Free A Passionate Business by Unknown Page A

had worked so hard for it. Even her father was quite proud of her. That thought made her think,
    guiltily, that she really ought to call Crawford and invite him over for dinner sometime during the week. Of course, he’d
    probably take that as a sign that he’d been forgiven for introducing yet another man into her life! She was about to
    walk out the door when the phone on the desk rang.
    „Hello, Kevin,“ she said, recognizing his greeting. „How’s the commercial art coming along?“
    „Brilliantly, if I do say so, myself. You know, there’s a lot less pressure doing this kind of stuff. I might make a habit
    of it! It should be ready for you to view Wednesday morning. How about me picking you up bright and early so you
    can see it in the good light? I’ll make sure you get home in plenty of time to make it to the restaurant before it opens.“
    „Okay, but you don’t have to pick me up, Kevin. I can drive to your place…“
    „I don’t mind. Besides, I owe you a ride, remember? You’re the one who drove me to the film the other night.“
    Hilary laughed. „All right. See you Wednesday morning. Was that the main reason you called?“
    „Art first, naturally, but I also thought you might like to know Melanie called this morning,“ Kevin said with an
    attempt at lightness.
    „Oh, Kevin,“ Hilary breathed, „Did she really? Did she say anything encouraging?“
    „She said she’s coming back to Santa Barbara,“ he told her, trying to sound calm, but Hilary could hear the
    excitement in his voice.
    „I’m so glad,“ she replied honestly.
    „Not half as glad as I am,“ Kevin chuckled. „This time things are going to be different!“
    „You mean this time you’ll find room for her as well as painting in your life?“ Hilary asked promptly.
    „I’ve learned a lot from you, love. You’ve helped me see that the business side of life isn’t all bad and I think I’ve
    outgrown my ‘artistic temperament,’ thanks to the way you kept laughing at me whenever I tried to indulge it!“ Kevin
    said wryly.
    „Maybe you’ve just grown up a little,“ Hilary smiled into the phone. „It happens to some of us!“
    „Whatever the reason, this time Melanie’s going to stay! I won’t let her go again.“ There was a depth of passion in
    his words that told Hilary Kevin spoke the truth and she wished him the best. It struck her with uncomfortable
    relevance as she hung up the phone that the reason her own relationship with Kevin had never progressed beyond
    the friendship stage was obvious. There had never been any passion in his voice when he spoke to her; just as she’d
    never experienced any consuming passion for him.
    It was, perhaps, unfortunate, that thoughts of such a wild and reckless thing as passion kept whirling through
    Hilary’s head all afternoon. As she dressed for her date with Logan she lectured herself severely on the difference
    between passion and love. Surely there was a difference and she must not lose sight of it!
    Standing in front of a mirror, Hilary coiled the long braids around her head in the familiar, neat coronet, her mind
    busy with the problem of what to wear. She was placing the final pin in her tightly wound honey-brown hair when the
    doorbell rang. Surprised, she glanced at the clock, saw that she had another forty-five minutes before she should
    expect Logan, and went to answer the summons. The long green robe flirted about her ankles as she flung open the
    door inquiringly.
    „Logan!“ she squeaked, startled. „What are you doing here? It’s only a quarter to six!“
    „I’m aware of the time,“ he assured her dryly, standing very tall and very solid on her doorstep. He was dressed in
    a well-cut sports coat toned to go with equally well-cut slacks. Both were in shades of brown and perfectly
    complimented by a soft yellow shirt and dignified tie. The richness of his hair gleamed damply from a recent shower
    and, Hilary took an unconscious whiff, he smelled good!