by S. L. Scott
When he walks to the door, I step back inside the room just as he says, “I should leave something for her to share when she’s ready, but I see how she looks at you. What I don’t know is why you guys broke up back then and I’ll leave that for now. But you’ve got two days to make her remember why you guys worked.”
“So this is a setup, a matchmaking scheme?”
“No, Model Danny. This is serendipity.”
“This isn’t a game. This is our life. And how do you know if I’m willing to play along?”
Opening the door, he steps out, but stays to say, “Because I see how you look at her.”
CHAPTER 16
~Danny~
BEYOND THE COMMENT about her tits, and I’m left wondering what I’m supposed to do now. I sit on the edge of the bed, but it’s the last thing I want to do. I get up and shut the balcony door and grab the key ring as I walk out of the room.
I march toward room 233, but stop when Claudia comes out of her room. She sees me and smiles. “Danny, hi.” After locking her door she comes toward me. “How are you?” We exchange a cheek kiss greeting.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“So good. This is a great gig, huh?”
“It’s great.”
“I’m so relieved,” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck, “that I’m working with you. It’s always been a dream and it’s good to have a friend here with me.”
“Yeah, it’s good to have a familiar face to work with,” I reply. Over her shoulder Reese steps out of her room and sees us. Of course she does with her perfect timing.
I drop my arms from Claudia and she releases me. “Let’s go get a drink. I heard there’s a bar in the restaurant downstairs.”
Reese goes back into her room and shuts the door. Claudia is looking at me, hopeful. “I can meet you in a few minutes.”
Her expression falls when I don’t respond right away. “Whatever it is can wait. C’mon.” Taking me by the arm, her hands are vice-like grips. “I refuse to take a no for an answer. I’ll buy the first round.”
Talking to Reese with Claudia hanging around is impossible, so I acquiesce. “All right.”
“Yay.” She starts talking again, but I look back at room 233, not hearing anything she’s been saying. I just nod and agree and that gets me by.
I don’t know how much time has passed, but I’ve only stomached one iced tea when Reese and Vinnie walk into the restaurant. Claudia jumps up and hugs Vinnie. “I’m so happy to be here. The concept is amazing. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”
My eyes meet Reese’s, but she looks away. “I think our table is ready.”
She’s wearing dark, tight jeans with boots, and a black tank top. It’s casual, nothing like she wore in LA, but she looks sexy as fuck. I follow her to the table. Claudia and Vinnie are still talking shop back at the bar. When we sit down, I say, “You look beautiful as always.”
In disbelief, she says, “Oh God. I’m sure I look a complete mess after the traveling.”
“It’s the truth, Reese.”
That comment finally catches her attention. Before the others join us, she whispers, “I was never good with compliments. Thank you.” Leaning over, she lowers her voice even more. “Before they come over, I just want to tell you that I understand we live very different lives. It’s none of my business what you do in your free time. Just don’t let it compromise the shoot. I’ve worked very hard to make it happen.”
When her eyes go back to Claudia, I understand what she’s really saying, so I say, “If my intentions aren’t clear, I’ll be more direct.”
“What are your intentions?”
“I told you before. To make you miss me when we’re not together.”
“Dann—”
“I’m famished,” Claudia announces as she takes the seat across from Reese, between Vinnie and me.
Reese glances at me, then says, “Me too.”
My appetite is gone though I continue to peruse the menu. The waitress takes our drink orders while my anxiety grows. I don’t want to be here. There’s no way I’ll be able to sit through dinner and pretend nothing is wrong when everything is so fucking screwed up. I want to be alone with her to figure out where we stand. All patience is lost when I’m with her. My mind muddled under her scent and beauty, her restraint and poker face. I want us to be together… shit. Damn Luke and his girly feely shit the other night, dragging all this up. I’m losing my shit and that never happens. Not since I lost her. Fuck. When the waitress returns with a round of waters, I’m standing. “Go ahead and order without me.”
