Against the Wall (Stoddard Art School Series Book 3)

by Lisa A. Olech

  “They don’t want to depose me. It’s you they want.”

  Bear snorted. “And you told them I didn’t work on the project.”

  “Your signature is on the final work order.”

  “Impossible.” There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. An all too familiar churning began in his gut. “Diane?”

  “I messed up,” she confessed.

  Cold fingers ran down his spine. He pulled his feet down off the rail and sat up straight. “What do you mean, you messed up?”

  “It was right after you left,” she said in a rush. “The head of the Regency project didn’t want to work with me. Thought I was—what did he call me—difficult. Bastard. No, he refused to deal with me, he only wanted to work with you. But you’d left. Abandoned me and the business.”

  “I hardly abandoned you.”

  “The point is, you weren’t there when I needed you. I was desperate to close the deal. The money was too good. And with the divorce and everything else, I…I suppose I wanted to show everyone I was just as capable as you. One Coulter was just as good as two.”

  “What did you do?” The muscle in his jaw threatened to crush his back teeth.

  Again, the silent pause froze the phone lines. “I might have signed your name to the final paperwork.”

  Bear leaped to his feet. He practically shot through the ceiling. “What?”

  “Remember how you used to joke I signed your name better than you did?”

  “You didn’t?” he railed.

  “I did,” she moaned. At his string of colorful curses, she insisted, “I can fix it…but I need your help.”

  “I don’t believe this! Are you insane? The Regency project was your baby. It’s all I’ve heard about for months. You practically rubbed my nose in it every chance you got. How it was the biggest deal the agency ever had. How they’d been following your career and begged to work with you. And now? Shit, Diane, you are some piece of work. I can’t believe you pulled something like this. How are you planning to fix this? What are the lawyers saying? Never mind, I’ll ask them myself. I’ll give Adam Dunbar a call as soon as I figure out a way to reach through this phone and wring your neck.”

  “We’re not represented by Dunbar & Pratt anymore.”

  Bear took the phone from his ear and looked at it as if it were defective. Unbelievable. The hits just kept coming. He put the phone back to his ear. “Why the hell not?”

  “Adam Dunbar is an ass.”

  Bear gave an exasperated huff toward the ceiling. “He’s only an ass because he never noticed yours. The man’s gay. Get over it.”

  “No,” she snapped. “It’s not only that. It’s called housecleaning. After you left—”

  It took all his control not to punch a fist through one of the screens, but he’d only have to fix it later. He forced a breath through clenched teeth. “Who represents Coulter Designs now?”

  “Alfred, Becker, and Stevens.”

  He bit out a curse. Alfred, Becker, & Stevens was the firm that handled Diane’s side of the divorce. They were just this side of slimy. He didn’t trust any of them after watching the way they fawned over his wife. “Which one are you sleeping with?”

  “Hey!”

  He rubbed at the two-by-four that had become his neck. “You don’t get to be the one who’s pissed off, Diane.”

  After a silent pause, “I need you to come out here,” she pleaded in a small voice.

  “No way.” He gave a bitter laugh.

  “Regency can’t know you’ve relocated to the east coast.”

  “How is it they still believe they’re dealing with me directly? That’s not possible.”

  “Most of our communication with them is through email, text, so—”

  “Unbelievable!” His shout caused Shadow to jolt up and bark.

  Diane rushed to add, “You just need to make an appearance. I know you can smooth this over. You’re good at it. That’s why everyone wants to work with you and not me. You’re the easy-going, everyone’s-your-friend guy.”

  “Lucky for you, I am, or I’d be hanging you out to dry faster than you can max out a credit card. I’m done talking to you. I need to find out the depth of this hole you’ve thrown me into. I’m calling Adam Dunbar.”

  Unfortunately, during the ten-minute, hundred-dollar phone call, Adam didn’t have much to say. Not being associated with Coulter Designs any longer, he had none of the necessary information, and all Bear could tell him was what little he’d dragged out of Diane. He chose to keep the fact Diane had forged his signature out of things for the time being. He wasn’t going to take the fall for this, but he didn’t want to destroy her. Even as furious as he was, he’d worked too hard to build Coulter Designs. If there were a way to save it, he’d do it.

