3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Valentine stepped into the parking lot, surprised to see Bear already waiting. He was leaning against the back of his truck and straightened when he saw her.
He turned around for a second, then strode across the paved lot with a to-go cup in hand. “Hey, where’d you come from?” he asked as he handed the cup to her.
“I took the trolley. I don’t have a car,” she added. She usually took the trolley most places, but also the bus, her bike, or occasionally she called for a car rental.
“I would have offered to pick you up. It’s strawberry shortcake.” He nodded at the cup.
And she blinked in surprise. “Ah…”
“Oh, I asked the people at the bakery you go to. I see you coming back from there all the time and figured I’d take a chance they knew your favorites. I also got you a lemon poppy seed muffin. I wasn’t like stalking you or anything. I just…” He shoved a small bag at her now too.
“I’m fine with you stalking me if you bring me gifts I like.” She peered into the bag, then grinned up at him.
He let out a bark of laughter that she felt all the way to her toes.
“Thank you for this. It’s really kind on top of everything else you’re doing… You’re sure you have time for this?” She knew how busy he was with the condo job. And since she was friends with one part of the sister-owners, she knew that Fleur wanted the renovations done by April.
He gave her a sort of amused smile and nodded. “Definitely. Now come on, it’s too cold out here and you’re shivering.”
She actually was but that was her own fault. She was always forgetting to grab a scarf. “How’s your arm? Have you decided to get stitches?”
He snort-laughed, the sound more of a chuckle, and god, she loved it when he laughed. “I’m fine, no stitches required, I swear. It was just a nick.”
“Your definition of nick and mine are different, then. I’m a big baby and consider calling 911 when I stub my toe.”
Shaking his head, he laughed again as they strode up the walkway to the front. The place wouldn’t open for another two hours but she had a set of keys. At his surprised look, she said, “They gave me a set because I’m here so often. Or it feels like it anyway.” Once they stepped into the lobby, she shivered again. “And we need to turn on the heat. You want a tour before I take you to the theater?”
“Yeah.” He looked around curiously, so clearly he’d never been here.
She didn’t think he had kids but… “Do you have kids?”
He blinked in surprise, clearly taken off guard by the question.
“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking that of course you hadn’t been here before and then that led me to thinking about kids, and oh my god, shut up, Valentine,” she muttered to herself.
But he just chuckled. “I don’t have kids. Never been married either in case you were wondering.”
Oh, she’d been wondering. She’d been wondering about a whole lot of things. He didn’t have a ring on his finger, which didn’t mean anything, but he also didn’t have that faint line that guys who took their wedding rings off did either. So it had been a safe enough bet that he was single. Or not married anyway.
“I’m single,” he added, as if he’d read her mind.
Or more likely her expression. She needed to guard herself more closely with him, but it was hard around him. “I am too, though I came pretty close to getting married once.” She wasn’t sure why she’d told him, other than she wanted him to know more about her too.
And she didn’t miss the small frown that played across his perfect mouth before she turned away and flipped on the bank of lights by the front door.
“This is obviously the lobby,” she said with a sweep of her hands.
There was a desk to the left where the admin sat to greet people and direct them to the correct places. To the right was a small seating area with a giant rug between two worn, comfortable couches. A big table sat between them piled high with blocks, Legos and books. Sometimes parents waited for their kids here or left them for whatever classes they had.
“Through here, well, you can see, is the library.”
“It’s huge.”
“Yeah, we’ve been really lucky with the amount of donations we get.” There was more than luck to it, but it felt wrong to say that they had a handful of wealthy donors who had pushed various private schools and other places to give to this center. “It’s part of why we put on such a big production twice a year. After the kids’ play, there’s a cocktail hour and…” She shrugged.
“Ah, people are in a better mood if they enjoyed the play and tend to open their wallets more?”
“More or less,” she said on a laugh. “And when the plays are big and spectacular I think it’s a visual thing. People can see where their money is going if that makes sense. In reality, their money goes to art classes and specific tutoring, but you can’t really see the effects of that so our productions are important. Or maybe I’m just jaded.”
“No, I’m sure you’re right about the productions,” he murmured still looking around the huge space. “I’ve seen this place before from the outside but didn’t realize how big it actually is.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of deceiving.” It was mostly thick windows and heavy beams so they got a ridiculous amount of natural light. The architect who’d designed it had wanted something that let the occupants feel like they were outside even while learning inside. Instead of a square or rectangle, it was more of a trapezoid.
“Did you do any of the art in here?”
“Yeah, some.” She pointed to a couple oil paintings; one of a llama wearing a red and pink scarf and yellow glasses, and the other of two llamas dancing the flamenco. “I did those during a class I taught.”
“I saw a couple llama paintings at your place so I would have guessed those were yours. I love your place, by the way—and your paintings. I didn’t get to tell you last night but it’s incredible what you’ve done with your space.”
“Thanks.” She felt her cheeks heat up under the faint praise.
“I’ve been in my place for five years and most of my walls are still bare.” He shook his head slightly at himself.
Hmmm. She made a mental note of that even as she motioned for the back doors. “This way.”
They stepped out the back door into a garden where the kids grew various vegetables or fruits, depending on the season.
