Page 22 of Stolen

“It’s true.” I sighed again. “I love it so much that I might be moving to Roanoke soon.”

“What?” Jacob seemed shaken by the revelation. “You’re moving to Roanoke?”

“There’s a position opening up there soon. If all goes well with this photoshoot, the job’s pretty much mine.”

“And that’s something you want? To live in Roanoke?”

“Why?” I quirked an eyebrow in his direction. “Is there something about Roanoke that I need to know?”

“Just that it’s a pretty great place,” Jacob started, his tone slightly shaky in a way I’d never heard before. “Fun fact, we’re actually known as The Moonshine Capital of the World.”

“Wow. What a way to sell Roanoke.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at Jacob’s response. “It’s good to know that I’ll be moving to a place where I can get the drunkest I’ve ever been in my life.”

“Yeah, I have no idea why I said that.” Jacob laughed now, too. “Shit. Good thing I don’t work on the tourism board for the city. Roanoke: Come get fucked up!”

“How about, ‘Roanoke: Where you can have a good drink with good friends’?”

“Ooh, that’s a nice one.” Jacob nodded. “No wonder you’re the PR king.”

I smiled over at Jacob, and he smiled back, something crackling between us. Instinctively, I leaned toward him, my lips eager to meet his.

But then, I noticed a figure in the corner of my eye.

“Bradley!” I greeted him with a nervous laugh. “I almost didn’t see you standing there.”

Bradley shrugged before he took a seat across from us. He didn’t say a word as he pulled out his phone, soon scrolling through the screen.

“Does he hate me?” I whispered to Jacob. “And is there anything I can do to make him not hate me?”

“He doesn’t hate you. If he hated you, he wouldn’t have even sat down.”

“Right.” I stared at Bradley for a second, before I stood up from my seat. “Anyway, I’ll catch up with you two later? I should probably get back to the photoshoot.”

“Meet me at that bar later? The one you liked?” Jacob suggested.

“Sure thing. I’ll come find you once everything’s wrapping up.”

“Vodka and apple juice? Really?”Jacob seemed suspicious as he eyed the drink that I’d just made for him.

“Garnished with a slice of apple.” I put the finishing touches on the glass, sliding a thin apple slice into the rim of it. “And everyone turns up their noses before they get a sense of the power of the apple.”

It’d been about an hour since the photoshoot had finished wrapping, and since Tommy and I had gone through the majority of the photos the team had picked as the best ones of the day. Even with Keith’s bullshit, I was happy to report that I hadn’t been completely knocked off my game. I was still optimistic about the shoot, and it seemed like the guys were pretty optimistic as well.

I just needed to keep my head above water and everything was going to be okay.

“I don’t doubt the power of the apple. I just don’t know if it’s meant to be paired with vodka?—”

“Drink it and all doubt will be cured.”

Jacob hesitated for a moment before he proceeded to quickly down the drink. A few seconds later, and there was a slight smile on his face.

“Damn. This is pretty good.”

“Told you so.” I started to make a repeat of the drink for myself. “The power of the apple strikes again.”

“Did you have a good shoot? After you went back downstairs?”

“I had a perfect shoot.” I sliced another piece of apple as I spoke. “Almost too perfect. Like I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

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