Everyone is staring at me, but I only look to one set of eyes. Reese asks, “Are you coming back?”
“I just remembered I have a call with my agent. I don’t want to hold you up. I know you’re hungry. If I don’t return I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
I walk away before the lie becomes more complicated. Walking through the door that leads to the hotel, I go to the fireplace. She’s got me all fucked up already and then Vittori lays that other bullshit on me, making it worse. This is ridiculous. I’ve only felt this twisted over one woman and it’s the same one doing it to me again.
Listing a million pros out for Luke to spur him into taking action, taking a chance, and going after Jane has not done anything for my motivation. I fucking suck.
“Danny?”
I look behind me and see Reese standing there in her beautiful perfection. All the anger and hurt I’ve felt for years boils to the surface, transforming inside. There’s a million cons crossing my mind, but my body acts on the instinct of one pro—kiss her.
She says, “I wanted to check—”
My lips cover hers, cutting her words off. While holding her face to mine, I expect her to pull back, maybe even slap me, but she doesn’t.
She does the opposite.
When she takes me by the shoulders and lifts up, her breath becomes mine and I take it, inhaling her deep within. My tongue meets hers and our bodies come together.
But then she’s gone and I’m left fumbling. Her back is against the wall and she’s breathing hard. With her hand on her chest, she says, “I can’t. I can’t do this.” The expression on her face wavers between horror and embarrassment before she’s leaving, hurrying out the entrance toward the stairs.
And then I’m running.
I stop her at the top of the steps by taking the stairs by three and blocking her. “Don’t run away from me. Not again, Reese.”
With her hands pressing to my chest, keeping me at arm’s length, tears fill her eyes. “What is happening?”
“What do you mean?”
She looks down as her arms fall to her sides and her gaze goes to the floor. When she looks back up at me, she’s exasperated and walks around me. Standing at the top, she grips the railing tightly. “Us? This? This wasn’t planned, but here I am swept right back up in you. How is that possible?”
“Because we never had closure.” I cover the last few steps dividing us and cover her hand with mine. “And all of this was planned. You put that plan in motion when you suggested me for the campaign. You made this happen. You brought us together as if you expected a different outcome than what you’ve gotten.”
“My feelings for you weren’t planned.”
“Tell me, Reese. What do you feel for me?”
“Home. You feel like home to me.”
A tear falls down her cheek, but I kiss it away before it can fall any farther. “You taste like home,” I whisper against the side of her mouth. She turns and our lips meet again. Her fingers weave into my hair as my hands slide around her waist. I take the final step and spin her around, walking her backward until we reach my door. With her back against the wall, I unlock my door, our lips part, and I step inside. We stand with the threshold dividing us. “Don’t you see, Reese, we were always good together.”
“Until the end, Danny. Then we were bad. So bad. You were bad for me.”
Her words hit like
a shot to the chest and I jerk in reaction. Blue eyes on my brown as she waits for the comeback she expects, the comeback she wants. But I can’t give her anything, except my hand. I’ll tourniquet my emotional wounds when I’m alone. With all of my strength, my heart on the line, I hold my hand out for her and wait to see if she accepts it.
Her body shudders as traitorous emotions expose her true feelings, and tears fall steadily. She can’t fight this anymore than I can despite the valiant effort. “This won’t give us closure, Danny.”
“This is not our end. This is a new beginning.”
Pulling her slowly to me by her delicate hands, her head is against my chest. Standing behind a locked door, I wrap my arms around her, rubbing her back to ease the heartache and struggle she’s going through, the same struggle I’m battling. Our feet move together, both of us content to dance to a song that’s never heard, but played in our hearts for years. At one time, she was the one I came home to and she’s the song my soul continues to sing. It’s the song of our love. It’s… us. In her arms, I’m home again.
