Chapter 3

Iset Rebecca's coffee down on her desk before rushing back to mine. I have a pile of emails to go through already and I need to fix a few shipments that went out wrong. I sigh at the stupid mistakes someone else made that are going to take extra time that I don't have to fix. If they had taken one second to check their orders, it would have saved everyone the hassle.

I glance up to the waiting room to see a crowd of beautiful women coming in. But my breath catches as the elevator doors open and I see him. I stand up so I can get a better view and look him up and down. My heart starts to pound. He's saying something to Rebecca and she laughs in response.

How is he even more handsome in person? I peel my eyes away from him and sit back down in front of my computer screen. I pretend that I'm doing something when really, I'm trying to get myself together. Why do I love seeing that he's so good to his sister? For some reason that makes me like him ever more. Because you don't know what family is really like, my brain chimes in, and I try to push those thoughts away.

It makes me think that he would be a family man. The whole white picket fence and two point five kids package. It's something I've always longed for but would never dare give voice to it. It's hard to dream of something that feels so out of reach. Work and school, I can hold on to. Those things are dependent on my actions. I'll never go for something I can't do on my own, and that man seems like he's so far out of reach. I curse myself for having this attachment, as if I can somehow control it.

I finish up what I need to do at my desk just as Rebecca comes into the office. Thankfully alone. I'm irritated with myself for getting so worked up about Lucas, so I'm going to go the extra mile with being professional today.

"I can't do this," she says, and there's a plea in her eyes.

"You're going to be just fine," I say, standing up and taking her hands in mine. "You've got this. We're going to call the models in just like we talked about and find the perfect face for the new line. Just breathe with me."

She smiles but does as I ask. We both take a breath at the same time and slowly let it out. I can feel some of the tension ease in her grip and she nods confidently.

"This line is incredible. You're incredible. And you've got me, so there's no way you can lose," I say and wink at her.

She pulls me into her arms and gives me a tight hug. "God, what would I do without you?"

I grab the iPad with all the information on the models and my coffee before we go out. In the back of the studio there's a large room we use for photography, both of the models and the merchandise. The goal today is to bring in each model and do some test shots. Then we'll go through everything at the end of the day and decide which look and personality we think will fit best. It's going to be a long afternoon, and though I'm excited I'm not exactly looking forward to being in the presence of Lucas all afternoon. But I've worked hard for this job so I'm going to pull on my big girl panties and get to work.

Rebecca and I smile at the line of women waiting to enter as we walk through the door of the photo room. It's blindingly bright in here with all the lights and giant white walls that surround us. It's an adjustment when we walk in, but I see the table in the center and follow Rebecca over to it. When I blink a few times, I see Lucas coming over to us.

I'm surprised when he comes straight to me and holds out my chair. His scent rolls over me and it's a combination of fresh lemons and leather. His green eyes stare at me as if he can see inside me. Oh god, if only he could hear all the dirty thoughts going through my mind. He's tall and muscular but not overly bulky. He looks toned under his suit and I can only imagine total perfection behind the expensive material. His dark hair is styled perfectly and there's not a hair out of place. His jaw is shadowed with a day-old shave, but it doesn't make him look sloppy. Instead it makes him look impossibly hotter and I have to force myself to not make inappropriate noises at just the sight of him.

I realize I'm staring and have to look away. I smile politely as he stands there holding my chair then take my seat. He's being a gentleman, I tell myself and try not to act like a lunatic. I'm sure he does this for everyone. But when I look out of the corner of my eye, I see Rebecca grabbing her own chair and sitting down. Maybe he couldn't catch hers in time because I was busy staring at him like the last cupcake in the bakery. Get it together, Ava.

"Lucas, this is Ava. She's the reason we're here today," she says and beams at me with pride. "I couldn't have done any of this without her encouragement and talent."

"You're the talent. I'm just the one who organizes your chaos," I say, reaching out and squeezing her arms. "And you need to stop it or you're going to make me blush."

Suddenly I feel Lucas close against me.

"I think I'd like to see that," he says, and I realize his lips are at my ear.

He wants to see me blush? Oh god, this guy has no idea how easy that's going to be.

"I'm going to have to ask my sister why she hasn't introduced us sooner."

That's all he says before I feel him step away and take the remaining seat on the other side of Rebecca. Praise God, because I don't think I can be next to that kind of power for more than a few seconds at a time. Jesus, the man is like a magnet and every part of my body is being pulled toward him.

I place my hand on my heart and take a breath before I grab the iPad and go over the models. Maybe seeing him look over these women like horses in a parade will kick whatever attraction I have to him.

"First up we have Amanda from Top Model. She's five ten, one hundred and seven pounds, and twenty years old," I say, clicking through her info.

