“Just out here is fine.” Janie gestured for Noah to put the blank canvases by the door to her painting room. “I’ll take them in.”

“You’re not going to let me see?” Noah hesitated in setting down the canvases.

Janie dropped her bag of painting supplies next to the door. “Not a chance. I have to get rid of a few before I let people wander through. But I’ve managed to hit my stride, finally. So at least now I’m working toward something.”

“Martha has been clamoring to have a look. She said she could be of assistance to you.”

Janie led the way down the hall despite the fact that she really should get to work. She was on a roll. The paintings were turning out exactly how she wanted them to. Another couple weeks to get everything perfect and she could start touting her work.

In other words, in another couple weeks, the hard part would start.

But if she stood in front of a canvas right now, she knew what would happen. The ache she felt would show up in her painting. It would have to be tossed out with the others that revealed too much of herself. Too much of Dave. Despite her fierce desire to put that other night of unreal passion behind her, and cut out the feelings that were taking on a life of their own, she wanted to see Dave so bad her hands were shaking.

It was so freaking distracting. She didn’t need this right now.

“She could be of assistance with the painting, or with the galleries?” Janie asked, thumping down the stairs.

“No idea, but she would be one to ask about galleries. If you can muster up the courage, that is. She has lady luncheons or whatever all the time. Someone in those circles is bound to have a useful connection.”

Janie heard Dave’s voice before they walked into the kitchen.

“You are saying a lot of words, Madison, but none of them are explaining what this recent obsession is. You are smarter than me, I hear you roar, but you’re a horrible liar. If something is going on that shouldn’t be, I need to know how to help.” Dave stood with his hands crossed over his chest, two feet from the island, staring Madison down. Colton, who would normally rush forward to protect his lady love, was also staring at Madison, his expression flat.

Janie had seen Colton’s look before. He didn’t agree with something Madison had set her mind on, but he knew whatever idea his lady love had latched on to would have to run its course. Madison had a stubborn streak a mile wide.

“What’d I miss?” Janie asked, heading to the fridge. “Also, does anyone need a stiff drink? There is some serious tension in this room.”

“Madison was just telling us that you were stuck on a certain theme of a particularly damaging nature.” Martha took a sip of her drink, her gaze rooted to Janie over the rim of her glass.

Janie didn’t allow the alarm to tense her muscles, or her gaze to veer toward Dave. Instead, she grabbed the ingredients for a very stiff drink and returned to the island. Martha was just like the drug pushers in that trailer park. She’d go whole hog if she smelled weakness.

“It’s not exactly damaging, but it certainly blindsided me. I’m good, though. I’m finally on the right track. Colton only has to endure me wandering around his house for a little longer.” She winked at him, trying to match the ease with which the guys did it. Instead, she could tell her face was scrunching up weirdly. “Anyway, is this a dinner party, or what? I’m officially crashing it.”

Joy crossed Dave’s face before that deep feeling glimmered in his eyes. He uncrossed his arms and slipped his hands in his pockets.

“Dressed like that?” Martha looked at Janie’s clothes. “Maybe Madison has something you can change into. You’ll get paint all over everything.”

Janie glanced behind her. “My backside is clear. I’m good.” She filled the shaker before holding it out for one of the guys to take. This was a dance they’d perfected. She’d pour the drink, and one of the BD guys would shake it, giving her a good show with his bulging muscles.

Dave stepped forward and took it out of her hands. His fingers slid against hers, and her body went taut as though she’d grabbed a live wire. She yanked her hands away and stepped back. Even still, she couldn’t stop looking into his soft brown eyes. Felt the desperate urge to run a hand down his back before stepping closer and gluing herself to his side.

Janie turned away. “What’s Frank up to?”

Ethan’s smile climbed into place. “Ralph.”

“Ralph it is. What’s he drinking?” Janie pointed at Martha, whose brow crumpled. “Anyone?”

“Bud. I got it.” Madison dashed around the island and swung open the fridge. “Did you need help carrying anything upstairs, Janie? Or moving things around?”

“I’d love to see some of your work.” Martha straightened a tray that had been set to the side of the stove. “Maybe you can give us a tour of your collection?”

“They aren’t ready for viewing yet,” Janie said. Madison stopped beside her, not handing over the beer.

“Here you go.” Dave finished shaking the drink, his biceps giving her the show she was after. He poured it into two martini glasses before garnishing with olives. A sexy smile tweaked his lips as he handed one to Janie. “Dirty, just like you like it.”

Heat infused her core. Breathing became difficult. He was right. It was how she liked it, and he was so good at giving her exactly what she wanted. “Martha,” she said, trying to get back on track. “I don’t know about you, but that kind of talk seems awfully cheeky for a family affair.”

