Stephanie Julian - No Reservations

God, she just wanted tomorrow to be over.

“Kate,” Sabrina called from the next room, which they were using as a dressing room. “I can’t get this damn buckle done.”

Kate turned to go help but Sabrina walked out, head down as she fiddled with something at her side.

And walked right into Greg.

“Oh, jeez, I’m sorry. I didn’t see . . . you.”

It would have been funny if Kate had been in a laughing mood. For once, Sabrina had nothing to say. She just stared up at Greg, like he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Or he was an alien from another planet.

Greg’s smile didn’t falter as he patted Sabrina on the shoulder like a child. “No harm, no foul, kid. Nice costume.” Then he turned back to Kate. “You make this? Honey, you can come work for me anytime. That’s camera ready.”

She smiled, but she knew it was strained. “Thanks, but there’s no way I’m moving to LA. I’m really not much for big cities.”

And you’re going to move to New York?

She shoved the thought out of her mind. “Greg, this is Sabrina. Sabrina, Greg.”

She didn’t add anything to the introduction. If Greg wanted Sabrina to know who he was, he could fill her in. Otherwise, she was going on the assumption he’d prefer to remain just Greg the photographer and not Greg the hot Hollywood producer.

Sabrina took the hand Greg stuck out, finally rousing enough to realize she was staring at the man.

“Hi. Sorry, I just . . . You look really familiar. Have we met before?”

Greg smiled again and took a step back. “Don’t think so.”

Sabrina tilted her head, studying Greg for another few seconds, as Greg turned to address Kate.

“Are we ready to shoot, Kate?”

“Whenever you are.”

“Then come here to me, Sabrina.”

As Greg gave Sabrina directions on where to stand and how to pose, Kate stepped back to Tyler’s side.

“That’s a work of art, Kate.” Tyler’s voice was pitched low enough that only she could hear. “If they don’t hire you for the position, they’re fools.”

She heard his sincerity and wondered if he was going to let her go without a fight. Maybe he didn’t care for her as deeply as she cared for him. Maybe she was reading too much into what had, so far, been a mostly sexual relationship.

How would he respond if she told him she loved him?

“Thank you for the vote of confidence. But . . .”

His gaze narrowed on hers. “What?”

She had no clue what he was thinking at the moment.

“What do you think I should do? Should I pack up and leave my dad and my friends and . . . everyone I know to go live in a huge city in an apartment on the top floor of a five-story walkup with no air-conditioning that costs me three times what my apartment does here? What if I hate it?”

“And what if it’s everything you’ve ever wanted and you love it?”

The words sounded forced, as if he didn’t want to say them but had to. Still, his expression remained placid. Unmoved.

What was it going to take to rattle that calm? She wanted him to show something, anything, of the emotions he was feeling, give her some clue as to what he was thinking.

But why should he? She hadn’t told him how she felt. And now wasn’t the time. Not with the others here.

One day at a time. Just take it one day at a time.

She turned back to watch Greg shoot Sabrina, not answering his question because she didn’t know how.

Greg had Sabrina standing with her back to the wall, head tilted up as she looked at the camera.

“That’s good, babe. Now smolder.”

Sabrina burst into one of her unrestrained laughing fits, and even with everything on her mind, Kate had to join her.

“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Sabrina’s hands went to her hips as she sent Greg a look that definitely didn’t smolder. “Smolder, my ass. What the hell does that mean anyway?”

Kate was about to answer when Greg took a few steps forward until he was close enough to Sabrina that, if she took a deep breath, her breasts would brush against his chest.

Sabrina’s eyes widened and she looked as if she wanted to take a step back but she was already up against the wall.

“I want you to look at me like I’m the man you want to throw down on the ground and screw his brains out.” Greg reached out to take one of Sabrina’s curls in his hand and draped it over the curve of her ample breast, enhanced by the leather corset. “Can you do that?”

Now, twenty-two-year-old Sabrina was not a virgin. Kate knew that because Sabrina the motormouth told her everything. But Kate also knew that the girl’s few sexual encounters hadn’t prepared her for Greg.

Kate opened her mouth to tell Greg to back off, but Sabrina found her footing.

Planting her hands on her hips, she fluttered her lashes and pouted as she stared straight up at Greg. “I think I can manage. Why don’t you take a few steps back and let me show you?”

“Let’s see what you got then.” Greg retreated about five feet then held up the camera. “Do it.”

Sabrina stood still for several more seconds as Greg snapped pictures. But finally, she moved.

And damn but the girl could smolder.

It would’ve made Kate smile if she hadn’t had so much on her mind.

The photos would be great. She knew she was qualified for the job.

But would she be losing a more important part of her life if she left?

As Sabrina began to loosen up in front of the camera, Tyler felt every muscle in his body tighten.

New York City. Kate was moving to New York City.

He had no doubt she was fully qualified for the position. The producers would be fools not to hire her, especially after they saw her portfolio.

This could be a career maker for her.

But it meant she’d leave him. She’d be busy creating a new life for herself. Carving out a career, settling into a new city.

Hell, he’d be just as busy if he agreed to take the chairmanship of the hotel board.

“Tyler.” Kate had pitched her voice low enough so only he could hear. “Is everything okay?”

He turned to smile at her. “I’m fine. Is something wrong?”

Her eyes narrowed, focused intently on him. Dissecting his response. “No, nothing’s wrong. You’re . . . awfully quiet.”

Go ahead. Tell her you love her. She’ll stay.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

Her smile was bittersweet. “I know what you mean. So what’s at the top of your pile?”

Damn it. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he didn’t want to sway her decision on this job in any way. He didn’t have the right. And he didn’t want to mess with her head while she had to make such an important decision.

“Hotel stuff.”

She waited for him to say more, to open up. Share.

But he already felt his walls going up.

Damn it, he wanted her to sign the contract Jed had given her for the boutique. Wanted a binding legal document between them so she couldn’t leave.

Hell, maybe you should just put a collar on her and make her stay.

Shit. That’s the last thing he wanted to do to her.

After what she told him about her parents, she’d hate him for trying to manipulate her life. Which is exactly what he’d be doing.

No, she had to want to stay with him or the relationship would be meaningless.

“Hey, Kate. Come look at these. Greg must be a damn good photographer because I actually look good in these.”

Sabrina’s summons broke their connection and Kate turned toward her and Greg.

“I had no doubt you would look fantastic.” Kate gave the girl a bright smile. “I really appreciate you both taking the time to do this for me.”