If she knew the things he’d done…
To distract himself, he scanned the plans in his hand and tried to piece together what part she was working on.
A wooden stage should have been heavy and cumbersome, but the way Luciano Barone had designed it, with lightweight materials, meant it could be built and taken apart with ease. It all collapsed nicely too, which would be convenient for storage after the show. Design-wise, it was brilliant.
Vanessa had made good headway, he gave her that. But at this rate, she’d be working through the night to have it finished by tomorrow.
A squeal interrupted his thoughts.
“Oh. My. God. You’rekidding!” Her free hand flew to her cheek. Joy lit up her face.
He put down what he was holding so he could fully take her in. Her joy was a beautiful thing. A dazzling streak of light, like a star shooting across the sky. He couldn’t look away, and he couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest bastard alive, just to be there to witness it.
She sent him a giddy look with a smile so wide it nearly brought him to his knees.
“Yes, absolutely. I’ll go home right now, and we can do a video call. I’m so excited, and so grateful, Trini. Thank you for never giving up on me.” Vanessa listened another moment, then ended the call. “Ohmigod, omigod, omigod! You’ll never guess!”
Jordan didn’t bother fighting his grin. Her happiness was contagious. “Tell me.”
“That was my agent, Trini.” She clasped her phone to her chest and squealed. “She called to tell me that I’ll be walking in the Cassidy Moore show in two weeks!”
He had no freaking clue who Cassidy Moore was, but she made Vanessa happy, and he hadn’t seen her smile this bright in weeks. “That’s fantastic, princess.”
“In New York!” She shouted gleefully, thrusting her arms up in the air. “This is huge! This could be my comeback. My return to the Big Apple. The restart of my career!”
With a piercing squeal, she stunned him stupid by launching herself at him.
He caught her easily, arms banding around her torso as he went with her momentum and spun her around.
She wrapped herself around him, and he inhaled all of her like he’d been holding his breath for years. Her spiced vanilla scent, her laughter, her wild, restless energy. The tighter she clung, the closer he held her.
It was dangerous, the way he wanted her. The way he wanted all of her.
Slowly, she slid from his body, leaving a trail of blazing heat in her wake. When he set her down, those bright, stunning gold-flecked eyes held onto his. For the second time since he arrived, he thought she was going to kiss him.
He was fully fucked.Get a grip,he told himself. Remember how she pranced around the MGM Grand in hot-pink mini shorts and sky-high heels, taking selfies and demanding you get shaved lemon ice for her water.
He swallowed, trying to regulate his breathing, as he dragged his gaze away from her stunning, unfathomable stare. The way they were pressed together, there was no way she couldn’t feel the effect she had on him.
“I’m sorry,” Vanessa croaked, her palms flattening against his chest as she pushed herself away.
The moment she did, it was like someone sucked all the oxygen out of the atmosphere.
“I got a little excited,” she continued, her smile faltering.
God, he hated to be the one who stole her smile. “No problem,” he muttered. “Sounds like being in this Cassidy Lure show is a big deal.”
She giggled, and it restored some of his equilibrium. Since when did his inner peace rest or fall on her happiness?
“CassidyMoore,” she corrected. “She’s the biggest up-and-coming designer in New York right now, and she’s very picky about who gets to walk in her shows. Honestly, I’m shocked I got the gig. My agent told me Cassidy saw my social media posts about the show we’re doing here, and it put me on her radar. She was impressed, so?—”
“So, congratulations. Sounds like you earned it.” His heart grew ten sizes bigger when she cast another brilliant smile his way.
“Thanks,” she said. “Oh, but I have to go. Trini wants to video call and discuss details. She thinks I should take the opportunity to move back to New York. Being a part of this show will lead to more work.”
And just like that, his heart deflated. “You’re moving to New York?”
She shrugged casually. “Maybe? I mean, I guess? That was always the plan. To wait out my purgatory here, and then head to the Big Apple.”
