Page 80 of No More Secrets
He caught a glimpse of the self-satisfied smile on her face before she composed herself.
“I see you’ve met Quincy,” she said when she returned to Carter. Summer dropped a kiss on Quincy’s cheek. “Quincy is our executive creative director.”
“Yes, and Carter here farms the earth,” Quincy said. “You didn’t tell me he was gorgeous, Summer.”
Carter shoved his hands in his pockets and Summer laughed.
“You’re embarrassing him, Quincy. Besides, there’s a lot more to him than a gorgeous face.”
“Oh, I can see that,” he said, giving Carter the once over. “Have you introduced him to Katherine, yet? I can just imagine the ideas she’s going to get once she lays eyes on him.”
Carter shifted uncomfortably.
“Not yet.
“Well, my dears. I see some advertisers whose asses require kissing. It was a pleasure meeting you,” he said to Carter. After another kiss on the cheek for Summer and one last look at him, Quincy toddled off.
“Sorry I abandoned you,” Summer said, patting his jacket. “I was afraid World War Seventeen was about to break out between those two. They’ve been on again off again so many times I can’t even keep track. The last ‘off again’ lawyers had to get involved.” She sighed. “Did you get anything to eat yet?”
Carter shook his head. “I saw some tiny dots being passed around on trays, but it looked more like play dough sculptures than food.”
“That’s what happens to the food when you’re catering for models and the people who manage them. You’d think the catering budget would be lower for these events, but it’s just as expensive. Apparently beautiful people can only consume beautiful appetizers. We’ll grab a bite on the way home. I promise.”
“What’s the story there?” he asked, nodding toward the handsy male model.
“Anastasia and Alexi?”
“He grabbed you.”
She paused, long enough for Carter to realize she was thinking about brushing it off.
He took her hand and tugged her behind a thick brick pillar.
Summer squeezed his fingers. “Alexi thinks he’s God’s gift to all women. Including ones who aren’t interested in his pretty face and chauvinistic attitude.”
“Is he a problem?”
She shook her head. “I handled it. I very calmly explained that if he didn’t start showing me — and every other woman he comes in contact with — some respect thenIndulgencewould be forced to recommend Ari Ray to advertisers for any and all upcoming campaigns.”
“Who’s Ari Ray?”
“Another model and Alexi’s sworn enemy. Their feud is basically the plot ofZoolander.”
He felt his lips quirk, even though he still felt like punching Alexi in his pretty face. She shouldn’t have to fight these battles. And not just because she was his.
“Does this kind of thing happen often?”
Summer gave a dainty shrug. “There’s always someone who’s too drunk or too thick to get the message the first time around. The trick is finding a way to get your message across without pepper spraying every idiot you come in contact with.”
“Summer,” he kept his voice low, controlled. “I don’t like it.”
“Imagine how I feel, Carter.” Her blue eyes were earnest. “Would it be great to never have to worry about being groped or not having to be careful walking alone? Sure. But the problem isn’t that I’m a woman. The problem is a small percentage of the population are —”
“Assholes? Dicks? Douchebags?”
She smiled. “All of the above. But you know what? It makes a girl appreciate someone like you even more.”
Carter pulled her fingers to his mouth. He kissed them softly.
