Page 30 of All the Drama from New York

Two Days Later

Camille was out of bed and fully dressed a little after dawn. By seven o’clock she’d tidied up the workspace, and after figuring out how to use it had even run the vacuum cleaner over the floor. Her weekly cleaner had been only two days ago, but nerves had her oddly on edge.

When the sound of the buzzer for the front door echoed in the studio, she raced downstairs and quickly checked her hair and makeup. She glanced at her watch. It was eight fifteen. Ryan was due at nine o’clock. If it was him, he was early.

A fantastic start.

And take a deep breath. This is only a new employee.

She met her gaze once more in the mirror, doing her best to convince herself that an employee was all Ryan was to her.

He’d rarely crossed her mind over the past four years. But even she couldn’t deny that there had been some nights when an imaginary lover with long blond hair had laid claim to her body, and brought Camille to an earth shattering climax.

And now after having met Ryan in person, all she could do was think about him, imagining what it would be like to lay naked in his arms. To have him do all the things…

Oh god, I have to stop thinking about him like that!

Her libido fueled imagination was driving her mad. She was certain no sane woman would ever think this way about a random guy from a tv show. A guy who was starting work with her today.

At the door, Camille pressed the intercom button. “Hello?”

Ryan’s smiling face appeared in the camera. “Good morning. I know I am little early, but I wanted to confirm that I have your coffee order right. Long black with a generous dash of real milk.”

Por qua?

“Why do you need that? We have a coffee machine.”

When he bit nervously on his bottom lip, she was suddenly reminded of all those nights watching him onBachelors on the Beach. Of how she had fallen just a little in love with the swoony Ryan Collins.

Oh god, did I let my crush rule my head? I’ve employed a guy I had the hots for four years ago. Camille, Imbécile!

“It’s my first day, and I’m trying to make a good impression. I know an incredible coffee place not far from here and they have amazing beans and bake their own croissants.”

She caught the gentle pleading in his voice. He really did want this job, and to make it a success. It would take someone with a hard heart to refuse him. And Camille had always been a softie for a winning smile.

“Alright, but make sure you get a receipt for it. I will reimburse you.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell him that the food service team from Royal Resorts Manhattan had already delivered her daily breakfast, and that it was in the refrigerator in her apartment.

When he didn’t move, Camille tapped the glass screen. Had the feed frozen? “Are you still there?” she asked.

“Yes. I was waiting for your croissant order. They have plain, chocolate, ham and cheese, and my personal favorite, almond.”

“Oh gosh, um. The ham. Um. No wait. Hmm.” She was already flustered around him, and he hadn’t yet made it into the building. Camille was still struggling to find her usual calm when she finally said. “Almond sounds great, thank you.”

“Excellent. I shall see you soon, Camille.”

He disappeared from the camera view, and Camille let go of the button. Stepping away from the intercom, she put a hand to her lips. If this was how she was going to behave around him, she’d never get any work done.

And how was she supposed to manage him?

It wasn’t even eight thirty and she was already second guessing her decision to hire Ryan. But if this was a problem, it was one of her own making. A problem only she could solve.

I need to come clean with Ryan.

The only way this was going to work was if she told Ryan she knew who he was, and that she’d watched the show. Hopefully he would brush it off as something that was well in his past. He hadn’t bothered to mention it in his CV.

I don’t know what I’ll do if he is embarrassed by it.

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