Buch lesen: «Model Attraction»

Chapter 1

“I can’t marry you.”

Austin Reynolds jerked his head toward his open office door, where his fiancée, Zoe Davis, stood. He took in her appearance. She was one of those women who never left the house unless she was totally pulled together, and today was no different. But what he didn’t like seeing was the stress lines across her forehead.

“Mom, let me talk to you later,” Austin said into his cell phone, his gaze steady on Zoe. “And yes, I’ll pick up the cake for you after my meeting.” He disconnected and set his cell on the desk.

“Austin, I’m sorry to just burst in here like this, but I can’t—”

“Excuse me,” Beverly, his secretary, said, her hand on the doorknob. “I’m going to close this, if you don’t mind.” She shut the door, not waiting for either of them to respond. Austin had an open-door policy, but he was pretty sure this was going to be one of those conversations he’d prefer to have in private.

Sighing, he wiped his hand over his mouth and down his chin before returning his attention to his fiancée. He walked around his desk, digging deep within himself for patience.

“Why don’t you tell me what this is all about, Zoe?” He draped his arm over her shoulders and guided her to the navy-blue leather sofa that took up a large part of the sitting area in his office.

She set her large Prada bag on the coffee table. “I thought I could go through with this, but I can’t marry you. I can’t be with a man who isn’t in love with me.”

Austin sat next to her. “What are you talking about? We’ve known each other for years. You know I love you. I wouldn’t have asked you to marry me if I didn’t.”

Clearly frustrated, Zoe let her shoulders droop, and the pensive lines on her forehead reappeared. She sat back on the sofa and crossed her long bare legs, her short dress sliding up slightly, showing off shapely thighs.

“I’m not saying that you don’t love me. I know you do, and I love you, too, but we both know that you’re not in love with me.”

Instead of denying her comment, he asked, “Where is this coming from?”

“I have always felt something was missing between us, but thought... I don’t know what I thought. I guess, after dating for a year, when you asked me to marry you, I was excited. We were finally taking our relationship to the next level. But lately I’ve had my doubts. We’ve been engaged for six months and you won’t agree on a wedding date. It’s clear you’re not ready.”

Austin sat forward, his elbows on his knees as he stared down at the floor. When he had asked Zoe to be his wife, it seemed like the next logical step, but lately he wasn’t so sure.

“Why did you ask me to marry you?” she asked. “What changed? For years, you claimed you weren’t ready for marriage, and then all of a sudden you popped the question. Why?”

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Because we’re great together. When we went from friends to lovers, you made it clear that you wanted to marry and have a family one day. I felt like I was ready, and I already knew you were ready.”

Zoe moved closer to him and slipped her arm through his, resting her head against his shoulder. “I guess those are good reasons, but you didn’t include the most important thing. Love.”

“I didn’t think I had to mention that again.”

“But you’re not in love with me.”

Austin remained quiet. What could he say? If he had to be honest with himself, she was right. There was a part of himself...a part of his heart that no one would ever be able to claim. But he was in his late twenties and thinking more about his future. He had reached his financial goals and the only thing left to do was get married and have a family. Though he wanted the type of marriage his parents had, he was willing to sacrifice being in love for being with someone he liked. Austin didn’t trust easily, and the fact that he’d let Zoe get this close had been a miracle.

“Most engaged people can’t keep their hands off each other. Yet the last couple of months you’ve been traveling, and when you are home, you’re emotionally unavailable. What am I supposed to think? You have found every excuse to keep me at bay. I wake up thinking about you, and you’re the person I think about before I fall asleep at night. But I have a feeling I’m not the one who consumes your thoughts. Austin, I need more than a chivalrous man trying to do right by me.”

He hesitated. Again, Zoe was right. Despite being ready to settle down and have a family, he didn’t want to do anything to hurt her. He knew now that if they had gone through with this marriage, that’s exactly what would have happened.

“Zoe, I—”

“You don’t have to say anything. You’re an amazing guy and I appreciate your willingness to give up your bachelorhood in order to give me the life I’ve always dreamed of. I know you would make a wonderful husband in some ways, but I need more than you’re willing or able to give.”

She placed her hand on his thigh and his gaze went to that spot. He felt nothing. No tingling. No sparks. Nothing. She was such a beautiful woman inside and out. But he hadn’t touched her intimately in almost two months. Like her, he recognized something had been missing. He just chose to ignore it.