  Adam’s suggestion was to drop the blame solely at the feet of the subcontractor. “Don’t worry yet. Let me look into it and see what I can find out. If there are any other complaints against this sub, we could cite their history of incompetence. I haven’t heard of anything outright against them, but you never know what’s been hushed up. I’ll do some digging and get back to you. Give me a couple of days. In the meantime, I’ll see what I can do about the deposition. If we suggest a video feed, they’ll know you’re no longer in the city. Maybe we can convince them you’re visiting a sick aunt or off celebrating Grampa Fred’s one hundredth birthday or something.” Bear thanked him and hung up.

  Standing back in the lobby of the inn, he drew on the calming sense he got from Kay’s mural. If this thing with Regency escalated, they’d end up suing him for everything he had. Coulter Designs, the point house, the inn.

  There was no way he was losing this inn. Not now. Dunbar was good. He’d eased some of the panic, and Bear trusted him. If it meant he’d have to go back to California to put the matter to rest, he would, but not until he secured things with Kay.

  He supposed he should tell her what was going on, but where did he begin the conversation? It’s not like he’d done much more than mention Diane before this. Better to let it play out without making more of it than need be. Right now, Kay was his priority. Their love for one another was so new. Like a foal, it was still finding its footing. He’d be a fool to mess it up.

  Bear traced a fingertip over the tiny lovers hidden in the painting. In his own mind, he painted the perfect scene. Candlelight dinner, soft music. A gentle sea breeze drifting through the open windows. Waves licking at the rocks. He’d sweep Kay into his arms and carry her into the bedroom. Between kisses, whispering how he’d come to love her. Be forthright with everything going on with Diane. Explain serendipity.

  It needed to happen. Soon.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kay pushed through the door at Polka Dots. Dottie was helping a small group of women. The shop was busy with tourists buying some little thing to fit into their suitcase to remember their time spent in Bell Harbor.

  “Oh, here’s the artist now,” Dottie beamed. The women turned and flooded her with compliments regarding her greeting cards. Behind them, she met Dottie’s gaze. Kay’s frown soon dissolved the grin on her face.

  Kay pasted on a smile of her own and thanked the women, answering their questions. She shot Dottie an impatient look.

  “I see you’ve brought some more items.” Dottie pressed nervous lips together. She gave Kay a worried frown. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse us. Keep looking around, we have a ton of great things. I’ll be back in a jiff.”

  Kay led her into the office. Dottie followed and shut the door behind them. Kay spun on her. “Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?”

  Dottie’s forehead puckered. “Claire?”

  “Of course, Claire. You knew, and you didn’t tell me.”

  “I didn’t know for sure until last night,” Dottie held up her hands in surrender. “She mentioned something about coming up, but you know your mother. She doesn’t do well with schedules.”

  “You could have at least given me the heads up.
”

  Dottie sighed and gave her a sad look. “And what would you have done?”

  The edge to Kay’s anger softened. “I don’t know. Been more prepared. Dug a moat. Hired sharks.”

  Dottie shook her head. “You have to stop this. The two of you. I’m tired of being in the middle.”

  Kay held Dottie’s gaze. This was a familiar argument. It was the same one they’d had for years. “Then take my side,” Kay begged.

  “I love you both,” Dottie insisted.

  Kay countered in a small voice. “Love me more.”

  “Kay…”

  “No. She doesn’t deserve you. I deserve you.” Anger pushed past the hurt. “And she doesn’t get to show up here after how many years and…and…screw things up again. I can’t take this any more. I’m done. If I’ve learned anything in these last few years of being on my own, it’s that I don’t need her in my life anymore. Besides you, the only good thing between us was the cottage, and now she’s selling it. Did she tell you?”

  A long, pregnant pause followed before Dottie answered. “She might have mentioned it.”

  The words hit Kay like a slap. “So you lied to me?”

