Against the Wall (Stoddard Art School Series Book 3) Read online

  She grabbed a handful of his T-shirt and tugged him toward her. “Please just kiss me before I say anything else stupid.”

  He laughed and dropped his sunglasses on the blanket before wrapping his arms around her. “Under one condition.”

  Kay closed her eyes and groaned. “What?” He brushed the tip of his nose against hers. His mouth hovered. When he didn’t kiss her, she opened her eyes. His serious gaze held her captive.

  “Promise you won’t vanish this time.”

  She blinked. “I-I can’t guarantee that.”

  He watched her mouth before searching her eyes. “Guess I’ll have to take my chances.” His arms tightened their hold as he tipped his head and whispered against her lips. “Good night.”

  His lips were warm as they met hers, but there was nothing soft in the way his mouth played against hers. No hesitation. No gentle whisper of lips across lips. Bear’s kisses were potent and heady. He took her mouth, stole her breath, and made her hunger for more.

  Shadow bumped against them, and Bear released her before she’d had her fill. Somehow the panic of the kiss on the point was gone. Not that she was powerless against a few killer kisses. Just the opposite. Kay wanted this. She wanted him. She didn’t want to think their relationship to death. She just wanted to feel this feeling. The thrill of excitement that runs through you when you know someone’s coming to pick you up, or when you hear their voice on the other end of the phone. That delicious inner gasp when you see them. The warm rush of desire when their gaze locks with yours for an extra second. She craved it all. With Bear. It didn’t feel as if she were denying all the hurt Todd had caused by her jumping into another man’s arms. This felt right. And good.

  Bear kept his hands on her hips and studied her face. She gave him a small smile. “I’m still here.”

  “Yes, you are. Must be my lucky day.”

  “Mine too.” Kay released the grip she had on the front of his T-shirt and smoothed the wrinkles out of the S of USC. She wanted him to take it off. Was it too early in their date to ask to see his tattoo?

  Bear lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  “Good idea.”

  Shadow took the lead as they moved closer to the water where the walking was easier. They headed away from the point to explore the far side of the cove.

  Kay kicked off her sandals and walked through the very edge of the waves. The sand beneath her feet was coarse and cool. “So why do they call you Bear?”

  “The truth?”

  Raising her eyebrows, she shot him a glance. “Is it embarrassing?”

  “No, not really. But when you’re my size and you’re a linebacker, people assume I’m called Bear because I was a ferocious defenseman.”

  “I remember Walter and you talking football the other night. Did you play professionally?”

  He turned and indicated the letters on his shirt. “College ball. Wrecked my shoulder my junior year at USC.”

  “I’m sorry.” She hated the idea of him hurt. Kay wasn’t much of a sports fan, but she knew enough to know how brutal some of those tackles could be, even with helmets and pads.

  Bear shrugged. “It happens.”

  “That’s not why they call you Bear?”

  “Nope. Truth is my younger brother had a stutter as a little kid. Couldn’t say Barrett.”

  Kay shot him a smile. “Adorable.”

  “Don’t spread it around.” Shadow splashed into the water ahead of them. “What about you? Kay short for Katherine maybe?”

  “No. Just Kay. Walter calls me Special Kay. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be breakfast cereal or what.”

  “Brothers? Sisters?”

  Kay gave a quick shake of her head. “Nope. There’s just me. Parents, of course. Well, one parent, one step. Charles.”

  He looked over at her. “You have a step-Charles?”

  She studied the sand as they continued to walk. “We don’t talk much.”

  “How about your mother?”

  “We definitely don’t talk much.” A wave came in close and chilled her feet before ebbing back into the sea.

  Bear and Kay reached the end of the cove that curved out to sea and paused for a minute before they turned back. Clouds skidded across the pure blue of the sky. The sun was gloriously warm on her shoulders. It was great learning more about Bear, but she didn’t want to dampen the day with a discussion about her parents, so she turned the conversation back to him. “What about you? Any steps?”