“We were good friends before we got engaged,” Zoe said, interrupting his thoughts. “I hope we can remain friends.”

“Always.” He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, not surprised at how well she was taking all of this. She was independent, low-key, and he couldn’t even recall ever having an argument with her.

She held the sparkling diamond out to him. As a self-made millionaire who’d made his first million investing in the stock market while attending college, Austin thought by now he’d have a wife and family to shower his wealth on. Instead, he had more money than he could ever spend in a lifetime, a huge house meant to be filled with children and a broken engagement. And the only woman he had ever loved had left him years ago without looking back.

He glanced at the ring again. “Keep it.” He folded her hand around the expensive jewelry and pulled her to him. “I’m sorry...for everything. If you ever need anything, you know all you have to do is call me.”

“I know. But there’s something I have to know.”

“And what’s that?”

“Who is she?”

Austin leaned away from her and frowned. “Who is who?”

“You have suppressed issues that you have never dealt with, and I can’t help but think that they have something to do with a woman in your past. Talk to me. I can—”

“Dammit, Zoe.” He pulled out of the light hold she had on his arm. “The last thing I need right now is for you to try and psychoanalyze me.” He’d been doing enough of that himself, especially over the last few months. As a psychologist, she had tried, more than once, to use some of her techniques to figure out what made him tick.

“Who is she, Austin?” Zoe sat unfazed by his outburst. “Who is this woman that has your heart?”

Austin stood suddenly and walked to one of the windows of his Atlanta office staring down at the busy traffic on Peachtree Street. He and Zoe might have been the best of friends, but there was no way he was going to discuss another woman with her. Assuming there was one. Okay, maybe there was.

Almost ten years now, and there was a woman who was never far from his thoughts. A woman who had walked out of his life and hadn’t looked back, taking a chunk of his heart with her. The same woman he had seen from a distance six months ago and had been dreaming about ever since.

Janna Morgan.

* * *

“Okay, Iris, I have to get off this phone. I’m standing outside Cupcakes Allure,” Janna said to her sister Iris. Janna had arrived in Atlanta an hour ago and couldn’t wait to indulge in one of her guilty pleasures—a cupcake.

“I don’t know how you can eat that stuff and not gain a pound. Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to fit into one of those ridiculously skimpy outfits the designers insist you wear?”

As a supermodel, maintaining her weight and her dimensions was always at the forefront of Janna’s mind.

“For the last two weeks, I have added a few extra workouts to my routine specifically for this occasion. There’s a chocolate swirl cupcake loaded with chocolate chips and coconut with an obscene amount of chocolate fudge frosting on top that has my name on it.” To make sure, she had called Iona, the bakery owner, to place her order.

“Well, enjoy all of that chocolate. Are you coming to our house once you leave there? Ms. D has the guest room ready for you.”

Ms. Dalton, her sister and brother-in-law’s live-in housekeeper, was actually more like family.

“She’s so sweet, but I’m staying in a hotel during this trip.”

“What? For three weeks? You know we have more than enough room.”

“I know. Macy said the same thing about their place.” Iris and their other sister, Macy, always insisted that she stay with one of them. “Though I appreciate the offers from both of you, I think it’ll be better for me to stay in the hotel. Besides, I already have a reservation.”

“Cancel it.”

Janna didn’t want to. This vacation was about more than just spending time with her family. She also planned to think about her future. She loved modeling but was ready to expand her brand and clean up her image. Being seen with some of the country’s sexiest A-listers and music moguls was intended to keep her visible to the public, but lately the media had turned innocent situations into juicy gossip. She was ready for the world to see her as more than just a pretty face. If her future plans panned out, they would also see her as a businesswoman.

“So, how are the boys?” Janna asked of her twin nephews, Stephen and Trevon.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice how you changed the subject, but the boys are great. They’re busier than ever. Not even two yet and they’re getting into everything. But I love my little angels.”

“Yeah, the angels that got kicked out of heaven,” Janna mumbled.

“I heard that.” Her sister laughed, knowing she couldn’t argue the fact that at times they were out of control. “Is that why you don’t want to stay here, because of the boys?”

“That’s part of it.”

Janna explained her goal for this trip to her sister and stepped out of the way when several women headed up the walkway to the bakery. She wore a pink baseball cap to match her outfit and a large pair of designer sunglasses to shield her identity, in hopes no one would recognize her. Today she just wanted to be a normal person who was taking her first vacation in months.

