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She was gone She’d left his apart a word

She’d left hie after they’d slept together

He shook his head, dragged his fingers through his hair and leaned against the kitchen counter

Well, that felt shitty

And now he kne Carolina had felt He leaned against the kitchen counter, shaking his head and siven him

A payback he’d damn well deserved

Well played, Carolina Well played

TWELVE

"THIS HEMLINE NEEDS TO COME UP TWO INCHES JUST above the knee, so each tier of the skirt hasin front of the model to mark where the cut in the he her clothes on the er Now they had life

She twirled her finger, and the next th of the rooree," Edward said "Love the color and the way it clings to her body"

"Just one thing, though," Carolina said, squinting as she observed "The color It’s too e the fabric Flesh it out a bit Maybe more of a deep coral rather than a peach?"

Edward studied the ht I like the peach, but the coral would be stunning, especially with Felicia’s skin tone"

Carolina nodded and jotted down the change in her notebook "Let’s do that"

Edwardover textures and fabrics and design, watching the way each piece of clothingso

She’d spent the past feeeks i and she’d worked nonstop, seven days a week, burying herself in her designs as the clock ticked on finalizing everything

Since that night she’d spent with Drew, she hadn’t had a moment to think about hiotten up to use the bathroo to slide under the covers with hi had stopped her Maybe it was the way he looked, the covers dran, covering only his lower half He’d been sprawled on his stomach, his hair wildly unkempt, his ar, nearly brushed against his upper cheek His full lips were closed and she’d held her breath as she watched him sleep

God, he’d looked so sexy at that rab her sketch pad and draw hi just like that

Before the inspiration left, she’d gotten dressed and hightailed it out of there, grabbing a taxi and heading holes and shadows just right, she was satisfied she’d gotten the sketch as she’d envisioned it

It was beautiful Perfect

Exhausted after that burst of creativity, she climbed into bed and slept for two hours It wasn’t until after she woke up, showered, and made a cup of tea that she realized she’d just up and left Dreithout a word

She thought about calling hi at the button, then laid her phone down

After that night, it was probably best to just leave it alone They’d had a good time Or at least she had The sex had been phenoood together Their first time had been more than she’d fantasized about This ti about how he’d touched her, how many times he’d ht now

But just once Only that one ti to happen again

Diving headfirst into work had been the best way to keep herself froood sign he’d thought ain, maybe he was pissed she’d walked out on him She really did owe hih alone and call it another great one-night stand with Drew They seeht had been the last night

The only proble in her ht around the corner and she needed to finalize sizings before the holidays shut everything down and she wouldn’t be able to get in contact with everyone

Gray told her he’d coet hold of Drew and figure out ould be wearing what Then she needed to start an advertising ca that sketch of Drew asleep the ether, she already had a fantastic idea for advertising the underwear line She could get another one of the models--a professional--to do the shoot, but the proble Drew in that spot

Any hot, sculpted body would do Logically, she knew that But logic didn’t always fit with her inspiration She just couldn’t see anyone else in her rabbed her phone, hoping he didn’t answer and she’d get his voice s, Drew’s voice mail picked up

"Hey, Drew, it’s Carolina I’d like to arrange a time for you to co forabout how you’ll fit into ive me a call back, or just shoot me an email with your schedule for the next week, we can work so up, satisfied that she’d sounded completely professional

Now all she had to do ait until he--

She jumped when her phone buzzed in her hand She looked at the display, then relaxed when Stella’s na?"

"Good Crazy busy How about you?"

"It’s going well Rehearsals are intense andthis show"

"I can’t wait to come see it"

"I called to tell you I have a few hours’ break Can you take a little time off and have soht at the bar, either The proble herself off fro smoothly "I’d love to"

"Great"

They made plans to ave some instructions to her staff, then hopped in a taxi Stella aiting outside the restaurant