pulled out four fairly large oil paintings done on commercial painting boards. [p71] [p ] The first two were of Beth, one a nude and the other a semi-nude, with only her lovely breasts exposed. The second two paintings were of a girl who was not familiar at all. In the first picture, a portrait, she was seated before a table, contemplating a vase of flowers. A rather good looking girl with jet black hair and a soft, warm looking face. The next painting was of the same girl, but this time she had been painted as a Hawaiian dancer and her skin was a trifle darker. She was a pretty girl, but her face and nicely formed body didn’t ring a bell. “Who is she?” He asked. “Her name is Janet Holman. She lives about four or five miles from here, on her father’s farm.” Beth nodded toward the green filing cabinet in the corner. “You have her file over there with your records. Doesn’t any of this ring a bell, darling?” “No.” She looked at him sadly, her face mirroring the way she felt. “I hope it’ll come back, darling.” He reached out and pulled her to him, holding her tight. “It’ll come back,” he whispered. “C’mon. I want to build a fire in that fireplace. It’s cool in here, even if it is summer.” They went back out into the front room and, while Beth found some kindling, Nick wadded up some newspapers and stuffed them in the fireplace. When she brought it in, he lighted the stuff and after it was going good, he added a couple of logs. He snapped off the light and grinned at her. “I like firelight,” he told her. “It’s restful.” [p72]She smiled back at him. “Restful? I think it’s sexy.” She had kicked off her pumps and was lying before the glow of the hearth on the thick rug. He arranged the mesh screen before the fire and laid down beside her. [p72] [p ] “Sexy, huh?”
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