Page 26 of Softest Touch

“Hmmm, I don't know whether to be jealous or not.” The amusement in his voice is barely audible, but I still notice it.

“You don't have to be,” I murmur, wondering who it could be from. “When are you coming back?”

“I think I should be home tomorrow afternoon.”

It gives me more hours to fix the last details. “I can't wait.”

“What are your plans for today?”

Peering at my desktop, I click on my agenda. “I have to finish a drawing, and then this afternoon, I have to find at least six new models.”

“I trust you, love.”

“James, Sienna, and José will be with me; that way, I'm sure I'll make the right choice.”

“I'll miss out on all the fun then. I'll call you after the meeting. Love you.”

“Have a great day.”

The list of things to do is longer than I told him, and, as always, time is short.

After a few phone calls and tons of emails, Lizzie brings in the mail, and I find another envelope with no sender. I open it, and a heart pendant with a note falls out.

'Only special people manage to make a heart beat. And you are one of them.'

I hang the charm on the bracelet and watch it as Sienna walks into the office.

“Hi, Melinda, you need to sign this…” she pauses, her eyes glued to the bracelet. “Oh, that's nice.”

“Right? Apparently, I have a secret admirer.” I peer at her expression. She smiles as she hands me the folder.

I know Derek well enough to be sure he'd have asked Sienna for help, given her romantic nature.

“I think it's Derek's doing,” I confess, taking the folder, and her astonished expression says it all.

Gotcha!

You want to play, love? All right, let's play.

She snorts while sitting opposite me. “It's not like him. It would be such a cliché.”

“Yeah.” I nod while signing the document. “It's a pity I don't know who my admirer is. I would have liked to return the bracelet rather than throw it away.”

“You could play along, see what happens, or if he keeps sending you cards.” She winks at me.

“That means making Derek jealous.”

Her devilish smile gives me a better idea. “I don't think that's possible.”

Of course, no one is jealous of themselves.

“We'll see, who knows…”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DEREK

Seattle seemed like a waste of time. I couldn't comprehend why I had to travel there just for a couple of signatures when I could have easily signed them from home. Frustration surges through me as I exit the jet. My cell phone pings in my pocket and reading Sienna's text about her worry that Melinda might discover I was the one sending her the cards makes me want to scream.