Page 86 of Teacher’s Pet

Still, I’d dated models before, even met them in similar ways, so I gave it a shot. She traveled constantly for work and when her schedule brought her through town, we’d set up a date.

And here we were.

The fact that she was even more gorgeous in person had been as unexpected as the rest of it.

I was unmoved by it, but that was my issue, not hers. Again, I needed to move the fuck on.

I figured a mall date with a model of her caliber would cost a pretty penny. This was not going to be a cheap day. Every shop we passed, I offered to buy her whatever she was looking at, but she surprised me by refusing everything.

In fact, she was treating me more like a friend than a hookup or even a date, and that was so much more natural to me that it took me a good hour to realize she was doing it.

I tried to care, but I just didn’t.

“So what kind of modeling work brings you through Vegas?” I asked her, just trying to make conversation.

She was easy to talk to, and we were both well-mannered to a fault, so things were going fine, but I struggled to stay interested in what she was saying.

I was still trying to get through the rather powerful depression that had me in its grip, though, so I knew it was that rather than the date itself that had me so disconnected.

“LV is opening a new shop in one of the casinos. I’ve been doing campaigns with them for most of my career so they brought me in for the photo ops. Only a few hours of work, really.”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad gig,” I remarked politely.

“Not at all. My job is wonderful. It’s not perfect, it has its cons, but what job doesn’t?”

“That’s a great attitude.”

“It’s hard to have a bad one when you’ve been as lucky as I have. Hey, want to stop for a cup of coffee at this café?”

I looked up, only then noticing where she’d led us. “Sure,” I agreed readily.

It was a sit down place and a hostess led us to a booth. I was surprised when Jovie slid in next to me instead of sitting across, but I made room for her without a word. She moved closer until I had to throw my arm over the back of the seat to make space. Strangely as she did this she wasn’t even looking at me, her eyes scanning the café, aimed toward the back, I thought.

“I made dinner reservations at—” I began but was interrupted when her mouth suddenly covered mine.

There’d been no warning, but I let it happen readily enough.

She started kissing me right there at the table, and I tried my best to match her with interest.