Two nights later Alicia stood in front of a full-length mirror. The simple black dress she wore should work well for the art showing. Her jewelry collection was limited but she still had the jewels Max lent her. She pulled out the velvet box from her underwear drawer and snapped opened the lid.
The necklace sat on the deep blue bed of velvet. “Damn, that’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
She held it up against her neckline. The gold felt cold against her skin. “Too much.” Putting the necklace back in the box she slipped it into her purse. Time to give it back to Max anyway. Her simulated pearls would have to do.
A knock on the door forced her to snag her pearl necklace and earrings and plop them into her purse as well. “Coming.”
She opened the door. Max stood there in black slacks, blazer and button down shirt. His tie was the only bit of color, a metal grey with flecks of red. He made her heart beat a little harder.
“Wow. Love the look.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” He held the door for her. “I’m noticing a lack of jewelry again.”
“I have it, just haven’t been able to get it on yet.” She opened her purse. “Oh, this is yours.”
She dragged the velvet box out of her purse and groaned as her earrings popped out with it. They bounced onto the floor several times before skidding under a neighbor’s door. After several knocks she knew they weren’t home. “Okay, so I’ll have to do without earrings for tonight.”
“I have taken the liberty…” Max took the velvet box and slid it into a pocket of his blazer.
“Not again.” She didn’t want him to continue to give her gifts like this. It didn’t bode well. Alicia touched his arm. “Max, I feel like I’m living some sort of old romance novel where the hero keeps giving the heroine jewels.”
She went into her apartment and wrote a quick note to leave for her neighbor. She slapped the self-adhesive note on their door and nodded. Thank goodness they were used to her by now.
“I promise I won’t sweep you off your feet and have my way with you, unless of course that’s what you want.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her as they continued down the stairs. “The jewelry belonged to my mom and no one is wearing it. Just take a look at what I brought. If you don’t want to wear it you don’t have to.”
She walked down the stairs to the bottom floor where Max opened the door to the street. Her heels tapped against the concrete as they approached the SUV. “I guess. Just don’t get used to this, okay?”
“Promise.” He opened the door to the Hummer and started to help her up into the truck. His pulse picked up speed when he wrapped his hands around her waist. He didn’t need to go to the show tonight. He could think of other things he would rather do with Alicia than spend several hours in a stuffy gallery. He felt pressure on his hands before he had a chance to lift her into the seat.
“I can do this.” She pushed his hands away and placed a foot against the runners on the side.
“Not in that tight skirt. Unless you want to take the chance it won’t ride up as you try to climb into this thing.” He held up his hands. “I know I’ll enjoy the view.”
She tried to pull herself up, but found her dress moving in a direction she didn’t want it to. Alicia turned to Max. “Stop smirking and help me in the truck.”
***
The Hummer took two parking spaces when Max parked it near the art center. He then ushered Alicia to the building.
“Wow. I’ve driven by several times but haven’t been in here before. Never expected this to be so big.” She looked around at the spacious area in surprise. It was perfect for major art shows.
“It’s the best in the area. I’ve seen several great shows here.” Max led her to a small crowd near one of the sculptures. “This is as good a place to start as any.”
They made their way through the gallery, looking at different sculptures. Alicia found a couple of pieces she found different, but she couldn’t see any of them in her small apartment so passed on them.
“You seem to have an excuse to not buy anything,” Max commented.
“If I see the right item then I’ll find a place for it, but so far nothing has really leaped out at me.” She continued to look around, pausing as different things caught her eye. “I’ll know when I see it.”
Max walked behind her, letting her take control. If everyone thought she was the one looking, and not him, then they would think he was there to indulge her. He kept looking for the Tear but hadn’t seen it yet.
His senses went into overdrive when something excited Alicia. His body tightened and it took several deep breaths to release it. When he was able to focus he realized he had lost sight of her.
His hackles went up. Trying to keep himself from shoving people out of his way, he took several steps before he heard her voice.
“This is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” The other voice demure. He didn’t see the owner of the voice. “I did it for my mother.”
He walked up to Alicia’s side. “I see you found something you like.”
“Yes.” She held up a small porcelain statue. The whole thing was oval in shape with a flat bottom. The top looked like two trees entwining.
What caught his attention was the stark relief cutout in the center. It depicted a howling wolf.
“I have just the place for it.” She turned and beamed at him.
The hostess swept in the moment she spotted them. “I’ll make sure it’s waiting for you at the door.”
“Thank you.” Alicia smiled. “Do I want to know how much that will cost?”
“No.” Max wrapped an arm around her.
“You know, if you like this piece I have another one you might be interested in.” The hostess smiled at her as she gestured for them to follow her.
“I don’t know.” Alicia hesitated. She played with the long gold chain she chose from his mother’s jewelry. He had talked her into wearing a pair of diamond earrings as well but balked when he tried to talk her into wearing a ring.
“See what she has, sweetheart.” Max slid his arm from around her waist and threaded it with her arm. “Then make your choice. You might not even like it.”
“True.” Alicia followed the woman. “But if I do?”
“You’ll get both.” He smiled at her and entwined his fingers with hers. “You know I’ll help you.”
“Oh.” She squeezed his arm. “You’re so good to me.”
He patted her hand as she pulled him behind the hostess. Neither spoke about how they would approach anyone about the Tear, but this little bit of ad-libbing was brilliant. Now all they had to do was find it. It wasn’t part of the regular show.
“The piece I want to show you isn’t actually in the show. The artist felt it didn’t fit the theme of the rest of her work, but it is a beautiful sculpture and I’ve been showing it to some of our more savvy patrons.”
