Billie Prescott? What a joke.” He stood so close, he could smell the coffee on her breath, feel her heat.
“Readers don’t think so,” she shot back.
Jet’s nostrils flared, his fists clenched. He flinched at a hand on his shoulder.
Stu said, “Hey, shake it off. We can discuss this later. Right now, your contestants--and your public--await. Please don’t keep them waiting any longer. Or the crew.”
After an intense moment, Jet broke away with a nod. “Sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t waste my time.” His implied on her hung heavy in the air.
Give it up , he told himself. Somehow, he knew it was easier said than done.
* * * *
As Jet turned away, Billie released a ragged breath. Her senses had sharpened by his nearness. Every part of her snapped aware of every inch of him. At close range, the crystal blue of his eyes had pierced hers.
She silenced the voice within urging her to ask: Hadn’t he read the comments following the blog? Some barbed, but the majority had been positive. Encouraging. Excited about the possibility of Jet recording something new.
She hadn’t meant to wound him. Only to ignite some long-lost spark in his music. The flame in him now appeared more like hatred. Unbridled fury. All aimed at her.
His last cutting comment stuck in Billie’s gut. Instinctively, she slid her palm across her stomach.
Appearing at her side, Justin winked. “Ignore the blowhard.”
Attempting a smile, she stepped back, wishing she could disappear. “Yeah.” Ignore the subject of her assignment. Good advice.
Not wanting to alienate Justin, she said nothing. Right now, he proved the only bright spot.
Jet consulted with Stu a moment, strode back down the stone path. When he emerged again, his smile could melt the panties off an ice queen.
Billie’s insides twisted. The phony. The bimbos ate it up too. All giggly and cozy, Ashley stuck to him like a blonde barnacle, and the others close behind. Danny followed them all to the limo.
Justin tapped her arm. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.”
She tried not to smile. “They’re free tonight.”
“Then I’ll buy you a few.” Tilting his head, he urged her to follow and headed to the front.
True to his word, Justin kept her glass filled throughout the afternoon into the evening. She sipped, staying a distance from Jet, who kept a girl beneath each arm at all times. The moment one moved away, he coaxed another to his side. Jet’s smile appeared conspiratorial. Intimate. As if he knew what each could do to him and couldn’t wait for it. The way he flirted, he mistook the winery for a singles bar, though he’d go home with all of them tonight.
Disappointment pricked at her when he never glanced in her direction once. She wandered onto a side deck and leaned over the rail. Light edged the horizon, though the sky overhead darkened and stars emerged one by one.
“Are you all right?” Justin slipped out the door.
Damn. She’d hoped for a moment to gather herself. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“I’m taking five. You’re shivering.” He ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders.
Stiffening, she straightened, looked away. “No, I’m fine.” Hopefully he’d get the hint.
His long legs straddled her. “I bet I could warm you up.” He tilted his head, as if readying to kiss her.
“What? No.” She moved to duck away.
He gripped her arms. “Oh, come on, Billie.”
“No.” Flailing, she jerked from his grasp.
“Everything all right?” Jet stepped through the doorway.
Sliding away to her side, Justin leaned against the rail. “It’s cool, man.”
Apparently unconvinced, Jet stared at Billie. “Is it?”
She hardly knew how to answer. Now, yes. But she didn’t want to get Justin in trouble. Nodding, she whispered, “Yeah.”
With narrowed eyes, Jet glanced from her to the videographer.
If Jet left, she’d have to deal with Justin again. Something she didn’t quite feel up to. “Excuse me.” She strode
“Readers don’t think so,” she shot back.
Jet’s nostrils flared, his fists clenched. He flinched at a hand on his shoulder.
Stu said, “Hey, shake it off. We can discuss this later. Right now, your contestants--and your public--await. Please don’t keep them waiting any longer. Or the crew.”
After an intense moment, Jet broke away with a nod. “Sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t waste my time.” His implied on her hung heavy in the air.
Give it up , he told himself. Somehow, he knew it was easier said than done.
* * * *
As Jet turned away, Billie released a ragged breath. Her senses had sharpened by his nearness. Every part of her snapped aware of every inch of him. At close range, the crystal blue of his eyes had pierced hers.
She silenced the voice within urging her to ask: Hadn’t he read the comments following the blog? Some barbed, but the majority had been positive. Encouraging. Excited about the possibility of Jet recording something new.
She hadn’t meant to wound him. Only to ignite some long-lost spark in his music. The flame in him now appeared more like hatred. Unbridled fury. All aimed at her.
His last cutting comment stuck in Billie’s gut. Instinctively, she slid her palm across her stomach.
Appearing at her side, Justin winked. “Ignore the blowhard.”
Attempting a smile, she stepped back, wishing she could disappear. “Yeah.” Ignore the subject of her assignment. Good advice.
Not wanting to alienate Justin, she said nothing. Right now, he proved the only bright spot.
Jet consulted with Stu a moment, strode back down the stone path. When he emerged again, his smile could melt the panties off an ice queen.
Billie’s insides twisted. The phony. The bimbos ate it up too. All giggly and cozy, Ashley stuck to him like a blonde barnacle, and the others close behind. Danny followed them all to the limo.
Justin tapped her arm. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.”
She tried not to smile. “They’re free tonight.”
“Then I’ll buy you a few.” Tilting his head, he urged her to follow and headed to the front.
True to his word, Justin kept her glass filled throughout the afternoon into the evening. She sipped, staying a distance from Jet, who kept a girl beneath each arm at all times. The moment one moved away, he coaxed another to his side. Jet’s smile appeared conspiratorial. Intimate. As if he knew what each could do to him and couldn’t wait for it. The way he flirted, he mistook the winery for a singles bar, though he’d go home with all of them tonight.
Disappointment pricked at her when he never glanced in her direction once. She wandered onto a side deck and leaned over the rail. Light edged the horizon, though the sky overhead darkened and stars emerged one by one.
“Are you all right?” Justin slipped out the door.
Damn. She’d hoped for a moment to gather herself. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“I’m taking five. You’re shivering.” He ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders.
Stiffening, she straightened, looked away. “No, I’m fine.” Hopefully he’d get the hint.
His long legs straddled her. “I bet I could warm you up.” He tilted his head, as if readying to kiss her.
“What? No.” She moved to duck away.
He gripped her arms. “Oh, come on, Billie.”
“No.” Flailing, she jerked from his grasp.
“Everything all right?” Jet stepped through the doorway.
Sliding away to her side, Justin leaned against the rail. “It’s cool, man.”
Apparently unconvinced, Jet stared at Billie. “Is it?”
She hardly knew how to answer. Now, yes. But she didn’t want to get Justin in trouble. Nodding, she whispered, “Yeah.”
With narrowed eyes, Jet glanced from her to the videographer.
If Jet left, she’d have to deal with Justin again. Something she didn’t quite feel up to. “Excuse me.” She strode
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