Perspective (Love in LA Book 1)

by Jenna Hartley

  Finally, after dinner ended, Hunter and I bid our parents goodbye before climbing into his car. I sank into the leather upholstery, grateful it was over. I’d survived another week. But I’d also lied for another week. What was wrong with me?

  “What was that about at dinner?” he asked as I fiddled with the temperature settings.

  “What?” I played coy. I knew what he was referring to. I just didn’t want to talk about it.

  “The gala—you have a date?”

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  “No. Of course not.” His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “When do I get to meet him?”

  “At the gala,” I said, wondering who I was going to ask.

  When Hunter stopped for a red light, he glanced over at me. “You don’t have a date. Do you?”

  I huffed, knowing there was no use lying. “No. But I couldn’t go with Bryan. He’s an ass.”

  But it wasn’t just about Bryan; it was about finally taking a stand for what I wanted. Though I hadn’t told my parents about art school, I knew that pushing back on the gala was at least a step in the right direction.

  Hunter chuckled. “Oh, I won’t disagree with you on that. But are you sure this is worth the fight? It’s just one night.”

  Hunter and I had both accepted long ago that it was best just to go along with our parents’ plans, at least outwardly. But I was sick of doing everything they wanted.

  “I’m sure one of my friends would go with you,” he said.

  I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’m not going to make them suffer through it.”

  We were both quiet for a moment with only the radio as background noise. I stared out the window, watching the passing streetlights. Another week, another lie. What would it take for me to finally tell them the truth?

  “I feel like I never see you anymore,” Hunter said. “What’s going on in your world?”

  “Nothing,” I chirped, knowing I’d responded a little too quickly.

  He pulled onto his street, slowing as he neared his house. A car I didn’t recognize was parked outside, and only the light in the bedroom was on.

  “I know I’ve been busy lately, but I’m always here for you,” he said.

  I nodded, knowing it was the truth. Hunter was nearly six years older than me, but he’d always looked out for me. Always protected me. I knew he would never judge me for quitting premed, but I feared he’d make me tell our parents when he realized the secrets were tearing me apart.

  I also knew he’d try to fix it. Much as I loved my brother for being a fixer, this was something I had to do myself. I couldn’t always rely on him to rescue me.

  “I’m good. I have a heavy course load this semester.”

  But really, I was loaded down with lies. Lying about where I lived—I’d moved in with Brie to save on rent. Lying about where I went to school—no more premed at UCLA.

  The only reason I was able to pull it off was because the distributions from my trust went directly to me, not the leasing office. Sharing an apartment with Brie was cheaper than my old place. Plus, I’d saved a lot of money this summer by living rent-free at Hunter’s apartment and working at a costume shop. Between all that, I was just barely able to eke out tuition.

  “I bet.” He parked the car before reaching over to ruffle my hair. I rolled my eyes and ducked out of his reach. “Organic chemistry and a biology lab.” He cringed, and I was impressed he’d remembered my schedule—or at least, the schedule he knew about. “I’d rather retake accounting.”

  I mimed putting a gun to my temple and pulling the trigger as I backed toward the door to the house. I’d come straight from campus, and my laptop was inside. “No thanks.”

  I opened the door, and the alarm chimed. From somewhere in the house, a sultry beat played. I froze, suddenly on high alert.

  “Hunter,” a woman called out in a husky tone.

  He nearly skidded into me as I tried to back out of there as fast as possible. I grabbed my bag and darted for the door without looking at him. “Thanks for the ride!” My voice came out as a squeak.

  I’d expected him to chuckle, but he seemed just as eager for me to leave as I was. “You’re welcome,” he called, his eyes intent on the bedroom.

  Whoever she was, she’d been there waiting for him. Which meant…she had a key. Hunter never gave women a key to his place. Guess I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

  As I walked over to my car, I wondered why I couldn’t be more like my siblings. Sure, they’d followed the career paths my parents had expected, but Lily and Hunter were so outspoken, so brave. Lily was a fierce divorce attorney—and certainly one of the most respected in LA. And Hunter had no qualms about speaking his mind. Why couldn’t I be like them? I had the same genes, so it must be in there somewhere.

  All I had to do was find it.

  Chapter Three

  “Xander.” Mandy rushed into the staff break room, out of breath. She was one of the admins at LA CAD, and she’d been incredibly warm and welcoming.

  “Hey.” I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Professor Tate,” she panted. “He had a stroke. I hate to ask on such short notice, but is there any way you can sub in for his class this afternoon?”

  I tried to hold in a groan. My head was throbbing, and the last thing I wanted to do was teach another class. I’d stayed up late drinking way too much, trying to send myself on some misguided journey of creative liberation. Instead, I’d ended up with a hangover and a few drawings I’d quickly wadded up and tossed in the bin this morning. At least I’d drawn something, but it was complete and utter shit. I consoled myself with the thought that I’d been drunk at the time, so what had I expected?

  “Which class is it?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t something I had little experience in—like sculpture.

  “It’s—” She glanced down at her tablet, pushing her red glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Advanced life drawing. There’s a model scheduled for today, so you won’t need to deliver a lecture, just make the rounds and provide commentary.”

