Reality Romance Reunion

Business-minded Tamara Foles hopes acting as a judge on a new reality TV show, Domestic Goddess, will give her struggling interior design firm the boost it needs. But she doesn’t count on her professional demeanor being changed into the mean girl role. Or on her ex, Reid Jacobs, being the assistant director. Whatever may have gone wrong in the past, the passion between her and Reid is still very much alive. Navigating an old relationship made new again is difficult enough without the whole world watching…

Viewer discretion advised. Mature audiences only.

Contemporary, sexy stories for sassy women

Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon

www.millsandboon.co.uk/cosmo

Dedication

For my parents.

Thank you for always encouraging me to go the road less traveled. It’s turned out to be a fun ride.

Snapped

Christine d’Abo

Contemporary, sexy stories for sassy women

Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Mills & Boon

www.millsandboon.co.uk/cosmo

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dedication

Title Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About the Author

Copyright

Chapter One

Preparations for the reality contest Domestic Goddess are underway. We’re liaising with our U.S. parent company on this show, and for the first time I’m pulling double duty as director and producer. Lots of new faces on both the cast and crew. I’m pleased to be working with Tamara Foles again. I know she wasn’t Reality Life’s first choice for this show, but I think she’ll do a fantastic job.

Production Notes, Brian Merrick, Director

“There you go, Ms. Foles, you’re all set. Enjoy your flight to New York.”

I think the poor lady was scared of me. Her tight smile pulled her cheeks up so high they kissed the bottoms of her eyes. The way she shoved my passport back, as though it was radioactive, normally would have had me giggling. But not today. No, today I was about to get on an airplane. Me, in flight. So not good.

“Thank you.” I snapped my passport up, gave the woman a brief nod and spun on my heel to face my friend and business partner.

Sophia stood behind the check-in line gawking around Pearson Airport as she waited for me. I loved Sophie as if she were my own sister, but the fact that I got assigned to judge a reality show—and by extension was the one who was about to board an airplane—was completely her fault.

Reality Life had wanted one of us for their new interior-design contest show Domestic Goddess on their U.S. station. It was a way for us to introduce our interior design business to a wider audience. It was being taped in New York, the location of Reality Life’s headquarters. Plus, we also had an opportunity to bid on a design contract to redo their head office. While Sophia was the natural choice as judge, her skills in the boardroom weren’t up to mine. She’d suggested we both go, push off our paying customers for the month so we could divide and conquer. While I knew she was the one people really wanted to see on the show, we couldn’t afford for us to both leave our customers. Plus, the brass at Reality Life wanted a hard-ass to act as a third judge.

Sophia was many things, but not an Ice Queen. I’d learned long ago that with a few sharp looks and carefully chosen barbs, I could scare just about anyone. It wasn’t something I took pride in, but over the years it had slowly become my default defense mechanism in stressful situations. So I agreed to act as a judge on the show, leaving Sophia to hold down our business while I was away.

All I had to do was survive the flight.

“I’m all checked in and ready to rock.”

“Awesome.” Sophia handed me my small carry-on bag and hooked her thumb into her jeans pocket. “I’ll walk you over to the security check-in.”

“I’m fine and can manage on my own.” My cheeks were starting to hurt from keeping my smile in place. The sooner Sophie left the sooner I’d have to stop pretending. “It’s just over there. Not even thirty feet away.”

“That’s such bullshit.” She linked her arm through mine and pulled me along. “I know flying scares the shit out of you.”

“I’m not scared. Thousands of people fly daily with absolutely no problems.” And there went my stomach again.

“Do you have something you can take?”

“I already swallowed an Ativan. Really, Sophie, I’m fine.”

Sophia laughed and gave my hand a pat.

The crowd ahead was being filtered through the security checkpoints. I dropped my bag, turned and threw my arms around her. “If my plane crashes I’m going to come back and haunt you and Fynn. Just so you know.”

“Dude, if your plane crashes and you don’t haunt me, I’ll be totally pissed.” Sophie squeezed me tighter. “You’ll be fine, sweetie. I promise. Call me once you land so that I know you didn’t jump out midflight.”

“I know and I will.” Pulling back, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the concerned look on her face. “I promise I’ll be okay once I get to my seat. I have a shit-ton of paperwork to go through, which will help keep me distracted.”

“Is that a metric shit-ton, or an imperial shit-ton?”

“Jerk. Go away. Have sex with Fynn. Lots of sex.”

