Chapter 12
Jake paused, his foot nearly slipping off the brake, heart stuttering at the sight of Georgia walking his way. She was on her own catwalk, strutting his way, heels clicking like a punctuation.
He couldn’t look away, his eyes locked in on those legs that were as breathtaking as a winter’s night. The more time he was around her the stronger this attraction grew. He wanted to work this out in the sheets. While she likely wanted to knee him in the nuts.
Henry called last night to check in and, wouldn’t you know it, Jane was on the other line with Georgia.
From what Henry could gather, and it wasn’t much, she didn’t think he was a complete asshole anymore.
Not that it mattered. Jane made it clear that ever since she landed this project she’d gone on a dating hiatus.
So even if they could overcome his globe-trotting job, he didn’t stand a chance in hell.
There he was, doing the thing he hated most—promotions—in hopes of, well, he wasn’t sure. But it felt important.
He knew the minute she spotted him behind the driver’s wheel of one of the antique cars. She halted like she’d hit a wall.
He pulled the car in line with her and rolled down the window. He met her frown with a shit-eating grin.
“Morning, darlin’.”
Jake revved the engine of the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. Only thirty-six had been made, making this the ultimate trophy car. A few years back one sold at auction for nearly fifty million. Being able to be in its presence was incredible. Driving it, even fifty feet, was a dream come true.
“If you could smirk less like you're in a cologne ad and more like you’re the face of an elite sport, that’d be great.”
“This is my elite sport face. You’re just distracted by the smirk.”
“Distracted? Please. I’ve seen mannequins with more range.”
“You sure? Because I saw that little eyebrow twitch earlier. That’s your ‘he’s annoying but kind of hot’ face.”
“That's my ‘he’s two seconds from a cease and desist’ face”
Fact: She did not detest him, he was starting to think it was the opposite. Fact: The nonstop bickering between them was foreplay. Fact: She liked him more than she was letting on. Fact: He could fall for her all over again. If only he knew she’d stay. And that was a big if.
“What was he supposed to say after you offered him VIP tickets to the race in Monaco?”
“Nowhere in the rules did it say I can’t use my connections.”
“It’s called stacking the house.”
It was called the desperate actions of a man who wanted to see if that elusive thing that had been between them was still there.
“It’s called working the system within the parameters of our deal.”
“Whatever.” Georgia eyes flicked upward in exasperation. “Before you go bragging again, can we actually get to why we came here? The whole crew is waiting on you.”
He winked her way. “You just want to see me with my jumper around my hips.”
Once upon a time, she told him she liked him in his jumper. But he knew she loved him when it was around his hips, leaving him in a skintight team shirt.
“Thanks again for clearing the use of your uniform. I know you had to pull some major strings to get the owners to agree. It will make this ad so much better.”
“No problem,” he said and felt a flutter in his chest when she smiled his way. “Now let’s get this rodeo on the road. I have a dinner to prepare for.”
The lights were blinding, but Jake’s smile practically had its own spotlight. Georgia wondered which one would give her a headache first.
She blinked against the glare, tugging her clipboard like it might somehow shield her from the chaos. The air smelled of engine oil, cheap coffee, and ambition, and somewhere in the mix, Jake was effortlessly posing as if the cameras weren’t even there.
Georgia’s instincts screamed “stay professional,” but her eyes kept drifting to him, like a moth circling a flame that smelled suspiciously like trouble.
Then she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye— Rachel prowling the edge of the set, phone raised like she was about to steal state secrets instead of a few photos.
Click.
Click.
Click.
“Rachel,” Georgia stroud over, clipboard held out in front of her like a battering ram. “This is a closed set. That means no cameras.”
Rachel glanced up, grin wide as if she hadn’t just broken the rules. “Relax. These are for in-house purposes only. Family perks.”
“There are no family perks,” Georgia said firmly.
“The only photos are professional ones. It’s important that the first images shown to the public are announcing the partnership.
If anything leaks beforehand, it will ruin our launch.
So those pictures don’t leave this set. Not on your camera. Not on anyone’s.”
Rachel leaned slightly, eyes flashing like warning lights. “You really are all business. No wonder Jake notices you—he loves a good challenge.”
Georgia wasn’t a challenge. She was a professional doing her job. And a damn fine job at that. And she wasn’t going to let Rachel make her think any less.
“Then maybe you should remind him challenges have boundaries,” Georgia replied, voice steady.
Rachel’s smile sharpened. “I don’t need to remind him. I need to remind you. Jake’s world doesn’t leave much room. Not for second place. Not for distractions. Definitely not for entanglements.”
“I’m not a distraction. I’m not anyone’s second place. I’m not looking for any entanglements. Your golden boy is safe.”
Rachel smiled. “Thanks for the clarification.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. Now, I’d like you to delete the photos.”
Rachel rolled her eyes but scrolled through her photos.
Georgia considered checking her phone but thought that would just create more friction and the last thing she needed was another round with Rachel.
She’d gone head-to-head with her once and walked away with a battered heart.
There was no way she’d make that same mistake.
There could be nothing but professionalism between her and Jake.
“Done,” Rachel said, slipping her phone into her pocket. “Just don’t mistake working with Jake for something more. He’s my brother. And that makes me an expert at spotting when he’s playing with fire.”
Georgia exhaled, forcing herself to turn back to the shoot. Jake was mid-pose, blissfully unaware of the quiet storm that had just passed through his set. Rachel lingered a heartbeat longer, letting her warning hang in the air, before stepping back and disappearing into the shadows.