Page 6 of Triggered By Love
Taking a napkin and a deep breath, she forced her shoulders back and her head high. “I’m okay. Did you get your coffee?”
“Yes, you should have let me pay for yours,” he said, quirking a half-smile.
She took a moment to study his demeanor. It looked like he was going for casual. Having ascertained that she was okay, he wasn’t going to pursue her momentarily lapse.
An explanation was in order, so she smiled closemouthed and motioned for him to sit across from her.
“Are you still dating Alida?” she asked as he pulled his powerful body into the small chair.
He gave a slight shake of the head. “She’s an acquaintance. I’ve been to a few of her events, but I wouldn’t call it dating.”
“Oh?” She took what she hoped was a calm sip of the cappuccino, breaking up the swirly heart in the cup.
Neither of them was forthcoming with information—probably a good thing. She was of the “loose lips sink ships” school, and it looked like he, too, kept his personal life close to his vest.
It was easier to talk about Brando’s case, and so far, that was the extent of their interaction. Except he’d changed the rules.
She raised an eyebrow to question him and get him to open up.
Without looking at her, he stirred cream into his black coffee—no sugar.
“What does Alida do for you?” he asked, appearing not to care about the answer.
“Public relations.”
“And?”
Avery shrugged. What was the harm in letting him know? He already knew as much of her public history as he needed for the investigation.
“She helped me make the transition from modeling to fashion design. I’m afraid I haven’t been as involved in promoting my line as I should have been.”
“Understandable, given what happened at your debut. You doing any upcoming shows?”
“My line has been to all the major shows,” she said. “I just haven’t been appearing on the runway. Alida’s been pushing me to go back into the spotlight.”
“Think that’s wise?” He blew over the top of his creamy coffee before sipping.
“They’ve upped the security at most of these shows. Gun free zones,” Avery said. “Metal detectors at the door. Alida says even if someone were out to get me, which she doesn’t believe, they wouldn’t try it the same way.”
“How reassuring.”
“That’s what I told her,” Avery said, wiping her lips. “I need to buck up and carry on. Can’t hide for the rest of my life.”
“Are you seeing anyone about the stage fright?”
“You know about that, too,” she stated, not surprised. “No, and I’m not taking anti-anxiety meds. It makes me paranoid.”
She lifted her coffee cup and smiled.
He tapped it with his. “To getting back in the game.”
“I can do it. I’m sure Brando believed in me. I don’t need a man on my arm. In fact, I’m going to do the ramp walk this year.”
“Good. I’ll be there.”
“Alida’s date?”
He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “Yours.”
