Read Online Picture Me Naked (Stoddard Art School Series) by Lisa A. Olech - Free Book Online
Authors: Lisa A. Olech
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keep him warm while he posed. Today he didn’t notice any chill. Today his slow-building anger at watching that weasely bastard grab Zee burned low and hot in his belly. Jagger fought to keep his hands lax when they instinctively wanted to tighten into fists.
After witnessing the way he spoke to Zee and his performance at the parts store, Jagger knew the man liked to run his mouth, but there was no excuse to put your hands on a woman in anger. None. Ever.
Zee stopped painting to rub the place above her elbow where that arsehole’s fingers had dug into her arm. Her hand stilled and her gaze lifted and met his. She was quick to lower her eyes. Her cheeks flushed. Jagger watched as she picked up her brush again.
She took a breath, scooped a bit of paint and stood poised for a long moment. Her hand shook. Jagger’s heart tugged. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her before he hunted down that slimy arse and beat the crap out of him. Zee looked back into his eyes once more.
This time she held his gaze. He saw fear, shame, hurt, and anger flicker in her changeable eyes. It wasn’t hard to see. Zee wore each emotion clearly. Then she notched her chin. He watched her straighten her spine and reclaim her strength.
A fierce need to protect her threw him. He hadn’t felt like this since fat Freddy Abbott pushed Mick down in the playground and sat on her. Jagger had pummeled fat Freddy, bloodied his nose, and made him cry. The only difference now was he wanted to strangle the bastard hurting Zee, not just bloody his nose. And, the last thing he felt toward Zee Lambert was brotherly.
****
Jagger stretched out in the back of his van. His guitar rested comfortably on his chest while he picked his way through the bridge of a new song. The inside of the van resembled a freshmen’s dorm room with the back half of the space a makeshift bed piled with pillows and a sleeping bag. A beat-up cooler, his backpack, and sheets of music were scattered about. A pair of sweats thrown in a corner covered a toolbox and other random things. He even had curtains on the windows cut from an old wool blanket.
Jagger strummed a minor cord change and jotted down the new notes on the sheet beside him. The side doors to the van stood open so he could feel the late afternoon warmth and enjoy this beautiful day. That was bullshit, of course. The real reason—he was waiting for Zee.
After this morning he needed to…what? Be her guard dog? Faithful sidekick? Her shrink? Oh, right, that would have her falling into his arms! He twanged his G-string.
It wasn’t like him to be so unsure of himself, especially around a woman. He’d thought about Zee and little else for the past two days. Hell, it rained yesterday, and he couldn’t help noticing the gray of the sky was the same shade as her eyes. Jeez, he had it bad for this girl.
He heard a trunk close and peeked over the front seats to see Zee unlocking the door to her car. He was quick to step out of the van. “Hey there.” Zee jumped. Dammit, he hadn’t meant to spook her. “Sorry.”
“Jagger? What are you still doing here?”
He turned and set his guitar back inside. “Just killing some time. Enjoying this beautiful day. Playing a little.”
Zee slid her things into her back seat. “I didn’t know you played.”
“I’m not very good, but do a bit of composing.”
“You write songs? Wow. A man of many talents.” She looked at the keys in her hand. “I…” She gave a tiny shake of her head and held up a hand. “I need to go. I’ll let you get back to your music. Have a nice afternoon.” Zee turned to get into her car.
“No. Wait. Did you want to go for coffee or something?”
“I don’t drink coffee.”
“Then how ’bout the something?” Jagger lifted an eyebrow and gave her a tipped smile.
“I don’t do that either.”
“I meant food.”
“I know what you meant.” She shook her head. “I-I really should go.”
Jagger hooked his thumbs into
After witnessing the way he spoke to Zee and his performance at the parts store, Jagger knew the man liked to run his mouth, but there was no excuse to put your hands on a woman in anger. None. Ever.
Zee stopped painting to rub the place above her elbow where that arsehole’s fingers had dug into her arm. Her hand stilled and her gaze lifted and met his. She was quick to lower her eyes. Her cheeks flushed. Jagger watched as she picked up her brush again.
She took a breath, scooped a bit of paint and stood poised for a long moment. Her hand shook. Jagger’s heart tugged. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her before he hunted down that slimy arse and beat the crap out of him. Zee looked back into his eyes once more.
This time she held his gaze. He saw fear, shame, hurt, and anger flicker in her changeable eyes. It wasn’t hard to see. Zee wore each emotion clearly. Then she notched her chin. He watched her straighten her spine and reclaim her strength.
A fierce need to protect her threw him. He hadn’t felt like this since fat Freddy Abbott pushed Mick down in the playground and sat on her. Jagger had pummeled fat Freddy, bloodied his nose, and made him cry. The only difference now was he wanted to strangle the bastard hurting Zee, not just bloody his nose. And, the last thing he felt toward Zee Lambert was brotherly.
****
Jagger stretched out in the back of his van. His guitar rested comfortably on his chest while he picked his way through the bridge of a new song. The inside of the van resembled a freshmen’s dorm room with the back half of the space a makeshift bed piled with pillows and a sleeping bag. A beat-up cooler, his backpack, and sheets of music were scattered about. A pair of sweats thrown in a corner covered a toolbox and other random things. He even had curtains on the windows cut from an old wool blanket.
Jagger strummed a minor cord change and jotted down the new notes on the sheet beside him. The side doors to the van stood open so he could feel the late afternoon warmth and enjoy this beautiful day. That was bullshit, of course. The real reason—he was waiting for Zee.
After this morning he needed to…what? Be her guard dog? Faithful sidekick? Her shrink? Oh, right, that would have her falling into his arms! He twanged his G-string.
It wasn’t like him to be so unsure of himself, especially around a woman. He’d thought about Zee and little else for the past two days. Hell, it rained yesterday, and he couldn’t help noticing the gray of the sky was the same shade as her eyes. Jeez, he had it bad for this girl.
He heard a trunk close and peeked over the front seats to see Zee unlocking the door to her car. He was quick to step out of the van. “Hey there.” Zee jumped. Dammit, he hadn’t meant to spook her. “Sorry.”
“Jagger? What are you still doing here?”
He turned and set his guitar back inside. “Just killing some time. Enjoying this beautiful day. Playing a little.”
Zee slid her things into her back seat. “I didn’t know you played.”
“I’m not very good, but do a bit of composing.”
“You write songs? Wow. A man of many talents.” She looked at the keys in her hand. “I…” She gave a tiny shake of her head and held up a hand. “I need to go. I’ll let you get back to your music. Have a nice afternoon.” Zee turned to get into her car.
“No. Wait. Did you want to go for coffee or something?”
“I don’t drink coffee.”
“Then how ’bout the something?” Jagger lifted an eyebrow and gave her a tipped smile.
“I don’t do that either.”
“I meant food.”
“I know what you meant.” She shook her head. “I-I really should go.”
Jagger hooked his thumbs into
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