Page 53 of Tell Me Something

His eyes, now the color of jade, searched my face. “Because I’m not interested in sharing you.”

This is what I’d needed to hear from him. But I forgot all about words when he crushed his mouth to mine. His tongue swept out, tasted mine, and his arousal pressed up against my center. I wanted him right here and now in the office.

“I have to get back in there,” he murmured, regretfully pulling away.

I kissed his sensuous lips again, enjoying the moment. “Okay, so no more jealousy?”

He stiffened at my question and then looked resigned. “I don’t like to think I’m the jealous type, but evidently I’m exhibiting the symptoms with you.”

I stroked his face and kissed him again.

“Tell me something before I have to go,” he entreated softly.

I smiled at his remembrance of my game. “I would never make you jealous on purpose. It’s not a game I like to play or enjoy being on the other side of. I do recognize that I’m really friendly and somewhat flirtatious. But understand that’s simply a natural ease I have with most people. It’s nothing I’m trying to do for a reaction or attention. Now, your turn.”

“I’m naturally an introvert. However, in my position I constantly have to be an extrovert. Sometimes I come across as intense or difficult to read. In fact, I’m simply uncomfortable in social situations.”

I’d guessed that might be the case a couple of times, but it was something to hear his admission.

With one more kiss, he reluctantly left me.

I wished we’d had time for more.

“HAYLEE, they want you in the large conference room pronto. Sorry,” Juliette said, coming into the small conference room where I was setting up lunch.

I walked in to the large room and found all eyes on me.

Warren was up front with three big easels. “Haylee, come on in,” he said with a smile.

A brief look toward Josh revealed nothing. I glanced around the room, but apparently everyone was waiting on Warren to speak.

“So, you may have all heard about what happened four weeks ago. We had a major almost-catastrophe with the Cassius Rum campaign when Katrina Tross decided not to honor her contract. Like a champ, Haylee stepped in at the last minute and was lucky enough to play model for a day.”

I resented the tone in which he was portraying how fortunate I’d been but then was completely floored when he turned each of the boards on the easels around.

They all showed me. Me in the bar, me at the pool, and me in the lounge. Only it wasn’t me. At least, it didn’t look like the me I knew. Instead, it looked like a real, honest-to-goodness, sexy, glossy magazine model.

I could only stand there, blushing.

“I think I speak for Warren and for Cassius Rum when I say you saved the day quite literally. The client couldn’t be happier with these shots. They chose these three to go into this month’s Glamour, Maxim, Cosmo Life, and Vogue magazines,” Josh interjected, far more complimentary than my former boss had been.

I swallowed hard and then moved closer to the pictures. “I, um, I was happy to help. Thank you for this.”

Everyone clapped and then congratulated me in the surreal moment.

“Cassius Rum is asking if you’d be available to do another shoot this spring for their summer campaign. They’re also talking about some possible appearances in Vegas,” Warren informed me.

“Uh, yes, of course. I mean, I’ll have to work it out with my job schedule, but I’d be honored.” I sincerely meant it. It was flattering that the client hadn’t pitched a fit, having been promised a supermodel and ending up with a size six administrative assistant still red from a bikini wax.

“I don’t think Josh will have a problem with your work schedule when it comes to making a client happy. In fact, we could do a backstory about your being an assistant and then stepping in last minute. The girl next door becomes an overnight model,” Warren proposed.

I wasn’t sure I could form words and looked toward Josh, who was no help. I swallowed hard. “Do you think I could speak with you for a moment alone, Warren?”

“Yes, certainly.”

We made our way outside the conference room into the hall. Relieved that Josh came out, too, I faced my former boss.

“Um, I really appreciate the opportunity, but I don’t want that kind of publicity.”