got up and left the table.
    *
    I T WAS A DAY LATER when Jake called her. Ariel had been extremely patient. She hadn’t contacted him once since telling him about the Rembrandt. She knew she didn’t have to. If there was money to be had, Jake would contact her. If he didn’t, then they had no way of pulling off the scam anyway.
    “Ariel,” Jake said when she picked up the phone.
    “About time you called,” Ariel said, nonchalantly.
    “I want to see the canvas.”
    “So you’ve done a little research?”
    “Hell, yes, I’ve done a little research. I’m not an idiot.”
    “I knew the mention of a hundred million would get your attention.”
    “The most that painting will ever be worth, to us at least, is five million dollars,” Jake said.
    So he had done his homework. Ariel felt a thrill run down her spine. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. She prayed she hadn’t underestimated Jake. If this thing went wrong, if Jake realized what she was trying to pull off, she and Gabe could both end up in jail for a very long time.
    “You’ve done some homework, then,” she said.
    “I’ve got a Rembrandt specialist. He’ll be coming with me.”
    “Who is he?”
    “He doesn’t work for any museums or anything,” Jake said. “He’s a private consultant. I’m paying him. He’s going to advise me.”
    *
    A RIEL DIDN’T SPEAK TO GABE before meeting up with Jake and the specialist. She didn’t want to spook