A Forever Masterpiece
By Nikki Lynn Barrett
Cover designer: Robert Barrett
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Becca and Hunter
plan a future without knowing their past...
Few people know the
entire truth about Becca and Hunter's connection. Even fewer are living. One is
in hiding, and another is closer than they think. They're still no closer to
knowing everything. Hunter gets a piece of his old life back while Becca still
longs for all the answers.
One terrifying
night brings consequences....
Someone doesn't
want them to find the answers and will go to dire lengths to keep the past
hidden. The question is, who? With so many people involved, which one of them
would go to the extreme to make sure they never know?
The hunter becomes
the hunted.....
With the one person
hiding who started the whole thing, everyone is desperate to find her and gain
the truth or keep her silent forever. It's only a matter of time....
The final
installment of the Masterpiece Trilogy is full of triumph, mystery, romance and
so much more. Prepare for the twists and turns as Becca and Hunter make their
way to forever.
Becca walked inside
the art gallery, took one look, and wondered why in the world Brock wanted her
to be here. Just from a simple glimpse at the paintings and photographs on the
wall, she wondered how she'd fit in here. Hunter must have sensed her second
guessing, because he gently moved to hold her hand, easing her closer to him.
He leaned over and pointed. "I see an empty spot right there. That wall
screams 'Rebecca Lange'."
God, she loved his
enthusiasm. Becca laughed and whispered back, "No it doesn't."
Hunter was about to
protest when she kissed his cheek. "It screams 'Rebecca Beckman'."
Hunter's eyes lit
up. "Now that's the way to think." His lips grazed her check gently,
like a butterfly's wings.
"This place is
beautiful. Intimidating, though." She gestured at the walls with various
paintings and photographs.
"Well hello!
This is a surprise!" Brock ambled out of a room from the back, eagerly
approaching them. "What brings you by?"
"My fiancé's
spontaneous streak strikes again. We had a little time before friends come in
for Thanksgiving, so he surprised me with a trip over here. Your gallery is
amazing," Becca gushed.
"Thank you.
It's one of my pride and joys. And," he pointed at the blank wall, "I
agree with you. The wall is begging for your work. Since this is spur of the
moment, you wouldn't happen to have anything with you then?"
"No,"
Becca replied, still taking this all in.
"Didn't think
so, and that's okay. I've seen plenty of your stuff. What I'm thinking is an
art show. I'll help you through this every step of the way." Brock
gestured toward a black leather couch on the far end of the room. "Why
don't we sit and chat about this for a bit?"
Nodding, she and
Hunter followed him, Becca still in awe of this whole thing. Brock folded his
hands and leaned forward, setting his intense gaze on her when they were all
comfortable.
"I want to get
an art show in for you as soon as possible. But that's going to depend on so
many things. There's the holidays, and then there's personal things on both
ends, as I know you two have stuff going on. Obviously I do as well, which is
how we met. So for the meantime, I'd like to at least showcase two or three
pieces to start off with. Is everything one of a kind?"
Becca nodded.
"It is." Could she ever recreate a piece the same way as the
original? She'd never tried it. She was a mood painter, obviously.
Brock's gaze moved
to Hunter. "How attached are you to some of the pieces you've displayed in
the Lange Center?"
Hunter laughed.
"Hard to say. Anything from Becca, I'm attached to. If you're asking what
I think you are, I'll part with the ones from the center, because the paintings
I have the most sentimental attachment to are at home and will stay there.
She's been filling my walls with paintings for years." He leaned over to
kiss her cheek, smiling affectionately.
Her heart skipped a
few beats. This was happening. Brock meant business! He wanted her work. She
knew she had nothing to worry about. Brock wasn't going to be like the teacher
from her past. This could happen!
"Yes, I was
thinking of a few from the center to display and sell here. Give me a second
and I'll pull out some papers- including a projected contract, that you two can
look over." Brock shot to his feet and moved away to another room.
"Is this
really happening?" Becca whispered, completely in awe.
"My favorite
artist is about to become famous? Yep. You know I'm going to play the I told
you so game for a while." Hunter smirked playfully, then hugged her. His
eyes sparkled with love. "Seriously though, I'm so excited! An art show!
Good things are coming, Bec. We just have to get through some of the hard
stuff, too." Hunter jiggled a dance in his seat. "I'm marrying
someone famous. I'm marrying someone famous," he chanted in a sing-song
voice.
Laughter escaped
Becca's lips when Hunter continued to dance and sing as Brock came back into
the room. The sound of his laughter stopped Hunter short. Becca couldn't quit
giggling! Hunter didn't embarrass easily, but for some reason he was today.
"Love the
enthusiasm." Brock winked as he slid some papers across the table.
"When's the wedding? I'll do my best to make her famous before you get
married."
Becca snorted when
Hunter's face turned red. "That's what you get for pulling the 'I told you
so' on me." She nudged him, then turned to Brock. "We're getting
married in March."
"Oh good! We
have some time then." His smile was genuine.
Becca picked up the
papers and studied them. When her gaze landed on a number with way too many
zeros behind them, she gasped. "I think there might be a mistake
there," she pointed.
"Oh no. Well,
the numbers will vary depending on the piece, but that's what I'm thinking for
the few I've seen. Is it too low?"
"Low?"
Becca sputtered. He had to be kidding, but he sure looked serious. "No!
It's high! I can't imagine someone spending that kind of money on a
painting!" Let alone hers!
"Let me
see," Hunter gently eased the papers from her hands. "Holy-" So
the numbers even surprised him. She wasn't the only one then. Good.
I'm an avid lover
of books. I've been writing as far back as I can remember, completing my first
"book" by fifth grade in one of those one subject spiral notebooks. I
have a passion for music, photography, jewelry and all things creative. I live
in Arizona with my husband and son, but dream of being somewhere much colder
and stormier. For now, I'll have to live that life through my characters and
stick it out with the summer heat.
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