After I gave the driver the address of where I was headed, we were on our way. Elated, I looked out the window. Excitement tingled every nerve in my body. I couldn’t wait to be inside the New York Fashion Show that I’d been dreaming of since…well…ever since I was born. Thankfully, the driver didn’t ask many questions, so in order to pass the time, since the traffic was horrendous as expected—the reason why I’d left early—I observed the pedestrians on the sidewalk. Building after building, crowd after crowd of people going who knew where. Before I knew it, we had reached our destination.

“Thank you,” I smiled, paying the driver, but I frowned at the cost. It had cost me thirty bucks, all because of the stupid traffic…oh well. “Keep the change.”

Stepping outside, the wind swept me back several steps and I almost knocked someone over. “Sorry,” I apologized. She looked at me like I was crazy. That was New York for you. She probably knew I was from out of town, especially since I didn’t have a New York accent.

Looking for the entrance, I glanced around and noted how many people were there already. Weaving in and out of crowds hanging out, I pushed my way through the front entrance. Perhaps it was the fact that they were used to this kind of weather, but being from Los Angeles…well…that simply said it all. I needed to get inside the warmth. Taking out my small hand purse, I pulled out my ticket.

“Thank you,” the lady said, pointing to her right. Then she handed me a pamphlet.

“Thank you,” I said and headed to my seat.

“Jenna!” I heard my name from a distance. Twisting my head from left to right, I looked straight ahead when I heard my name again.

“Jake,” I smiled happily, though surprised. I didn’t know why I was. He was bound to be there with his team. He practically tackled me…that was surprising.

“You made it,” he said, releasing me. “This is my team.”

I waved to a group of guys, who waved back.

“Jenna, this is Megan,” Jake introduced.”

How could I forget? She took my job. “Yes, hello Megan,” I smiled.

“Hello…what was your name again?” Her smile looked sort of fake.

“Jenna.” To be polite I should’ve extended my hand to her, but from her tone and attitude it seemed like she wouldn’t have taken it.

“Oh, yes. I remember now. You were interviewing for the position I got.” She held a smirk I wanted to scrub off her face with a spiky sponge.

Way to sock it to me. And what was that for? But I wasn’t going to let her put me down like that. “I did, but they needed my expertise in a different department.”

Megan didn’t say a word after that; instead she nodded, then pretended to smile and wave at someone from afar. If she was waving to a real person, I wouldn’t have known. I wasn’t going to look.

“Are we sitting together?” Jake inquired, looking at my ticket.

“Oh…I don’t know.” I glanced to his finger pointing to a number.

“You got the VIP seat?” He squealed. “How did that happened?” His eyes were beaming, looking excited for me.

Megan shot her eyes at me. I got her attention all right. “Are you sure, Jake?”

“Well, she isn’t sitting with us, for sure. We’re on the opposite side. But that makes sense. I’m with all the camera crew. But Megan—”

“We better get to our seat,” Megan snapped, obviously heated over that fact that I was going to be in a VIP front row seat. Oh yeah!

**

Sliding down the row of seats, I glanced at my ticket several times and finally stopped at the number that matched my ticket. Double-checking to make sure it was mine, I settled in. The temperature was neutral, but I still kept my coat on. Noting that many people were looking for their seats, I figured it must mean that it was close to show time.

Sitting there, glancing around, I recognized some movie stars. Thrilled beyond words to see them and to be there, I wanted to squeal from the top of my lungs. Trying to maintain my heartbeat, I flipped through the pamphlet.

I was so occupied with reading the list of names that I hadn’t realized someone was sitting next to me. When a warm hand cuddled mine, I immediately knew it was Max. It had to be. No one else spread heat through my body that fast, and no one else smelled the way he did, awaking me.

“You made it before I did.” He grinned in ways that made my heart flip.

It had been less than twenty-four hours since I’d seen him…how he could make my stomach flutter like that was unnerving. “I…I…yes,” I muttered, looking at him and then quickly turning away.

“I assume you got my note?”

“Yes,” I nodded, trying my best not to look at him.

“Did you eat lunch?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t replace me with another lunch buddy, did you?”

That got my attention. I flashed my eyes to his. Trouble! “I…no.” Not meaning to, I gave him the biggest, almost laughing smile.

Something happened at that moment. His lips curled up with warmth…with tenderness…staring…studying me.

With much effort, I turned away, slightly fanning the pamphlet I gripped tightly in my hand. Breathe…breathe…breathe.

“You got a pamphlet?” His tone went up a notch.

Like a dummy, no words escaped my mouth; instead, my eyes shifted to the pamphlet still in my hands.