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Jack shrugged as the corner of his lips curved into that smile again. “I’m not,” he answered, then chuckled. “Maybe you’re just fated to be around me?”
“An ill fate,” I muttered and rolled my eyes.
“What was that?”
I gave Jack a tight smile and was about to walk away when he took my arm and stopped me. “Nina,” he began in a low voice, then stepped close to me so he could whisper. “Maybe we should pretend to like each other here? I mean, for the sake of the others, so this shoot isn’t unbearable for everyone?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, then slowly pulled my arm out of his hand. “Try not to touch me while we’re here,” I said, then kept my chin high and walked away from him without another word.
Jack’s eyes stayed on me as I exited the studio, and once I was out of his sight, I found a wall, rested my back against it, and sighed deeply. My heart was beating too fast. I could feel it thudding against my ribcage with constant pressure that threatened to leave me breathless for the rest of the day.
Why was this happening?
I thought I had rid Jack Muller out of my system but turned out that six years, was not enough to forget him or the passion he had made me feel. I felt my lower lip tremble as I kept trying to find balance, but my composure finally returned when I remembered his cold shoulder from the next morning, and his hurtful words when I confronted him later on.
It never happened, Nina. We were both drunk; I think we should leave it at that.
His cool, detached tone was all it took to remind me that Jack shouldn’t be on my mind. What we had was history, this was my present, and I had a job to do.
Chapter Two
Jack
Theclicksofthecamera still stayed in my memory even minutes after the shoot ended. Nina was speaking to one of the directors now, and I watched her from the stool where I sat.
A remarkable woman,I thought as I admired her in the black jeans and boots she wore. Somehow, she had managed to stay in my head for six long years; and even now, seeing her again, not so much had changed about her.
She was different physically, yes, but she had her sharp tongue and that lovely smile that made me forget the most important thing.
She’s off-limits.
“Hey Jack, would you like to see some of the shots we got?” the manager of the magazine interviewing me today asked.
“Sure thing, Candace,” I answered, then waved at her a little before standing from my chair. The stagehands were already clearing up the set, and Nina was still discussing with Candace when she glanced briefly in my direction, stared at me hard, and then looked away again.
I wondered what went through her mind as she gave me that icy glare.
Nina Pierce had always challenged me from the second we met. Her brother Ryan was the closest and only person I could call family, and our relationship stood strong over the years since we first met.
Ryan was more like my confidant. The only one who knew all my secrets, but Nina was like a pin that poked and pierced me in corners I never wanted to feel anything in.
Even now, from across the room, she made adrenaline pump through me steadily with no option of release in sight. I looked at her and took my time to admire the curve of her hips in the jeans and the full length of her legs.
She used to be much more slender back then, but just as comforting to look at. Red has always been her color, and the red blouse she matched with her black jeans now matched the color on her lips and brought out the full beauty of her creamy skin. Her blonde hair just seemed to complement it all.
Or maybe I just have a thing for blondes?
Either way, I couldn’t stop thinking about Nina. I strode towards the exit and met up with Candace, then put my hand on the small of her back and left the studio with her. Candace showed me a few pictures through the lens of the camera, and I had to compliment the skillful shots taken.
“Nice, they all look really lovely even without the edits,” I complimented.
“Yes, they do. Nina is one of our best. We had to bring her into Denver just for this shoot, so don’t worry, you’re expected to see the best plastered all over ‘Page Six’ soon.”
I gave her a short nod, and she walked out of the office first before I got up and walked out too. I had reached the exit of the building when I saw Nina flagging down a cab. My car was steaming in front, my driver on the seat and ready to take me to the location of my next appointment, but Nina’s hurry made me even more curious, so I got in the car and glanced at my watch.
“Follow that cab, please,” I said. My driver nodded and moved without asking questions. I still had an hour to my meeting, and I could afford to show up late today since it was simply a review meeting.
The drive was a few minutes, and I watched Nina get out of the cab, hug a woman, and then walk with her into the building. “It looks like a studio,” I muttered before telling my driver to continue to our previous location.