  Dottie was quick to defend herself. “I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you.”

  “Not telling is lying. Aren’t you the one who is famous for saying that? Were you ever going to tell me?”

  Dottie reached out and took Kay’s hand. “Sweetheart, I understand you’re upset, but there is so much more to this. So much you don’t understand. If you don’t swallow your pride, sit down, and talk with her—”

  “I’ve already swallowed enough, thank you.”

  “Kay…”

  She pulled out of Dottie’s grasp and rubbed chilled fingertips over the ache between her eyebrows. “Don’t, Dottie. You can’t wrap this all up in a pretty bow. You, better than anyone, know what’s she’s like. I won’t do it anymore. I don’t care what her reasons are. I’ve spent a lifetime trying to understand, and I’m done.”

  “Dot? You back here? You’ve got folks lined up at the register.” Claire pushed into the office with a sack of groceries in her arms. “Oh, there you are. I stopped to pick up a few things for dinner and found two bottles of the horrible wine you dr—” When she saw Kay, she came up short. “Kay.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Twice in one morning. I’m not sure I’m up for another go-round with you.”

  Dottie fussed and took the bag out of Claire’s arms. Putting it on the desk, she shot Kay a worried glance. “I have to get back out front.” Her gaze darted between the two of them. “Maybe you two should make up a pot of tea and have a nice long, calm talk.”

  Kay met her mother’s eye. “You’re staying here?”

  Her mother crossed her arms over her chest. “Dottie insisted.”

  “Well…” Kay’s brain slammed shut. Grabbing her bag, she dropped her chin and pushed between the two women. Dottie reached out to catch her sleeve. Kay shrugged her off, never breaking stride. “Don’t.”

  Laughter from the customers in the shop deflected her into the storeroom as if she’d been a pinball. She pushed out the back door and nearly knocked Walter over on his way in.

  “Special Kay.”

  “I-I’m sorry, Walter. I’m in kinda a hurry.” Angry tear stung the backs of her eyes.

  “Hold on.” He grabbed the same arm Dottie had seconds before. He dipped his head to look into her face when she refused to look at him. “Are you okay?”

  Kay blinked at him. “Whose side, Walter? Whose side are you on?”

  He cupped her cheek. “Not sure I know what you’re talkin’ ’bout.”

  She sniffed and pointed. “My mother.”

  “Oh, that.” Walter stood tall and rubbed at her arm. He gave her a sheepish shrug. “Ya know I gotta be on Dottie’s side, honey.”

  Her heart weighed heavy in her chest. Part of her went numb. “Right. I get it.”

  Walter cupped her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “She’s only trying to get you two to make some sort of peace treaty.”

  Kay shook her head and patted Walter’s chest as she moved by him. “She’s about twenty years too late. Goodbye, Walter.”

  She didn’t turn around. Making her way along the tourist packed sidewalks, Kay headed for the docks. She was due at the inn for work, but needed to pull herself together. All she wanted was to run to Bear and dissolve into his arms and let him kiss all the hurt away. But she didn’t want to be that girl. Hell, she’d never been that girl. She’d learned to stand on her own two feet long ago. As far as Bear was concerned, she’d already brought enough drama.

  It would never work with her mother. Losing the cottage was hard enough, but the thought of losing Dottie and Walter in all this mess truly made her chest hurt. She guessed she couldn’t blame them. Dottie and Claire’s friendship went back decades. And Walter, well, he might be gruff around the edges, but he loved Dottie more than anything. He was as loyal as a Saint Bernard.

  Kay strolled past the weekend fishermen lining the dock. The sun was warm as she stood at the very end and looked out onto nothing but sea. The mural would be done by the end of the week. Then what? She couldn’t stay at the cottage. The smart thing would be to go back to Stoddard and find a new place to live before the fall semester began, but…Bear. How could she walk away from him? It would crush her.