Sophia’s grin made my own a bit more genuine. “We are totally going to have lots of sex. And then we’re going to eat pizza and drink beer. He’s going to teach me about football. Now go before you miss your flight.”

Thankfully, the security process only took a few minutes to get through. Customs took me no time as I went through the Nexus line, bypassing the hordes that stood in long winding rows. The gate for my plane was at the farthest possible end of the airport. By the time I reached my final destination, my back and arm were achy from carrying my too-full bag and walking in my knee-high Nine West leather boots. I needed to sit down and start Operation Distract Tamara.

The waiting area for the flight to New York was crazy. Most of the seats around the gate were filled—I plopped onto the first empty seat I saw and let my bag fall onto my feet.

The row directly in front of me was full, forcing me to do that look anywhere but at people so you don’t invite awkward conversation thing. I turned my head and locked eyes on the most handsome man I’d ever seen. It took me three seconds for his face to register as familiar. Another two seconds and I was ready to bolt. The black-rimmed glasses were new, bolder than the ones he’d worn three years ago, but were no less striking. His hair was longer than I remembered, but did nothing to hide his identity.

Reid Jacobs.

No.

No, no, no, this really couldn’t be happening.

His eyes were closed, which meant I hadn’t been spotted yet. I reached down to grab my bag and move to another section. My fingers shook and I couldn’t manage a grip on the handle of my heavy carry-on.

“Thank you for flying AC7382 to New York. This is a preboarding call—”

My head snapped up to see that Reid had opened his eyes and was now staring directly at me. The brilliant green of his eyes sent a shiver through me. The last time we’d been together there had been nothing but anger and harsh words between us.

A sickness that had nothing to do with my impending flight rose up my throat, burning as it went. Too late to flee, I squeezed the handle of my bag and looked away.

“AC7382 to New York is now boarding first class. Please have your boarding pass and your passport opened to your picture ID.”

I’d shoved my passport back into my purse and now had to try and fish the damn thing back out. The entire time I felt Reid’s gaze on me, watching my fumblings. On shaky legs, I made my way into the line for check-in. I finally retrieved my passport when I got to the attendant, who gave it a quick once-over before scanning my boarding pass and nodding me toward the walkway.

“Enjoy your flight.”

“Thanks.” God, I wanted to puke. I was going to be trapped on a plane with my ex. Could this day get any worse?

I pulled my tablet out before shoving my bag into the overhead compartment and falling into my seat. Being in first class meant I had to sit here while everyone in coach walked past. I’d have to ignore Reid, pretend he was just another body in the crowd. I could totally do that, even if it meant using props. Bodies moved past as I focused downward and as each one went by, my rising panic began to subside. That was until a shadow stretched across my body and a long-forgotten scent washed over me.

“Hello, Tamara.”

God, please kill me.

I looked up into those beautiful bright green eyes rimmed with black frames. The flight gods were clearly laughing their asses off, sending a demon to torture me for the next two hours.

Reid ran his hand down across his mouth. “Do I have something on my face? It’s not like you to stare.”

“What?” Shit. Smooth, Tamara. “No. What are you doing here?”

“You’re in my seat. I’m fine with the aisle, though. It gives me room to stretch my legs.” He didn’t wait for me to respond and sat down.

“What?” I squeezed the edge of my tablet. My brain now bounced between running through plane-crash scenarios and trying to figure out how best to change seats. “You can’t be sitting here.”

“I wasn’t originally. You do still hate flying, right? Figured the guy who was going to be here would appreciate moving before your panic attack set in.”

“Asshole.” I tried to relax my grip on the tablet, but my body wasn’t cooperating. “What are you doing here? On this plane?”

“The same thing you are—going to New York.”

His low, rich voice was a balm to my nerves. Despite how we’d broken up, my body seemed to recognize Reid’s and immediately relaxed. I’d forgotten how protected his long, strong body made me feel. The seats in first class gave him more room than in coach, but he still had to tuck his legs awkwardly into the space between the seats whenever someone walked down the aisle.

I wanted nothing more than to say something snarky to him. Three years ago he’d called me a cold bitch and I’d screamed back about him being an uncommunicative asshole. He’d taken my demand to leave seriously, and I’d never seen him again...until today. So the how and why of us sitting side by side on a plane couldn’t be his fault. Could it?

Momentarily ignoring each other, we both took the warm towels and complimentary beverages offered to us. Holy crap, free alcohol was most definitely a bonus right now. The flight attendant was eyeing me in a way that told me I was failing miserably in masking my discomfort.

