4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Bear knocked on Valentine’s door, anticipation humming inside him just at the thought of seeing her again. Didn’t matter that he’d seen her yesterday, had breakfast with her. He wanted all her free hours and…he couldn’t ever remember feeling like this about someone.
It defied logic. He barely knew her. Though what he did know, he liked. And he wanted to keep getting to know her.
She was already smiling as she opened the door, and yep, it was like the sun coming out. Her auburn hair was down today in soft waves around her face, trailing over her sweater… He blinked, then laughed.
It was a knitted green one with two geese fist-bumping each other on the front—goose bumps. “Cute.”
“One of my art students gave it to me. It’s a favorite. Come on in.” She stepped back. “I’ve just put a pot of tea on.”
“I’m more of a coffee person, but thank you.”
“I’ve got a coffeemaker too.” She motioned for him to follow her. “Either way, I’m glad you texted this morning because I have something for you.”
Surprise slid through him as he stepped into her kitchen, inhaled the subtle strawberry scent of the tea she was brewing. “For me?”
“Yep, hold on. If the pot starts to whistle…”
“I’ll take it off the stovetop.” He tried not to stare, to drink her in as she hurried from the kitchen. Her jeans were formfitting, in contrast to the oversized sweater, and they hugged all her curves.
Moments later she was back with what looked like a two foot by two foot canvas painting. Of a bear wearing construction gear, standing outside a pastel-colored house in a nearby neighborhood he recognized. “Is that…me?”
“Yep. I know it’s silly, but I wanted to say thank you for all you’re doing, and you said you didn’t have anything on your walls. You don’t have to put it up or anything, but—”
“No, I love it. This is really good. You’re incredibly talented.” There was so much detail in the image. He couldn’t believe she’d made this for him. “You just did this?”
“Yeah, I used acrylics so it would dry faster. I started on it after we had breakfast yesterday.”
“I really love it, thank you.”
She gave a little shrug, but her cheeks were pink. Aaand he wondered if they’d look like while she orgasmed.
He cleared his throat. “Ah, listen, a client gave me tickets to a cirque show last minute. I wanted to see if you were free tonight?”
“I’d love to… Oh, but I can’t.” Disappointment flickered in her green eyes. “I’m posing for some of the art students this afternoon at the college. I do it every other week in the fall and winter and I’d hate to cancel. It’s really hard for them to find models.”
She looked disappointed so he didn’t think she was lying, but he also didn’t want to push her for a date if she wasn’t interested and was trying to let him down. “I understand.”
She bit her bottom lip, looking way too adorable, and god, he just wanted to kiss her. “I’m so tempted to cancel, but…I can’t.”
“It’s fine, seriously. This was last minute.” He leaned against the countertop as she pulled the whistling kettle off the stovetop. “So what kind of art are the students doing?”
“Ah…well, I pose nude.”
He blinked.
“Most of the students are getting degrees in graphic design and one of their courses involves understanding human anatomical structure, so they have a life drawing class. Does that bother you?” She was watching him closely.
“No, not at all.” Not morally. “It’s fascinating. I…don’t think I could sit or stand naked for hours,” he said on a laugh. But man, he didn’t love the idea of other guys seeing her nude in any capacity. Which told him how bad he already had it for her.
“Occasionally I’ll do a single long pose—two hours max. It’s difficult for me—I like to be moving. But sitting or lying still for a couple hours forces me to be quiet with my mind. That said, normally I’ll pose for ten to maybe thirty minutes. It helps artists focus on different parts of the body and really gives them a deeper understanding of human anatomy. Which is the whole point. I took the class when I was in the program.” She shrugged.
“You’re a fascinating woman, Valentine.” There were so many sides to her. He wanted to learn every one.
She shrugged again, but smiled.
He cleared his throat, hating this next part. “Listen, my crew is wrapping up the demo today. They’re set to start in half an hour.”
“I’m heading out soon anyway, so that’s perfect timing. And I’m sorry I gave you grief before. I was frustrated about the musical score, yes, but really I was worried that the production wouldn’t happen at all and I think I took that out on you even though you had nothing to do with it.”
“You were just a little grumpy. Not as bad as you seem to think.” He’d been on the receiving end of far worse.
“Thank you for lying to me.”
He shook his head slightly, smiling as he picked up his painting. “Thank you again for this. I’m going to hang it up when I get home.” A little piece of her to keep to himself.
“I can walk out with you… I take it you’re not working with your crew today?” She motioned to his slacks and button-down, a hint of interest in her eyes. Or maybe that was him projecting.
“No, I’ve got a handful of meetings pretty much until the end of the day. I like to schedule them all at once.” As they stepped onto the outdoor walkway, he saw his guys arriving through the gated entrance, heading for the courtyard where soon they’d all be able to see him and Valentine. He’d get shit later, but he didn’t care.
“Well you look really nice. I mean, you always look good, but dressed up… Oh my god,” she muttered, more to herself, he thought. “You look good,” she finally finished, her cheeks pink again.
He liked her pink cheeks, loved the compliment, and wondered if they’d be just as flushed as she climaxed. Damn it. He couldn’t let his thoughts keep going there.
Not now anyway. He wanted to ask her out again, but she’d already said no once. And since he was donating to the community center she volunteered at, he didn’t want her to feel pressured to say yes. Fuck . He hated this. But he worried that if he asked her out again, she’d say yes because she felt she had to.
Even though it went against all his instincts, he’d wait until after the play to make a move.