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

been working all night. I thought you’d be sleeping.”
    She looked beyond him. “Where’s Shadow? I thought you’d be at the inn.”
    “Yeah, I left him there. He was busy teaching Skippy how to fetch. I’m expecting a big furniture delivery today. Forgot the damn paperwork.”
    “Wow, you really are forgetful.” She stood up and brushed the back of her shorts. The sun shone in his hair. The gray of his shirt played havoc with the color of his eyes. The way it hugged his body played havoc with her common sense.
    “Not usually as scatterbrained as I’ve led on. Only when I’m trying to spy on beautiful mural painters.” He smiled the smile. The one that turned her insides into melted caramel.
    “You’re here to spy on me?”
    “No, this one’s legit. Finding you out here basking in the sun was just a bonus.”
    “And me without my sunscreen. Excuse me.” She sidled past him and headed back toward the beach.
    He kept pace. “The mural is really coming along. Every morning, I’m excited to walk into the lobby and see what you’ve done the night before.”
    “The work is going well. I’ll probably be out of your hair sooner than I planned.”
    “I’m not sure that’s good news.”
    Kay shrugged a shoulder and kept walking. “The project has to be finished sometime.”
    Bear caught her elbow with a gentle hand. “But then I wouldn’t get to see you.”
    She pulled out of his grasp, but stopped. Shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her chest as she turned back to him. “You know the old saying, ships passing in the night . You barely see me now.”
    “I see more than you think I see.”
    She frowned at him and continued walking. “Sounds kind of stalker-ish.”
    “It does, doesn’t it?” He caught up to her in two strides. “What I mean is, you put so much of yourself into your painting. It practically screams your name.”
    “Well then, when I leave, you won’t miss me.”
    “Could be I’ll miss you more.” That stopped her. The teasing was past. He was serious.
    Bear closed the space between them. The hand at her elbow slipped up her arm to rest at the curve of her neck. His gaze seemed to be taking in every aspect of her face as if he were trying to memorize its features.
    “You can’t,” Kay whispered.
    His eyes met and held hers for a long moment before returning his attention to her mouth. “I can’t what? Miss you? Or kiss you?”
    His fingers trailed up the side of her neck and slipped behind her head while his thumb swept along the line of her jaw. A rush spread through her as the world tipped beneath her feet. She reached a hand out to steady herself, grasping his other arm.
    “Neither.”
    The man was solid muscle beneath her touch. He angled his head and brought his mouth to within a hair’s breadth of hers. Her heart was doing its best to pound its way out of her chest. His breath fanned her cheek while she held hers.
    “Seems I can’t help myself.”
    His lips captured hers, easily shattering the feeble defense of her words. He claimed her mouth. This was not a teasing timid kiss. Nor was it punishing. It was Bear. Strong, powerful, confident. In other words, breathtaking.
    The arm she held slipped behind her waist drawing her even closer as the kiss deepened. Opening her mouth, she welcomed him in. Losing herself to the feeling of being surrounded by the strength of him. Before she knew it, Kay had a hand tangled in the softness of his hair and was pressed tight against the wall of his chest. She returned the fervor of his lips and tongue until the cold wave of sanity made her push away.
    Wide eyed, they both stood panting. Her lips felt swollen, and she covered them with shaky fingertips. Her body hummed. After the heat of his body, the cool air raised goosebumps on her arms and tightened her nipples.
    “Kay…”
    “No.” Kay turned and ran back to the cottage.

Chapter Nine
    Sweat rolled into Bear’s eyes. Three more bed frames to move and assemble and