The only thing worse than flying was being forced to be near Reid. Add the two things up and it was more than I could handle.

The moment the flight attendants began going through their safety demonstration, I was back to thinking about engine failure. I was wondering how quickly I would be able to get off my lower seat cushion if I needed it as a flotation device when I realized Reid was staring at me. “So why are you here?”

I wasn’t expecting him to strike up a conversation, especially after all the static I was throwing his way. The Reid of three years ago wouldn’t have noticed my panic let alone commented on it, so I was surprised to see genuine concern from him.

“Business.” I whimpered when the flaps on the wings started moving. “Meetings with new clients and some other stuff.”

“They’re doing safety checks. Keep looking at me.” He gave me a smile, one that bled into his eyes and made them come alive. “I’m going for work, too. In fact, I think we might be heading off for the same thing. The show.”

“What?”

“I’m one of the assistant directors assigned to Domestic Goddess.”

“When the hell did you get into the film industry?” Being an assistant director was a far cry from a medic in the army.

“After we broke up.”

“That’s a serious change in your career.”

“The last one didn’t work out so well for me. You should know that.”

I did. Even without him telling me, I knew something bad had happened to him on active duty. “Did you know I was working on it?”

“Found out yesterday when I spoke to Brian. I have to admit I was shocked to see your name on the judges list. How did you end up here?”

“My business partner and I were on a show last year. I did all the business stuff while she was on camera. Really, she should be here.”

“Why isn’t she?”

“Business negotiations aren’t her strong suit. Reality Life wanted one of us though, to keep the momentum going from Impact Load. So, here I am.” Which left me with a burning question. “Does Brian know? About us?”

“No. I figured it was best to keep the dirty laundry hidden. That means we have to pretend not to know each other. I’m Reid. Nice to meet you.”

He held out his hand for me to shake. I hesitated, but when the plane hit a bump, I took hold. His fingers were warm as he wrapped them around my hand. He didn’t let go; instead he rubbed my wrist with his thumb. My breath caught and I knew my eyes had widened at the intimacy of the caress, but I didn’t care. I’d missed his support—strong and gentle all at once.

“I’d forgotten how beautiful you are.” There was a surprised note in his voice.

“Are you seriously flirting?” Yes, comments like that from a hot guy were a good thing, but not coming from him. Anyone but him.

“Is that a problem?” He gave my hand a squeeze, sending a shiver through me. “Despite what happened during our last time together, you’re still hot. I’d be blind not to notice and stupid not to appreciate.”

“Dear God. I’d hoped you would have gotten better with time.”

“Come on, I’m working on my communication skills. I’ve expanded my vocabulary.” He paused for a moment, as though he was trying to take stock of my attributes. “Blond hair, like flaxen wheat. Statuesque, like a goddess. Dumb army boy has been taught.”

We hit another bump as the plane continued to taxi into place, which sent my heart racing. With all of my senses on high alert, my inner bitch took over. Attack was my only mode of defense when I got this way. “I never called you dumb. Arrogant bastard. Yes. Uncommunicative. Yes. Never dumb.”

He cocked his head. “I remember.”

He leaned closer and in an instant, I was caught in his spell. His gaze dipped down to my lips, hesitating before he moved to reclaim my gaze. “I had forgotten the way you moved. Strong. Confident. Beautiful.”

If anyone else had said that to me, I would have dismissed them as trying too hard. Even coming from Reid I was inclined to think he was simply putting me on. Maybe it was the fact we were on a plane that was now sitting in line and apparently waiting for takeoff. Maybe it was the sincerity shining back at me in those green eyes of his. My body became blindingly aware of Reid’s presence—the scent of his cologne, the way his brown hair curled around his ears, the fit of his black-framed glasses and how they highlighted his cheekbones—and wanted to melt against him.

He must have taken my silence as permission to keep talking. “I would love to see your hair down loose again. It’s long. Probably comes down to just about your breasts. Right?”

My body was clearly a traitor, because at the mention of my breasts, my nipples tightened and a shiver of adrenaline shot through me. “You need to stop.” Shit, even I wasn’t convinced by my scold.

Reid chuckled. “I remember how your hair looked against your body in bed. You’d be beautiful photographed that way.”

“Flight attendants, please prepare for takeoff.” The captain’s voice crackled through the PA system.

My breath caught in my throat and I tried to pull away. Reid gave my hand another soft squeeze. “Don’t worry, everything is fine. Just keep looking at me.”

“Let me go.”

