Read Online Picture Me Naked (Stoddard Art School Series) by Lisa A. Olech - Free Book Online Page A

the pockets of his jeans. “So, this morning…”
    “What about it?” Zee crossed her arms over her chest and rounded her shoulders as if she were cold.
    “The short guy. What’s the deal with him? Boyfriend?”
    “Ed. He’s my ex.”
    “Oh. Is he bothering you?”
    Zee frowned again and looked out across the parking lot. “Why do you ask?”
    “Just trying to be nice.”
    She shook her head. “Please don’t.”
    Jagger shrugged one shoulder. “My mum would smack me if I wasn’t.”
    She gave him a small smile. “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”
    He took a step toward her. The desire to wrap her in his arms was back. “If he’s giving you a hard time…”
    Zee held up a hand to stop him. “You’re sweet, but put away your armor, Galahad. I-I can take care of myself, but thank you.”
    “I’m more of the superhero cape type. Armor’s too bloody heavy.” She gave him a smirk. “I’m sure you can take care of yourself. I just thought…”
    “Please. I’m fine. Honest.” She opened her car door. “I have to go. Bye, Jagger.”
    Zee climbed into her car, and Jagger turned back toward his van. Superhero? Really, mate? He bumped the side of his van with a fist. He was such a wanker!
    Whir, whir, whir, whir. Zee’s car struggled to turn over. Whir, whir, whir, whir, whir, whir. Jagger hesitated but couldn’t help himself. He walked up to her window. Zee sat facing forward. She wouldn’t look at him. Once again she turned the key with the same result. Jagger tapped on the window.
    She sighed and lowered the glass.
    “Sounds like a problem with your ignition. Want me to take a look?”
    “You’re just hell-bent on saving me today, aren’t you?”
    Jagger shrugged. “Comes with the cape.”
    Zee shook her head but graced him with a dazzling smile. Complete with a dimple in her left cheek. “Let me guess, another of your talents is fixing cars?”
    “I’ve kept that heap over there alive. Got it so she runs on the smell of an oily rag. Go on, pop the bonnet.”
    She reached under the dash and pulled the lever. Jagger juggled the flip latch and raised the hood. It only took him a second to find the problem. Loose wire. It was an easy fix. He poked his head around, “Give it another go.” The engine started right up. He gave her the okay sign. “Great. Shut it off.”
    He came back to her window. “Just a loose ignition wire. Let me grab a screwdriver. You should be all set.” In the minute it took him to rummage through his toolbox and find the right size screwdriver, Zee had gotten out and was looking at the engine. “Nothing to worry about. Let me show you. Here.” He pointed to the cable. “This fitting is just loose. Have you been having problems starting?”
    “Sometimes. George can be temperamental.” Under the bonnet her voice sounded soft and intimate. She was standing so close he could smell her shampoo. The light scent clashed with the oily smell of the car’s engine.
    Jagger made the mistake of looking at her. Now he wanted to kiss her. “George?”
    She swept her hand toward the car. “Jagger, meet George. George, this is Jagger.”
    Jagger smirked. “Nice to meet ya, George. I’ll have ye fixed in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.” It took those two shakes to tighten the screw, but Jagger was stalling and took his time giving the engine a good look see. He could feel the heat of her next to him. You bet he was going to take his time.
    “You’re not going to tease me?”
    His head almost hit the hood. “Tease you?” His mind flooded with possibilities.
    “About naming my car.”
    “No. It’s a good name.” She gave him a whisper of a smile and looked back at her engine. If it wasn’t for the grease on his hands, he’d have placed a finger under her chin and tipped up her face to his so he could run the pad of his thumb over that distracting little dip in her lower lip. Followed closely by the tip of his tongue.
    Zee raised her eyes to his. She absently bit