“PLEASE TELL ME that was breakfast I just heard being delivered,” I called out as I tossed my toiletry bag on the end of the bed.
“It was, so get your sweet ass out here so I can eat.”
I strolled out of the bedroom to see Kelly freshly showered, his hair pulled up in that haphazard way I loved on him, and wearing a pair of faded jeans with a tight black t-shirt and tan jacket lined with wool. He looked rugged, sexy, and all man, even as he pushed a service cart full of food toward the balcony doors.
“And here I thought you wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast.”
Kelly glanced over at me, a smirk curling his lips. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Fine.” I shrugged into my lightweight sweater. The fall air was crisp in the mornings out here. “But only because we have to be out in the next hour or so.”
He chuckled as he opened the French doors, and I moved in to greet him with a kiss. “You’re right—this is the perfect spot to eat breakfast,” Kelly said.
“We were too busy yesterday morning, but I thought it was a good way to say goodbye to the place.”
“But I don’t want to say goodbye.” I put a hand to his chest and leaned in to steal a kiss. “I’m not ready for it to end.”
“Me either.” Kelly took hold of my face and deepened the embrace. “But it’s only a place. This, you and me—we’re just beginning.”
Fucking. Swoon.
What this man made me feel was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. My heart was tripping all over itself.
“What’s that smile for?” Kelly brushed his thumb over the corner of my lip, and I nipped at it.
“I was just thinking how happy I am.”
“Oh yeah? And how happy is that?”
I pretended to think about that for a second then winked. “Happier than anything money could buy.”
“Coming from you, that’s pretty high praise.”
“Sure is, and you know what would make me even happier?”
“What’s that?”
I glanced over his shoulder to the covered food. “Breakfast. Someone wore me out last night.”
“Fair enough.” He gestured to the table out on the balcony. “Go sit, and I’ll bring it out.”
“I can make my own plate.”
“I know.” Kelly swatted my ass. “But I want to do it. So go sit.”
I wasn’t about to argue with that, and minutes later, Kelly placed two plates full of eggs, bacon, and pastries on the table, with the carafe of orange juice.
“This place really is something else,” he said as he sat down and looked out over the grounds of the estate. “Thank you for bringing me.”
“Thank you for coming.” He turned a cocky smile my way, and I chuckled, adding, “In all the ways.”
“Troublemaker.”
“Would you want me any other way?”
Kelly picked up his fork and speared a piece of bacon with it. “I want you any way I can have you. So yeah, I think I might keep you, troublemaker.”
I picked up a croissant and tore it in half. “Good.”
We fell quiet for a moment, the small talk having filled the space of what I really wanted to talk about with him, but for the moment I was content to enjoy the beautiful fall morning as we filled our bellies.
Ever since Mira had handed Kelly her card and told him to call her, my mind had been in overdrive with the possibilities of what that might mean. For him, for us, for our future together. But I was trying to be patient, trying to give him the opportunity to bring it up first, and so far, he hadn’t.
Kelly had had fun yesterday on the catwalk once he got past his nerves. I could see it in his eyes. Mira was right—he was a natural. My only worry was that he would remember how hard this industry had once been on him and think this was a fluke, a one-time thing. But that wasn’t the case. I could see the way the crowd, the photographers, and everyone who met him reacted to Kelly.
What he was missing was the right connection, and Mira was that connection.
“You’re being very quiet over there.” Kelly’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I held up my fork and tried for my most convincing smile. “I’m eating, that’s all.”
Kelly narrowed his eyes on me. “Nope. I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think there’s something else going on in that pretty head of yours.”
I shrugged and swallowed my mouthful of eggs, as Kelly hooked his foot behind one of my ankles.
“What is going on with you?”
“I—” I paused and put my fork down, letting out a sigh. “I was trying to be patient and wait for you to bring it up, but fuck it. How are you feeling about what Mira said to you yesterday?”
A frown pulled between Kelly’s brows, and then he let out a soft laugh. “That’s it? That’s what you’ve been sitting over there all stressed about?”
“I’m not stressed.”
“You’ve barely said two words to me since we sat down.”
My mouth fell open. “I…I was enjoying the morning.”
Kelly shook his head, rubbing a hand over his bearded cheeks. “It’s not like you to tiptoe around an issue.”
