“I admire modern-day mapmakers,” he said, “but a part of me feels like you lose a bit of heart and soul with a digital map. Whereas, all the imperfections on hand-drawn maps are what give them such character.” His grin was ridiculously sexy as he added, “At least, that’s what I tell myself about my mistakes—that it gives my maps character.”
It was extremely rare for Lola to meet a man who was both humble and good-looking. Most handsome men, in her experience, loved to expound on their seemingly endless virtues. What’s more, Duncan had been a perfect gentleman in class, both with her and with the other students. And she couldn’t agree more about imperfections being a crucial part of any piece of art. Some of her best designs had come from mistakes.
She was just thinking how much her mother would like him when Beth Sullivan pushed through the kitchen doors to come say hello to the group.
Lola got up to loop her arm through her mother’s. “This is my mom, Beth. She’s responsible for this amazing food.”
“And an amazing daughter too,” a student named Janice said.
Lola’s mom grinned. “The most amazing daughter in the world.”
“Just wait until I tell Cassie and Ashley you said that,” Lola teased. “I always knew I was your favorite.”
Beth laughed. “Sometimes it’s a minefield having seven children,” she joked to the group. “Now, I’d love to hear more about all of you, if you have a few minutes to chat with me before you head back to class.”
Everyone was delighted to share the details and pictures of their projects. Lola’s mom had a way of bringing out the best in everyone. All the while, however, Lola knew her mother was taking special note of Duncan.
Beth Sullivan badly wanted each of her children to find their one true love. The same powerful love that Beth shared with Lola’s father, Ethan. Though her mother’s matchmaking had yet to work, she hadn’t given up. Clearly, from the gleam in her eyes as she looked between Lola and Duncan, she was dreaming of wedding bells.
“Now, Duncan,” Lola’s mom said in her gentle Irish accent, “tell me why you’re here today.”
The smile he gave her mother only made him more handsome, which undoubtedly filled Beth with far more matchmaking encouragement than she needed.
“Lola has a reputation as a brilliant teacher,” he told her mother, “and after one morning in her class, I can confirm that she is indeed brilliant, on all fronts. Although I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that.”
Beth beamed at him. “I’m very glad to hear you think so too. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy to carve out time away from your wife and children on a Sunday.”
Lola almost groaned out loud, and it was only by great strength of will that she didn’t drop her head into her hands. She was a full-grown woman. If she wanted to hook up with Duncan, she could manage it on her own without her mother’s help, thank you very much.
But she had no intention of hooking up with him, because she was done with men. Lola had run out of fingers to count the lies she’d been told over the years by men she’d dated.
That they were single.
That they were solvent.
That they weren’t controlling.
And that they respected her brain and talent as much as they lusted after her body. That was the biggest lie of all—and the one that cut the deepest.
Lola didn’t have it in her to be disappointed again. Besides, she was perfectly fine staying single. She loved being a doting aunt to Kevin and Ruby and any other nieces and nephews who were sure to come along in the future. Frankly, getting a half-dozen cats and being a happily eccentric spinster whom no one lied to sounded nice.
Fortunately, Duncan didn’t seem bothered by her mother’s less-than-subtle information-fishing expedition. “It’s just me in Boston, so I haven’t left anyone behind.”
“Mom,” Lola interjected before Beth could say anything else, “I think Annie needs you back in the kitchen.” Lola took her mother’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll be back in just a minute so that we can get back to work in the studio,” she told the group, keeping her smile in place until the kitchen door swung closed behind them.
“Seriously, Mom,” Lola said when they were out of earshot, “that was mortifying.”
Beth didn’t look the least bit sorry. “Duncan is gorgeous, clearly intelligent—and he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.”
Working to cover up any outward sign of her own interest in him, Lola replied, “You have no way of knowing if he’s actually interested in me. And besides, even if you’re right and he is, I’m the one who isn’t interested in dating anyone right now.”
“I know dating hasn’t always been easy for you, honey. You are such a wonderful woman, with so much love inside of you.” Beth pulled Lola into a hug. “I just want you to be happy.”
Lola instantly forgave her mom for asking Duncan such an embarrassing question about whether he had a wife and kids waiting for him at home. After all, Beth had only her best interests at heart. “I am happy, Mom. And if one day I magically fall head over heels in love like you and Dad did, I promise I won’t fight it. But for now, you’re going to have to accept that I’m unlikely to have a whirlwind love affair with a man who signed up for one of my classes.”
Her mother finally looked contrite. “You’ve always been special, Lola. Right from the moment you were born, your father and I knew that you had broken the mold. You’re right to hold out for someone who appreciates every part of you. I’m sorry I meddled. Could we blame it on the fact that Duncan reminds me a little of your father from way back when, so I couldn’t help myself?”
“You’re right that Duncan is easy on the eyes,” Lola agreed. “He’s incredibly talented, and modest too.”
When Beth’s eyes started doing that twinkling thing again, Lola knew she had better make her escape before the matchmaking devil inside of her mother rose back to the surface.
“Thanks for feeding my students so well for lunch. I’ll see you at dinner on Friday.”
She gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and was about to head back into the restaurant when she decided to make a quick pit stop in the bathroom. She wasn’t tidying her makeup and hair for Duncan. But if people wanted pictures with her at the end of class and they posted them on their social media feeds, she wanted to look her best.
She meant what she’d said to her mother. Nothing could be more unlikely than falling head over heels for one of her students and ending up madly in love with him.
No question about it, Lola’s heart was safe from a fairytale, whirlwind romance.
CHAPTER TWO
Duncan Lyman was a man who lived by a fierce code of ethics. He didn’t lie. He didn’t cheat.
And he sure as hell couldn’t seduce his drawing instructor…even if she was the most extraordinary, and beautiful, woman he’d ever met.
Everything about Lola Sullivan drew him closer. Her sparkling eyes, full of such intelligence and interest in everyone and everything around her. Her talent, the scope of which he knew he had only barely glimpsed today. Her laughter, which seemed to come so easily and so freely, and which had managed to light up the dark places inside of him in a way few things had in a very long time. And on top of everything else, the attraction that he had felt sparking between them throughout the day. An attraction so heated and potent that at times he had felt as though they were touching even when they were across the room from one another.