I swallowed, recovering from the surprise. “Yeah, fine. Burned the goddamn roof of my mouth, but I’ll begood.”
Jace hopped up. “I’ll get you some water for that.” He poured me a glass and set it on the table beside me. As I took a sip, the cool water gave me some additional and much-neededrelief.
“Just so good, I guess I couldn’t help myself,” Isaid.
“I know the feeling.” Jace’s gaze was right on mine, and as it drifted to my lips, I knew he was referring to when we’d first messedaround.
A tuft of hair fell in a loop on his forehead, and there was something so fucking sexy about it. I figured to get us through the meal, it’d be best to change the subject to chatting about the shoot the following day—the schedule, the itinerary, the various shots we’d arranged with thephotographer.
“This is an easy one, but heads up, at the same time we’re going to have someone recording footage we can splice together and run on Hacksmore’s FB page. Teasing everyone about the big launch. But the videographer will ask you a few questions too. Just be yourself, and you’ll do fine. I’m hoping that will warm you up for when we do the commercial shoots next month. Although, if your Instagram reveal is any indication, I’m not too concerned about that. The whole gimmick is that you just need to be yourself,so…”
“I’m pretty good at that,” he said, obviously not having a clue what I was talking about since he’d lived his whole goddamn life thatway.
“Sometimes people get nervous and weird because they’re trying too hard, but yeah, I’m not terribly worried about that with you. Just be ready for Carter and every PA to be sitting on the sidelines, taking in theview.”
Jace inspected my plate, still with half a piece of fried chicken on it. I’d had a few pieces, but I’d cut myselfoff.
“You gonna finish that?” heasked.
“I think I’m good on the chicken front. Have to at least be responsible with these calories. But it wasamazing.”
“So…you mind if I haveit?”
Ilaughed.
“What?”
“I’m used to models being on strict regimens before photoshoots, but go forit.”
He did just that, then pushed to his feet. “Want some ice cream? I got some Blue Bell CookieDough.”
“If you weren’t so goddamn likable, I’d hate your fuckingguts.”
“I’ll take that as ayes.”
“A bite. I’ll haveabite.”
He retrieved the ice cream and set two bowls with spoons in them between ourchairs.
“I said a bite. Not abowl.”
He fixed a bowl. “If youinsist.”
He sat back down, taking the bowl and enjoying a bite. “Mmmm. Damn, that’sgood.”
“Hey, I still want abite.”
He dug into his ice cream and collected some in his spoon. Leaning toward me, he said, “Come and getit.”
I obeyed, and melted into the taste. “God, it’s been forever since I’ve had ice cream,” I confessed, closing my eyes to enjoy theexperience.
When I opened my eyes again, Jace was leaning close to me, this cocked grin on his face. “I’ve been missing something too,” he said before grabbing the nape of my neck and drawing mein.
I didn’tresist.
I didn’t imagine Jace encountered resistance from those he reeledin.
His lips sealed against mine, and just like with the ice cream, I couldn’t truly understand how much I’d missed having his body close to mine until I had it onceagain.
