Page 19 of Colors and Curves

“I just took a chance that you’d be here. It was a long shot, but I lucked out.”

“Hopefully, that’s a good thing. Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy or a bad thing. You never know where it can lead you.”

“I did that on Friday and survived. And somehow, it led me here today.”

A tiny smile lifts her lips. “Would you like a cappuccino, an espresso? Maybe a glass of water?” She leads us to her office. “How about Chance? I can put some water in a mug. I don’t have any bowls handy.”

“Um, yeah. Sure.” She’s too nice to me.

“For you or Chance or both?” She looks over her shoulder and I have to blink. Her smile is breathtaking. My heart pounds in my chest, and my throat goes dry. “Water for both of us. Thanks.”

“Sure. Sparkling or still?” She looks down at Chance, who’s following her around the office. “I don’t think you drink seltzer. Regular tap water, right?”Woof.“That’s what I thought.” Now I can’t help but smile.

From the doorway, I inspect her office. I didn’t really notice much about it on Friday. There was too much going on in here then to look around. To the left is a neat, L-shaped white desk. It’s clean of business clutter and personal stuff. Two guest chairs stand in front of it. To the right is a large countertop with water bottles, glasses, cups, and a coffee maker. The walls are bare and aren’t the stark white that’s in the showroom. They might be a shade of gray.

I try to keep my eyes off her perfect ass in the white pants she’s wearing. I like that she’s not too skinny. So many of the models who audition for my photo shoots look nearly anorexic. There’s nothing wrong with some meat on a woman’s bones. That’s what gives them the sensual curves I need for my photos.

“Sit down and relax. Here’s your water.” She motions me to a seat and places a full glass on a coaster nearby. Then she hands me a full mug for Chance. I place it on the floor next to the chair, but wait for her to sit down. As soon as we’re seated, Chance trots over and starts lapping up the water. I take a couple of small dog biscuits from my pocket.

“It’s amazing how Chance reacts to you. He doesn’t warm up to strangers. To anyone, really. Other than me and Daisy and one of my assistants, he snaps and growls. But you—he went straight to you.”

“He sounds like someone else in this room,” she mutters.

I avoid looking at her because she’s right. I can hear the smile in her voice, though. She clears her throat. “How did he lose his leg?”

“I don’t know. Somebody found him injured, bleeding, and on the brink of death. Took him to the vet. They don’t know what happened but once he healed, the vet sent him to the pound. About six months ago, I decided to get a dog, so I went looking at the pound. I asked them which dog had been there the longest. They introduced me to Chance. He was still in the kennel, but we clicked. He was so excited, jumping around and barking. I couldn’t not take him home with me. So we left together. He’s been stuck to my hip ever since.”

Like he knows we’re talking about him, Chance chooses that moment to jump into my lap. The chair isn’t really big enough for the two of us, but we manage. I feed him the treats.

I look back and am surprised to see Skylar gazing at me. She has the cutest expression on her face, and her light-colored eyes glisten. “That was the sweetest story I’ve ever heard. Julius, I just might start to like you. Why the name Chance?”

“Because everybody deserves a chance, no matter how broken they are.”

Silence follows as we observe each other. That sentence was not only about Chance. It was also about me.

I break eye contact and notice the container full of rubber bands on the corner of her desk. “I think you owe me a better apology too.”

She perks up. “Excuse me? I haven’t even heard one from you yet.” Does she have a Boston accent? Something to ask. “What did I do to you?”

I take a rubber band out and stretch it in her direction. I let it go—accidentally, really!—and it bounces off her boob. She releases a soft gasp, then starts laughing. She shoots it back with horrible aim, and it flies over my shoulder. I lift my hands and try not to laugh. Chance jumps off my lap.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t on purpose. Well, okay, maybe it was, but I didn’t mean to hit you there.” My cheeks feel warm. Am I blushing?

“Huh. So you can be playful. You even laugh and smile. Who’d have known it?” She squints, then props her chin on her clasped hands. “What else are you hiding behind that wall of yours?”

Time to change the subject.

“The reason I came today was to apologize for the way I treated you at the park. I was an asshole. Then I showed up at the opening without announcing it. That was very unprofessional. I shouldn’t have played with you like that.” I toss my hands up. “And then the way I acted when I arrived today. I’m sorry.”

“So why did you?”

I’m suddenly nervous. I jump to my feet. Startled, she leans back in her chair, eyes wide.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. Sorry.” I wipe my hands on my shorts. “Do you feel like taking a walk? There’s a dog park not too far from here. Or we could go back to Central Park. It shouldn’t be too crowded today. Chance needs to run around a bit. Do you like ice cream? We can get some before we go to the park.”Stop babbling!

She smiles. “Did you say ice cream? My stomach growls as I speak. Let’s go.”

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