  Her breathing had returned to normal, though her pale skin remained flushed. I should’ve said no; I had intended to do research for my exhibition pieces after all. But I knew she needed my help, and if a good excuse to procrastinate presented itself, who was I to turn it down?

  “Sure. No problem.”

  Theo was going to kill me.

  “Thank you so much, Xander.” She glanced at her watch. “It was supposed to start five minutes ago, so you better get going. It’s just down the hall—Room 237.”

  She handed me a piece of paper, and I rushed down the hallway, my large strides eating up the floor. I swung the door open, and all eyes turned to me as I marched into the room.

  “Good afternoon, class,” I said, ignoring their curious gazes. “I’m Xander Kline, and I’ll be subbing in for Professor Tate.”

  My eyes darted to a woman standing on the dais, clad only in a floral-patterned silk robe. I stared at her bare feet, following the long lines of her toned, firm legs. The hem of her robe rested mid-thigh, the smooth material draping over her curves. I knew it was completely unprofessional, but I couldn’t wait to see what was under that robe. I wanted to know if the rest of her was just as stunning as the parts I could see. For the first time in weeks, I felt a tingling, an excitement stirring in my soul.

  “Did everyone sign in?” My voice sounded as if it came from somewhere else, someone else.

  The students nodded, and they seemed to be alert and prepared. Even with experienced students, like the upperclassmen in this advanced life drawing class, it was always important to restate the ground rules for working with a nude model.

  “We’ll start with standing poses, then progress to sitting and, eventually, reclining. There will be a break every twenty minutes. Please put away all cell phones, and do not leave the room until the break is announced. If you are late coming back, you will be locked out until the next one. Only I will address the mod
el.”

  The idea that I was the only one who could speak to her shouldn’t have gotten me as excited as it did. But every time my eyes scanned the woman on the dais, I felt that same zing of excitement again. That same spark I’d often felt in the past when creating something I just knew was amazing. It was a rare feeling, but one I knew better than to ignore.

  “Any questions?” I asked, even though this was all pretty standard.

  A student raised her hand, and I pointed to her. “Should we be focusing on any specific part of the model?”

  Mandy hadn’t mentioned anything about the syllabus, and I didn’t want to waste a lot of class answering questions. I wanted the students to be able to spend as much time as possible working with the model. I could hear a number of them shifting on their feet, antsy to get started. I understood their impatience, and it was frustrating to know that I wouldn’t get to join them. My job was merely to observe.

  I shook my head. “I don’t care whether you focus on her feet or her profile, I just want you to convey a sense that the represented form is alive.”

  When there were no more questions, I glanced down at the sheet of paper Mandy had handed me. “Before we get started, I’d like to introduce our model, Kate.”

  The woman’s eyes snapped to mine, wide and innocent. She lifted her chin, revealing the graceful line of her neck. “Yes?”

  She was stunning, and I itched to draw her, to see more of her. For the first time in weeks—perhaps even months—I felt…inspired. I cleared my throat. “When you’re ready, please disrobe and choose your first pose.”

  She didn’t move, didn’t blink. And after a few moments passed, the other students began to whisper. I inched closer, lured to her like a priceless work of art. A living, breathing masterpiece. Despite the fact that she was standing on the dais, she still had to lean her head back to look at me.

  I couldn’t decide whether she was going to barf or bolt, but she certainly looked pale. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, and a few strands of hair fell into her face. I had to stop myself from reaching out to tuck them behind her ear. I didn’t know what it was about this woman, but I felt drawn to her.

  “I’m… Yeah, I’m good,” she said, though I wasn’t entirely convinced.

  This close, I noticed that her eyes were gray. A beautiful shade of gray like gathering storm clouds—both alluring and potentially destructive. I was so focused on her eyes, on the curvature of her lips, that I didn’t notice the fact that she’d loosened the tie on her robe. I held her gaze as the material slid from her shoulders, puddling at her feet. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her skin flushed with color, which only made her more appealing.

  I didn’t just want to draw her; I wanted to consume her.

  “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.” I heard myself say as if from afar.

  There was something light about her, almost ethereal. I wasn’t sure whether it was her long golden hair that flowed around her like a halo or perhaps those captivating eyes. Or maybe it was her perfect proportions. I didn’t know the answer, but I knew it was the type of beauty sculptors immortalized in stone and poets wrote sonnets about. She possessed a rare quality that made me want to put pencil to paper just to try to capture it.

  Someone called my name from across the classroom, and I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from Kate’s. This wasn’t just about the fact that she was beautiful and naked. In my profession, I was used to nudity. I’d been around countless nude models—male, female, sometimes together. But there was something different about Kate, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

  “I’ll be right there,” I said, finally forcing myself to move.

  It didn’t matter where I was in the room, I felt myself drawn to her. I was tempted to take a picture of her with my phone just so I could try to sketch her later, but I knew it would never compare. Besides, that would be wholly disrespectful, unprofessional, and could get me fired.

  “Something about this seems off,” the student next to me said, snapping my attention to her. “What do you think it is?” She blinked up at me, batting her lashes.