The simplest of acts—a kiss to my chest, a kiss to the top of her head—and we both know. We both feel it. I so desperately want to see her blue eyes shining, to pick up where we left off ten years before. Since that’s not rational, I turn her chin toward me. When her beautiful eyes meet mine, I see the girl I fell in love with now a woman with that same passion flickering inside. “You could destroy me, Reese Carmichael.”
Her smile is soft, empathetic. “I don’t want to destroy you.”
“Then what do you want?”
“A second chance to right my mistakes.”
“I’ll give you whatever you want,” I whisper, and lean down to kiss the side of her mouth. “Just tell me what that is.”
“I want you.”
“You’ve had me all along.”
She smiles, leaning her forehead on me. I rub her back and ask, “What’s so funny?”
“I screwed up.”
“I’ll forgive you if you tell me why.”
“Not back then…” She looks up. “Actually, yes, I screwed up back then, but I also screwed up thinking I could see you and not feel anything.”
Brushing the back of my hand over her cheek, I say, “There’s too much history between us to ignore.”
“I was fooling myself.”
“Are you in there, Danny?” Claudia’s voice penetrates the door and we both turn in that direction.
I hold a finger over my lips. “Shhh.”
Reese—doe-eyed, just-kissed pink lips—all aimed at me. I kiss her instead of stopping like we should, picking up exactly where we left off. A little moan from her coats my throat as I cup her face.
Claudia is persistent. “Danny? Open up, it’s just me.”
Reese pulls back this time and teases me as she whispers, “Yeah, Danny, it’s just her.”
I shoot her a look, and whisper, “I see things haven’t changed as much as I thought.”
“I wasn’t any good at this back then. I’m not any better now.”
“Good at what?”
Closing her eyes quickly, she shakes her head. She’s even quieter this time. “I’ve never been good watching you with other women, even for your work, especially with your work.”
“You don’t have to be jealous of Claudia.” As her admission runs through my head I ask, “You were jealous back then?”
Annoyance flashes in her eyes, but I’m not sure if she’s irritated with herself or me. “I hated that I was, but I was. You know that.”
“You didn’t have to be. I promise you. You don’t have to be now either,” I say quietly, taking her hand. “We’ll figure this out together.”
When her head tilts away, I hate that I can’t see her full face, her eyes, her expressive eyes. The pink lips of her mouth are in a line and all I want is to see her smile again. “That’s just it. We can’t.” Those communicative eyes plead to mine. “We’re not allowed to date. Not only does it go against your contract, but your company policy. As for me, I can’t give my bosses any ammo to fire me. I need my job. I have responsibilities.”
Models don’t get much respect. I’m used to that. But why does it sting when I hear that from Reese? Narrowing my eyes, I sit on the bed as we distance ourselves emotionally and physically, something our practice has led us to master. “Ouch! I have bills to pay. I have my own set of responsibilities.”
She crosses her arms across her chest as she leans against the door. “I know you do. I’m not cutting you down by telling you about my situation. It’s either win or lose for me. So, although I know you have your own set of responsibilities, you can afford to pick and choose your jobs. I can’t just fly off because I have a whim when I wake up on a Thursday and need a vacation. I don’t have that luxury.”
I could argue, but I can tell it’s pointless right now. The door might be closed, but it’s obvious that mentally she’s already got one foot out. So I sit, listening and watching her defend herself, her actions, her digs at me.
“You’re right. I have choices that most don’t. I’ve worked hard to create that opportunity in an industry where it’s possible.” I walk toward her. Reaching around, I unlock the bolt, then take the knob in hand. “I may not work a nine-to-five. I may not have to take a job or work for a few months if I don’t want to. But nothing I do is on a whim or done carelessly. I’ve been degraded in ways you’ll never believe, so when it comes to my money and how my face or my body sells a product, I earn every penny I make.” I open the door, bumping it into her foot.
She steps to the side, but her eyes are still on me. “I didn’t mean you don’t earn your money.” I move out of the way, letting her exit. She steps out into the hall. “Danny, I’m sorry.”
