Hidden Desires (16 page)

“She’s stubborn,” he supplied, fighting back a grin.

“She’s afraid. And she’s hurt. I’ve never seen her this bad.” Travis tried to hide his sudden urge to jump up, wrap Suzanna in his arms, and hug the breath from her lungs. He hadn’t wanted to believe Rachel didn’t care for him, and he’d driven by her shop a dozen times, needing to hear her say it one more time. But he knew his heart couldn’t take looking into those beautiful green eyes and hearing those devastating words all over again.

“I need to go see her,” he said, rising from his chair.

“She’s on her way to New York. Our show is the day after tomorrow.” Suzanna rose to join him. “I can give you the information on where she’s staying, or if you prefer, we’ll both be back on Saturday.” He paused for a moment, letting the whole situation sink in. “Actually, I have an idea. Maybe you can help me.”

“We’re all ready to go,” Suzanna said, pushing Rachel from the dressing room. “Go take your seat in the audience.”

“Suz, I should stay here with the models. You’ve never done this on your own before.”

“And we already discussed it. You’ve got a seat right next to Darin Mortensen. Don’t you want to see your designs in Nordstrom’s?”

“I’ll find out if he likes them soon enough.”

“You’ll find out as he’s watching the show. Go schmooze. I’ll take care of the models. Everything will be fine.” She pushed Rachel out the door as the music began playing on stage. “Go make friends with one of the biggest buyers in New York.”

Rachel sighed and conceded, reluctantly making her way to the audience. She knew better than to argue, and really, Suzanna was right. She should be there next to Darin and take the opportunity to convince him to buy her line while she had the chance.

She stepped down the side stage and nudged her way through the crowd, taking her seat just in time for the first model to come on stage. The show would open with Pauline Taylor’s line, followed by Ann DeMarcos’, then Rachel’s fashions were up.

For the first time since she’d last seen Travis, the ache in her heart dissipated, replaced by sheer nerves that the buyers would shun her designs. Pauline’s fashions were good, but she was hoping they would be too over-the-top for Darin.

Her apprehension, anxiety and nervousness was a welcome relief from the sickness that had settled in her stomach and stayed since the day she’d broken things off with Travis, and she hoped this show marked the turning point in finally getting over her love for Travis Gage.

If that would ever be possible.

She studied Darin’s reaction as he viewed the show. He seemed intrigued with Pauline and Ann’s designs, but not overly impressed. She silently prayed she would see that spark of interest when her models walked on stage, and the announcement of her name told her the time had come.

She took a deep breath and exhaled. Darin turned to her and winked, patting a calming hand on her knee. She forced a faint smile and watched as Brenna stepped on stage.

A shot of adrenaline pierced her chest and swept through to her toes. Brenna looked beautiful, she hadn’t a stitch out of place, but the woman was holding a square of white poster board in her hand.

What the hell was she doing?

She should have never let Suzanna alone in the back. As she mentally fired her assistant, her eyes fixed on the model, trying to comprehend what was going on.

Brenna stepped to the end of the runway, made her standard moves from one end to the other, turning to provide the crowd with the full view of Rachel’s designs. Then, before turning to step back the way she came, she stopped at the end of the runway and held up her sign.

It read “Rachel”.

The blood drained from her face as mortification coursed through her veins. Brenna returned the sign to her side, pivoted and strolled backstage.

An ache filled her gut. The loud disco music pounded in her ears. The flashing strobe lights pierced her eyes, bringing searing pain to her temples. She didn’t know what was going on, and as Delilah stepped onto the runway, Rachel’s sickness deepened.

Like Brenna, Delilah held a sign at her side, causing Rachel to rise from her chair. She had to find out what the hell they were doing.

Before she could lift from her seat, Darin’s hand came down over her shoulder. “Just relax,” he muttered in her ear.

She turned to see his bright smile. Was he in on this? And what was
this
?

She glanced back to Delilah as she repeated Brenna’s moves at the end of the runway. After she had modeled the red thong and matching bra, she paused and lifted her sign.

“I love you”, it said.

Rachel turned to Darin. “What’s going on?”

He shrugged. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Panic ripping through her veins, she glanced around the crowd, watching the eyes move from her to the stage and back again. Expressions seemed to be a mix of confusion and amusement, but fortunately, no one appeared to be ready to make a scene—except for her.

Misty stepped up, carrying another sign. Misty wasn’t supposed to be the next model on stage. Billie was supposed to have come next. Again, Rachel was overcome with the need to rush backstage and find out what was going on, but at this point, she doubted her limp noodle legs would lift her from her seat.

An evil grin came over Misty’s face as she strolled to the end of the runway, struck her pose and lifted the third sign.

“Marry me.”

A wave of sighs erupted from the crowd as the words burned into Rachel’s cheeks. Her muddled mind tried to put the three signs together, but comprehension escaped her.

A marriage proposal?

From whom?

Heat torched her face as she watched Misty stroll away. She fixed her eyes on the back wall, hoping the next sign would dissolve her confusion and answer the question as to what was going on.

She clasped her hands to the armrests and held her breath, waiting for the next model to appear, but the form that emerged from behind the curtain drained the air from her lungs.

Travis
.

He wore a tuxedo, and in his hand was a bouquet of perfect red roses. His gaze searched the crowd until it found hers. He held it, a little grin tugging at his mouth.

As he neared the end of the runway, she heard Darin whisper to her ear, “I think that’s your cue.” His hand patted her back, nudging her from her seat. “Don’t make the man wait.” She rose on weakened legs, her hands shaking so furiously, she had to ball them into fists to keep from embarrassing herself in front of the crowd. She kept her eyes on Travis, his broad chest filling out the tuxedo better than any male model she’d seen, his eyes glimmering with affection and a tinge of satisfaction.