“I will if that’s what you want. Or I can keep talking. I can tell you how soft I find your skin. I can feel your pulse racing under my thumb. I know it’s because you’re nervous, but I remember it being the same when you were aroused. Beating just as strong as if I were to kiss you there.”

The plane engines roared as we accelerated down the runway. His gaze still held mine, his thumb still circling, bringing my body to the edge of awareness. The quickness of my breath had as much to do with Reid’s intensity as it did with my fear. The twist of my stomach was a mix of nerves and desire.

With a gentle bump and a not-so-subtle tilt of the floor, the plane was finally off the ground. The grinding noise of the wheels being pulled into the underbelly punctuated the fact that we were airborne. A silent count started ticking down in my head, my mind wondering how much longer this moment would go on before he’d pull away. It wasn’t until the copilot came on the intercom to welcome us that Reid finally relaxed his hold, allowing me to place my hand back in my lap.

“There, that wasn’t so bad.” He gave me a wink before turning back to face front, settling his long frame as comfortably as he could in the seat. “You let me know if you need anything.”

Wait, what? I hadn’t engaged in eye fucking that intense since my first year of university, and now I was getting a brush-off? Not that I had any interest in doing anything with him ever again.

Still. Asshole much?

“I would have managed fine on my own.” I wasn’t one to sit around and wait to be rescued, and it annoyed me he thought otherwise.

He opened one eye, his grin still firmly in place. “I remember. You always liked to be the one in charge.”

Great, we were back to this. I didn’t want to start the show on this note. If it got out that there was something going on between me and Reid, there was a chance it would hurt my reputation. The last thing I wanted was for the decision makers at Reality Life to start questioning my integrity as I was bidding on a major contract.

I sat up straighter in my seat and ran my palms across the tops of my thighs. Better to put an end to things immediately rather than encourage something that wouldn’t be. Reid adjusted in his seat so his thigh pressed against my knee. In any normal situation, I would have either moved away or asked him to shift over. I even opened my mouth to do that now, except my words stalled. The bastard had closed his eyes once again. With the adrenaline running high in my system, my body overreacted to his touch. Sure, I’d dated off and on over the past few years, but I hadn’t had this strong a reaction to any of those men. Never like what I had with him.

Shit. Shit, shit, this wasn’t good. I didn’t have time to deal with him and our past issues, not with everything else on my plate. I still didn’t have a clue what the Reality Life proposal was going to require, or how likely they’d be to go with a Canadian firm rather than someone local. Our company, Mosaic Designs, was still getting established, with clients coming in fits and starts. Despite Sophia’s appearance on Impact Load, we weren’t all that well-known. We needed every deal we could pull in, and getting this contract would require every ounce of my concentration.

I’d have to pretend Reid was nothing more than another body on the set of the show. A coworker and not the man who’d crushed my hopes of a happily ever after. Ignoring the tingles moving through my body, I left Reid’s leg where it was and reached for my tablet. Taking a deep breath, I got to work.

Chapter Two

Lots of planning sessions to ensure we’re set for our first day of shooting. Tamara and Reid made it into the city yesterday. Will be good to see Reid again. On a personal note, my daughter asked me to keep an eye on Tamara. Something about her being “a giant stress bag.” Not sure what that means. No doubt I’ll find out.

Production Notes, Brian Merrick, Director

I loved coffee. Well, I loved good coffee. I certainly wouldn’t call the sludge currently inhabiting my borrowed kitchen mug coffee, let alone good. I was fairly certain that the brown goop was sentient, sizing me up to see if it could win the war for its alien masters. This was apparently the best Reality Life had to offer.

A bunch of people I didn’t recognize were milling around the boardroom that the overly perky receptionist led me to. No one paid me much attention. No one approached to introduce themselves upon my arrival. No shy smiles. Nada.

Fine. I was well practiced in handling myself in these situations. I sipped my coffee-flavored sludge and held the gaze of anyone foolish enough to look my way. Within minutes I’d accepted my bubble of solitude, though I was anxious to get this meeting over with so I could get back to my proposal.

Deep masculine laughter drew my attention to the door. Reid entered first, looking back over his shoulder as he spoke to the director and another man. My breath caught and I clutched my coffee mug tighter when Reid turned and his gaze landed on mine. There was a light in his eyes that I hadn’t remembered seeing before. My stomach did a little flip.

The smile on Reid’s face didn’t falter, nor did he stop his conversation with the others. He continued forward until he was only a few feet away from me. “I had to run out of the house naked with nothing but a dish towel to cover my junk.”

