“I knew I shouldn’t have removed my suit coat,” he grumbled.
Camila forced her gaze off the sad remains in time to see a slimy looking yolk, bright yellow against the white, dripping over a silver cufflink where tiny diamonds spelled out the initials JB.
“You should really try and watch where you’re going. I’ll be stuck wearing that stuffy suit coat to cover this up for the remainder of the night.”
Anger flared in her chest. “AndI’llbe stuck serving one of tonight’s meals without a quail egg,” she snapped back.
The man’s face scrunched up. “Quail?”He looked like a finicky kid who’d been served a plate of broccoli minus the cheese. “Hold the disgusting quail egg on my dish, and everyone will be happy. Okay?”
A part of Camila was relieved, there was no doubt about it. But another part of her was stuck on his bossy tone. “Oh, so I’m taking orders from you now? I don’t think Mr. Shimwah would appreciate that. Unlessyou’rethe guy he’s dating…”
The man offered his hand to her, chuckling under his breath in what sounded like genuine amusement.
After a blink of hesitation she took hold of his solid wrist.
He hoisted her back to her feet with one effortless tug, but the momentum forced her to bump right into his chest.
“Nice try,” he said as she took a step back. “I’m sure you know exactly who I am, which means you also know that I’mnotdatingMr. Shimwah.” He lifted those broad shoulders back into place. “I am, however, here with his top model, Adel Bordeaux.”
Washethe second extra guest?
He gave her a curt nod. “Good luck with your meal. I look forward to it, now that it won’t have a quail’s egg on it.” With that, he proceeded down the winding staircase, hints of his spicy aftershave lingering in the breeze.
Camila stared down at the mess in his wake. She’d assumed, after their run-in at the pantry, that he was a decent guy. Wrong. He was pompous. And rude. And most of all,wrongabout her knowing who he was.
“For your information,” she hollered over her shoulder. “I have no idea who you are.”
He was out of sight now, but a low chuckled bounced off the glazed staircase. “Mmm, hmm.”
Camila rolled her eyes, mumbling something she knew he wouldn’t hear. “Sorry, buddy. You’re not asfamousas you’d like to think.”
Chapter 2
James Benton checked his reflection as the makeup artist brushed powder over his face. Poker players masked their response to a winning hand, and heaven knew James had learned to do the same. It’s what made most of his investments more prosperous than that of his fellow billionaire partners.
“You’re on in five,” called the crew manager, Bruce—a grown-up name for a young guy of nineteen who had all the ambition in the world. James liked that about him. The anxious manager repeated himself as he paced the walkway where the others sat before mirrors of their own. “On in five. Finish up and head toward the stage.”
James glanced down at his suit. The slight bend of his elbow allowed his favorite cufflinks to show. He’d had to get them professionally cleaned after a mishap last month, but he was glad to have them back in his possession in time for the live broadcast.
“You’re all powdered up,” the makeup artist said, a hint of pride in her voice. She stood directly before him until James met her eye.
“Thank you,” he said with a nod.
The brunette held his gaze and tipped her head to one side. “Hey, um…” She shot a look over her shoulder before continuing. “I know that you’re dating that model, but if you’re ever looking for a night out when the two of you are apart…” At once, she produced a business card from her back pocket and handed it over.
Irritated heat burned in his chest as he glanced down at the card. He and Adel weren’t dating exclusively, but as far as the general public knew, they were. “I don’t think Adel would like that,” he said, handing the card back to her.
James didn’t appreciate her assumption that he’d cheat on a woman. Beyond that, he never dated women in the service industry.
A somewhat sheepish grin formed at her lips as she tucked the card back into her pocket. “Of course,” she said, attending to her makeup kit. She tucked tall brushes into a fabric case while biting her lip.
“Good luck on the show tonight,” she added without looking at him. “I’m glad you’re shooting another live episode. I love it when you and your siblings are all on at the same time.”
The irritation he felt shifted to something deeper at her words, a scorching blade to the low corners of his chest. Notallof us,he wanted to say. There was one missing now.
“Let’s get lined up, guys,” Bruce called. “We’re down to three minutes now.”
James came to a stand, smoothed a hand over his suit coat, and tugged at the hint of white peeking from each sleeve.
