Free The Lottery Winner by Emilie Rose

Miri’s.”
    A tremor slithered through her. She was supposed to be aware of her surroundings. Had he watched her arrive and she hadn’t even noticed?
    He extracted a pen and a small manila card from his shirt pocket. “What did you name this one?”
    She hadn’t. “How about Morning Visitors ?”
    He wrote on the card, then asked, “Jessie what?”
    â€œJust Jessie.” She’d signed the paintings with her Key West moniker. No last name. No initials. Not that she believed anyone would recognize her style or trace her through it, since she hadn’t exhibited anything since her senior year of college. But she couldn’t take that chance.
    He wrote something else then stepped toward the painting, startling her into jumping back. He taped the card to the wall, and when she saw the figure he’d written below her name, her mouth fell open. “Y-you can’t ask that much for an unknown’s work.”
    â€œYou’ll get this easily. You could get more if the buyers could get a picture with you in front of it.”
    â€œNo! I, um... I don’t paint for the money.”
    â€œThat’s a naive outlook. Or that of a woman with other means of support. Do you have a deep-pocketed sugar daddy?”
    â€œThat’s rude of you to suggest, and it’s really none of your business.”
    â€œIt is if you’re doing something illegal to support yourself that could jeopardize my aunt.”
    She stiffened at the implication, but she couldn’t explain. “I wouldn’t do that.”
    â€œYou expect me to take your word for it when you won’t provide even basic employee information? I’m not as gullible as Miri. You’re hiding something. Do you have a record?”
    â€œI’ve told you I don’t. Why can’t you believe I just want to be left alone to paint?”
    â€œBecause that’s bullshi—”
    The kitchen door whooshed open. Miri joined them, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, Jessie. That’s wonderful.”
    Jessie’s face warmed despite the cold chill in her core caused by Logan’s distrust. “Thank you.”
    â€œI can’t wait to brag to everyone about what a talented artist you are.”
    Alarm rocketed through her. “No! You can’t.” Jessie caught Logan’s narrowed gaze on her and fumbled to recover. “I’d...um...die of embarrassment. My art is...personal. Please don’t say anything.”
    Miri nodded with understanding in her eyes, hitting Jessie with another twinge of guilt. The hole she was digging with her dishonesty kept getting deeper. What would the people at church say about her behavior? But she wasn’t hurting anybody. Right?
    â€œIt’ll be our secret, hon.”
    â€œYou should go to her house and see the rest of her work,” Logan insisted. “If cleaning your old ones is going to take a while, you’ll want to send them in multiples. That’ll allow Jessie to display more pieces.”
    Another frisson of anxiety swept Jessie. Logan obviously didn’t like her. Why was he trying to help her? Or was he only trying to get back into her house to find something incriminating?
    â€œI don’t go to anyone’s house without an invitation,” Miri snapped.
    Jessie liked Miri and trusted her as much as she could trust anyone she’d met only four days ago, but inviting people into her hideaway wouldn’t be a good idea. Plus, Logan, Miri’s overprotective guardian, would probably accompany her.
    â€œThere’s no need for you to trek out to my place. I’ll bring in as many paintings as you want to see. And I brought the name of a restoration specialist,” she added, trying to change the subject.
    She’d had to look up the company online at the library and go by their credentials and reviews from past patrons, because she didn’t dare speak to anyone in the art