The men laughed. Shit, he was still telling that story. I didn’t need to hear anything more than that as I’d been the cause of his nakedness in the first place. I’d inadvertently been the reason it was necessary for him to flee, as well. Who knew the dog we were dog-sitting had a love of honey. My face flushed hot as the men caught sight of me. I hoped he hadn’t used names....

“Tamara!” Brian Merrick, the show’s director and Sophia’s father, came up and caught me in a bear hug. Brian wasn’t a tall man, but his arms were strong and held tight. “I’m so glad you agreed to be a part of this.” He gave my arm another gentle squeeze before stepping back. He looked tired as he pushed his salt-and-pepper hair away from his face. “Sophia told me you weren’t keen on being the one on camera.”

Reid came up behind Brian and I had no place to hide from his intense stare.

“It made more sense for me to be here than her.” I broke free from his grip and stepped back. “That way she can keep the ball rolling with our current clients while I do the show and pitch for a new contract.”

“I love Sophia, but I can’t picture her in a boardroom.” Brian shifted so Reid naturally became part of the group. “You need to meet her, Reid. My daughter is a firecracker.”

“Yes, I do.” Reid gave me a sideways glance. He had in fact met Sophia when we’d first started dating. He was still pretending we were strangers.

“This is Tamara Foles, one of our judges and my daughter’s best friend. Tamara, this is Reid Jacobs, my assistant director.”

Reid gave me that sexy smirk that he’d perfected back in university and held out his hand. “We met on the plane.”

It would have been weird not to accept his handshake, so I gave him a hard squeeze that left no room for misinterpretation of how I wanted our relationship to go—nice and professional. “We did.”

“Fantastic.” Brian clapped Reid on the shoulder. “Tamara will be the one keeping us all in line if our last show together was any indication.”

Straightening, I slipped into businesswoman mode and focused my attention on Brian. “Speaking of keeping things in line. After this meeting I have to run upstairs to meet with Charles Warner from facilities. We are in the process of competing for a design contract for Reality Life and I wanted to introduce myself before the official pitches started.”

He smiled at me as someone called his name from across the room. “I have no doubt you’ll nail it. I’m sorry, but I have to go say hi to Cam. Excuse me.”

Brian crossed the room, leaving me alone with Reid.

Shit.

Straightening my back, I looked over his shoulder at the growing group. “Seems like a good group. Have you been to many of these meetings before?”

“A few. This is my first time as assistant director, though.” He cocked his head to the side and I could feel his gaze on my face. “You seem annoyed.”

Freaked out. Confused. Horny. “I’m not annoyed. Just...I wasn’t expecting you here.”

“And you hate not knowing things.” There wasn’t the bitterness there could have been in his tone. He held my gaze, reached out and brushed his fingers along the back of my hand. “For what it’s worth, it wasn’t my intention to blindside you. I didn’t think we’d meet until today.”

Reid might have been many things—a prankster, moody, uncommunicative—but he was never cruel. “There’s not much we can do about it now,” I said. “I’m fine working with you if you are with me.”

“I’ve changed since we last saw each other. Worked a few things out.” He leaned close so I could feel his breath on my cheek. “I’m looking forward to working closely with you.”

Holy shit. My pussy tingled in response to his sensual tone. Reid really had changed from the last time we’d been together. He was far calmer than I remembered, and far more confident.

He wasn’t going to be an easy man to ignore.

I cleared my throat and couldn’t stop from inching back.

Reid’s lips twitched into a quick smile. “Are you taking some personal time while you’re here?”

The question threw me for a loop. “I doubt it. I’ll be too busy with the show and my proposal.”

“You can’t work all the time. Maybe we can check a few places out together if you want.”

God, I couldn’t let this happen. My time with Reid had been confusing at best. When I’d walked away from him I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let myself get that wrapped up in anyone again, that I wouldn’t lose myself in another person the way I had with him. Better to treat Reid the same way I treated everyone else on the show, with professional detachment. That way I was sure to get everything done that I’d set out to accomplish, without ruffling any feathers. It had worked on Impact Load, our first reality show, and I knew it would work here.

“I doubt I’ll have time.” I held out my hand and gave him a tight smile. “I’m looking forward to working with you. Thanks again for your moral support on the plane.”

Okay, so maybe I wanted to feel the warmth of his long fingers around mine once again. One last reminder of the serious longing I’d once had for him. I wasn’t let down, as he took it and gave me a squeeze that I felt all the way down to my pussy.

Nothing good would come of this.