“I know. That’s what’s been killing me.” I leaned forward and reached out for his hand. “So… What are you going to do when we get back to the city?”
“I’m going to call your agent.”
I cocked my head. “Really? That’s it?”
“What else is there? She told me to call her, so I’m going to call her.”
I let go of his hand and sat back in my chair, letting out a huff. “Are you trying to drive me insane?”
“No.”
“Then tell me how you feel about what’s happened. Are you interested? Not interested? Excited? Eh? I’ll take anything at this point.”
Kelly took in a deep breath and then slowly let it out. “I don’t know how to feel. That’s the honest-to-God truth. Yesterday was… It was amazing. Walking a catwalk, modeling for a high-end fashion line. Are you kidding me? It was exactly what I dreamed about when I first moved to the city.”
I could feel a but coming as Kelly scratched his head and shrugged.
“But I don’t know, Donovan. I don’t want to get too excited and then just…” He sighed and reached for his juice. “I just don’t want to get too excited, that’s all.”
I could understand where he was coming from, especially knowing what a struggle he’d had over the last few years. But if ever there was a time to be excited, it was now. He needed to understand what a monumental opportunity this was, that Mira’s agency had the power to put him on the map in ways he never could’ve dreamed of.
“So, you’re excited about the opportunity? You’re just worried you’re going to be let down again?”
“Right.”
“Because it’s something you want?”
“Well, yeah. I’m not stupid. I know how rare it is to be seen by an agent and offered a chance to be represented by them. But I also know how quickly it can all go to shit.”
I got to my feet then took a seat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Can I tell you something?”
“Could I really stop you?”
Nope. I was on a roll now. “You were an absolute natural on that catwalk yesterday. You have a way about you that just demands attention.”
Kelly wound his arms around my waist. “Yeah, well, you’re my boyfriend. You kind of have to feel that way.”
“I felt that way before I even knew your name. Trust me, you have that it factor, Kelly. I’m not sure what agency you were with before, but Mira knows her shit. She sees dozens of model portfolios daily, whether it be in person or online. I’ve never once seen her offer up a card minutes after meeting someone.”
That confident smile I knew so well crossed Kelly’s lips. “No?”
“Nope. She was mesmerized. Your presence seems to do that to people.” I ran my fingers over the back of his neck. “I know it’s scary to want something so bad, but you should be pumped about this.”
“I am.” He started to laugh. “On the inside, I’m doing fucking backflips about it.”
“Good. So you are interested?”
“Of course I am.”
“Then this is perfect. This industry is all about networking, connections, right place, right time. And that all happened for you this weekend.”
“You’re right.” Kelly nodded, pulling me into his arms. “I just want it so fucking bad.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that. The possibilities are awesome.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine. But I want to.” He kissed the top of my head, and I shifted so I could brush my lips against the side of his neck.
“Sooo… What would that mean for your other job?”
“As in…?”
I sat back in his arms. “As in Xes? If you could make a living this way, modeling. Would you continue with that? Would you want to?”
“That’s really the question, isn’t it? Xes has invested a lot of time and money into me, and the money is good. Can I just give that up in the hope that your agent finds me a job?”
I could see where he was coming from, but I also knew Mira. She wasn’t going to take on a client if she didn’t think there was something in it for her—and that something was a big, fat commission check.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Plus, the check you’re going to get from yesterday will likely take care of your rent for the next three months.”
“Wait? What? I’m getting paid for that?”
“Um, yeah, and pretty well, I might add.”
The incredulous look on Kelly’s face had a laugh bubbling up out of me.
“Trust me, Mira wouldn’t take you on if she didn’t have something in mind for you to make her some cash. But I can understand why you’re hesitant.”
“I just don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.”
I bit back the first thing that popped into my head and then, weirdly enough, Daire’s tell him what you’re thinking advice sprang to mind.
“What about this?” I wriggled my ass over his lap. “You still only want to put this in one place, right?”
Kelly stroked a hand over my hair. “Right, and this talk has helped make my decision a little easier.”
“It did?”
“Yeah.” He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss. “So thank you for not holding back.”
“You’re welcome.” I laughed and hugged him in tight, hoping with every fiber of my being that Kelly could see what the rest of us did. Then maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have to worry about sharing the man I’d fallen for with anyone else.