  “Nope, two regulation, pre-assigned parents.”

  “And a kid brother.”

  “Justin.” Bear snagged a rock as they walked. “Not pre-assigned.”

  Kay watched as he turned the stone over and over in his hand. “You don’t get along?”

  He smoothed his thumb over the bleached pebble. “We’re just different. Night and day different. Dad’s a Marine. Justin joined the Corps straight out of high school. ROTC. I was on the football track into college, then military.”

  “But you got hurt.”

  He nodded. “Sidelined me from a lot.” They walked a few paces in silence. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she understood. She wouldn’t press him, but then he continued. “My dad…he’s one of those guys who sleeps at attention. We had crew cuts before we could walk. Justin’s exactly like him. I’d never admit it, but getting injured was a blessing in disguise. The military wouldn’t have been a good fit for me.” He tossed the stone he’d been carrying out into the water and took hold of her hand. “If you think about it, had things not gone the way they did, I wouldn’t be here, or own the inn.” He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I wouldn’t have met an amazing mural painter.”

  “And you wouldn’t have bought the ugly house on the point.”

  Bear stopped, holding tight to her hand, halting her. “What’s wrong with my house?”

  She shook her head sadly. “It’s ugly.”

  His jaw dropped. “It’s modern,” he insisted.

  “Modern ugly.”

  He pointed. “It’s based on a design from Frank Lloyd Wright.” His tone was incredulous.

  “Sorry, still ugly.” She pronounced it You-gly. She tugged on his hand, and they kept walking.

  Bear huffed beside her. “Wow. I had no idea you had such hatred for my house. And yet you still let me kiss you?”

  Kay stopped and flashed him a smug smile. “What can I say, I like your dog.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “I’m sure it’s lovely on the inside.” She stroked his arm.

  “Don’t try to make up. You insulted my house.” Bear relaxed on the blanket Kay had spread out.

  She sat next to him. The print scarf she’d tied around her waist slipped back to reveal the lovely length of her beautiful legs.

  “I’m sorry.” Kay dropped her chin.

  “No, you’re not.”

  She flashed him a coy look. “You’re right, I’m not.” She pointed. “Your house stole my best spot. I spent hours out there growing up. Buried treasure there when I was seven,” she informed him. “Eighty-seven cents, a very expensive ring with an actual ruby. I won it at the carnival.” Kay counted them off on her fingers. “A perfect piece of pale-green beach glass, and my best periwinkle crayon.” She tucked her hands beneath her bent knees and rested her chin on their tops. “Walter gave me the little metal tin to put everything in. I drew the map and everything. Then poof, I came back one summer, and there it was… that.” She jerked her chin in the direction of his place. “At least my thinking chair is still out there.”

  “The dipped out rock?”

  “Yes, and I don’t care if I’m technically trespassing. I was here first.”

  Bear loved the defiant set to her chin. “You hereby have my permission to sit out there anytime you want. Hell, give me your map, and I’ll dig up your crayon.”

  Kay smiled at him. “You’d dig up your kitchen floor for a crayon?”

  “And an actual ruby ring
.”

  She shrugged. “The ruby might have been a fake. It turned my finger green.”

  “But it’s still your treasure.”

  “I was seven.” Her eyes looked impossibly blue.

  “Bet you were cute as hell.”

  Kay shook her head and went back to watching the waves. “Knobby knees and Chiclet teeth.”

  “But look how nice you turned out.” Bear fought the urge to touch her.

  Pulling a bowl and a bottle of water out of the bag beside her, Kay stopped to give Shadow a drink. He slobbered his way through and flopped in the sun for a nap.

  “You spoil him.”

  “He looked thirsty. And keep it a secret, I brought a F-r-i-s-b-e-e for him.” She spelled the word as she whispered it, and glanced back at the dog to see if he somehow, A, heard her and, B, could spell. She was freakin’ adorable.

  “Warning,” Bear whispered back. “Once he gets a hold of a F-r-i-s-b-e-e, he runs off and buries it. You can kiss it goodbye.”

