Page 4 of Designing with the Mountain Man
“Well, you’ll be happy to know I’m not here for any of that. I’m here on business.” Steeler grunted, his fists clenched at his sides.
I’d caused him so much pain which only hurt me, my insides clawing and scratching at anything and everything. “With the bakery? We’re not quite up and running yet. Alot of machinery hasn’t arrived yet, and we’re still waiting on supply deliveries.”
“No, not the bakery. Though it looks amazing in here. I’m really proud of you and Genevieve. You chased your dream and look where you are now.” He waved his hand around, the gruffness in his voice softer. Steeler was always a bit of a grumpy bear, but he was my grumpy bear, and I loved him hard.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. I know how well you can draw, Mar, and I followed your social media. I saw how beautiful your cakes were, as beautiful, if not more so, than your drawings. You’re talented. I’m happy to see you’re still baking and happy. Anyway, a client of Stanton Construction, the company I now work for, is looking for someone to paint a mural on their child’s bedroom wall, and I thought you’d be perfect for the job.”
His words took me by surprise. The last thing I thought he’d ask me was to paint a mural on a wall.
“A mural? Steeler, I decorate cakes, not walls.”
“But you draw and paint really well.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “It’s still completely different. I wouldn’t know where to begin with a life size mural.”
“You don’t need to think of a design. They already know what they want and it’s pretty straightforward. A sky with some clouds and a rainbow.”
I sighed again yet the image popped into my head. A large wall painted blue with a few scattered white clouds and a pretty rainbow coming out from one side. I used to sketch the sky often as a kid and included rainbows, the thought of good luck bringing me comfort. “I don’t know…the whole thing makes me nervous. I’d be afraid of disappointing your client. I’ve never even painted a wall before, much less a mural.”
“I have complete confidence you can do it, Mar. Your beautiful cakes don’t lie. Especially the cool 3D ones. Which, by the way, I need you to show me how you do it. I want all of your tips and tricks.” Steeler’s mouth lifted into a half smile, and a familiar warm buzz ran through me, one I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. He saved all his smiles for me, his resting grumpy face for the rest of the world, and it was as if no time had passed at all.
I soothed his crankiness and brought out his playful side.
Just like all those years ago…
“I don’t give those out to just anyone.”
“Good thing I’m not just anyone then.” Steeler grinned and there I was, falling hard and fast yet again, with the man I never stopped loving.
CHAPTER THREE
Steeler
I parkedin front of the client’s house, confirming it was correct from the sight of Marlowe’s car in the driveway.
The client was on vacation with his family, the mural a birthday surprise for his daughter when they got back, leaving Marlowe all alone in the big house.
Someone needed to keep her company.
The front door opened with one twist of the knob, and I wondered why she didn’t lock it. Anyone could walk right in like I was.
Inside, I heard music playing upstairs and I followed the sound to a bedroom in the far back corner.
Standing in the doorway for a few moments, I watched as she worked, the wall painted a light blue color as she began to sketch some clouds. A sketch of a big rainbow leaped off the side wall and through the sky, plunging into clouds around it.
It looked amazing.
“See, I knew you could do it.” I said as I walked into the room and gestured towards the wall. “Looks great so far.”
Marlowe clutched at her chest, her breath coming out in quick spurts. “Shit. I didn’t see you there! How long were you watching me?”
“Not long. Enough to see how well you’re doing.”
“And how did you even know where this house was? Are you stalking me, Steeler?” Her question took on a flirtatious tone, and she batted her eyelashes.
Oh, she still has it bad for me. I can feel it.