He leaned closer, and that smirk of his made me want to suck on his lips. “You can’t fool me with that Ice Queen show. I know you far better than that.” He let his thumb brush across the inside of my wrist.

I pulled away sharply and blindly turned and approached a group of women. Reid’s intense look was too much for me to handle. “Hi, I’m Tamara, one of the judges.” I did not offer to shake anyone’s hand. Because reasons.

A pixie-sized woman with short cropped black hair mirrored back my tight smile. “I’m Jennifer Stewart and this is Rene Matheson.” She touched the shoulder of a tall brunette who looked as though her blue eyes could pierce metal. “We’re your cojudges.”

I knew who they were immediately. Jennifer’s ReDesign Rescue had been one of Reality Life’s top shows for the past three years. Rene had come to the station in the past year, and her show Antique Makeover took off immediately. It was fun and Rene shone on screen.

“It will be pleasant to work with you.” I nodded at each of them before lacing my hands together. “I believe my role is to be the show’s bitch. I’ll be a bit harder on the contestants, pick their designs apart, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, well it’s good that you understand your part.” Jennifer cocked her head and smiled. “You seem like a natural.”

Lady, don’t even go there. “Thank you. I take great pride in doing an excellent job at everything I do. And I’m sure you’ll be good at your role.”

Rene’s mouth fell open for a moment. “I watched Impact Load. I thought they would be sending the other lady, Sophia.”

Sophia would have had them all laughing right now. The mood would be relaxed and easygoing. “Yes, Sophie would have been fantastic. She’s a natural on screen. I had some other business to conduct in New York, so it made more sense to send me.” I smiled, but the strain made my lips twitch.

Relief hit me as Brian called the production meeting to order. For the next two hours I took notes on the shooting schedule, the expectations they had of the judges, while mentally figuring out when I’d have time to finish my proposal and dutifully avoiding Reid’s gaze. It wasn’t until the final few moments that I realized several others had slipped into the back of the room. The meeting was adjourned, but before I could leave Brian grabbed me to introduce the pair I wanted to meet.

“Tamara, this is Mr. Warner and Ms. Young. They are with Reality Life’s management team and mentioned that they wanted to have the chance to talk to you about the design contract.”

My mind raced back over the past hour and I hoped I hadn’t done or said anything that would hurt our chances. “So nice to meet both of you. Mr. Warner, I was planning on visiting you right after we were done here, so I’m thrilled you were able to make it down. I’m looking forward to being able to show you what our company can offer Reality Life on the design front.”

Ms. Young nodded and I could tell I was being sized up. “We were very impressed with what you and Ms. Holbrook did with the shelter up in Toronto. Though I have to admit, I’m concerned that what we have in mind from a corporate perspective might be a bit much for such a small company to take on.”

Rather than feeling intimidated by her comments, my body relaxed and I slipped into the zone. This wasn’t my first time starting out as the underdog and I had no doubt it wouldn’t be my last. I launched into my elevator pitch, outlining the key design points that Sophia had made me memorize before leaving. Short, sweet and a clean enough tease to make sure I had them hooked.

As I spoke, Reid stepped up beside me, which was a challenge to my attention.

“Of course I’ll save the details for our meeting later this week.”

Mr. Warner shook my hand, but his face remained impassive. “There is stiff competition for the contract. We’re looking for someone not only with a solid business plan but excitement for the job.”

“We definitely have that.” I gave him a small smile, but it wasn’t returned.

The air might as well have been sucked from the room as they left. Shit, this was our big opportunity. Yes, business had been better since Impact Load aired, but we were currently getting smaller jobs, nothing that was going to keep us afloat and allow us to grow the business. We needed employees, people who could help Sophia with the hands-on jobs while I worked with the business side. Not to mention our loans were getting close to coming due. We’d taken out a lot of money to help bankroll our setup and the time was coming when we’d have to start making payments.

Brian looked down at his feet. “Well, that could have gone better.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time on this proposal. The numbers will work in our favor.”

“I’m sure you’ll turn it around.” Brian headed toward the door. “Reid, want to grab your camera and meet me downstairs in twenty? We can head over to the site and look at setup shots.”

“Yeah, I have my bag with me. I’ll grab it and meet you down there.” Reid waited for Brian to leave before he said anything else. “That was tense.”

I punched him in the arm. “You’re an asshole.”

“What the hell?” He rubbed the spot where my fist had connected.

“I should ask you the same thing. Were you trying to distract me, coming up beside me like that? We need this contract more than I need to be a judge on the show.”

