5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
With her hair pulled up into a twist on her head, Valentine stared at the display of half-finished sculptures while seven student artists studied the back of her.
As she remained in her pose, she was glad someone had thought to put the heat on, even as she counted down the minutes until the class was over.
Normally she liked sitting, but she was having serious regrets over telling Bear no to the show. She’d wanted to go out with him tonight more than she would admit. But the last couple models had canceled on the group and she hadn’t wanted to flake on them.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been asking her on a date. It had sort of felt like it, but then he hadn’t asked her out for something else instead after she’d said no. So now she was all up in her head and obsessing over him.
Clearly she needed a new project to jump into so she’d have something to focus on other than Bear and his kind smile, big hands and gorgeous forearms. When she’d been bandaging him up, she’d tried to avoid touching him too much, but feeling all that raw strength under her fingertips… Her mind had gone into overdrive.
A little beeping sound made her blink, pulling her back to the present. She always set a timer so she’d know when it was time to clock out. Normally she had a pretty good idea of when it was getting close to ending, but she’d been too consumed with thoughts of Bear.
Reaching over to the nearby table, she silenced her alarm, then grabbed her robe and slid it on. As she cinched it around her waist, Becca, one of the students, approached.
“Thank you again for tonight. Your poses were fun. I didn’t realize how much of a difference this class would make, but it’s really helped me with point of view.”
She nodded as she stretched slightly. “I was the same way when I first started taking this class. It changed everything for me.” Another reason she liked to volunteer for it. She’d been able to hone her art skills and taken her animation to the next level. “I’m glad you’re getting a lot out of it.”
“I really am. We all are, I think. Some of us are headed out for drinks after this and wanted to see if you’d like to come.”
“I can’t tonight, but maybe in the future?” It had been a long day, and while the students were great, she had too much to do in the morning.
Becca nodded and glanced over at her friends. “Did you want us to wait, walk out with you?”
Normally one or more of the students did just that, but the building was busy tonight so she shook her head. “I’m good tonight, but thank you for the offer.” As they all filtered out, she headed to the little office the head of the art department used and changed back into her clothes.
On the way out she checked her phone, hoping for something from Bear. Instead she had texts from her friend and co-owner of the complex she lived in. Fleur wanted to talk to her about some contract work, which she’d likely agree to. She also had four more texts from different friends checking in, asking to get together for coffee, kayaking, yoga, and one asking about skydiving. Which was a solid no.
But nothing from Bear.
Burying her disappointment, she sent back shocked face emojis to the skydiving question, then nearly jumped as Kevin Dodge, a professor she really, really didn’t like, quietly slid up next to her. “Who’s got you smiling like that?” he asked as if they were friends, his tone what she could only describe as creepy.
She tucked her phone away, frowned at him. “Hello. On your way to class?” She kept her tone polite but ignored the smile comment because it was intrusive and inappropriate.
“Just finished my last one. How was your class tonight?” There was nothing wrong with the question, but there was an underlying grossness to his words and in his eyes. He’d walked in on the class one afternoon while she was posing, then feigned surprise. They’d locked the door ever since.
She shrugged. “Good.”
“So, I was wondering if you’d like to have drinks with me tonight? I know you don’t drive, so I can take you home afterward.”
It wasn’t a secret that she didn’t drive, but it weirded her out that he knew that. “I’ve already got plans.”
“Okay, well maybe tomorrow—”
“I’m actually dating someone. It’s pretty new but getting serious and we’re now exclusive.” The lie rolled off her tongue with ease. As a rule she didn’t have a problem saying no to men who asked her out, but with someone like Dodge, she tried to let him down in a way that wouldn’t hurt his ego and gave him a solid reason to back off. Not that she cared about his ego, but it made it less likely he’d react poorly to her rejection.
“Ah, well that’s a shame,” he gritted out as they reached the exit doors. He started to hold the door for her, but she waved him off.
“I’m going to send a few texts before I head out and I don’t want to wait in the cold.”
He simply nodded, then left.
She waited a solid ten minutes before she headed out the doors and made her way to the bus stop. Tonight it was cold and quiet as she walked across campus and she wasn’t sure if she was being paranoid, but it almost felt like someone was watching her. “You’re being stupid,” she muttered to herself as she strode down the well-lit path around the science building.
Maybe it was almost being mugged the other night, or maybe it was having to reject the campus weirdo, but she was on edge as she trekked along the familiar path to the bus stop.
Even as she questioned herself, she pulled her phone back out, called Bear as she sat on the smooth bench under the weather covering. Normally there were four to five people waiting with her, but she was alone tonight which just added to her sense of isolation.
She thought about hanging up, claiming a butt dial later. He likely wouldn’t pick up anyway, but—
“Hey,” he said on the second ring, slightly out of breath.
“Hey…” Just hearing his voice eased some of the budding tension inside her. “I feel silly calling now, especially since I know you were at the cirque show. I just…well, I wondered…”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just had a weird run-in, and you know what, never mind.” She was being ridiculous. She never should have called him.
“Where are you?”
“What?”
“Where. Are you?”
“Oh, bus stop by the college.”
“Which one?”
She blinked at his determined tone, but answered.
“I’m in the area. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Bear, that’s not necessary.” She winced to herself as embarrassment mounted inside her.
“It’s no problem, seriously. I’m close by. We can grab dinner or I can just take you home.”
“Bear—”
“I’ve gotta say, I really like it when you say my name.” His words were practically a growl.
She let out a rush of air, the white wisps of the cold air curling in front of her. She wasn’t cold anymore. Getting hotter by the second.
“Sorry, shouldn’t have said that,” he muttered.
“No, it’s…” She wasn’t sure what to say. That she liked it? Because she did, a whole lot.
“Just stay on the phone, I’ll be there soon.” He was quiet as he drove and she couldn’t think of anything to say anyway.
“I see you,” he finally said into the quiet, and she shook herself.
Relief punched through her as she saw and heard his truck rumbling down the street. She was on her feet before she realized she was moving. As he pulled in front of her, she had the door open and basically jumped into the warm interior. “Thank you so much for this.”
He kept the truck idling as he looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her clinically instead of the way she wanted him to look at her. “Who bothered you? What happened?”
“No one. I mean, not really. Just this creep asked me on a date, which isn’t a big deal. Then I felt really aware of how isolated I was walking to the bus stop tonight, something that’s never bothered me. I think I’m finally dealing with the fact that a man tried to mug me with a knife, that you got injured.” She covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed right now.”
He gently clasped her wrists and pulled her hands back so she had to look at him. Shivers rolled through her at his gentle but firm touch.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but he dropped his hands and put the truck into drive. “I’m taking you home.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief and thought about asking him if he’d missed his show because of her. But she decided not to because she couldn’t handle any more guilt right now.
She was just glad he’d come when she called. He made her feel safe in a way she hadn’t expected.