Page 71 of Only If You Dare

Chapter Twenty Three

Julian

She was avoiding me and doing a really good job at it. I sighed and ended the call I made for what felt like the one-hundredth time. On Desiree’s voicemail, she asked me to leave a message and would promptly return my call. But the sun had set and rose without so much as a text. I was frustrated. Wanting a woman so bad that being ignored by her felt crushing at every minute. It was unnatural for me. What was most disturbing is I didn’t know what I had done to warrant the silence. I played around with a bunch of maybes, which never got me anywhere, so I went about my frustrating day. Business had to go on, so I pushed Desiree to the back of my mind. But as soon as I was in the middle of grabbing a few shots, or checking wardrobe, she’d be there haunting me again.

“Last shots!” Kelsey yelled. “Make it count!”

I stood to the side and watched the photographer work all his angles. Many times, I wanted to jump when I saw a shot I felt was detrimental to get, but I stayed to the side and let him work.

“Turn, turn!” the photographer shouted. “Yes, hold it!” Flashes from his camera lit up the room. “That’s it!” The photographer approached me with a broad smile.

“Wait till you see these last few,” he said nodding his head up and down. Handclaps pulled my attention away from him.

“Mr. Rose!” Lacey waved with a bright smile on her face. Surprised, I traipsed to her.

“Hey kid, what brings you here to see me?” I glanced from her to Desiree, who clutched Antonio’s hand in a fist.

“We thought you would be with Ms. Steven’s, but she said you were busy finalizing everything.”

My gaze traveled to Desiree. “Did she now?” I drawled. Our eyes locked and she smiled gracefully.

“Yes, I did, I knew you were busy with things.”

“I’m never too busy that I can’t take a call,” I said. “I would’ve made time.” I took my eyes away from her. “But you’re here now, right?”

“Right!” Lacey beamed.

“Right!” Antonio mimicked.

“Have you guys had anything to eat?”

Lacey shook her head adamantly. “We ate before coming over.”

A grin spread across my face. “What about dessert?”

Antonio and Lacey’s eyes arched.

“Dessert!” Antonio yelled, and I laughed.

“Follow me,” I said leaving for the eatery station we had set up. “What would you like, brownies, ice cream, cupcakes?”

“So many choices,” Lacey said. Desiree’s laugh sent a ripple crashing through me. It had only been a few days since I’d heard her voice, but it felt like eternity.

“Lacey take Antonio over to a table, and you guys enjoy some dessert,” I said my eyes lingering on Desiree. I didn’t need to tell Lacey twice. She was gone before I could finish my sentence.

Desiree shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes landing everywhere but me.

“How are you?” I asked.

Finally, she engaged me. “I’m good, how about yourself?”

“I could be better.”

Her eyes traveled up then down then back up again. “You look good,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “But then, you always do.” Desiree offered a languid smile. She was nervous, and I was about to find out why.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Her hand trailed up her neck then she dropped it. “No, why would you ask that?”

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