“Jesus, I didn’t do a thing. Is that why you’re acting like a tight-ass?”

“I’m not a tight-ass.”

Reid pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course not.”

The attraction I’d been feeling for him was starting to wane. “I’m a professional running a business. I’ve grown up. Have you?”

The smile slipped from his face. “Yes.”

“If that’s true, then you should be able to appreciate my position. This is my livelihood. I’m here to do a job and I plan on doing the best possible.”

“You will.” Reid walked past me at that point, his body grazing the side of mine. “You always knew how to look after yourself.”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. You preferred to be on your own.”

My shoulders drew back and I lowered my chin. “That’s not true. I loved you. You know why I left.”

“Of course. It was always my fault.” Reid’s smile didn’t slip, but something in his expression changed. “I’ll see you on set.”

In a blink I was all alone in the meeting room.

Chapter Three

Day two of our New York auditions starts tomorrow. The advance crew has done a fantastic job at thinning out the numbers and getting us the best candidates. Reid has embraced the role of assistant director, having taken charge completely. It was a good choice picking him for this project. Tamara has taken her role of the hard-ass to heart. I might need her to dial that back a bit.

Production Notes, Brian Merrick, Director

My ass was sore from all of the sitting. This was our tenth potential competitor of the morning, and the third time I’d been subjected to a designer gushing over Jennifer and Rene. I wasn’t a known quantity for many of these people. Fine. That didn’t mean I had to enjoy being ignored. I couldn’t blame my foul mood on that, though.

It was hot sitting under the lights on our little platform. The warehouse we were using as our filming location stank of mold and dust. Jennifer was wearing a perfume that made my head pound and my teeth ache. We’d been at this for a few hours now and we still had hours to go. If I survived, I was going to treat myself with an extra glass of wine back at my hotel room.

“Oh, the purple and yellow make for such a brilliant contrast!” Jennifer grinned at the latest contestant. “What color did you say you’d make the walls?”

The contestant’s name was Andrea and she had a pretentious air that had me clenching my teeth. “Pale lavender. It will make the accessories pop.”

I tried really hard not to roll my eyes, but I don’t think I managed. I’d have to get Brian to ask the postproduction team to edit that shit right the hell out. It was the least professional thing I could possibly do, not at all the image that I wanted out there. I might be a bitch on the show, but I didn’t need to be one in real life.

“What do you think, Tamara?” Rene asked me in a tone that would have put a diabetic into a coma.

The poor contestant didn’t deserve my wrath. It wasn’t her fault that this was the fifth purple-yellow-lavender mix we’d seen this morning. Nor was it her problem that I was still pissed that my scheduled meeting with Mr. Warner and Ms. Young had been canceled at the last minute. It was one thing to deal with costars who made no bones about disliking me; it was another when I wasn’t being taken seriously in a business deal.

Still, one look at the haphazardly thrown-together ensemble and ill-conceived layout, and I knew that she wasn’t going to make it past me to the next round of competition. “The colors look nice, but there’s nothing that really makes it stand out. Did you purchase those pillows or make them?”

Andrea paled. “Umm, yes. I bought them. Part of design is having an eye for what goes together.”

I leaned forward, and from that distance I was able to see that the price tag was still attached. “Next time you might want to consider going for quality over value. In this case the cheap finishing touches take away from the overall look. It looks as though you threw this together ten minutes before you arrived. I’m sorry, you don’t get a vote from me.”

Andrea looked as though she might cry, not exactly the reaction I’d wanted. But I saw how long and hard Sophia worked on her designs, trying to find the balance between value and curb appeal for our clients. The last thing I wanted to do was undermine the people who had a real talent for design by putting through someone who wasn’t up to par. Andrea was escorted off, and I hated to notice the tears in her eyes. Shit, I’d done that to her.

What the hell was the matter with me?

Up next was an older woman named Elsie, who looked as though she’d come straight out of the sixties. She’d wheeled in a mannequin that wore a set of drapes and had piles of pillows around its base.

Rene smiled at her. “Tell me, Elsie, what brings you here today?”

“I’ve always dreamed of working in a design house. Ever since I was a girl.” Her cheeks twitched as she smiled. “Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.”

“Why don’t you show us what you have?” I wanted to keep my persona as cool as possible, but it was hard in the face of her obvious nerves.

“I wanted to pay tribute to my family so I incorporated our tartan colors while bringing the pattern into the twenty-first century.” Elsie’s voice shook almost as much as her hands as she showed us the stitch work and explained how she used her hundred-dollar limit on her supplies.

