Against the Wall (Stoddard Art School Series Book 3) by Lisa A. Olech Page B

Saturday afternoon. Did you get everything you ordered?”
    She checked off the list. “Some of the paint is back stocked, but I can still get started with prep and prime. Hopefully, it won’t take too long to get it to me.”
    Her long hair was secured in a thick braid trailing down the center of her back. Her mottled jeans bore smudges and smears of paint in every conceivable color. A gray hoodie bore similar markings. She slipped the receipt into her back pocket and pushed her pencil into her braid before bending to organize things. Her hoodie rose, and her jeans dipped leaving a pale curve of soft skin. Bear’s brain lost a good amount of blood flow.
    He cleared the sudden catch in his throat. “Let me know if you have trouble getting anything. I can probably find it through my guys.”
    “I think I’ve got it covered, but thanks.” She shot him a quick smile over her shoulder.
    “You know, I never gave you a tour of the place. Fourth floor is still a disaster, but if you’d like to see the rest.”
    “Um, I’d love to. Maybe later?”
    “Sure, sure. Later.” She went back to unpacking quarts of latex paint. He twisted the cup in his hand. “Coffee?”
    “No, thanks, I’m good.”
    He should really stop studying her butt. “You know where the pot is if you want some. Feel free to help yourself. There’s donuts, too. Bottled water in the fridge.” He was rambling.
    “Thank you.” She pulled out a set of plush roller sleeves and tossed them to one side.
    “Is it too cool in here? I could bump the heat.”
    “Bear…” Kay straightened, blew out a breath, and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m great. I don’t need coffee, donuts, it’s not too hot, or too cold. It’s perfect.” She shook her head and laughed. She tucked a stray hair behind an ear. “I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with other things. I’m all set. If I need anything, I’ll come find you. I promise.”
    “That was a nice way of telling me not to let the door hit me in the ass on the way out.”
    “Handsome and smart.” She crooked one eyebrow at him.
    “Okay.” He held up his hands. “I get it. I’ll get out of your way.”
    “I’d appreciate it.”
    “But if you need any—”
    “Bear.”
    He threw up his hands in surrender. “I’m going.”
    And he went, but he couldn’t stay out of the lobby for long. He needed to see her work. It fascinated him. She fascinated him. He kept finding excuses to pop back. A forgotten supply order. His coffee cup. A pencil. Had he left his tape measure down here? Where’s the phone?
    All the while watching her as she made a slow sweep of the lobby, running her hands over the plaster walls, marking with chalk any imperfections she found in the surface. She filled the holes with Spackle, wiped them smooth, and then taped off the baseboard using wide, blue painter’s masking tape.
    On one of his return visits, he found her at the top of a stepladder taping along the ceiling line. Fear of her falling caught him like a blow to the chest, followed by the sudden, insane desire to catch her if she did. It would all happen in slow motion. She’d lose her footing, he’d drop everything and rush toward her in that split second easily scooping her into his arms. He’d hold her tight while their beating hearts calmed. She’d be so grateful…she’d…she’d…
    What an idiot!
    By the time five o’clock rolled around, all he wanted to do was pin her against the wall and kiss her. He’d been thinking about just that thing since he left her at her car the other night. Whoa. Let’s be honest here, he’d been thinking about kissing her since the first day on the beach.
    He knew what the problem was. Lack of rainfall. Monsoon Diane had dried up more than a year ago, and he was in a serious drought. Or…maybe he wasn’t a pig and only thinking with his dick. Either way, he needed to hurry up and kiss her, so he could stop thinking about it and get back to work.
    Kay was still