Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [72]
“All at the same time?” he asked, laughing and shaking his head at the same time.
“In whatever order it suits us.”
She shivered a bit, but not from the cold. It was from the possibilities rolling out in front of her. In front of them.
Endless, glorious possibilities.
Seeing her shiver, he looked down. His eyes widened when he saw her pajamas under her unbuttoned coat. “My God, Tori, you’re going to freeze to death before you can learn one French word, much less make any babies.” He immediately started to button her up.
“So come upstairs and keep me warm, big man,” she said with a teasing grin.
“I think my entire body is frozen from the neck down.”
“I think I can thaw certain parts of you out pretty quickly,” she promised with a saucy toss of her head.
“I’m counting on it,” he retorted, his eyes glittering and hungry. “But until my legs rise fifty degrees back to room temperature after that sleigh ride, you might have to do the driving.” His tone was just as suggestive.
“I’m a good driver,” she teased.
“I’ve heard that about you.”
She walked faster, the excitement warming her as she thought of the long, sensuous night to come. In a bed. A real bed.
“Tori?” he said, as they stopped in front of her door, still open from her dash outside. Good thing, since she hadn’t grabbed a key.
“Yes?”
“Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
He caught her fingers and brought them to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss there. And suddenly, she began to feel a bit like that lady fair.
Finally, with love shining in his eyes, he whispered, “Don’t ever change.”
12
J ACEY HADN’T BEEN BACK to New York in a few weeks, so when she called Digg to let him know she’d be in town for Christmas Eve, she honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Would he welcome her? Be angry that she’d left? Be ready to end things, or ready to start all over again? Whatever the case, she was going to meet with him, face to face, and start working on the problems in their relationship. She loved the man, and he was worth any concessions she had to make to work things out.
Tori Lyons had just given up a million dollars for the man she loved, for cripe’s sake. Jacey oughta be able to put up with a disapproving future mother-in-law. But she was still nervous. Because she’d left pretty suddenly and she and Digg hadn’t seen each other since.
The Lady of Them All Ball was being held at a new ritzy Manhattan hotel that catered to the rich and tacky. It wasn’t one of the old-school elegant establishments, which would be much too highbrow to allow camera crews from a reality show into their midst. But this one did just fine. It was gaudy and glittering, just right for reality TV and everything it entailed.
To her great surprise, her father had flown in to attend. She wasn’t sure he’d even be speaking to her after what she’d done on the set of Hey, Make Me Over. He’d said a few words on the phone after the show had wrapped—and he’d gotten a full report from a furious Niles Monahan—but he hadn’t blown his stack. When he met up with her in the lobby of the hotel, a few minutes before the ball was to start, she figured out why.
“I’ve got the most fabulous idea for a new show,” he said, his voice nearly bellowing, as he kissed her on the cheek in greeting. “The last one might not have had the romance we wanted, but we will still crown our lady fair. And we’ll get the romance next time. I’ve signed a former actress to be a damsel and I’m going to have men compete in physical challenges for her favor.”
“Sounds stupid,” Jacey said, rolling her eyes, though secretly glad he wasn’t holding a grudge. She hadn’t had the heart to tell him that a romance really had developed on the set of this show. It didn’t seem the right time, besides which, she hadn’t even heard from Tori or Drew since he’d taken off after her in that blizzard Tuesday night.
“I dunno, sounds pretty smart to me,” a voice said. “Some women need to be convinced they’re loved.”
Digg. Oh, God, it was Digg. She’d know that smooth, slightly accented voice