Chapter 12
MADDIE
“You look lovely,” Antoine pronounces, looking me up and down. “And now that Snorty is finished with his beauty treatment, let's prepare for the press conference.”
He gestures to the garment bag delivered from Veronica’s boutique. "Put on the jacket. It will provide the perfect structural counterpoint to the jeans and T-shirt."
I slide my arms into the ivory blazer. It feels expensive. Heavy silk lining, perfect tailoring. It narrows at my waist, accentuating my shape.
Antoine steps back, nodding. "Perfect. Now you're ready to face the wolves."
“They’re not that bad, are they?” I ask, hating the slight wobble of fear in my voice.
“No. But you must let them warm to you, Maddie,” he says, leaning in close.
"The most important thing is they must like you. They must feel you're earnest. Make them champion you."
I swallow hard, remembering his warning from earlier.
"I'll do the best I can," I promise.
I place Snorty in his carrier, and we follow Antoine out of the salon and down the corridor.
It is not until we enter the ballroom where the conference will be held that I feel my gut twist.
It is not just the press I am worried about. It is Rio.
I have not seen him since I called our non-existent first kiss "delicious" in the briefing room. The memory brings heat to my face.
It has been around ten years since Rio kissed me on my 13th birthday.
To him, it probably was not even a kiss. Just a lip brush with his best friend's kid sister.
Now he is probably strutting like a peacock, thinking I still remember that kiss after all these years.
I stop at the back of the room and look toward the dais where Rio and I are supposed to sit.
It is a long table covered in a white tablecloth with two microphones. Behind it, a giant poster of Rio's face smirks down at everyone.
Turning to the entrance, I see the journalists arrive and find their seats. Among them is Rio.
My mouth goes dry.
Unlike me, he did not need a stylist. The man is naturally gorgeous. He is squeezed into black pants so tight they might as well be painted on.
His black shirt stretches across his chest, showing off every muscle.
Rio spots me at the back of the room and walks over. His dark eyes linger on my new jacket, then drop to my jeans.
"Maddie." That signature half-smile plays on his lips before his voice drops to a low purr.
"Ready for round two? Or are you still thinking about my delicious kiss?"
My face flames instantly. I force my eyes back up to his handsome face, hoping he did not catch me staring at his body.
"Don't let Antoine's silly question and my made-up answer go to your head," I scoff. "We are both counting on this press conference to go well, so do your part."
"I will start with a compliment," he says. "You clean up well." He glances at my puppy, resting in the carrier. "You too, Snorty."
Snorty lets forth a happy yip.
“Ah, he likes compliments,” says Rio, chuckling.
“Yes. It is his weakness," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "He seems to be warming to you.”
"Of course he is. All creatures warm toward me eventually," Rio says, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Isn't that right, Schoolmarm?"
My face burns. I open my mouth to retort, but the sound of feedback whines from the front of the room.
The technicians signal they are ready.
While Rio smiles confidently, I reflect on my own feelings.
When I accepted this assignment, I did not think close proximity with Rio would be an issue.
It has been four years since that night. And a million other men have replaced Rio in my girlish childhood fantasies.
But as I look at him again, I realize that my head is saying one thing. And my body quite another.