Guarding her, p.8
Guarding Her, page 8
“I know you’re both busy so I’m going to get right to it. Gia, we’d like for you to do more than just Clarita’s swimsuit line. We’re not trying to poach you,” she said, looking at Clarita quickly. “Which is why I’ve invited the both of you together. I didn’t want any miscommunication.”
“Okay.” Gia wasn’t really sure what else to say. She was out of her depth here and could admit it. “Can you explain a bit more?”
The server brought them a basket of sourdough rolls that smelled amazing but no one else touched them so she didn’t either.
“We would like you to be the face of one of our Miami-centric lines. You’ve got the exact look we’re going for and people have responded well to your waterfall video. The positivity is through the roof. You really have that girl next door look and people are loving it. I do think you need more of a social media presence but that’s something we can talk about later.” She continued for a few minutes, and as she did, Gia took a moment to gather her thoughts.
By the time Odette had finished, their salads had been delivered. Gia picked up her fork, but didn’t touch the salad yet. “I’m not interested in modeling anything other than Clarita’s designs.” Gia didn’t think it was her imagination when Clarita’s shoulders relaxed.
Odette blinked. “Oh.”
“I’ve been having fun, but this isn’t something I want to do for a living. Not really. I’m more than happy to model Clarita’s bathing suit line or any of her other ones, but I need to be clear, that’s it. And only on a temporary basis. I have a job I love and don’t plan on giving it up.”
Odette leaned back slightly, looked between the two of them, then smiled, though it seemed a bit more brittle than before. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed. So don’t give me a solid answer just yet. Think on this. Willa told me you’d be a hard sell and she wasn’t wrong.”
Now it was Gia’s turn to blink. “You work with Willa?” Gia had interned with Willa Hurdle a few years ago when she’d been in college. While she’d loved the work, the internship had opened her eyes to the fact that fashion and design were not for her. The atmosphere had been hard, with backstabbing and intensity and a sort of toxicity that seemed woven into the fabric of everything.
“She’s my boss. Listen, both of you take the day here, enjoy yourselves. I’ve booked you a full day at their spa. You can do anything you want—facials, body wraps, whatever. Do everything and relax. Lunch is already covered as well. I’ll be in touch with you by Monday. I hate to run, but I actually got called into another meeting.” She looked down at her cell, typed something out furiously fast as she stood. “Enjoy the rest of your day, ladies.”
Once she was gone and out of sight, Gia looked at Clarita, eyebrows raised. “Well that was interesting.”
Clarita speared a cube of butternut squash and some other vegetables, sighed after she swallowed. “I hate that she was right about this stupid salad.”
Gia snickered as she dug in. After a few minutes she said, “Have they officially signed you on?”
Clarita’s expression darkened slightly as she shook her head, her dark curls bouncing. “No. I understand that things move slowly but it’s like they get off on making me jump through hoops. Or more likely I’m just exhausted and cranky.”
“Well, I’m not signing on with them. That’s ridiculous.” She glanced over as a man and woman sat a couple tables over, frowned for a moment. The woman looked familiar but she couldn’t place her.
“Don’t do that because of me. Seriously, they’ll work you hard but the money will be worth it. By industry standards, you’re almost too old,” she said with an eyeroll. “But they must really like what they’re seeing from that video to offer you a separate contract.”
She gave Clarita an arch look. “We’re a package deal. I know I did that shoot with them last Friday but that was a one-off.”
“They were testing the waters, then. I guessed it, but couldn’t be sure until this lunch invite.” Clarita shook her head again, her frustration clear. “I’m annoyed to be right.”
Gia lifted a shoulder. “Well too bad. I’ll tell her when she calls that I’ll only work for you. And truthfully, I’d rather my contracts be through you than them. It’ll give you leverage anyway.”
Clarita let out a long breath. “Thank you. I didn’t want to pressure you, but seriously, thank you. I think with your video—”
“Your video and your clothing. I broke my rule about not reading the comments, and a lot were about me, but people love the whole mermaid thing you’ve got going on.” Herself included. Clarita’s designs were ready-to-wear but they weren’t fast fashion, quickly disposable. Gia understood enough that Clarita’s line would be priced higher and marketed in certain regions only—in big cities like Miami. “People are really interested in what you’re making and want more of it.”
Clarita grinned, some of her earlier tension fading even more. “That’s what I keep telling myself. I just…keep getting down on myself every day that passes that they won’t sign with me. I’ve had interest from other houses and I’m tempted to move forward with one of them. I just really like that they’re local, I like their business model and I love their sustainability initiatives. And if I work with another house, it’ll mean a lot more travel. Something I don’t want.”
“We’ll go in as a united front, then—with you doing all the talking and negotiating.” Gia had an attorney who looked at her contracts, and while she read them, she hated all the legalese stuff.
“Until then, we’re doing exactly as Odette said and taking full advantage of the spa here,” Clarita added.