Janna glanced at her watch. “Listen, sis. I really do need to get off this phone. I’ve been standing out here for almost ten minutes and my driver is waiting. I’ll be there for dinner.”

They talked for a few minutes longer before Janna disconnected. Dropping her cell into her Birkin handbag, she hurried into the bakery, glad to see it had temporarily cleared out.

“Well, there she is,” Iona crooned the moment Janna removed her sunglasses. “I was starting to wonder if you weren’t going to make it.” Iona walked around the counter and pulled Janna in for a tight hug.

“It’s so good seeing you again. I’m sorry I’m late. I got stuck on the phone with my sister.”

“Not a problem. I have your treat ready for you. And it’s low in calories and low in fat, just the way you like it.” Iona winked. She and Janna shared a laugh, knowing there were easily five hundred calories in the cute little pink-and-brown box Iona placed on the counter. “Oh, and did you want your soy latte today?”

“Definitely. If I’m going to ruin my diet, I might as well make it worth my while.”

Unable to resist, Janna opened the small box and licked the top of the cupcake. A sweet peace settled in her soul and her eyes drifted closed as the chocolate frosting melted on her tongue. This little bit of heaven was so worth the wait.

Janna talked with Iona for a few minutes until more customers started showing up.

“I’m going to head out, since you guys are getting busy. I can’t wait to eat my cupcake.” She held the box up as she turned to leave.

“Oh, wait! Don’t forget your drink,” Iona said and hurried to make Janna’s latte.

While she was standing off to the side waiting, Janna’s cell phone rang. Normally she wouldn’t have taken the call inside the bakery, but it was her manager and she’d been expecting his call.

“Hey, Nelson. I hope you have some good news for me.”

“Let’s just say that you picked the perfect time to be in Atlanta. Philanthropist Blake Dresden agreed to a meeting with you.”

Yes! Janna tried to keep from doing a happy dance in the semicrowded bakery. Instead, she retrieved her latte from Iona and bade her farewell before heading toward the entrance. She had identified several people to pitch an idea she had to start a nonprofit for teens aging out of foster care to adulthood. Unlike her, many foster children didn’t have a loving family to depend on once they turned eighteen. For those individuals, she wanted them to have a safe place to stay that would not only provide a roof over their heads, but also an environment that would support them as they transitioned into adulthood. This cause was very personal to her and she couldn’t wait to speak with Mr. Dresden.

Juggling her boxed cupcake and her drink, Janna wove through the small crowd in order to get to the door.

“Nelson, thank you so much for making this happen.”

“My pleasure, doll. There is one catch, though.”

Distracted and tuning out her manager, Janna slowed to reposition her cell, holding it to her ear with her shoulder. She pushed against the door, but someone yanked it open at the same time.

“Oh, crap!” Her cell phone slipped from her ear and her drink went flying when she lost her balance. Her baseball cap and sunglasses—gone. Trying to catch the cupcake box, she would have fallen face-first had it not been for the strong hands gripping her arm.

Face-to-face with the front of a man’s suit jacket, she realized where her latte had landed.

“Oh, no, no, no.” She wiped her hands feverishly down the guy’s jacket until he took a step back out of her reach. Janna pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and stood upright.

“I’m so sor...” Her words lodged in her throat and her breath caught when she met the gaze of the fine specimen standing before her. It couldn’t be. “Au-Austin?”

At five-eleven, wearing three-inch wedge heels, she was taller than most women, but he still towered over her by at least three or four inches. Prior to seeing him from a distance six months earlier, she hadn’t seen Austin Reynolds in almost ten years. Not since she had left Edison, New Jersey, to pursue a modeling career in Milan. They had both been so young then, but a quick perusal of the guy standing before her showed that he had grown into an extremely handsome man.

Tall, with dark eyes and chiseled features, he had a wide chest and broad shoulders, and he knew how to dress. Austin was clothed in what felt like virgin wool twill, and the jacket, tapered to enhance his athletic build, had high peaked lapels and a single-button closure. The expensive garment looked as if it had been made specifically for him. And she’d bet her last check that it was Armani. If she didn’t know anything else, she knew her materials and designers.

“Janna,” he finally said.

Her eyes met his, and chill bumps scurried up her bare arms at the coldness behind the one word. Not even the deep, raspy voice that she’d once loved could hide the fact that he was less than thrilled to see her. But who could blame him? One of the decisions she had regretted most in her life was the way she’d left him behind. And by the glare in his intense brown eyes, he hadn’t forgiven or forgotten.