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I nodded and jotted down notes as Rashad spoke, but his last sentence brought me up short. “I don’t technically have an agent anymore.”
“A high earner like you?” He chuckled and I could picture him shaking his head. “Your agent will take you back in a heartbeat for a chance to earn a slice, even if the pie is smaller. Not by much, mind you. There’s big money to be made.”
I hadn’t thought of that, a way to model without traveling the world. “And I can do it all right from Carson Creek?”
“Yeah, especially if you have some good scenery, but it’s always better to change it up. Take advantage of school holidays and go somewhere with the kid. Nashville. Miami. New York. Los Angeles. Somewhere international. At least once in a while.”
“All right. Thank you, Rashad.”
“No problem. And hey, I’m invested in a few brands that might be interested in using you, so pass that information along to your agent or business manager. Or lawyer.”
“Got it. Thanks again, man.” I ended the call and stared at the laptop screen until my vision started to blur. The ring of the door bell saved me from another moment of indecision, and the nonstop ringing piqued my curiosity. “Yeah, I’m coming!” I pulled the door open and sucked in a breath at the sight of Valona, beautiful and angry on my doorstep. I took my time to soak her in, she was a vision in swirls of red and white, like my very own Valentine’s gift. “Val. Hey.”
Her green eyes narrowed to slits as she took a step forward, one slender finger aimed at me. “Don’t you Oh, hey Val, me Trey.”
“Okaaay.” That one word came out hesitantly, and I took a step back before I motioned her in. “How about come in, does that work?”
She let out a growl that was low and sexy and only slightly menacing. Then her finger was back, poking me right in the chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I grabbed her wrist to stop the incessant poking. “You’re going to have to use your words Valona, and actually tell me what I did wrong.”
“You know exactly what you did, sending those cards and chocolates. And then chocolates and an oversized bear with a Be Mine sash across the chest. I had clients in the studio when they arrived!”
“I’m still not clear what the problem is, Val.” Was she mad that I was still pursuing her?
She grunted and shook her head. “What is the meaning of this Trey?”
“I think that’s obvious. What isn’t obvious is why you have a problem with a man interested in you sending Valentine’s gifts.”
Her shoulders fell in defeat and she leaned in with a furious whisper. “Now everyone will know about us!”
I barked out a laugh that earned a frown from her. “And what’s so wrong with that?”
“Nothing, it’s just…you don’t get it.”
“Help me get it, then.” I got in her face, not giving her a chance to answer. “You don’t want the whole town to know that I’m hot for you? Oh, the horror,” I said sarcastically.
Valona shoved at my chest but I didn’t budge. “It’s not funny.”
No, it wasn’t funny. It wasn’t amusing at all, it was sad. “What do you care what everyone thinks about you Val? Don’t you deserve to be happy like everyone else?”
“It’s not that simple,” she sighed and leaned against the front door. “This is a small town.”
“So you keep saying, but what does that mean? It’s small and therefore you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life as the grieving widow? That hardly seems fair, and it definitely doesn’t sound like the people I’ve met in town.” I was starting to think that Valona didn’t know the people of Carson Creek as well as she thought.
“You don’t get it, Trey.”
“You’re damn right I don’t,” I growled as my anger grew and heated my blood. “You want me, at least it seems like you want me.”
“Cocky much?” She snorted and tried for a derisive laugh, but the heat in her eyes ruined the effect.
I took one step forward and then another, until we were chest to chest. “No, not cocky. I know you Val, as much as you have tried to prevent me from getting to know you, I do. You want me as much as I want you, the only difference is that you’re so damn afraid of what other people will say about our happiness. Ours, not theirs. This thing between us? It belongs to us.”
“Trey.” My name came out on an anguished groan, and I knew I was getting to her, but more than that I hated that she was in any kind of pain over her feelings for me.
“We could be happy Val. So fucking happy.” I cupped her face and tilted it up so that I could look deep into those gorgeous green eyes as I lowered my head and kissed the hell out of my woman, because she was mine.