  Seagulls swooped and cried. In the back of her mind, Kay knew come August they’d have to part, but somehow between blueberry-infused sex and falling in love with him, she’d let herself drift into the blind world of denial. Distance wouldn’t be a challenge. It would be a romantic opportunity to spend weekends together and share long lusty phone calls and suggestive e-mails. Absence would make the heart grow fonder. Reunions would be measured on the Richter scale.

  There had to be a solution. She just had to get past the giant roadblock otherwise known as Claire and figure it out. Kay looked into the sky to watch the clouds skim by. “Some kind of sign would be nice.”

  No sooner had the words left her mouth, Kay’s cell phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a New Hampshire number, but she didn’t recognize it right away. She almost didn’t answer it for fear it was Todd. If that was her sign, she’d throw herself off the dock.

  Holding her breath, she pushed the button to connect. “Kay Winston.”

  “Hi Kay, it’s Maddie Sullivan.”

  “Oh, hi.” Relief flooded her. “Caller ID didn’t tell me it was you.”

  “I’m calling from the house. I’ve got some good news.”

  “I could certainly use some.”

  “Everything okay?”

  Kay turned back and headed for the inn. “It will be. What’s the news? Did I sell another painting? Make Daniel Bruce another tidy profit?”

  “Not quite, but this may be just as good. I’ve been doing a little digging where you’re concerned, and I hit pay dirt.”

  “Oh?”

  “How’d you like to finish up your last year at Stoddard an entire semester early?”

  Had she heard properly? She put her finger in her opposite ear to block out the street noise. “Is that even possible?”

  “After our last discussion, I did some looking. I know how disappointed you were to miss the internship you were hoping for this summer. But even without it, your credits, now you’re in Luc Girard’s hot glass class—Jeez, say that three times fast. Anyway, it would be enough to let you graduate early.”

  Maddie must be confused. “I can’t graduate without completing my internship.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Now I’m confused.” Kay stopped on the walkway to the inn.

  “I spoke to the Internship Committee, and happened to mention your name. The success of the Bruce Gallery show has several people talking about you.”

  “What has that got to do with the committee?”

  “I’ve talked to a couple of the members and told them how you were working in Maine this summer. Well, they thought if your employer would a
gree to sign off on the project once it’s completed—you know, verify your time, scope of the project, satisfaction, et cetera—then they would consider your internship obligation satisfied.”

  “Really?” Hope bubbled up in Kay’s chest. If she finished early, she and Bear wouldn’t have to spend so much time apart.

  “I already dropped the paperwork in the mail. To the address I mailed your check. Care of Polka Dots, right? You should have them in a few days.

  It meant she’d have to face Dottie again, but maybe that was good news, too. Everything could work out for the best. “That’s great.”

  “Yep, I thought you’d be happy.” Maddie chuckled. “’Course the committee wants me to make sure we don’t have a repeat of what happened last year. Having a student get involved romantically with their internship provider has never happened before. I told them, you wouldn’t be foolish enough to have an affair with the inn’s owners. Ridiculous, right? I reassured them you’re engaged, but they’re such worriers.”

  Kay’s hope took a nosedive. Looking toward the inn, she caught sight of Bear. He was installing the new porch lights flanking the front door. He was halfway up a stepladder, with his back to her. Kay stopped to stare. His shirt molded to the muscles across the span of his back. She’d soaped those muscles in the shower this morning. The snug fit of his jeans hugged the rest. What they were doing was so much more than an affair. She loved him.

  Bear climbed down from his task and dropped a pair of pliers into the toolbox at his feet. Seeing Kay, he smiled and started toward her.

  Maddie continued talking into Kay’s ear. “We sure as hell don’t need that kind of scandal again. I mean all’s well that ends well. Emily Baskins and Maximo Vega came out of their mess fairly unscathed. Did you hear they got married on Valentine’s Day? Daniel Bruce says both their work is back to selling strong on the west coast. Sometimes a bit of hot gossip works to help sales. But I don’t have to tell you, the school came under a serious firestorm from the alumna for their forbidden tryst. I sure as hell don’t need that headache again.” Maddie laughed. “Whatever you do, for Pete’s sake, don’t sleep with the man.”