Whether she meant it or not, hearing her disparage my responsibilities, when she knows how hard I’ve worked to achieve what I have—how much I have always wanted this—it’s just too much. I feel fucking raw. She doesn’t want me. And even if she did, she’s right regarding the contracts. We can’t start anything while under the terms. Fuck!
My eyes meet Claudia’s and Reese turns to see her standing behind her. Embarrassment shades her face when she looks back.
Playing games has never interested me, especially when it comes to Reese. I know she’s not heartless, but that comment hurts my pride. I’m too irate to talk this out. Even though I hate what I’m about to do, I do it anyway. “Claudia, want to get a drink? I heard about a bar just a short drive from here.”
Anger flashes in Reese’s eyes that still glisten from the tears that recently filled them, but she doesn’t put up a fight. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m going to find Vittori.”
Claudia says, “Let him know I’ll be keeping Danny company.”
Reese smiles, but there’s nothing friendly about it. “Will do.”
I lock my door and Claudia adds, “I’m ready if you are.”
Reese looks up one last time before she disappears down the stairs. I turn to Claudia, and reply, “I’m ready.”
CHAPTER 17
~Danny~
I DON’T DRINK the day before a photo shoot. One of the golden rules that has kept me on top of the modeling world.
Until tonight.
Reese has me all twisted inside. It’s fucked up to feel this way.
We’ve got a few beers in us when Claudia lights up. Blowing the smoke into the air, she has her attention set on me. “What’s the story with you and the ad woman back there?”
“No story.”
Laughing, she leans her elbows on the table. “There’s definitely a story there, but if you want to forget about it, then I’m your girl.”
“You’ll help me forget?”
“Damn straight.” She takes another long drag. She’s pretty in that too perfect kind of way. I can appreciate the uniqueness of her wide-set eyes and reed-like body. Her confidence is sexy in a blatant expression of sexuality. Reese’s sexy is understated and undeniable—her body, her mind
, her words, the way she moves her lips when she speaks of something she’s passionate about. Everything. All of her. Sexy.
Spinning my bottle between my fingers, I ask, “I thought you had a boyfriend, so how are you going to help me forget?”
“We’re fluid.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
I sit forward and she sits back. “It means we go where life takes us, experiencing life, and the adventures as they come.”
“I call that going with the flow.” I throw in a hang loose hand sign.
“You’re so old school, Danny.”
Nodding, I chuckle. “I might have to agree with you.” I stand to get more beers when Claudia speaks under her breath. “Your girlfriend’s here.”
I follow her stare. Vinnie and Reese are walking in, Vinnie smiling. Reese not. While approaching, he asks, “Can we join you?”
Claudia scoots her chair to the side. “Yeah. Danny was getting another round, but I can get it if you want something.”
He waves her off. “Oh, no. No. I’ll buy. I want to ask their sommelier what he recommends to go with tumbleweeds.” Looking around, he says, “This place is just so desert charming.”
We laugh, and I say, “I think this is as fancy as Marfa gets.” Checking out the bartender, I direct him to sit down so he doesn’t humiliate himself by asking for a wine connoisseur in the middle of nowhere. “Earlier the bartender said it was the sommelier’s night off.”
Pouting, he sits down dramatically, throwing his arms up in surrender. “Fine. I’ll have what you’re having.”
Reese and I lock eyes. She says, “Bourbon please. On the rocks with a slice of orange on the side.”
I head to the bar, hands tucked in my pockets not sure how this night is going to go. It’s either going to be amazing or disastrous. fifty-fifty chance of going either way.
Vinnie joins me at the bar, propping his foot up on the foot rail as if he’ll somehow blend in despite the head-to-toe purple he’s wearing. “I’m thinking we need the bottle.” He slaps black plastic on the counter, the credit card hitting with a crack. “I guess it didn’t go well?”