“Diligently, Ihope?”
I flash a wry smile, and internally scoff at how relentless she is. She’s getting to me, in more ways thanone.
“Okay, you two. Back to the task at hand,” Jonah says, walking over to a flip chart to make notes. He picks up a green marker and points it to Daniella. “Spill it. Yourideas.”
Her cheeks brighten as she bites on the tip of her pen. “Well, as Antonio so blatantly pointed out, I’ve never been to The Fashion Show in Milan.” She flashes me a side glance and scoots forward in her chair. “But I do know a tiny bit about fashion shows. I did, after all, work with the esteemed Lauren Blake, during Fashion Week in New York, a few years ago, while in designschool.”
Wait…what? I thought she was just ananny.
Jonah bites on his balled fist, his eyes animated. “Lauren Blake? She’s like a fucking fashion diva. And you worked with her? Props to you, mylady.”
Daniella nods. “Right. Anyway, I’d be happy—actually, honored—to share some ideas. But,” she looks at me sternly, “seeing as how I know nothing about the brand,” she shifts a more amiable glare back to Jonah, “I’ll need information. Footage from past events, a catalog filled withCraveMedesigns, and the amount of time they’ve allotted for us at this fashionshow—”
“We won the bid for thirty minutes on the runway,” I proudlyinterject.
“Congratulations. That’s an impressive amount of time.” She sets her pen down onto the table and folds her arms. “So, gentlemen, I’ll be able to have concrete ideas for you tomorrow morning. Provided I’m given the items mentioned.” She faces me again, this time armed with one raised eyebrow and a smug half-grin. “And just so you know, I own several pieces ofCraveMelingerie. In fact, I’m wearing some rightnow.”
Smoldering green eyes stay fixed on mine as if she’s waiting to see what affect her comment does tome.
And although I’m burning up inside, imagining how her body looks and feels cradled in some of my sultry lingerie designs, I’m keen on keeping that tomyself.
“Well, then Daniella, you’ve got pretty reasonable demands, along with exquisite taste.” I look away, freeing myself from her glower, and adjust the collar on my shirt. “Jonah will provide a computer flash drive that contains footage of the last few years of The Fashion Show as well as the catalog—per your request.” I look to Jonah forconfirmation.
“Oh, right. Of course. I’ll just grab those from my office—just give me a few minutes to gather it all. Can I get you two anything while you wait? Water?Coffee?”
“No thanks,” Daniella and I reply inunison.
Jonah excuses himself, leaving Daniella and me alone. The silence between the two of us is deafening. She sits, arms still folded, legs firmly crossed, with a purposeful gaze toward thewall.
“You’reangry.”
“Annoyed,” sheclarifies.
“Are you always gonna be annoyed withme?”
“Are you always gonna rise to theoccasion?”
“Without a doubt,” I say, a droll attempt at easing thetension.
She faces me, eyes gleaming, and a sugary smile finally escapes her presumably tenaciousnature.
It’s then that I realize Jonah’s right: Daniella Belle is indeed what I’ve been missing this wholetime.
