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Chapter One
“You’re good”
Sheridan Harper flashed a quick s the canvas as her hand streaked across it, deftly creating the scene before her with delicate strokes of the paintbrush “Thank you”
“Seriously It’s a” He had a sexy voice, her new ad her friend Willow handing over a sample of blue cotton candy to a potential client, she’d check him out and see if the voice matched the rest of him
But first, she had to work
“It’s like a photograph,” he continued, sounding truly impressed
Which wariddy heart It was the entire reason she was there that night: to iain new clients, and to fill her art studio with students eager to learn how to paint She doubted the guy beside her wanted to paint But irlfriend ould be interested…
“Well, that’s why I’ the event,” Sheridan explained She’d have a wrecked wrist by the end of the night, but she couldn’t coa-exposure at the Taste of Monterey orth the pain alone
The annual event featured almost one hundred booths from local businesses and drew thousands of people in attendance It was held at the convention center, and the building was packed, people’s voices a dull roar in her ears
“Live painting, huh? Never heard of such a thing”
“Well, every artist live paints I suppose, but I’ to catch as much as I can of the event as it unfolds Then when it’s over, I’ll give the painting to the organizers as a sort of memento” Sheridan dabbed a quick spot of the palest turquoise blue with her brush, a satisfied s her lips as she turned to face her admirer
And stopped dead in her tracks when she saw all six-foot-plus, eousness of him
He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his full lips quirked in a not-quite s her iantuan size He carried himself like a man who truly enjoyed women, one who knew exactly what they wanted even before they did
And she recognized him, of course She’d have to live under a rock not to His reputation oh theed underwear Maybe even more
“You’re…” She let the word die on her lips, too frazzled to continue when he flashed a brain cell–stealing grin at her
“I am,” said Jared Quinn, star quarterback for the San Jose Haith a slight shrug She’d had no idea he’d be at the Taste of Monterey event that evening “Have you ever considered live painting a football game?”
“I would love to,” she said auto out in a rush She silently chastised herself There was always being on the lookout for opportunities, and then there was being too eager and losing them because of it
“My coach ht like one” His eyes crinkled at the corners when he s, but it didn’t detract froave hie of his chin, roughing up the chared with gold, and a tad overgrown so it waved at the nape Movie-star handsome with the rabid female fans to confirm it, he was a major reason women watched football “Actually, the oould like one even more You’re very talented”
Her brain racked up the potential his words conjured “I could create a painting for whoever wanted one; that wouldn’t be a problem” Lord knew she needed the money Just because she had an art studio on Ocean Avenue in Car in it She’d inherited the studio when her grando The location was prime, but so was the cost to maintain it Sheridan was constantly busy, especially with the heavy load of classes she taught, but all that business was still barely able to pay the bills
“I’d get first dibs, though, right?” He winked at her and her heart fluttered
Stupid, reckless heart It was a business transaction, not a flirtatious moment And hadn’t Jared Quinn been involved in some sort of sordid scandal? She swore she’d read that recently in so