Hidden Talents

if you ask me. Have you seen them?”
    “No.” Caleb slanted a glance at Serenity. “I haven't.”
    “Have Serenity show them to you,” Jessie urged. “You'll see what I mean. Ambrose was brilliant from time to time. Those shots of Serenity were taken during one of his peak periods. He called the series ‘Spring.’ I think he had plans to portray her as Summer, Fall, and Winter, too, but he never got around to finishing the project.”
    “For which we can only be grateful,” Caleb muttered.
    “Caleb doesn't care for artistic photography,” Serenity said.
    “Is that right?” Jessie gave Caleb an odd look.
    “Jessie, if you're okay here alone,” Serenity said quickly, “I think we'll be on our way. I've got to get to the store. Let me know if you need any help sorting through Ambrose's stuff.”
    “I will.” Jessie inclined her head toward Caleb. “Nice to meet you. Serenity says you're going to do some great things for our little town.”
    “That remains to be seen,” Serenity said in a forbidding tone. “You know what they say about the best laid plans.” She jammed her hands into her jacket pockets and set off down the drive.
    “Good-bye, Jessie,” Caleb said politely. “I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon.”
    “I'm sure we will.” Jessie went up the steps to the front door of the cabin.
    Serenity heard the crunch of gravel behind her as Caleb followed her toward the road. She did not look back. He caught up with her in three long strides. Serenity held out her hand.
    “I'll take that envelope, if you don't mind,” she said crisply.
    Caleb hesitated and then reluctantly reached inside his jacket for the envelope. He pulled it out slowly, but instead of handing it to her, held onto it. “Serenity, I'd like to talk about something.”
    She snapped her fingers impatiently. “May I please have my pictures?”
    “I've been thinking about your photos,” Caleb said carefully.
    “Is that so? What, exactly, have you been thinking about them?”
    “I'd like to see them.”
    “Over my dead body.” Serenity kept her hand outstretched.
    Caleb's expression was grim. “All right. If that's the way you want it.” He gave her the envelope.
    “Thank you.” Serenity tucked the envelope under her arm and kept walking.
    “Serenity?”
    “Yes?”
    “Can you envision any circumstances under which you would feel comfortable showing me those pictures?”
    “Why would you want to see them?”
    “I'm not sure.” Caleb kept his eyes on the road ahead.
    “Has your prurient interest been aroused?” she asked acidly.
    His expression was as unreadable as stone. “What do you think?”
    “I don't know what to think. A couple of days ago you were thoroughly outraged when you found out about these photos. Now you say you want to see them.”
    “Will you just answer my question?” he asked quietly.
    She considered it. “You want to know if I can conceive of any circumstances under which I'd feel comfortable showing you the pictures? Well, maybe. Hypothetically speaking, that is.”
    “What kind of circumstances?”
    “Well, hypothetically speaking, I might show them to you if I ever felt I could trust you.”
    “If you felt you could trust me.” Caleb came to a halt in the middle of the empty road and caught hold of her arm, forcing Serenity to stop, too. “Are you saying you don't trust me? That's a damned insult, lady. I've got a reputation in the business community that is second to none. Ask anyone who's ever dealt with me. Go ahead, ask. No one, but no one, has ever accused me of being untrustworthy.”
    Serenity was startled by the intensity of his reaction to her remark. She was also irritated. “Oh, I'm sure you're quite trustworthy when it comes to your business dealings. Your contracts are apparently airtight and you've probably never been accused of fraud. But I'm talking about being able to trust you on a personal level.”
    “Damn it, Serenity, I resent that. I do not lie.”
    “If you resent it so much, you're free to leave Witt's End. No one's trying to keep you here.”
    Caleb released her. He started forward, his stride angry and dangerous. “You're going to be difficult about this, aren't you?”
    “Difficult?” Serenity hurried to catch up with him. “Caleb, I don't understand what's going on here. What do you expect of me after what's happened between us?”
    “Isn't it obvious? I want you to give me another chance.”
    “You're getting another