As soon as I get the words out of my mouth, Amanda walks through the door. She takes about three steps before Lucas speaks up.

"No thank you, that will be all," he says, giving the model a glance before turning to Rebecca and me.

The model pauses and looks to us for clarification before we nod and she exits the room. Once the door is closed Rebecca turns to Lucas.

"You didn't even give her a chance to talk. A lot of this is based on personality. I asked you to come give me your advice, not take over."

His eyes flicker to me then back to Rebecca. "Rebecca, you asked me to help you. This beautiful line you've created is size inclusive. Which means every size, right?"

"Of course," Rebecca says to him with pride in her voice.

"I'll stay quiet if you want me to, but you need to remember who this is meant for."

He turns his eyes on me again, but this time he doesn't look away. Under the power of his gaze I wiggle in my seat. Does he want me to say something because I'm plus size? I want to agree with him that the face of the campaign should represent everyone, but that's not my job today. I'm in charge of presenting the models who have been sent through agencies and to answer questions when I'm asked.

"Let's continue," Rebecca says, oblivious to her brother staring a hole into me. "This time, Lucas, can you try to keep your opinion until the end?"

He finally looks away from me and nods at her. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his chair.

I announce the next model, who is similar to the one before, but she's blonde rather than brunette. Rebecca asks her a few questions and we take a photo before she leaves. As the door closes, Rebecca turns and gives me a questioning look. I shake my head and she nods.

"Yeah, me neither," she says.

Lucas remains silent.

For the next three hours it's the same thing. It's daunting to have the same reaction, but I'm starting to think Lucas was on to something. I could tell by the first three steps they took into the room that they wouldn't be what we were looking for. Maybe Rebecca should have specified more curves from the agencies when she sent out the requests.

"I did," she says when I quietly ask her about it. "I told them I wanted all shapes, sizes and colors. But I swear it's like they sent a Xerox copy of the same woman fifty times."

I feel Lucas's eyes on me again, but I ignore it. He's driving me crazy since he decided to keep quiet. All I want to know is why he keeps looking over here.

"Let's take a break. I've had lunch brought in, so get something to eat and then we'll finish the rest of the models afterwards."

As soon as I stand up, he's on me. He holds out my chair and steps close as I stand up.

"Thank you," I say as I go to walk past him, but he doesn't move.

"I need you," he says, like he's gotten his words twisted. He shakes his head and tries again. "Go out with me. Tomorrow."

There's no question in his words, just a statement telling me what I'm going to do. I can't help but laugh a little. "What?"

The thought of going on a date with Lucas is crazy sauce. Why would he ever ask to go out with someone like me? He could have that hallway full of models and they'd probably be okay sharing even a piece of him.

"I'm sorry. I'm not doing this right. Would you go with me to the Stein Gala tomorrow night? I'd like you to be my date."

Oh shit, he's actually serious.

"Um, I don't know," I hedge, needing a moment to process this.

First of all, he's asking me out. Holy shitballs. Second, I know I don't have a single thing that's appropriate for a gala or whatever the hell that is.

"Oh, that's a great idea," Rebecca says as she walks back over with a plate of food. "Our mom has been on him about taking someone, and Lucas lied this morning and said he had a date already when he didn't." She rolls her eyes and smiles at him like this is his normal behavior.

The idea that he's asking me because he needs to cover his lie to his mom makes me feel so stupid and a little pissed off. I might not be on the same level of women that he's used to, but I'm worth more than that.

"No thank you," I say as I brush past him and make my way over to the food table.

Suddenly I feel like I want to cry. I'm mad at myself for momentarily living in a fantasy world and getting my hopes up. What was I thinking? Of course a guy like him wouldn't want me.

"Ava," he calls as he comes over next to me. "It's not like that."

I ignore him as he follows me. I grab a plate and decide I'm going to put some food on top of my feelings so I can make them be quiet. I start grabbing things and piling my plate up while he talks beside me.

"That's not why I asked," he says in a low voice, and I glance over at him and raise an eyebrow. "Okay, so I do need a date, but that's not why I'm asking you."

"You don't owe me an explanation," I say as I get to the end of the buffet and grab a drink. "You don't owe me anything." I raise my chin in challenge and I see there's frustration and anger in him brewing below the surface.

"I'm not good at this. I went about it all wrong. Let me make it up to you." He says his words smoothly, like warm butter.

For a second I think about just giving in to him, but I don't want to be played for a fool. "We've got to get back to work. I don't think this is the time or place for…for…" I try to think about what to call this and just huff. "Whatever you're doing."

I begin to march away from him, feeling pretty damn high and mighty. Until I hear him from behind me.

"That's not a no!" he calls out right as I reach the table and Rebecca tells us she's ready to call in the other applicants.