  I ignored her advances and focused instead on the canvas before me. The shape of the hips was good, but… “Here,” I said, pointing to the juncture of Kate’s thighs on the canvas. I swallowed hard, attempting to sound detached. “The shadows on the pelvis are off.” I indicated several that weren’t quite right.

  The girl gave me a coy smile. “Thank you.”

  I spoke with a few other students, giving pointers as I made my way around the room. Even so, my attention remained on Kate. On her round, full breasts, her rose-colored areolas, the gentle curve of her waist. It didn’t matter what angle I viewed her from; she was perfect.

  “All right,” I said, realizing it had been a little over twenty minutes. “Stretch your legs. Grab a drink of water and be back in five.”

  I knelt to the ground before Kate, gathering her silk robe in my hands, wondering if her skin was just as smooth. I lingered for a moment longer than necessary, relishing the opportunity to study her up close. The small thatch of hair that was slightly darker than the blond strands on her head. The scent of her arousal, thick in the air. My dick twitched.

  When I handed her the robe, our fingers brushed, and it sent a bolt of lightning racing through my hand and up my arm. What the…?

  I’d never had quite that reaction to someone. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. And if I was right, Kate didn’t either since her expression mirrored my own.

  I might not know what it meant, but there was one thing I knew for certain—I had to draw her.

  Chapter Four

  “Kate?” a deep voice rumbled from behind me as I stood in line for coffee.

  Music played in the background, and the milk frother hissed under the exertion of order after order. It was a busy place, a popular place, especially with LA CAD students.

  I closed my eyes and swallowed, knowing that voice. Xander.

  It had been a few days since the life drawing class I’d moaned for—I meant, modeled for. A few days since I’d run out of there like my ass was on fire. I took a deep breath and then turned to face him.

  “Professor Kline,” I said, opting to address him by his professional title. I needed that reminder. I needed to put that space between us, especially since we were in a coffee shop across the street from campus.

  “Can I buy you a coffee?” he asked.

  He was just as handsome as I’d remembered and just as tall. His dark curls were still wet from a shower, and a gray T-shirt clung to his chest.

  “Actually—” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, trying to ignore the way my body lit up when his eyes lingered on my lips. “I’m meeting someone.”

  It was true, though I knew my best friend and roommate Brie wouldn’t be here for another ten minutes—at least.

  “Can you come by my office later?” he asked. “I have a proposition I’d like to discuss.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. “What kind of proposition?” I teased. Though, I couldn’t deny it; I was curious. What could Xander Kline possibly want from me?

  He glanced around, then said, “I want you to pose for me.”

  I blinked up at him owlishly as if I’d just imagined what he’d said. “You mean…model?” I tried to swallow, but the word got lodged in my throat. “For another class?”

  “No.” He shook his head, his dark curls glinting in the light, tempting me to touch them. I wondered if they were as soft as they looked. “For me.”

  Now I really didn’t know what to say.

  “I have an exhibit coming up, and I’ve been searching for the right…inspiration. The right model.”

  “And you think that’s me?” I laughed, thinking this must be some sort of prank. “It was a one-time thing. I volunteered on a whim. I didn’t even know what I was doing.” My words were getting away from me. I needed to stop before I embarrassed myself.


  “You did fine, and I’ll show you exactly what I need.”

  “You seem to have an answer for everything,” I mused.

  He leaned in close, close enough his breath brushed against my ear. I got a hit of his scent—leather and charcoal. “I’m very good at getting what I want.”

  “I bet you are,” I muttered, trying to hold it together. I was positive women’s panties melted at the sight of him. Mine certainly felt as if they were disintegrating.

  He backed away, and I wondered if I’d imagined the seductive lilt to his voice. “I’ll pay you.”

  I shook my head. I wasn’t going to take his money. I might be scrimping to pay for my art school tuition, but that was my decision.

  And as much as I’d enjoyed myself in class the other day, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. My parents were already going to flip out about my revised career path. Adding nude model to my resume wasn’t going to help. And Hunter… Oh god, I could only imagine his reaction.

  The line moved, and we shuffled forward. “I’ll write you a great recommendation, give you whatever you want. Please.” He peered into my eyes, and I sensed he was desperate. What I didn’t know was—why?

  “Why me?” I blurted.

  “Honestly?” he huffed. “I don’t know. A feeling?” He lifted a shoulder, like he wasn’t quite sure he bought it either.

  I laughed. “A feeling, huh? I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  “Just the ones I want to see naked.” He winked.

  My shoulders shook with silent laughter, and I inched closer to the counter. “I’m flattered, truly. But you should find someone else. Someone who’s not a student. Someone with more…experience.”

  “I don’t want someone else.” He peered down at me, his blue eyes swirling with some unnamed emotion. His gaze was so intense, I almost had to look away. It reminded me of when I’d stood before him naked, and it felt like he could see through me. “I want you.”

  His words and the rough way in which he spoke them sucked the air from my lungs. Everything and everyone around us faded into the background, the colors and sounds coming at me as if through a tunnel. It was just him and me. Alexander freaking Kline and me.