Sharon Cooper - Model Attraction

“Austin, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think—”

“Yeah, that’s the problem, Janna. You never think about how your actions are going to affect someone else. You’re still the selfish, careless, impulsive person you were years ago.”

Fury rumbled inside her and she placed her hands on her hips, stepping closer to him.

“Now, you wait just a minute! You have every right to be mad at me for kissing you, but I will not stand here and let you call me names. You don’t know me!”

“And whose fault is that?”

Janna stared at him. Hurt flickered in his eyes, but disappeared so quickly she thought she might have imagined it. Guilt churned in her gut. He wasn’t only talking about tonight. Tension bounced off him like heat from a roaring fire as she struggled for the right words to say. So many times she had imagined what she would say to him when she had a chance to apologize. Yet nothing seemed to be good enough.

“Austin, listen.”

“No, you listen. I don’t know what that kiss was all about back there, but count me out of any games that you’re playing. You gave up your rights to kiss me on a whim years ago. Now stay the hell away from me.”

Instead of going back to the event, he stormed away along the concrete path that led around the building.

Remorse settled in her chest. She and Austin had once been so good together. He was her first love. The first person outside of Mama Adel who’d made her feel special. She had vowed back then to love him forever. Instead, she had discarded their plans for the first opportunity for fame and fortune that had come her way.

Janna toyed with the promise ring that went everywhere she did. She knew now that Austin would never listen to anything she had to say. He would never forgive her.

Chapter 4

Two days later, Austin sat in a meeting, half listening to the weekly report from department heads. Due to traveling, he had already missed two meetings that month and needed to be brought up to date, but he couldn’t focus. He couldn’t shake the confusing emotions left behind by that kiss Janna had planted on him. It might have been unexpected, but he would be lying if he said that he hadn’t enjoyed finding out that her lips were still cushiony soft. But damn his treacherous body for wanting more than a kiss from her.

“We’ve had to hire a different carpenter contractor for the San Jose project.” Clarence Golding, the project director, cut into Austin’s thoughts. “The one we were using is under a federal investigation, and no, it has nothing to do with Reynolds Development,” he said, as if knowing Austin or his father would ask.

“That’s good to know.” Patrick stood and walked across the room, pouring himself another cup of coffee. “How are things with...”

Austin’s mind drifted again as he stared out the conference room window, exhaustion consuming his body. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since the fundraiser. Flashbacks of the way he had spoken to Janna continued to trouble him. There was a time when he wouldn’t have even considered raising his voice to her or uttering a mean word. And after he’d told her to stay away from him, the night had gone downhill from there. He had intended to leave the event early but not before the dinner. Of course, the first call he received Sunday morning was from his mother. To say she was pissed would be an understatement. But she’d definitely gotten his attention when she pointed out his recent failures where women were con—

“Is everything all right, son?”

Austin’s gaze lifted to where his father stood near the chair at the head of the conference table, staring at him, concern in his eyes. Glancing around, Austin was surprised to see that everyone else had cleared out.

He closed the file in front of him and stood. “Yes, sir, everything is fine.”

“Then why have you been distracted since you arrived this morning? This is our third meeting of the day and you have only interjected maybe once or twice. Normally on a Monday morning, you’re full of information, bringing us all up to date on the financials for each project.”

Austin gathered his files and pen. “Sorry, Dad. I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Does your lack of focus have anything to do with this?” Patrick unfolded a newspaper and dropped it in front of Austin. “Looks like you put on quite the show Saturday night. I’m not sure how your mother and I missed this.”

Austin groaned and picked up the newspaper, zoning in on the picture of him and Janna kissing.

Catwalk Queen Has a New Beau was splashed across the top of the article.

Janna Morgan has been on the arms of many leading men, music moguls and professional athletes, but this is the first time she’s been caught kissing anyone. According to our sources, the mystery man is an Atlanta business executive, Austin Reynolds. Is Reynolds just another notch in the model’s designer belt, or could this be more serious?

Austin quickly skimmed the rest of the article as anger simmered within him. For almost twenty-eight years he’d managed to stay clear of any negative publicity, and Janna showed up in town and suddenly he was top entertainment news.

Cursing under his breath, he dropped the paper on the table. How should he handle this? If he kept quiet, maybe it would just go away.

“I didn’t realize you two had reunited. I spoke briefly with Janna Saturday night and she’s as sweet as I remember, but she didn’t lead me to believe that you two were back together.”

“That’s because we’re not. That...that,” he stuttered and pointed at the photo, “shouldn’t have happened.”

“Well, you can’t tell by looking at the picture.” His father chuckled. “As a matter of fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you two were very much in love. A man doesn’t kiss a woman like that unless he still has feelings for her.”

Austin didn’t want to have this conversation. It had taken him weeks after Janna had left for him to even tell his parents that she’d gone to Italy to pursue a modeling career. And even then the only thing he’d told them was that they weren’t together anymore.

“Well, this is a good example of the media getting it all wrong.” Austin made a move to leave but stopped when his father called his name.

“When will I have the numbers for the Dunkin project in Alpharetta?”

Patrick and his brother had built the company from the ground up and within five years had made it into a million-dollar business. While in college, Austin had interned for his father, working six days a week while carrying a full class load. He had always had business sense, even from a very young age, and had been good with numbers. His father had groomed him to one day fill the role of chief financial officer. His BA in business and finance, as well as his MBA, enhanced what he had learned on the job.

“I had planned to have that information to you this morning, but you’ll definitely have it on your desk before I leave today.”

Austin got to the closed conference room door before his father spoke again.

“Son, I know it’s none of my business, but when are you going to let the past go?” He nodded toward the newspaper. “It’s clear you two have some unfinished business. And I have watched you the last few years, getting in and out of relationships, looking for something you apparently haven’t found. Is it possible that you’ve been looking in the wrong place? Maybe Janna is what’s missing in your life.”

“Dad.”

“Hear me out.” His father grabbed the newspaper from the table and refolded it, sticking it in the file that was in his hand. “There’s nothing I want more than for you and your brother to find women who will make you as happy as your mother has made me. But there’s something you need to understand. Getting hurt is a part of life. Staying hurt is a choice.”