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My heart skipped a beat as trepidation enveloped me. If confronted with sex, I wasn’t sure if I could physically go through with it. Knowing full well the decision to have sex was ultimately up to me, I stopped mid-shave and tried not to worry about what was to come.

I’m putting the cart before the horse. I just need to relax.

I quickly finished in the shower and got dressed. Then I began the laboring process of taming my hair. I thought about just throwing it up in a clip, but then I remembered Alexander saying my hair was too restricted on the day of my interview. Little alarm bells went off, heightening my already skittish nerves.

Trevor told me how to wear my hair.

“Stop it, Cole!” I exclaimed to my reflection in the mirror. Comparing the two men would get me nowhere, and I fought to shake off my unease.

Alexander didn’t tell me how to style my hair. He only expressed his preference.

I left my hair down and ignored the badgering warnings running rampant through my mind.

As I was applying the finishing touches to my makeup, I heard a commotion in the kitchen. Tossing my lipstick in my purse, I went out to see what it was. I walked into the kitchen and saw grocery bags piled high on the island. Allyson was pulling a bunch of pots and pans from the cabinet. She had a guy with her, too. They were laughing over something, and Allyson lightly swatted her guest on the shoulder.

Perfect—she’ll be too distracted to ask me a lot of questions.

“Hey, you!” she said when she saw me. “I hope you’re hungry. Jeremy is making Chinese.”

This must be Allyson’s infamous photographer…

I gave him a quick once over. He appeared to be just shy of six feet and had an athletic build. His copper hair was streaked from the sun, and his face was tan. He looked like he spent a lot of time outdoors.

“I don’t want to intrude on the two of you, but thanks anyway. Besides, I already have dinner plans for tonight. So, you’re Jeremy,” I said in a rush and reached across the island to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you finally. I’m Krys.”

“Hi, Krys. I’ve heard⁠—”

“You have dinner plans?” Allyson asked, interrupting our introductions.

Damn!

Nothing slid by her.

“Yeah. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course, it’s okay, but who are you going out with?” she pressed suspiciously, eying my attire for the first time.

Pushy, pushy.

“I ran into Alexander Stone this afternoon at Café La Biga. He asked me to join him for dinner tonight. It’s no big deal, really. We’re just going to discuss the job thing again.”

I deliberately left out his other proposition.

“You’re joking, right?” Her face creased into a frown. “I thought you said Stone was an asshole.”

“He is, but I’m not doing myself any good by staying angry. I need a job, so I’m willing to hear him out,” I replied awkwardly. I tried to act like the dinner was no big deal, but I was failing miserably. I could feel the heat creeping into my cheeks. There was no fooling Allyson.

“What about that chic? You know, the one with the black hair,” she reminded me, attempting to disguise her obvious concern by needlessly rearranging the groceries on the counter.

“Oh, that was just his sister,” I said with a dismissive wave. Allyson stopped her pointless organization and narrowed her eyes at me.

Oh, Ally! Don’t make me explain it in front of your boyfriend!

I threw her a warning look, slightly shaking my head, just hoping she’d leave it alone for now. Before she could reply, Jeremy chimed into the conversation, effectively saving me from one hell of a complicated explanation.

“Wait a minute—you’re going out with the Alexander Stone? As in ‘Stone Arena’ Alexander Stone?” His gaze was pinging back and forth between Allyson and me with a look of total disbelief on his face.

“What’s Stone Arena?” Allyson asked, looking at me. I shrugged and looked to Jeremy, waiting for him to elaborate.