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

rolling on primer long after the other workers had left at five.
    “Didn’t you hear the whistle,” he teased. “Work day’s done. How about you and I take the tour, and then we can grab a bite to eat. They make a killer burger down at the diner.”
    Kay set her roller back in the tray and brushed the stray hair away from her face. She put her hands on her hips and sighed at the floor. “I can’t do this anymore.”
    “Great. I’ll clean your roller and you—”
    “No.” She swirled her finger over the paint tray. “Not this.” She moved her hand in front of his face. “This.”
    He opened his mouth to object, but she didn’t give him a chance.
    “Do you have any idea how many times you came into this lobby today? An Alzheimer patient is less forgetful. Between you and the other guys, this place is like Grand Central Station. I won’t be able to work with the constant interruptions.”
    “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to the crew. From now on, while you’re working, the lobby is off limits.” He rubbed her arm. “What do you say, cheeseburgers and a pile of the best french fries in the state? We can unwind, have a few laughs.”
    “I can’t date you. I don’t date clients.”
    He scoffed, trying to make it sound convincing. “It’s not a date.”
    “Sounds like a date.” She tipped her head and narrowed her eyes.
    “No. I shave for a date. It’s cheeseburgers and maybe a beer.”
    Kay shook her head and picked up her roller. “Sorry, I have work to do.”
    “You have to eat.”
    “I’ll eat when I’m finished.” She pushed the roller into the pan filling it with paint.
    “I can wait.” Bear sat on the corner of the desk.
    Setting down the roller, she smiled, and brushed off her hands. “I quit.”
    “Good, so you’ll come out with me.”
    “No. I quit, quit.” Kay grabbed her bag and headed toward the door.
    He was on his feet and caught her. “What? No. You can’t.”
    “Bear…” She pulled out of his grasp and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not playing games. Either you let me work, or we’re done here.”
    “Okay, okay. I get it. What about this? I leave you alone. No more interruptions. I’ll take Shadow for his run, swing by and grab some burgers, and bring them back here. You can finish up without me getting in your hair, and I’ll still get my burger.”
    “It’s not a date. You promise not to shave?”
    He crossed a finger over his heart and held up the Boy Scout three fingers. “No shaving. Promise. Hell, I won’t even shower.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Wow, way to make a girl feel special.”
    “What do you say?”
    For a minute, she didn’t say anything. With her hands on her hips, she looked back at the walls. “I’ll need at least another hour and a half.”
    “You got it.”
    “And soda, not beer.”
    “Okay.”
    She picked up her roller again. “No shaving.”
    “I’m throwing away my razor.”
    Bear returned ninety minutes later with a sack of fat burgers, a heaping pile of hot french fries and cold six-pack of Cokes along with a serious five o’clock shadow.
    The walls were finished. The sharp smell of primer filled the lobby, and Kay was gathering up the last of the drop cloths.
    “Let’s sit on the porch. You could use the fresh air,” Bear suggested. She followed him out and took deep breaths of the easy breeze coming off the harbor. He opened a soda and handed it to her. She took a long pull, then wiped a stray drop of Coke off her lower lip. That insignificant drip brought back the ache he’d been fighting all day. This was not the time to try to kiss her. He’d just keep fighting the urge. He tore into his cheeseburger. “I’m sorry about today.” He mumbled around the food in his mouth and swallowed. “Interrupting you like that. I’m surprised you didn’t throw something at me.”
    “I was tempted.” She unwrapped her burger and pulled it apart, plucking off the pickles and adding extra ketchup.
    “What can I