  “Again with the goodbye kisses.” One pale eyebrow crooked. “Do you think of nothing else?”

  “It’s good-night kisses we’ve been working at. And no, I can’t seem to think about anything else.” Bear laid back and slipped his hands beneath his head. From this position, he could drink in the sight of her bare back, and still keep his hands to himself. The clouds overhead had started to build, but the day was still bright. “I’m heading down to Portland on Thursday to pick up a few things. How about coming with me?”

  She shook her head. “If I keep taking days off, I’ll never get your mural done.”

  “It’s one day.”

  “That’s what you said about today.”

  “I need your artistic eye. I’m scouting some of the shops in Old Port for decorator items. I know jack about decorator items. I could use some help.”

  She looked over her shoulder. “Can I think about it?”

  Bear sat up. His arm brushed hers. “Sure, as long as you say yes.”

  Kay turned away to rummage through the cooler. “What, and spoil you, too?” She opened and handed him a beer.

  “Not possible. I always bring my Frisbees back.” Bear took a long pull off the cold brew. Warm day, private beach, beautiful woman. This was just this side of perfect.

  Over the last couple of days, he’d spent more time with her, but she was still a mystery. She was unlike most of the women he’d dated. They never stopped talking about themselves. Kay was just the opposite. Every time he tried to bring the conversation back to her, she would turn it around to him, or the inn, or work. He wanted to know more about her.

  “Walter told me you don’t usually spend all summer up here.”

  “Not usually.” She opened a bottle of water for herself.

  “So why this summer?”

  Kay flashed him a grin. “I’m painting the lobby of an inn nearby.”

  “Cute. No, really?”

  Kay lifted one sun kissed shoulder. “Bell Harbor’s my go to place. My hideaway.”

  “What are you hiding from?”

  “Nothing.” She played with her bottle cap. “Bell Harbor is more like where I run. You know, when I have to get away.” She lifted that shoulder again and looked at him. “Don’t you have a place you escape to? Somewhere where you can kick back and relax? What’s your favorite hideaway? I’m guessing you like the mountains. Are you into all that skiing and hiking stuff?”

  She was doing it again. Trying to turn the conversation back to him. “I’ve told you enough about me. Let’s talk about you.”

  “Not my best subject.” Kay was on her feet and halfway to the water before he caught up to her.

  “Okay, I’ll rephrase the question. Are you running from something? Or someone?”

  Kay stopped at the water’s edge and crossed her arms over her chest. She was quiet for a long moment as if she were debating whether she could trust him.

  He bumped her with his elbow. “You’re avoiding the question.”

  She flashed him a smile. “I’m good at that.”

  “You’re a professional.”

  Kay turned and met his gaze. “My fiancé changed his mind.”

  “About getting married?”

  Her mouth twitched, and she looked away. “About that whole monogamous, fidelity thing.”

  “Ouch. I’m sorry.”

  “Better now, than after the I do’s, right?” She watched the waves.

  He studied her profile. “It still sucks.”

  She nodded slowly.

  “What’s he, stupid?”

  Kay smirked. “I might not be the best one to answer that.”

  “I am.” He snorted. “The man’s an idiot.”

  “Thanks for that.” She smiled at him. “So, I got out. I can be fast when I’m properly motivated. Only took me three hours to erase two years, and another three hours to get here.”

  “Have you heard from him?”

  “No.”

  Her lack of hesitation tugged at him. “Do you want to?”

  “No.” Kay crossed her arms and hugged herself. “I’m not one to stick around for the post mortem. It’s over. There isn’t anything more he could say that I’d want to hear.”

  “Good point.”

  She tucked a loose hair behind and ear. “I’ll need to find another place to live before the fall semester begins, but for now, Bell Harbor is everything it has always been for me. It’s safe and soothing as if the water here has magical powers.”

  “This water is numbing.”

  She gave a quick laugh. “Maybe numbing is exactly what I need.”