They moved into a smaller room closed off from the rest of the gallery.
“Then no one has bought it yet?” asked Alicia.
“I’m taking bids for this right now.” She smiled and slid the cloth off a statue.
At four feet in height, the statue was taller than Max expected. Catherine made it sound like it was the size of the item Alicia had purchased. The image itself was the right description, very art deco. Not an image but more of a feeling. It reminded him of the forest. The feeling he had after a long run.
If Alicia didn’t want this he would buy it. It moved him in a way no other work of art did. Was the artist one of them?
“Wow!” Alicia ran her hands over the statue, making Max wish he was it. “This is beautiful too.”
She bent over and looked in the hole of this piece. It seemed to be the signature of the artist. He watched as her tight dress rose a little. Sweat broke out on his brow. Too bad they weren’t alone.
“What is this?” Alicia pointed into the center of the image.
“That is the Tear.” The artist leaned against the doorjamb of the little room they were all crowded in. “I found it in my grandmother’s attic when I was a child. It’s what inspired me to become an artist.”
Max recognized the demure voice. This was the same woman Alicia had spoken to when she found her piece.
“And you’re willing to part with it?” asked Alicia.
“Not really. That’s why it’s not in the proper show. If I do sell it, I want it to go to the right buyer.” She looked right at Max and gave a slight bow. “One who will treat it with honor and not use it frivolously.”
The young woman bowed to him, like she knew who he was, but her scent told him she was human.
“It’s a beautiful piece and I would like to buy it, but only if you’ll let me.” Alicia linked arms with Max.
His heart skipped a beat, without realizing it Alicia went to him for moral support.
The artist looked at Alicia. “You have found your art already. I watched your face when you spotted it earlier. He’s the one who wants this one.”
“Yes.” Max patted Alicia’s hand. “I’ve been looking for that for a while.”
“You knew it was here,” the artist commented. “I saw it in your eyes when you realized what was hanging inside the sculpture. Relief, then happiness. Why?”
Why indeed. He needed to give an honest answer without revealing the real reason he needed the stones. No one would believe him if he did. “I’m trying to collect the Tears before they are used for the wrong reasons.”
“How do I know you’re trustworthy?”
Max blinked. “You don’t.”
The hostess laughed. “Why don’t you two look around a little more and we’ll discuss you buying this statue.” She ushered them back into the gallery section before bustling back to the room.
“Wow. Never knew an artist who decided what piece you could buy. You’d think they’d be happy someone wanted their work.” Alicia whispered to Max.
“Be nice.” He looked back at the room they just left. “I’m sure that’s what the hostess is explaining to her right now.”
“Sorry.” Alicia smiled sheepishly. “Don’t mean to be rude.”
Max wrapped an arm around her as they walked around the gallery. “She didn’t have the piece in the show.”
“I know. Makes me wonder if she has another buyer.” Alicia paused to look at another sculpture. “That or she was afraid of someone wanting to buy it.”
Max nodded. “She seemed to know what it was.”
“I should hope so, she called it by name. That caught my attention. If she knows what it is she knows it could be worth a fortune.” Alicia looked at her watch. “She could try to scalp you.”
“Don’t think so.” Max looked around. The crowd was thinning. “Just cautious.”
“It’s time for the show to end.” Alicia looked up at him. “I guess she doesn’t want to sell it.”
“Let’s go pick up your art.”
She nodded and followed Max to the desk where people were laying money down for their chosen sculptures. Just as she stepped up to the desk the hostess came over to speak to Max.
“The artist would like to speak to you privately.”
“Of course.” He smiled at Alicia before following the woman to the small room he had been in. “How may I help you?”
“You are him, aren’t you?”
“Pardon me?” He frowned at her words. What did she know? Her scent said she was human, although he did get a whiff of wolf from time to time.
“The legend. You are the alpha male and she is your mate.” She touched the statue with love. “I know of your people. Have since I was a child. The time for the legend to come true is now, which is why I created this.”
“How much of the legend do you know?” He knew he couldn’t deny the truth. She wouldn’t believe him.
“Most of it. My research has found some of the more obscure lines. This one is how I know who you are.” She held out an old sheet of parchment to him.
Max read the following lines.
He is the leader, The one who will gather the tears His search alone will be fruitless Until he finds his mate He had to give her credit. This was one stanza he had kept hidden. Max made sure of that. So how did she get a hold of it?
“There has been another looking for this stone as well.”
“I know.” Max stuck his hands in his pockets. “She’s the queen in the legend. The Tears are hers.”
“Then I should give it to her.”
“That is your choice,” said Max.
The young woman watched him. “You aren’t going to argue your case?”
“Why? There are always two sides to every story. I know her story will be just as moving as any I can give you. You have to follow your heart and instincts.”
“True.” She picked up the piece and walked out of the room.
Max didn’t know what to do. Did she dismiss him or did she expect him to follow her? No matter. He went to where Alicia was still paying on her statue.
“Well?” she asked as she looked up at him.
He shrugged his shoulders.
The woman at the table filled a small box with shredded paper, placed her art work in the box, closed the lid and handed it to her.
“Well, I’m ready to go.” Alicia hugged the box close to her.
“I’ll get the truck.”
“Um, sir?”
The hesitant voice had Max looking around. He found the woman at the table looking up at him.
“Your purchase?” She pointed to a piece of paper with the image of the art next to the desk.
The picture held the image of the sculpture housing the Tear with his name on it.