Page 38 of Outside the Lines
“Oh, Si, I know,” she whispered, as if she’d heard all the words I hadn’t said. The fears. The worries. All the what-ifs. “I know, I know. It’ll be okay, whatever happens.”
On some level, I knew it would. I had her. I would always have her.
But I wanted Ian too. For the first time, I wondered if that made me greedy.
Monday came and went much as the other days with Ian in the shop. We worked and laughed and fielded questions from customers andWolf’s Landingfans. I soaked in as much of Ian’s presence as I could: his long limbs and stunning smile. Everything. Time was ticking on, and the set looked better than ever. Soon, he wouldn’t be working his magic in my shop. He’d be back on theWolf’s Landinglot, and life would return to normal at End o’ Earth.
I wasn’t ready. Seemed like he wasn’t either, given the sometimes-mournful glances he gave the shop.
My fear was that whatever lay between us would end the minute he and the set left. Was this a fling to him? Or worse, a way to repay me? I had no idea. We should talk about where this was going, but there wasn’t time or the privacy we needed while we were working. Lunch in the back didn’t afford us the space, not with Dexy and Lydia in and out. While they both knew what was going on, I didn’t want to spill my guts in front of Dexy, and I wasn’t sure Ian wanted to have this conversation while Lydia was in the room.
We’d eventually all talk, but that was putting the cart miles before the horse. So, I’d see if he wanted to get a beer tonight.
As it turned out, it would be a celebratory brew, because about half an hour before closing, Ian eyed the model and said, “I think we’re done.”
“Really?” To me, the model could’ve been mistaken for the photographs of the set, but I wasn’t the professional.
A slow nod. “Yeah. I’m at the stage where I keep wanting to touch up my touch-ups . . . and that means there’s nothing left to do and my perfectionism is taking over.”
I set my brush down and leaned back in my chair. It was beautiful and so very Wolf’s Landing. “Wow. We did it.”
His smile set my blood on fire, as did his warm hand on my shoulder. “That’s right—wedid it.”
Tingles surged up and down my back. I helped build a set for my favorite TV show. And I’d met—and slept with—Ian. Life didn’t get much better.
“Now I have to figure out how to get it out of here and back to the lot.” Ian laughed. “It’s not gonna fit in the Mini.”
Not anymore, it wouldn’t. Oops. It was also going to be damn tricky getting it through the door. “We can use the SUV.” Itwouldfit in the back of that. “But I think we’re gonna need everyone’s help to get this out of the front door. Or the one in the back.”
Ian’s eyes got wide. “Oh, shit. I forgot about the door.”
Though there were people around, I grabbed his hand. “Hey, we’ll get it out. Promise. You said you were good at squeezing things into tight places.”
There was that reddening I loved. “Yeah. Okay.”
We tidied the area and covered the set one final time. Ian looked around. “I’ll pack up my supplies tomorrow.”
Good, more time for us tonight.
We got the rest of the store cleaned up, I let Jesse out the front, and Ian and I headed out the back. Once I set the alarm and locked the door, I turned to him. “Up for a beer to toast our success?”
Ian stuffed his hands in his pocket. “I’d love one. But I need to take a raincheck tonight. There’s a meeting on set at five-thirty tomorrow morning and Anna wants me there. We’re going over the shooting schedule and plans for Wednesday.”
Well, shit. There went having a conversation, or anything else. “Okay.”
I must have failed to keep the disappointment from my voice, because Ian stepped forward. “Hey.” His voice was soft and his fingers cupped my face. Heat from his body radiated against mine.
He brushed his thumb over my lips. “There’s nothing in the world I want more than a beer with you.” His mouth met mine, and our tongues tangled until I moaned into him. Our bodies brushed, dicks rocking against each other.
Oh yeah, he was still into me. Ian broke the kiss, and that was sensual and breathtaking, the slow pull apart, the way he sucked on my lower lip. “I want you so bad.”
“Same,” I whispered.
He slid his hands down my back and pulled us together tight. “I can tell.”
Couldn’t help the hiss as he ground into me. So fucking good.
He backed off. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
