Page 114 of Flare

“Well, I’m heading off.” Shayne eyed me up and down. “I guess you’re staying for that debrief after?”

I nodded, suddenly worried what reception I was going to get there. “Not for long, though. I’m done.”

He hesitated. “You wanna catch a drink or an early dinner since I was such a big help today?” He actually winked.

Christ almighty.“Thanks, but no thanks. I still have some last-minute work to do.” Big important work. Beck work. Work that involved apologies, a whole lot of talking, and hopefully some forgiveness. A week since we’d seen each other. A week since I’d made an arse of myself, and there was a hole in my chest that wouldn’t go away. That I didn’t want to go away.

“I’m starting to think you don’t like me, Rhys.” He smiled like the idea was ludicrous.

“Like has nothing to do with it, Shayne. I’m... seeing someone.”

His gaze narrowed and I could tell I’d genuinely caught him by surprise. He covered it quickly and smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re serious about that big guy you were drooling over in your store. Hardly your type, I’d have thought.”

I said nothing.

“Really, Rhys?” His brows dipped in a disappointed frown. “Didn’t know you had a soft spot for a bit of rough.”

“Fuck you, Shayne.” I waved him away. “This conversation’s done."

“Rhys!” A familiar and very welcome voice carried over the general hubbub in the room, and I turned to find Kip headed our way with a large box in his arms and his flinty gaze locked on Shayne.

“Ah, your little rattlesnake arrives to save the day.” Shayne tossed Kip a barely-there smile dripping with distaste.

I almost smiled since the allusionwaskind of apt.

Kip brushed past Shayne, ignoring him completely. “Taylor texted that things—” He glanced the model’s way. “—that there were a few teething problems.”

Shayne snorted and I fired him an irritated glance.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Kip glared at the model.

Shayne chuckled. “Calm down. You’ll get all those nice darts in a tangle.” He ran a finger down the front of Kip’s blue velvet shirt that fit him like he’d been poured into it. “One of yours?” He looked to me as Kip batted his hand aside.

I gave a sharp nod.

Shayne pursed his lips. “Mmm, very nice. Well, catch you later, boys. Let me know if you need any more help.”

Kip watched his departure with an acrid stare.

“Did you know Gloria pulled out?” I hissed as soon as the exasperating model was out of hearing.

Kip nodded furiously. “Of course I bloody did. I’ve been texting you all morning. I slept through my alarm and didn’t see it till I hit the store.”

“Shit.” I pulled out my phone and clocked all the missed messages. “I silenced it for the rehearsal. Shayne took great pleasure in reminding me that not everyone will be impressed by what happened, including possibly some reviewers and the committee.”

He shrugged. “Don’t see that you had a choice. At least now youhavea collection to review. You could’ve been facing humiliation.”

“You’re right.” It was a good reminder and I stood a little straighter. Dragons. “Come on, we have work to do.”

Ninety minutes later and oh, how things could change. I was stuck in a small room trying to avoid Gloria’s biting glare while the organisers debriefed the rehearsal and went over what changes they felt were needed. Why the hell Gloria was even present at the meeting, I didn’t know, but it seemed she was helping with something backstage. It spoke to what Shayne had pointed out. The organisers had only cut her show because of the publicity, which didn’t bode well for me as far as a repeat invite for next year was concerned, even though I apparently wasn’t quite the pariah I’d thought with the other designers.

A few people had given me the cold shoulder, mostly those I knew to be friendly with Gloria, but quite a number had approached to tell me how shocked they were and to offer me their support. And more than a few came to enquire as to who that stunning model was they’d seen on my runway.

When the meeting was done, Gloria made her way over as half the room watched. “I hope you’re satisfied.” She practically spat the words.

I sighed and tried to be the bigger person. “Ididn’t steal anyone’s designs, Gloria, nor did I talk to the media. They made up their own minds based on what they saw.”

“You mean what they were fed.”

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