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

night?”
    “’Course.”
    “I’ll be back.”
    Kay rushed through her errands and even had time to return to the cottage and change.
    She was looking forward to a relaxing evening. She’d been so wound up about the design meeting, it would be great to relax, eat pizza, and drink some beer. On the way into town, she’d pick up a six-pack of Walter’s favorite and grab a couple cheesy movies.
    As promised, she returned home with some gourmet cat food for her little friend. The beast had eaten all the tuna she had in the house and seemed intent on sticking around. It still wouldn’t come close, but if Kay left the food and water on the deck, it would slink up and fill its belly. Kay guessed it was a female and decided to call her Hope. The name seemed to fit.
    She slipped into her most comfortable jeans with the tear in one knee, a soft, short T-shirt with a tie-dyed tree frog flashing the peace sign on the front, and flip flops. Hair pulled into a quick ponytail, and she was off.
    Letting herself into Dottie’s kitchen, Kay could hear the television blaring. Walter was a tad deaf but wouldn’t admit it. “I’m here. I hope you ordered one with mushrooms.” Kay pulled three beers out of the six-pack and slipped the rest into the refrigerator. Dottie would only drink half of one, but Walter would tidy up for her, like always. “I rented a couple movies, too,” she hollered. “A chick flick for Dottie and me. Julia Roberts makes herself look like a duck in this one. And I found one of those awful sci-fi’s you like, Walter. Attack of the killer robot somethings.” Beer in one hand, movies in the other, she tucked extra napkins under her chin. “The pizza smells great.”
    Heading into the living room, she stole one of Walter’s favorite sayings. “I’m so hungry, I could eat the arse out of a grizzly—Bear.”
    The napkins fluttered to the floor as Bear Coulter stood. He seemed even bigger in Dottie’s chintz-covered living room. He wore jeans and a loose button-down shirt, which looked impossibly white against his skin. His hair was damp as if he were straight from a shower, but his jaw said he hadn’t had time for a shave. The combination was lethal.
    “Hey, sweetie, come join us.” Dottie patted the couch cushion next to her.
    “Here.” She set the beers on the coffee table. “Oh damn, one short, be right back.” Kay fled to the kitchen.
    Crap on a cracker! She let out a slow breath. She hadn’t expected to see him here. Not when she looked like she’d fallen out of a thrift shop dumpster. Tugging at the hem of her shirt, Kay covered her eyes with her hand and groaned.
    “Everything okay?” Bear’s voice washed over her frayed nerves.
    She groaned again. Kay kept her gaze on the pink and gray linoleum tiles of Dottie’s floor. “Everything’s great.”
    “Cute shirt.”
    She closed her eyes and prayed for a gaping hole to appear between the tiles. “Thanks.”
    He tipped his head in the direction of the living room. “Walter invited me over.”
    Kay nodded like a bobble-head doll. “Of course he’d invite you. You’re buds.” She pulled a beer from the fridge and handed it to him. “I’m gonna go. Um, I just remembered, I left…something, you know, back at the cottage.” Her eyes locked on the third button of his shirt. “Something hot…like the oven or a candle. Wicked dangerous. I should take care of it.”
    “But there’s mushroom pizza.” Amusement tinged his voice.
    “Yeah, I’m not real hungry.” Kay prayed her stomach wouldn’t rumble. She snuck a peek at his face to see if he was buying it. He wasn’t.
    Bear raised an eyebrow. “You said you were starving a minute ago. Something about eating a bear’s ass.”
    Kay’s face burned. Her ears might just burst into flame. “So…you’re an organ donor. That’s really great.”
    Bear laughed and tugged on her shirt sleeve. “Come back in. If your cottage burns down, I’ll build you a new one.”
    A beer and a