“So I’ve got to ask, what else do you do other than teach art, paint amazing canvases, and create musical scores?” Bear asked, looking around with appreciation as they crossed over to where the small theater building was.
He thought her work was amazing? Oh god, she was going to melt right in front of him. How was he so wonderful? She cleared her throat. “Mostly animation for video games but I also write musical scores for some of them too.” She also did a few other things including nude modeling, but figured that was enough for now. She wasn’t sure she wanted to scare him off just yet. Normally she didn’t care what anyone thought of her life choices, and she hated that she cared with him.
“Oh wow, that’s really interesting. I’d love to see some of your work. I have a few younger cousins who are big into video games.”
“Not you?” she asked as she opened the main set of doors. She guessed that he was in his mid-thirties, so right in that age where he’d have grown up playing them.
“Eh, a little when I was younger but I’m all thumbs.” He held up his giant hands, and whew, her mind went places it had no business going.
So she looked away from him, hoping he wouldn’t notice the flush on her cheeks in the dim interior.
“This is a great theater,” he murmured as they headed down the middle aisle.
Most of the lights were on so the rows of plush red seats were clearly visible. They didn’t have any balcony seating, just mezzanine and orchestra.
As she took a sip of her tea, she felt her phone buzz in her jacket pocket, winced when she saw who it was. “I’m really sorry but I need to take this,” she murmured as Jade stepped out of the small side door by the stage, smiling at both of them, giving Valentine a little wave.
She pointed to her phone. “Sorry, Jade, this is Bear. Bear, Jade. I’ll be right back.” Then she hurried back up through the theater. “Hey, Mom, everything okay?” After she’d blown up her life, they hadn’t talked for over six years, but after her father died two years ago, her mom had reached out and they’d started slowly mending their relationship. But her mom still didn’t call that often and Valentine didn’t either. They had a very civil relationship, but it would never be warm and fuzzy.
“No, everything is not okay. I’m locked out of my bank account.” Her mom’s voice had that familiar ring of panic to it. She’d never handled any of the finances until two years ago and Valentine knew she still struggled being in charge of everything. She’d been happy to let her husband handle all the finances, but now she had to do everything on her own.
“You just need to reset your password if you can’t remember it.” She kept her tone calm and soothing, otherwise her mom would spiral. She’d told her to keep a little folder to remember everything but her mom was worried someone would break in and steal all her passwords.
She slowly walked her through resetting it, and only once her mom was calm and they’d talked about new recipes—a safe topic for them—did she end the call.
As she headed back inside, she rolled her shoulders, hating that her muscles still got tense when they talked. Not all the time, but enough that she had to consciously make herself relax.
Once she was back inside, she saw that Bear and Jade were talking on the right side of the stage—and that Jade had her hand resting gently on his uninjured forearm.
Valentine hated that the sight of the other woman barely touching him annoyed her. Jade was her friend and Bear was her…well, nothing. As she approached, Bear’s phone buzzed, but he smiled when he saw her. “Excuse me,” he said, smiling at Valentine.
“So? What did he say?” she whispered to Jade as her friend pulled her into a quick hug.
“He’s going to provide all the lumber we need, plus any excess supplies. He actually thinks they already have some pieces that might work without having to put them together. And he wants to talk to Trish about donating to the center.” Trish was their CFO.
“Wow, that’s incredible.” She hadn’t expected this at all and was starting to feel guilty that she’d had him pegged all wrong. Ugh, she knew what it felt like to be judged and couldn’t believe she’d done the same thing to Bear just because he came from old New Orleans money.
“Right? And oh my god,” Jade lowered her voice, “he’s gorgeous. Is he single?”
“Nope,” Valentine said without thinking because apparently she wanted to add big fat liar to her résumé. “He’s in a long-term relationship with someone. Super happy.” Gah, stop talking , she ordered herself. She couldn’t believe she was lying to her friend.
“Of course he is,” Jade said on a sigh. “Well I’m glad you brought him by. I’ve got to handle some stuff in the office before everyone gets here. Are you good to talk through everything with him? You know as much about the production as me.”
“No problem. And I sent you the final score so the kids should be good to start practicing it.”
“You’re an angel, thanks.” After air-kissing Valentine, she left in a blur, her heels clicking in a staccato as she hurried out.
“Sorry about that. Small work thing.” Bear tucked his phone away as he approached.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for. I’m so grateful you’re here at all and I heard you’re going to be donating all the lumber and everything else?”
To her surprise, his cheeks flushed slightly as he nodded. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to the kids. And to me,” she added. That earned her a smile, and yep, she knew she was in trouble. “If you have time, I can go over everything we’ll need so you’ve got a complete list?”
“No problem. If you want, we can do it over breakfast? There’s a diner a couple blocks over. I can take you home after. Or anywhere else you need to go.”
Now she felt her own cheeks flush. “Breakfast sounds good, but it’s on me. You’re already doing too much.”
He grunted a nonresponse, his expression telling her that he didn’t like the idea of her paying. Well too bad, because he was wonderful, and she wanted to thank him somehow. And she was pretty sure offering to get naked with him would be frowned upon.