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Or maybe you need someone to appreciate how amazing you are.”

  Kay looked up at him. “I’ve gotten pretty good at not needing someone.”

  He retucked that stray bit of hair behind her ear. In the sunlight, her eyes had these little golden specks. “Everybody needs someone.”

  Her gaze held his for a long moment. “Why do I get the feeling you’re applying for the job?”

  “Who better?” He grinned. “I already know how amazing you are.”

  Kay shook her head and looked away. “You know nothing about me.”

  “I’m trying.” When she turned back toward their blanket, he followed. “I know you’re beautiful. Talented.” Bear reached out and caught her arm. She turned but kept her gaze somewhere in the middle of his chest. “I know how your eyes light up when you talk about your work. You love Walter and Dottie Polk even though you know they’re nuts. You’ve got a great laugh.” He wished she would meet his eye. “You drink beer from a bottle and hate pickles on your burger.” He stroked the warm softness of her skin. “I know I want to drive three hours to Stoddard, New Hampshire, and push my fist through the face of a guy whose name I’ve never even heard.”

  She finally lifted her eyes to his. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “Say you’ll go to Portland with me. Tell me you don’t think all men are complete jackasses, and even though you hate my house, you’ll let me kiss you again.

  Kay pressed her lips together before giving him a grudging smile. “You know, for a guy, you sure can talk pretty when you put your mind to it.”

  “I can be properly motivated, too.” The urge to kiss her surged through him.

  Kay studied the letters on his shirt before tracing the S with her fingertips. “Can I think about it?”

  “Which part?” His voice rasped.

  She stilled her fingers. “All of it.”

  Bear lifted her hand and kissed the back of those fingers. “Sure. Just remember.” He turned her hand and laid another kiss in its palm. “You love my dog.”

  Kay tugged her hand away and scoffed, “I said, I liked your dog.”

  “Your mouth said liked, but your eyes…”

  She laughed. “My eyes are always running their mouth.”

  God, she was adorable!

  Chapter Twelve

  Their day
on the beach had started off strained and forced, and there were some moments when Bear saw too much in her “big mouth” eyes. But when he walked her to her door, all she could think about was another good night kiss. Kay kept her focus on the bright USC of his shirt so her eyes couldn’t scream out how she was beginning to ache thinking about what a good morning kiss from Bear might be like. You know, after a night in his arms. In her bed.

  “Do you want to come in? For a cup of coffee? It’s getting chilly, I could start a fire.”

  “Better not. Shadow’s covered with sand and smells like low tide.” Bear had been right about one thing. Shadow had caught that Frisbee in midair, raced off with it, and it was never seen again. Okay, he’d had been right about two things. She did love his dog.

  Bear pushed the hair away from her cheek and tipped her chin so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. “Plus, if I come in, I won’t want to leave.”

  Then, stay. The words screamed in her brain. Kay pressed her lips together to keep from saying them. She made the mistake of focusing her gaze on his mouth. “I guess it’s good night then.”

  The smallest of smiles curved his lips. Had she not been watching she might have missed it. The tremor it caused to race through her body threw her breathing into second gear. God, he smelled so good. Like summer. All sunshine and sand. Coconutty sunscreen over warm skin.

  “Another good night kiss?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He stroked the sensitive spot under her chin with a lazy finger. “Yes, please,” he mimicked. “Are you always so polite?” His eyes crinkled in amusement.

  “Hell, no.” Kay traced his bottom lip before testing the gentle dent in his chin. “But other than climbing you like a tree, I figured it was the best way to get you to kiss m—”

  His mouth crushed hers with a blazing kiss that ended all the teasing. She opened her mouth to accept the sweep of his tongue. A moan slipped from her throat. Good God, this man could kiss. She nipped at his lower lip with her teeth before returning the heat with a searing kiss of her own.

  Steely arms tightened around her, fusing her damp body to his. She trembled with want. If he could kiss like this, what would he be like in bed with those big hands caressing her skin, stroking her? Kissing her all over? Oh, God!