He stepped to the edge of the stage and took her hand. She didn’t want to get on stage. She wanted Travis to tell her what the hell he was doing, but when she tried to tug him in her direction, he tightened his grip and pulled her onto the platform.

The music stopped, the flashing multicolored lights died to a single golden spotlight on them both.

Rachel’s cheeks burned with fire, her hands shook with nerves, and when Travis lowered to one knee, the tears she had suppressed for a week quickly came flooding to the surface.

“Forget what you heard,” he said roughly. “I’m in love with you, I want to marry you, and spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

A quick, wet cough escaped her throat and she covered her mouth with a trembling hand. Travis set the roses on the floor and reached in his pocket, pulling out a black velvet box.

As he lifted the lid, he added, “You don’t need to be saved, Rachel. But I do. Let’s build a new future together. What do you say? Will you marry me?”

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she sniffed and managed a nod. Travis slipped the ring on her finger, handed her the roses, and got to his feet.

He took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers, bringing the cheering crowd to their feet. Then, before she could blink, he ushered her backstage. As they passed behind the curtain, they were encased in a crowd of models, with Suzanna taking center stage. Rachel wanted to give her a tongue-lashing, but her shaken nerves could only muster a smile.

“Apparently, I need to do everything for you.” Suzanna winked. “And to think, you almost let this one go.”

Rachel opened her mouth to answer, but Travis pulled her from the crowd and wrapped her in his arms. She buried her face in his tux, not even caring about the smudges of makeup she was leaving on his starched white shirt. He felt too good to let go.

“I love you, Rachel,” he said huskily, rubbing his thumb over the line of her jaw. “I wanted to come back and tell you that so many times.”

“I love you too,” she murmured, tightening her arms around his neck.

“I’ll go anywhere you want. We can move to New York,” he started, but Rachel cut him off.

“I don’t want to go to New York, unless you do. I just want to be with you, and no matter where that is, I’ll be happy.”

“Sorry to break this up.” Darin Mortensen’s voice broke over her shoulder. Rachel turned and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I just needed to tell you that I want a signed contract before you leave on your honeymoon.” He winked. “And I expect an invitation to the wedding.” Travis extended a hand. “Thanks for your help.”

Darin laughed. “Are you kidding? My wife is such a romantic, this will be the talk of the country club for years. You’ve rendered me to hero status.”

As Darin walked away, Rachel cocked her head curiously. “And how do you happen to know one of the biggest buyers in the country?”

“I may be a detective, babe, but you keep forgetting I’m wealthy.” He grinned. “There are times when money comes in handy, remember?”

“I don’t care about your money, Travis.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his smooth cheek. “I only care about you.”

Still grinning, he lowered his head and kissed her. Then he pulled back, eyes twinkling. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” he grumbled. “After that production, I need a really stiff drink.” With a little laugh, she kissed him once more, and then took his hand in hers. Oblivious to the crowd of models and well-wishers gathered backstage, they headed for the door. She didn’t know where they were going and she wasn’t sure she even cared. All that mattered was that Travis loved her, and that for the first time in her life, Rachel felt as though she had truly come home.

About the Author

A RITA-award-nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. And when she’s not reading, she’s making music with her drummer boyfriend, oil painting, or indulging in her love for board games.

Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her websit
e www.ellekennedy.com
or send her a note at

[email protected].

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Coming Soon:

Heat It Up

Beauty vs. power—a dangerous game with the heart as the prize…

For His Eyes Only

© 2009 Avery Beck

Jacey Cass radiates confidence and sensuality just once a year, when she meets her rich and powerful lover for a night of anonymous sex. The rest of her calendar is filled with the daily struggle to survive. Her cashier job at Insomnia, Miami’s hottest lingerie shop, doesn’t go far toward college tuition, but she’s determined to rise above her mother’s freeloading legacy.

Alex Vaughn is one promotion away from realizing his life’s ambition. For years he’s been forced to stand by and watch his father systematically destroy the values that made Insomnia great. Now, with an expected vacancy in the summer catalog, he takes a chance. He’s never formally met the fascinating woman he takes to bed every year, but he knows a marketable body when he sees one. The last thing he expects is for her to turn the opportunity down flat.

Jacey won’t consider a handout—even from the man whose white-hot caress is the one bright spot of her life. Then a modeling competition’s prize money lures her from behind the register and into the blinding spotlight, unaware of what the cost could be to her heart…

Warning: This title follows a young woman’s journey from fear of intimacy to trust in love, with
frequent, explicit descriptions of the sensual lessons learned on the way.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
For His Eyes Only: They waited for the elevator. She wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck and kissed him, a chaste kiss appropriate for the public eye should anyone catch them. But when she pulled back and stared at him, the way her eyes darkened spoke volumes about the
un
chaste activities she expected to take place once they made it to his room.

Thankfully, the elevator doors closed before anyone else joined them. She slipped her arms inside his jacket, and the heat of her touch penetrated his shirt fabric while he pressed her to the wall, thrust his tongue into her mouth and ground his hips against hers.

“Well,” she teased when he rested the solid crotch of his pants against her thigh. “I can tell you’re ready.”

He closed his eyes, his hunger for her made almost unbearable by the taste of sweet wine she left on his lips. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be ready too.”

He put his hand beneath her skirt and trailed his finger along the satin edge of a soaking wet g-string, smothering her approving moan with another kiss. The ache in his groin intensified.

“I think you’re right,” she gasped when he let her go.

The doors opened. They greeted an older couple waiting to take the elevator and managed to maintain their composure until the door to his room locked behind them.

Then he couldn’t take it anymore.