Page 34 of You Wish
“It’s called stacking the house.”
It was called the desperate actions of a man who wanted to see if that elusive thing that had been between them was still there.
“It’s called working the system within the parameters of our deal.”
“Whatever.” Georgia eyes flicked upward in exasperation. “Before you go bragging again, can we actually get to why we came here? The whole crew is waiting on you.”
He winked her way. “You just want to see me with my jumper around my hips.”
Once upon a time, she told him she liked him in his jumper. But he knew she loved him when it was around his hips, leaving him in a skintight team shirt.
“Thanks again for clearing the use of your uniform. I know you had to pull some major strings to get the owners to agree. It will make this ad so much better.”
“No problem,” he said and felt a flutter in his chest when she smiled his way. “Now let’s get this rodeo on the road. I have a dinner to prepare for.”
The lights were blinding,but Jake’s smile practically had its own spotlight. Georgia wondered which one would give her a headache first.
She blinked against the glare, tugging her clipboard like it might somehow shield her from the chaos. The air smelled of engine oil, cheap coffee, and ambition, and somewhere in the mix, Jake was effortlessly posing as if the cameras weren’t even there.
Georgia’s instincts screamed “stay professional,” but her eyes kept drifting to him, like a moth circling a flame that smelled suspiciously like trouble. Then she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye— Rachel prowling the edge of the set, phone raised like she was about to steal state secrets instead of a few photos.
Click.
Click.
Click.
“Rachel,” Georgia stroud over, clipboard held out in front of her like a battering ram. “This is a closed set. That means no cameras.”
Rachel glanced up, grin wide as if she hadn’t just broken the rules. “Relax. These are for in-house purposes only. Family perks.”
“There are no family perks,” Georgia said firmly. “The only photos are professional ones. It’s important that the first images shown to the public are announcing the partnership. If anything leaks beforehand, it will ruin our launch. So those pictures don’t leave this set. Not on your camera. Not on anyone’s.”
Rachel leaned slightly, eyes flashing like warning lights. “You really are all business. No wonder Jake notices you—he loves a good challenge.”
Georgia wasn’t a challenge. She was a professional doing her job. And a damn fine job at that. And she wasn’t going to let Rachel make her think any less.
“Then maybe you should remind him challenges have boundaries,” Georgia replied, voice steady.
Rachel’s smile sharpened. “I don’t need to remind him. I need to remind you. Jake’s world doesn’t leave much room. Not for second place. Not for distractions. Definitely not for entanglements.”
“I’m not a distraction. I’m not anyone’s second place. I’m not looking for any entanglements. Your golden boy is safe.”
Rachel smiled. “Thanks for the clarification.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. Now, I’d like you to delete the photos.”
Rachel rolled her eyes but scrolled through her photos.
Georgia considered checking her phone but thought that would just create more friction and the last thing she needed was another round with Rachel. She’d gone head-to-head with her once and walked away with a battered heart. There was noway she’d make that same mistake. There could be nothing but professionalism between her and Jake.
“Done,” Rachel said, slipping her phone into her pocket. “Just don’t mistake working with Jake for something more. He’s my brother. And that makes me an expert at spotting when he’s playing with fire.”
Georgia exhaled, forcing herself to turn back to the shoot. Jake was mid-pose, blissfully unaware of the quiet storm that had just passed through his set. Rachel lingered a heartbeat longer, letting her warning hang in the air, before stepping back and disappearing into the shadows.
13
Jake slowed to a stop at the edge of the tree line, his shit-kickers sinking into the frost-hardened earth. After a day of smiling like he enjoyed being the center of attention, he needed some air, so he’d taken a walk around his grandparents’ tree farm.
