Page 96 of Secret Seduction

I stayed away from love, wanting to stand on my own two feet. Yet, when I least expected it, Lorenzo swept me off the ground and made me fall in love with him.

And because of him, I’ll never be the same.

I take a deep breath and will my tears not to fall. Then I plaster a smile on my face, refusing to ruin this weekend. If this is the only weekend we get together, I want to make it memorable, and I don’t want it tainted with the outside world.

Of course, just as I think those thoughts, my phone rings with a call from Kora. Apparently, her hiring me started today even though I don’t return until after Christmas.

When I don’t answer it, she calls again.

“Do you need to get that?” Lorenzo asks, glancing down at the vibrating phone.

“It will probably be easier if I do,” I admit. “Kora can be insistent.”

“I thought she hired someone else,” he says, his brow quirking in question.

“Hold that thought.” I press Accept. “Kora, everything okay?”

“No, the spring line is fucked because this idiot messed up the schedule for the photo shoot and double-booked it, and now I’m going to have a team of people and no location.”

“Kora, breathe,” I say when it’s clear she’s two seconds from having a panic attack—something I’m all too familiar with. “Instead of doing the shoot on location in Seattle since it’s been double-booked, move it to LA since we’re going there anyway. You have that entire location that rarely gets used, so I doubt it’s double-booked.”

“Right,” she says. “You’re right. I knew that. I was just freaking out, and … Thank God you’re coming back, Vanessa.”

“You’re good,” I tell her, my eyes meeting Lorenzo’s confused ones. “I have to go.”

I hang up, and Lorenzo stares at me for several seconds before he addresses the elephant in the room.

“LA?”

“She saw my online boutique and wants to discuss a collaboration. We’re flying to LA before I go back to school for a photoshoot and she’s scheduled a business meeting to discuss the specifics while we’re there.”

A small smile spreads across Lorenzo’s face. “Of course she does,” he says, resting his hands on my hips. The moment he touches me, it’s like everything and everyone else disappears, and it’s only Lorenzo and me in our own little bubble. “Because your designs are damn good. But before you make any deals, promise me something …”

I nod.

“I want you to sit down with my legal team⁠—”

“I can’t afford that⁠—”

“I have them on retainer. And if you don’t like it being on my dime, consider it a Christmas gift. I want you to talk to them and make sure you have all your bases covered. You need to trademark your name and start a corporation. You want to do it all right so that you’re protected.”

“But I’m just⁠—”

“You’re not just anything,” he says. “You’re Vanessa Baker, an extremely talented designer who’s going to go all the fucking way. Even Kora sees it, which is why she wants to partner with you. But as a businessman, who’s done my fair share of deals, I want to make sure that nobody can take advantage of you. So, please, don’t argue. Talk to my legal team so you do this properly.”

“Okay,” I breathe, wondering how I got so damn lucky to have someone as good as Lorenzo in my corner. “I’ll meet with them.” I lift slightly and kiss the corner of his mouth. “Thank you.”

“You never have to thank me,” he says. “I meant it, Vanessa. I care about you. And I’ll always be there for you, no matter where you are or what dreams you’re chasing. Leo and I will be here, rooting for you.”

His words are meant to be supportive, but they’re also a reminder that for me to follow my dreams, it means giving up two of the most important people in my life.

“C’mon,” he says, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me into his side. “Let’s enjoy our weekend. And now, with your news, we have something to celebrate.”

“Do you know how hot it is to watch you, in that sexy dress, beat all of these assholes?” Lorenzo whispers, making me laugh.

After dinner, we went to the casino, where he insisted that he pay for us to have a little fun. And since I’d never legally gambled, I let him because I’d always wanted to know what it would be like to play poker and blackjack at a casino.

And maybe it’s because I’m winning, but, damn, it’s fun. Especially when all the older gentlemen look at me like I’m nothing more than Lorenzo’s arm candy and then realize that I’m more than that when I take their money.