Martha’s eyes narrowed. “You are absolutely right, dear. David Miller, just because you are having a hard time in your life right now, that is no reason to use crass double entendres with a young woman, no matter how inappropriately she is dressed for the occasion.”

Dave visibly wrestled the smile off his face, trying to adopt a chastised expression instead. His glimmering eyes gave him away. “I apologize. Where were my manners?”

“Out to lunch, obviously. Not here, at any rate.” Janie sniffed, handed her drink to Madison, and took the one Dave had obviously held back for himself. “Thanks. Enjoy your beer.”

His grin won out, and he chuckled as she turned and followed Madison out of the kitchen.

“So you’ve moved on from painting him?” Madison asked as they moved through the spacious house. In the next room, a fast-talking announcer yelled over the roar of a crowd. The huge TV lined a wall. Ralph sat within the sea of leather, watching the game with the remote in his hand.

“Yes. I’ve homed in on my theme now.”

“Love?”

“Yep. Frank, do—”

“Ralph.”

“Ralph, do you need a beer?” Janie motioned at Madison, who held out the beer. “Wait, what’s all this? Appetizers?” There was a tray laden with cheese and crackers on the coffee table. Another had chips and a creamy sort of dip. She grabbed a deviled egg from a dish on the small table near her.

“Thanks.” Ralph took the beer while turning down the game. “Yeah, my wife puts out all this food, but for who? She knows the boys are going to hang out in the kitchen like a bunch of women.”

“Wow.” Janie sipped her drink. “Well I’m happy to hang out near the food and take the place of a bunch of lazy men that expect to be waited on hand and foot.”

Ralph huffed, not taking his eyes off the game. “Don’t take my place. I’d rather get waited on.”

“I hear ya, Ralph. Go ahead and turn it back up. Madison and I are going to squawk.” She didn’t want to irritate him with chatter. He’d kick them out, and she didn’t want to go back to the kitchen. She did want to see Dave—badly—but she also didn’t, especially not with everyone else around. It was too pressurized.

He nodded, understanding her completely.

She grinned at Madison and nodded in his direction. “He’s a trip,” she said in a low tone.

“He goes between funny, crazy, and horribly sexist. So you’re painting love now?” Madison furrowed her brow. “Who is your inspiration?”

“Just the feeling,” Janie said, sitting in the love seat. Madison joined her. “I don’t need an actual person or couple.”

“You did in the beginning. That was why you came here.”

“You tell me this like I have short-term memory loss.”

“It’s just…” Madison took a sip of her drink. “Colton and I have been a bit…at odds lately. I mean, we still love each other, obviously, and our relationship is totally fine, but we are seeing some things differently. We’ve been a little strained.”

“I noticed.”

“Right. Exactly. So how did you suddenly find your inspiration if it wasn’t from us?” Her eyes narrowed. “Did something happen with you and Dave?”

“Dave is every bit the mama’s boy he was, and I am still averse to a fling. I’m not painting him, trust me. But…I turned a corner. I spat out all the angst, so that’s done, and now I’m painting the original idea. I’ve cleared the air. It feels good.”

Madison sighed. “Good. I’m happy to hear it. After the thing with Dave’s mom, Colton is convinced you’d be good for Dave. That Dave would turn around and change his whole life for you. I mean, guys don’t do that.”

“Let me guess, Colton said he did that for you, right?”

“Right. Exactly.” Madison rolled her eyes before getting up for some cheese. She was careful to stay out of Ralph’s way. “But he totally didn’t. He was ready to walk away from…you know, the service, when I showed up. And he had everything aligned to chase his dream. With us, it was all about timing.”

“This certainly isn’t good timing for Dave. I mean, you know, not saying it matters to me, but Dave wants to keep making money hand over fist. Did you see that they all upped their prices? They’re getting three and a half grand for an all-nighter. Over three grand! I’m not sure I’d walk away from that either.”

“Maybe you’ll get three grand for a painting.”

Janie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure.”

“So can I see any of the new stuff? We’ve been good and stayed out of your room. Well, most of us have. I’m not sure about Ethan. He doesn’t seem to adhere to rules.”

Janie squirmed, uncomfortable.

“You have to show your work sometime,” Madison prodded. “That’s the whole point of this.”

“I know. I know. But now seems a little premature. I haven’t…”

“Worked up to it yet?”

“Exactly, yes. It’s all just pooped onto canvases.” Janie grabbed the whole chip-and-dip situation and set it on her lap. “I need to study them. Maybe even do a couple over with actual sketches first.”

“You didn’t sketch?”

“Not a single one. I barely registered walking up to them. Then suddenly I was done and had to move on to the next one. I’ve never felt such a crazy need to get things on canvas, but it feels right, so I’m going with it.”

Madison gave her a contemplative frown. “Huh. Well, you’ll have to show us one. Martha is like a dog with a bone. She won’t let it go.”