Picture Me Naked (Stoddard Art School Series) (23 page)

Jagger turned. “What kind of a man would I be if I didn’t honor his last wish?”

“Certainly not the man you are.” She ran her fingertips over the roughness of his jaw.

“It tears at me to know how I’ve hurt her. I may never see her again. Or my home. But I decided that night this was what needed to be done and I knew there was no turning back.” Jagger tipped up her chin and looked into her eyes. There was no harshness in them. No disapproval. They looked soft as a dove. “Do you understand? I had to tell you.”

Zee nodded. “I’m glad you did.”

“I hope you don’t think I’m some cold-hearted bastard.”

“I’d never think that.”

“You could be the only one.”

Zee kissed him with a tenderness that reached all the way to his burdened heart. She wasn’t judging him. She was trying to soothe his hurt.

Leading him back to his bed, Zee loved him and held him. Her gentle caresses making him ache with a need deeper than he had known. It was more than a need of his body. It touched the bruises of his soul. She gave him the forgiveness he wouldn’t give himself. Her understanding made him feel whole again.

Jagger refused to bring her home that night, needing her with him. He lay awake listening to her sleep. How was he going to keep his promise to his father when his only thought was the promise his heart ached to make to Zee?

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zee was a woman in love even if she couldn’t say the words. She was lost in the glow of a magical night. Jagger had opened up and she felt even closer to him than before. She understood more about what drove him, who he was, and it only made her want him more.

Spending the night in his arms, making love in the glow of the fire had soothed her. All her worries about him, all her anxiety about the show and the school melted away. It was as if the rest of the world faded to nothing, and all that mattered was right then. That touch, that kiss.

They’d made love again at dawn. The mist coming up from the river turned the sunrise into a golden haze. All too soon the world would return with school and work and all things beyond their bed. But for now…

They left Jagger’s with little time to spare. Zee had thirty minutes to run up to her apartment, feed Isabella, apologize for leaving her alone all night, gather her things, shower, dress and get to class. However, when they pulled up to Zee’s building she knew thirty minutes would not be enough time. The
world
had caught up to them.

George was listing to one side.

“Bloody hell!” Jagger slammed his door.

“Why isn’t the alarm going off?”

“The bastard never touched the frame. He’s slashed your tires and never connected with the car’s frame. He’s smarter than I thought. Zee, you need to call the police.”

“And tell them what? We don’t have any proof Ed did this.” She circled George trying to think. “This is crazy! What is wrong with him? Why is he torturing me?” All the sheltered, champagne sparkled bliss of last night disappeared. “I can’t take any more of this. I have to talk to him. This has to stop.”

Jagger’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll talk to him and this
will
stop.”

“This isn’t your fight, Jagger.”

“Like hell it isn’t. He’s furious that you’re with me. He’s watching you. He did this because you didn’t come home last night.” Jagger scowled and planted his hands on his hips. “He wants you to come to him. Angry or not, he doesn’t care. You’re not going to see him. It’s just what he wants.”

“So what else should I do? The police aren’t going to help me. I have no proof. I haven’t even seen Ed in over a week.” She raised her palms in surrender.

“Fine. Talk to him. But I’m going, too.”

“No, Jagger. I know Ed. That will only add fire to gasoline. If I don’t take care of this myself, he’ll never stop. I know you want to protect me, but what happens when you leave? No, I need to do this.” Zee ran a soothing hand down Jagger’s arm. The muscles beneath her touch were poised for a fight. “Maybe I can get him to admit something.”

“He’ll never admit to any of this. I know that sure as there’s cold shit in a dead cat.” Jagger let out an angry breath and stood staring at George. “At least now I know how far the tosser will go. I can tweak the alarm, add more sensors. He won’t get within a foot of your car.”

Zee chewed at her lower lip. “That’s a good idea. Right now, I need to call the tire shop and see if they’ll come out here to replace these tires. You need to get to class.”

Jagger’s gaze slid to her. He wrapped an arm around her. Some of his anger abated as he ran his hand up and down her back. When he spoke, his voice softened. “I’ll call the tire shop. You see to Isabella and get your things. Madeline won’t start without me.” Zee nodded. Jagger tipped her chin. The gentleness of a warm chocolate gaze soothed her even more. “And just for the record, I’m not leaving tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. I’m here for a while yet. You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll deal with Ed
together
.” He shrugged one shoulder and gave her a smirk. “How ’bout, you hold him, I’ll hit him.”

