Page 30 of Say It Isn't So

For that reason, I had packed very intentionally and made sure to dress with care as I’d prepared to go to the first presentation of the week.

Meeting me in the hotel lobby, Knox’s jaw dropped when he saw me. “Wow, you look—” He drew a ragged breath. “Great.” His eyes roamed over my body appreciatively as he took in what I was wearing and I couldn’t help but blush.

It felt odd being away from him all this time and yet feeling like no time had passed. Even when we were just friends right before he left, he still made me blush. “Do you want to take my picture?” I asked, leaning forward as I did, going for allure like an Old Hollywood actress.

He swallowed like he wanted to say something, but decided against it and my stomach dropped. “I think the paparazzi will take enough pictures for the both of us, but you do look great.”

Really, what did I expect him to say?Upstairs now! Forget our commitment to our jobs and going to this presentation, I need to ravish you right now. I can’t wait another second to have you, to feel you, to be buried deep ins—

Yeah, none of that was going to happen. And if I knew one thing, it was that Knox wouldn’t be like any other man I’d been with. Because if he was, then we would’ve slept together long before he ever left.

I looked down at my zip-up denim long sleeve jumpsuit and red kitten heels with a bow and pearl T strap, and shrugged. “Thank you. Denim is really in right now.”

“That I know.”

Of course he knows. He works in fashion.“Enough about me, let me take a good look at you,” I said, scanning his body now. The way he looked in his khaki pants, sneakers, and leather jacket. . . oof. Was it wrong that all I wanted to do around this man was lick my lips? He was just so yummy.

No. Not yummy. That wasn’t right.

He had raw sexual magnetism. Basically, he was hot.

Geez, was it even legal for a man to look as smoking as he did?

I mean, if there was a fire in the building, it was because he was in it. He was in the building and igniting the flames. He was the cause of the fire, guys!

He chuckled, interrupting my visual. “See something you like?”

Okay, so clearly we were both physically attracted to one another. There was nothing to be ashamed of. I thought he was good looking. He obviously thought I was. . . something. I mean, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice the way he looked at me.

And I liked that, so sue me. I always was one to enjoy the appreciation I got from the opposite sex. It made me feel good. It was like food for my soul.

It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if we gave into our temptations, either, but we wouldn’t. At least I was pretty sure we wouldn’t.

See, we were friends, that was it. Well, we used to be friends. Now we were. . . acquaintances? I was trying to remind myself that giving into temptation with a friend was a bad idea, but now I was just sad by the whole notion that we were nothing more than acquaintances to each other. I frowned. I didn’t think I liked the sound of that.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, genuine concern in his voice. He must’ve noticed the change in my expression. But before I could answer, the alarm went off on his phone, and he sighed. “Come on, even if we take your car, we have to go or we’re never going to make it.”

Rushing out of the hotel with him, we got in my chauffeur-driven car without another word. Thankfully I didn’t need to tell the driver where we were going because he had a complete schedule.

I crossed my ankles and fussed with my purse in my lap. Fashion week was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. It was a constant hustle and it seemed like every minute of my days were planned. But that was part of the deal.

“Thanks.” Knox’s one word statement had me whipping my head to him.

I gave him a confused look. “For what?”

He motioned all around us. “For this. For insisting we join forces.”

“Anytime.” The truth was, I may have been selfish in all of this because I missed Knox and this was my way of keeping him close. For now. And you don’t have to tell me, I knew it was silly, but that was how I felt.

“Not that I mind going it alone until Joann and Alicia get here, but this is definitely a step up from public transportation,” he said.

I nodded my understanding. Public transportation wasn’t bad but imagine having a six-show-per-day schedule with a venue change between each one. That would mean rushing to the Tube or the bus to make it to the next presentation or catwalk. “No one needs that kind of added stress,” I said simply, knowing he understood.

He nudged my elbow. “Yeah, this is nice.” Then he looked down at my heels. “Do you own any shoes that aren’t tall as fu—”

I put a hand up, stopping him. “Never mess with the shoes,” I said before bursting out in laughter.

Just as he was about to say something, the car stopped, and we pulled up to the venue for Rina Levana’s presentation.

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