None of which should include a last-minute photo shoot by a famous Hollywood producer simply because she wanted to show off two of her new pieces.
But those pieces are awesome.
She had to agree with herself. The steampunk costume she’d made for Sabrina to wear to Philadelphia’s Comic Con was worth its weight in gold. She’d found everything at thrift stores and antique shops and combined them into one kick-ass steampunk chick, full of in-your-face gadgets and baubles.
The second piece she’d made for herself. The gown was total fairy princess. Lavender velvet bodice, satin and velvet skirt with a pattern she’d hand stitched. There wasn’t one edge that wasn’t trimmed out with lace. It had thirty buttons down the front and a boned corset.
She’d made it with the intention of wearing it to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, but it’d never seen the light of day because she and Arnie could never agree on a weekend. Either she had to work or he had to work or they’d had some family obligation to attend, so the dress had hung in her closet.
And now it might net her the job of her dreams.
But did she still want that job?
Yes. Of course you do.
Her gaze settled on Tyler, still on the phone. He looked to be in his element, taking care of things, making plans.
She wasn’t going to let a man interfere with her plans. Not even one as perfect for her as Tyler.
She picked up her phone and called Sabrina.
“Sorry, I’m late. Traffic was a bitch on the turnpike. Hey, Kate. Nice to see you again.”
Kate smiled at Greg, wondering if she should be embarrassed by the man she’d had sex with last weekend with the blessing of her boyfriend. “Hi, Greg. Thanks for doing this for me. I really appreciate it.”
She’d wondered how he’d handle the situation and was relieved when he brushed a kiss against her cheek and squeezed her shoulder. No trace of snark or innuendo to be found.
The load on her shoulders lifted by the tiniest bit, enough to make her realize she’d been stressing over that as well.
The pile of stress had seemed insurmountable only minutes ago. But the stress had seemed abstract. Greg’s arrival had made everything that much more real.
He was here to take pictures for her portfolio so she could interview for the job of her dreams tomorrow.
The job that would make it nearly impossible for her to continue her relationship with the man of her dreams.
The man who was practically pushing her onto the bus for New York.
Maybe she wouldn’t get hired. There was a good possibility she wouldn’t.
Maybe she wouldn’t want the job. Did she want the job?
That was the question that’d been rolling around her brain more often than any other all day.
Taking the job meant moving. It meant giving up her home, giving up the client list she’d been building for wedding gowns and burlesque costumes and lingerie.
It meant giving up the boutique.
And for what?
An off-Broadway show that might have a shot at moving to Broadway. And what happened when the show closed? Would she be able to return to her life here? Would the clients she’d cultivated so carefully still want to work with her?
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?”