Free Enthralled by Ann Cristy Page B

eyes didn't focus, her hearing faded, her
muscles became limp, her backbone seemed to disappear. He gave her headaches
and gas. God, Chazz Herman was a one-man torture chamber for Teel Barrett. She
took deep breaths and kept her mind on the picture. She tilted her head as the
high cheek bones, chiseled chin, hawklike nose, and dark hair of the young boy
depicted in the painting all seeped into her consciousness. "You! What are
you doing in a Tilda Charles painting?" she accused him, as if he had
bought his place in the painting.
    "She's my aunt."
    "Oh!" Teel closed
her eyes, then looked blankly from him to the painting, and from the painting
to him.
    Chazz put his arm
around her waist. "She and I were staying at my place on Martha's Vineyard
when a sperm whale beached itself. Some of the locals and I struggled for hours
to get the animal into deeper water. It returned twice. The third time out we
circled it until it seemed to orient itself and swim away. Of course we have no
way of knowing if it beached itself someplace else, but I can't describe to you
the exhilaration we felt when that whale began to move smoothly on its own. We
celebrated all night. It was wonderful. Aunt Tilda stayed on the beach the whole
day watching, and I suppose sketching too. The first I knew that she had
painted the scene was when this"—he pointed upward—"was delivered to
my door." He sighed. "The sea was just that color." He smiled
down at Teel. "You and I will go there soon." He leaned down and
pressed a hard kiss on her open mouth. "But for now, it's time you had
lunch. I have to get you back. I've already volunteered my services for the
afternoon, so I'll be with you for the rest of the day. Tonight, I'll take you
to dinner and a show."
    As Chazz spoke, he
led her through double doors into a very large dining room that could easily
seat thirty people. Teel looked up at him questioningly. Chazz laughed.
"No, we're not going to eat here. We'll eat in the morning room. It's
smaller and cozier. I think you'll like it."
    "Does it matter?"
Teel asked, feeling as though she were walking on air as Chazz carried her
along at his side.
    "Don't be testy. It isn't
good for your digestion," he soothed, leading her out into another
hallway, then through more doors into a circular room with a glass wall that
overlooked a large terrace with a swimming pool and garden. The view of New York City was breathtaking. Teel heaved a sigh of satisfaction. The round table in the
middle of the room was set for two. The table and chairs were of rich rosewood,
as was the paneling on the walls. On the floor was a round Chinese rug in deep
blue and cream. Teel studied the room carefully, turning slowly. "I wonder
what a psychiatrist would say about your penchant for round rooms," she
mused. "It's probably your emperor complex surfacing."
    "No
doubt," Chazz agreed smoothly. "Won't you be seated, Empress?"
He smiled at her, then turned to greet a portly woman who entered through
swinging doors from the kitchen. She had salt-and-pepper hair and wore an apron
that belled out around her form like a small circus tent. She clasped her hands
in front of her and looked at Chazz expectantly. "Ah, Mrs.
Pritchett," he said. "This is Miss Barrett. She is the lady I told
you I was bringing for lunch."
    "How do you do, Miss
Barrett."
    "It's nice to meet you,
Mrs. Pritchett." Teel felt a sudden discomfiture at the assessing look the
housekeeper gave her.
    "I'll bring lunch right
along sir. I made it light, as you ordered."
    Mrs. Pritchett disappeared,
but before Teel could say anything to Chazz, she was back with a tureen of
soup. As the fragrance of the home-made mushroom broth reached her nostrils,
she realized that she was ravenous. When she sat back a few minutes later,
after finishing her bowl, Mrs. Pritchett seemed to answer some unheard signal.
This time she appeared with two large bowls of julienne salad, which she placed
with care in front of Teel and Chazz.
    "I've added cubed