Zee gave him a quick smile before he wrapped her in a hug, but she’d already made up her mind. She needed to confront Ed on her own. She would end this. Today.

****

The loud whine of a torque wrench and the pungent smell of motor oil greeted Zee as she pushed open the security door to the back garage of the Speedy Quick Car Lube. She marched past the woman at the desk with a “talk to the hand” gesture and ignored the Only Employees Past This Point sign on the door.

She paused for only a moment, but then she spotted Ed as he bent over the engine of a cream-colored SUV. Zee maneuvered herself to stand behind him. Before she could get his attention, someone shouted, “Zeigler! Get her the hell out of here!”

Ed straightened up and took one look at her, “What the f—Zee, you can’t be back here.”

“I’ve had it! You’re going to listen to me if I have to scream my head off in front of all your friends. Maybe then you’ll finally hear me!”

Ed stripped gloves from his hands, grabbed her arm and yanked her through the side door. The heavy metal door slammed behind them, silencing the din of pneumatic tools.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Yes, and it’s your fault!”

“What are you screeching about?”

“I know you’ve been stalking me. You’ve been tampering with my car. You slashed my tires! Don’t try to deny it, I know it’s you!”

“You don’t know anything.” He brushed nonexistent dust off his overalls. How did he stay so clean?

“I’m going to call the police, Ed.”

“And tell them what? That you bought a cheap alarm that doesn’t work for shit?”

“So you admit it.”

“I don’t admit nothin’. You got no proof. You got no witnesses. You got nada. If you did, you wouldn’t be here.”

“What do you want from me, Ed? Seriously. What? You can’t think for one minute I’d agree to get back with you. So what? Are you trying to punish me? Are you trying to hurt me? Are you trying to come between Jagger and me? What is it?”

“Do you think I give a rat’s ass about you and that foreigner?” Ed sneered. “I got better things to do than stand around and watch you act like a slut.”

“I’m not a slut.”

“No? Coulda fooled me. But I’m not worried. I give it another week and then Mr. Down Under’s gonna figure out how useless you are in bed.

Zee spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ve upgrading my car alarm, Ed, and I’m warning you. I’m going to the police. You stop following me, you stop watching me, you stop touching my car or I swear I’ll have you arrested.”

“Arrested. Ha. For what? Being stupid enough to date you?”

“I’ll tell them you forced me to have sex with you.” As the words stumbled out of her mouth, she felt the color drain from her face. Where had this blind bravado come from? “After all, who would believe I would ever sleep with you willingly?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You wouldn’t dare. You don’t know who you’re dealing with, bitch.” He spit the last word at her feet.

She didn’t flinch. “I know exactly who I’m dealing with, and if I have to crawl around in the muck with you to get rid of you once and for all, then that’s exactly what I’ll do. Stay away from me. Stay away from my car. Or I’ll make you sorry you ever met me.”

“I’m already sorry.”

“Good. Then you won’t have any problem leaving me alone.”

Zee pushed past him and swallowed the bile that rose in the back of her throat. Ed screamed at her back. “With pleasure! I wouldn’t take you back if you were the last woman on the face of the planet. Warn kangaroo boy to watch out for the deep freeze between your thighs. He just may lose his dick to frost bite!”

Her body shook violently as she got back in her car. Two blocks away, Zee pulled over and ran into the bushes to be ill.

Days passed and not a peep or siren scream from George. Jagger added six more sensors to the alarm system and increased the sensitivity level.
He’s not getting near your car now
.
Had Ed actually gotten the message? She still couldn’t believe she stooped to his level. Nana kept telling her how proud she was of her for sticking up for herself.

Jagger wasn’t so pleased. “What! You went to see Ed alone? I thought we agreed?” He crossed his arms and knit his eyebrows together. No, he was not happy. He didn’t say anything.

“Please don’t be upset. I-I’d just had it. I went to his work. There were people around, so don’t worry, I wasn’t alone with him. I told him I knew he was the one to slash my tires and all the rest, and I would go to the police if he didn’t stop. He denied everything, just like you said he would, but I had to do something.”

