“That’s what Zach is for.”
“Who’s Zach?”
“My admin. He lives to serve.”
“He might serve you, but I’m not asking your admin to do my job.”
“Technically, I’d be asking.”
“Avery.”
“I know, I know. You have control issues.” He brushed his thumb across her jaw. “We’ll unpack that later.”
She lowered her gaze to his mouth, let it rest a few seconds, then looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “I thought we were doing other things later.”
He groaned and swooped down for a steamy kiss she should have been embarrassed by but wasn’t. She loved every thrust of his tongue and the hand at her back, the one in her hair. He tasted of coffee and toothpaste and passion. If her panties weren’t wet before, they were now.
“Text me if you get overwhelmed,” he breathed against her lips.
“Isn’t that why you invited Brooke?”
One hand on the door, the other lingering on her cheek, he winked. “I’m smart like that.”
Then he was gone, and when she turned around, she was met with four sappy grins. Brooke was even misty-eyed, and she knew the truth, for Christ’s sake.
Yeah, I gotta get out of here soon, or I might start to think this is real.
As she joined them, she grabbed her drink and tossed it back like a shot. “Let’s do this.”
****
Jo’s phone buzzed as one of the three models disappeared behind a screen and another took her place.
Avery: How’s it going?
How was it going?
She giggled. He’d been right. She needed a time out—a little girl time, a little booze, a lot of shopping. She’d lost track of how many mimosa’s Melody had shoved into her hand and how much of his money she’d spent, and they were only halfway through the list of upcoming events.
Jo: You are so going to regret leaving me here with these fashionistas and your credit card.
She’d also had a little time for store-dashing. Panties, bras, a couple of shirts, and a new pair of jeans were set for delivery at the end of the day. And she’d placed her order with the bakery supply. That would arrive any minute. So yeah, it was going well.
The anorexic blonde model made a turn in front of the group, and Jo caught the bottom of a scarlet gown as it unfurled like flames at her feet.
“That’s definitely Jo,” Charlotte purred.
“For the museum benefit,” Melody added.
Jo shook her head, her eyes glued to the screen, pathetically waiting for Avery’s next text. “Redheads can’t wear red.”
Avery: It’ll be worth it if the dress you wear gives me access to your pretty
Heat pooled in hercat emoji. Fuck, he was bad.
“No, no, no.” The woman running the show moved into her periphery. “Who told you that?”
“My grandma.”About a billion times.