Rene and Jennifer smiled, but the questions they posed to Elsie showed they didn’t see her as a contender. Rene went so far as to lean forward while inspecting the drapes. “It’s such an unusual shade of green.”

“Not something you’d see in a formal living room,” Jennifer said in a tone so dismissive I was embarrassed for the contestant.

Whether it was from their snark or the pain in my ass, I got to my feet and moved around to get a better look at the display. The fabric was excellent quality and the stitch work was damned impressive. Small neat stitches that had a slightly irregular spacing.

Straightening, I kept my face neutral as I turned to Elsie. “Did you do this by hand?”

“Oh yes. I have a machine, but there’s something satisfying about draping the fabric across my lap while I work the needle.”

“And you said this is your tartan. If you were to take this to market, how would you target your sales?”

Elsie blinked at me, a vaguely panicked expression on her face.

“What I mean is, who would you sell this to? Who would be interested?”

“Oh!” Her grin made her eyes sparkle. “My grandson set up a website for me. I’ve started reaching out through genealogy sites and making my drapes and pillows available to members of our family.”

I tried to keep my smile at bay, but failed. “That is an excellent strategy. Thank you, Elsie.” I took my seat once more as Elsie was escorted out.

Brian clapped his hands. “Okay, everyone, let’s take a break for fifteen minutes before the next group comes in.”

Jennifer turned to me. “I can’t believe you seriously thought that was a good design.”

“It wasn’t for me, but her idea was solid and the business potential was huge.” I marked Elsie’s file as a possible for the next round of the show. “Our job is to find the savviest new designer, not decorate our homes.”

Jennifer sniffed and half turned so there was no mistaking that I wasn’t invited to participate in the rest of her conversation with Rene. Sure, I wasn’t the designer from my company, but I wasn’t an idiot, either. I could tell an innovative design, a keen creative eye and solid skill set better than most. So I wrapped my Ice Queen mantle firmly around myself and pretended I didn’t care that I was being ignored. Even though I did.

I took out my tablet and pulled up my business plan. I’d make use of the meeting delay to continue to fine-tune our proposal. I adjusted my projected budget and timelines, giving us wiggle room while not promising something we wouldn’t be able to deliver. They’d put me off until the day after tomorrow, when we had a break in shooting. Mr. Warner’s assistant had reassured me that none of the other proposals had been seen either, and that this wasn’t a slight against our company.

A cup of coffee was set in front of me, dragging my attention up from my budget breakdown. I was mildly surprised to see Reid standing there and a row of coffee cups in front of us.

“Ladies, I thought you could all use a refill. Rene and Jennifer, I wasn’t sure how you take it, so I brought cream and sugar.”

“Aren’t you a sweetie.” Jennifer leaned forward far enough even I could see down her shirt. “Thank you so much.”

I was mildly surprised when instead of black my coffee was a milky brown. “Mine’s already dressed.”

Reid pressed his hand to his heart. “You take it cream with one sugar, right?”

“Thanks.” I cautiously sipped my offering and sighed as strong, hot coffee washed over my tongue.

I’d pretty much ignored him since filming had started. Well, as much as I could, given our respective roles as judge and assistant director. Reid was a constant presence on the set, his voice always present even when I couldn’t see him. It was strange how quickly I’d gotten used to hearing him again, how much I’d missed him in my life. Not that I regretted our breakup for a moment. Three years ago we’d been bad for each other, fighting constantly. This Reid was far calmer, happier than he’d been back then.

He was clearly better off without me.

“How many applicants do we have left today?” There, that sounded nice and detached. Professional.

“Not many. Ten more and then you’ll have about an hour to make your decisions.”

“Then we’ll be free for a night on the town.” Jennifer eyed Reid up and down. “So many options for fun in New York.”

“There’s something for everyone.” Reid was still looking at me, even though he was clearly talking to Jennifer. It was disconcerting to have his attention focused on me that way, especially when I hadn’t done a thing to encourage him.

My skin prickled and I stood up so quickly my chair wobbled. “My back is killing me.” I pulled off the wireless microphone from beneath my collar. “I’m going to stretch my legs for a bit.”

The smell of industrial oil and street meat hit me the moment I got outside. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be sick or go grab a bite to eat. It only added to my aggravation. Reid was annoying the hell out of me. When he wasn’t acting like a kid, relieving the tension on set by making everyone laugh, he was staring at me with a look as though he wanted to consume me.

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