Jagger’s eyes were dark.

“Say something. I know you’re upset I went without you. I just envisioned fists flying. This is my battle. It was time for me to stand up for myself, don’t you think? I said what I had to say, and I really think he heard me, Jagger. He was furious.” She wouldn’t tell Jagger all the ugly things Ed said. “But I made it very clear that I was not going to put up with any more of his…his…” The muscle in Jagger’s jaw pulsed. “Please say something.”

“I still don’t trust him.”

“You upgraded the alarm.” Zee slipped an arm around his neck. “George has more security than the Hope Diamond. He’s getting quite cocky.”

“I know someone else who’s getting too big for their britches.” Jagger pushed a hand down the back of her pants to grasp the curve of her behind.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jagger pulled into the school’s parking lot. He shouldn’t bother her. She was working hard to get everything ready for her big gallery show. He admired her dedication. He admired a great many things about her. That was the problem. Jagger was so busy admiring her and desiring her, trying to protect her, he was finding it difficult to think about anything else but her.

Since her meeting with Daniel Bruce, Zee had booked more and more studio time. Jagger didn’t like the idea of her alone at the school, however. Zeigler had been quiet, but Jagger still didn’t trust the wanker, even though Zee seemed to believe her talk with him had fixed things.

The truth of it was, he just needed to see her. So he buggered off an afternoon of estate work to come back. Maybe he could convince her to finish up early and enjoy this beautiful warm day. Between Ed and the stress of the show, Zee could use an afternoon of fresh air. They could take a blanket down to the lake and soak up some sun…and each other. Another afternoon making love to Zee would certainly ease
his
stress.

The door to the studio stood ajar. An open window made for a sweet breeze blowing through. Today, Zee was working on one of his poses. A clean shot of his back as he perched on a stool. It was a casual pose yet Zee had captured the play of the muscles of his shoulders and the gentle bend of his spine. Nice.

Jagger waited until she pulled her brush away from the canvas. “Hey there, beautiful.”

“Jagger?” Zee twisted to see him. “I thought you were working this afternoon?”

“I was.” Jagger moved to her and gave her a warm kiss. “I bagged it. I’d much rather spend the day with you.” He kissed her again trying to pull her close without plastering the front of him with a loaded palette. Jagger pulled back and fiddled with a shiny curl at her cheek. “What do you say? It’s bloody gorgeous outside. You. Me. The lake. We could feed the ducks. Lie in the sun. In Australia, we’d call this POETS day.”

“Poet’s day?”

“Yep, stands for Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday!”

Zee laughed. “That sounds very tempting.” She put down her palette and dropped her brush in the cleaner jar.

“But?”

“I still have hours of work to finish. Maybe after…” She leaned in and kissed him. The kiss began as a sweet peck, but when Zee ran her hand under his hair to caress his neck, and slipped the tip of her tongue into his mouth, Jagger released a groan from deep in his throat. All the time he’d spent with her hadn’t cooled him off one bit. Zee could still make him hotter than Christmas in the Outback.

“I don’t think I can wait ’til
after
,” Jagger moaned and used his foot to close the door. “Come here.”

“Jagger…” Zee sighed into his mouth. He was kissing her, unzipping her sweatshirt, and sweeping his hands under the hem of her tee-shirt to splay his fingers across her bare back. She shivered with excitement. “You’re crazy.”

“I know. I can’t get enough of you.”

Zee moved them into the back corner of the room where shelves of artist props were stored. Her sweatshirt dropped to the floor and Jagger pressed her against the wall littered with taped department notices and flyers. Sliding his hand forward, he cupped a butter soft breast, lifted her shirt and dipped his head to take a sip.

“Ah!” Zee gasped as she held fast to a handful of his hair. “I can’t think… We can’t.” He slipped a hand into the waistband of her jeans. “Oh God.” The top button on her jeans slipped from the buttonhole. “Someone might catch us. We shouldn’t.”

Jagger pulled back and smiled at her. He plucked one of the papers off the wall next to her head and held it up. LIVE MODEL—PLEASE KEEP DOOR SHUT. He posted the notice on the outside of the door and was half naked before he once again pinned Zee to the wall with a heated kiss.