She lifted her glass and toasted. “Hell yeah.” As she did, she noticed the woman from the other table watching her. Gia smiled politely, trying to figure out where she knew her from. From school maybe.
But the other woman simply glared and turned away.
Gia blinked, surprised at the ugly look from the woman, but their server returned and blocked the woman out. By the time they’d ordered desserts, the woman and her companion were gone.
Feeling off-kilter, she tucked away the weird moment and forgot about it. Which was easy to do when she received an incoming text from Lawson. He was going to be on his contract for another week.
She swallowed back her disappointment and left the message unread for now. She’d respond later—and try to somehow convince herself to get over him. An impossible feat, considering how sweet he’d been the last two weeks. They’d been texting and calling, and the more she got to know him, the more she realized this wasn’t some little crush.
It felt a lot more real than that. But other than a little flirting, he hadn’t said anything more about wanting to date.
And she wasn’t going to chase after him. But she wasn’t sure how to move past him, to get over him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Clarita pressed the green call button on her car’s dash, answering her cell via the Bluetooth. “Hey.” She drew the word out in a sigh, still savoring the spa day. She’d enjoyed spending it with Gia, loved getting to know the younger woman who was now part of her family.
“Are you high? And I’m asking that seriously,” Angel said. “Because you sound like it.”
Clarita snickered as she pulled up to a stoplight. “I feel like it, but better. Just spent the whole day at a spa and I didn’t want to leave after that massage. And I’m feeling guilty too.”
“You’ve gotta let go of that mom guilt,” Angel said knowingly.
God, she’d missed her sister. And she knew Angel was right, but she’d been there for her kids for every little thing the last nine years. They’d been at school all day and she hadn’t missed anything other than picking them up—and her mom had done that so they got to spend time with their abuelita. Still, guilt was a tricky thing. “Forget all that, how’s your honeymoon? Seriously, why are you even calling me?”
Angel let out a soft sigh and Clarita could practically see the grin on her face as she said, “Amazing. Juan ran out to grab something so I thought I’d check in, see if I’d missed anything.”
“Not really,” she said, though she planned to fill Angel in on her work stuff once she was home. But not now. “Except I think Zamira might be into dating again.”
Angel let out a short gasp. “What? Is she dating? Who? How many has she gone on?”
“Oh my God, I didn’t say she’d been dating. I said she was open to it.”
“I need more details. Like yesterday.”
“Well too bad,” she said, laughing. “I just pulled up to Carlos’s shop. I’m going to surprise him.” It had been too long for them and she was tired of the weirdness between them. Things might have shifted in their lives but they’d always had each other’s backs. Always. They’d been together so long that it was hard for her to remember what it was like before him. He’d always been a part of her life. Her family’s life. And she loved him so much. It was time to take control of her life again. So what if things were changing? That was good, as he liked to remind her. And they wouldn’t be distracted by the kids or anything else now.
“Nice. I’ll talk to you in a few days, then.”
After they disconnected, Clarita looked in the rearview mirror then cut the engine. She’d been massaged, had a mani/pedi, a facial, and was ready for an even better end to the day. One that involved multiple orgasms. It had been a month since they’d been intimate and she was in desperate need. Only Carlos’s truck and a small car were in the front of the building. She didn’t recognize the car, but it didn’t matter.
Heart kicking up a notch at the thought of finally getting some alone time, she used her key to let herself in the front door. They both needed this, and by getting intimate in his office, they bypassed any interruptions from the kids—and it was fun to mix it up. It had been years since they’d had sex on his desk after hours and she was so looking forward to it. Carlos could be a bit wild sometimes and she missed that version of him.
Of herself.
They definitely needed to talk but they also needed to reconnect—physically. She missed his hands and mouth on her, missed that feeling of being wanted by him.
As she headed down the short hallway to his office, she froze at the sound of a woman moaning. Wait…what? She blinked, unsure she was hearing right. Ohhhh, was he watching porn in his office? After the dry spell they’d had, she wasn’t surprised.
She took another couple steps toward the door but then jerked to a halt. That was too loud to be a phone or computer. Her hands went clammy.
“Oh yeah, harder,” a woman moaned. Loudly. “Tug my hair!”
Clarita swallowed hard, forced herself to take another step. Then another.
The door to his office was cracked open and she could see a woman’s naked back as she rode someone… Bile rushed up and she turned and fled down the hallway, her hand slapped over her mouth.
She barely made it outside before she puked all over the parking lot. It just kept coming and coming until her stomach cramped with emptiness.
Feeling hollowed out, she started to go back inside but couldn’t make herself. Couldn’t face seeing this other woman. Seeing Carlos all disheveled, naked—with someone else. She hadn’t seen him, but she’d seen enough. The woman’s long, dark hair flowing down her back as he held on to her hair would never be erased from her memory.
She pulled out of the parking lot, her fingers icy as she tried to keep the tears at bay. He’d told her he had to work late. And she’d believed him. Like a stupid, stupid fool. But of course she’d believed him. He’d never lied to her before. She snorted, but it came out a strangled sob. Clearly he’d been lying to her for a while.
Screwing his assistant, she was pretty sure. At least it had looked like her from behind.
As she passed a grocery store parking lot, she swerved into it, pulled into the nearest spot, got out and puked again. Though she was more dry heaving than anything at this point.
Once she got it together, she got back into her car and turned the air-conditioning on full blast as now heat surged through her. She didn’t feel in control of her body, of her life, of anything.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to take in a couple deep breaths. One, then another, then another. She wrapped her trembling fingers around her steering wheel but didn’t make a move to leave. Just sat there, her mind working overtime.
That awful image, those awful moans ricocheting around in her head. She closed her eyes again but that just made it worse. Things had been off lately between them but she’d never thought he would cheat on her. Not Carlos.
Her Carlos.
That had simply never entered her mind. She hadn’t thought he was capable of it.
Another wave of nausea swept through her but she stayed put, shoved it back down.
She tried to think, but it was so damn hard when all her thoughts kept fracturing, straying back to what she’d just seen. She let out a scream of heartbreak and let her head fall forward.
Once upon a time she’d thought she’d known exactly what she’d do if her husband ever cheated on her. She would have left him immediately.
But their lives were so complicated right now. She was about to sign a huge, life-changing deal. The thought of going through a divorce, a custody battle now…
The bile rose back again. She shoved it back down.
She had friends who’d taken years to officially divorce, and while the after was much better, the getting there was often a nightmare. Custody battles, fighting for assets…she simply couldn’t deal with any of that right now.
She would, but not tonight.
She kicked her car into drive and headed home on autopilot, unsure how she was even going to look at him when he got home tonight. Maybe she wouldn’t have to.
Maybe he would be late “working” again.
There was so much to worry about, especially their finances. Which she would. But instead of going at him hard, confronting him, she was going to be smart, get her finances in order first. Get everything in order. Then she would deal with her cheating bastard of a husband.
She didn’t want their kids caught in a horrible cross fire, so if she could get things in some semblance of order, hopefully they could figure out a way to make this as easy as possible on them. To handle this with civility. Which was hard to even think about when she wanted to smash his face in. But it wasn’t just about her now.
Because he might be a cheating bastard, but he was still a good father. And she hated that she cared for him, loved him.
Hated that he’d thrown everything away like it was nothing, as if they were nothing.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
One week later
Gia jumped up onto the high-backed seat and reached for a bottle of water as she watched Evan, the photographer for today’s shoot, talking to one of the real models. Gia was one of the “everyday girls” and could admit she wasn’t the pro the men and women who did this for a living were.
She’d been chugging water all day, trying to stay hydrated and sneaking food from the big display, but the others didn’t seem to touch anything at all. It was too hot not to be drinking water. The temperamental Florida weather had shifted once again but at least they had a breeze rolling up from the Atlantic to cool things down. Under one of the black-and-white striped umbrellas, she leaned back and just enjoyed the moment.
The photo shoot was at the same hotel she’d met Odette and Clarita at one week ago exactly. Only today the restaurant was closed and the pool area completely roped off from public use.
She’d signed a short contract with Clarita yesterday, and BARE Miami had them working here barely twenty-four hours later. But it was clear Clarita had been prepared. Except…Gia looked across the pool area where Clarita was talking with her assistant, deep in conversation about something.
It had only been a week since Gia had seen her, and Clarita had lost well over ten pounds. Maybe fifteen. And she’d already been slim. She didn’t like to comment on anyone’s appearance, so she hadn’t said a word but…Clarita almost looked ill and a little manic. Or maybe just tense. Gia figured she was just running on fumes, but she’d never seen her like this, with her dress practically falling off her shoulders. Had to be stress.
“Gia! Over here now!” the photographer shouted because that was the only volume he seemed to have. Loud and louder.
The model, Eden, walked past Gia and rolled her eyes at his antics, making Gia grin. As Gia reached Evan, she mock saluted. “Where would you like me, sir?”
He paused, then grinned slightly as he shook his head. “By the hot tub, please,” he said at a normal decibel, which was refreshing. Wearing cutoff jean shorts and a ripped up white T-shirt, he looked like a beach bum, but apparently he was very good at what he did. At least according to Clarita. “And I’ll try to keep my volume down.”
“Really?” He’d been at this since seven o’clock this morning and it was now four. It was like he had no volume control. But she did like him, regardless. She had no idea why, but he’d taken to her from the start and they’d been joking around all day.
He laughed. “Probably not, but there’s only one setup to go and then we’re all done. And we can eat. I’m starving.”
Yeah, she was too. She looked over at Clarita, who gave her a thumbs up. Gia nodded and did as instructed, heading to the hot tub. As she reached it one of the male models joined her, and for the next half hour they posed together, mostly with him behind her, his hands on her hips or waist, their legs just barely submerged into the water.
