Page 55 of Crash and Burn

"Whenever you're ready to tell me about your new art project, I'll be all over it," I continued, hoping to salvage some of my dignity.

"I appreciate it, Liz," he said. "You've always been the one to encourage my dreams."

"And you've always been the one to encourage mine," I replied.

“It’s easy to be encouraging when someone has so much talent,” he said.

“Flatterer,” I teased as a flush rose to my cheeks.

“It’s not flattery if it’s true,” he said.

As if it had been planned, my phone chose that moment to ding with a new email alert. I glanced at the screen where it sat on the table in front of me.

An email from Farrow and Paige.

My heart leaped as I scrambled to snatch up the phone and swiped to read the message.

"From Carling?" Grant asked, his lips firming.

"It's from his assistant," I replied, quickly scanning the email. "They've sent me some attachments to look at with more details. I'm supposed to get back to them and let them know when I'm free for another meeting." I lowered my phone to my lap, nerves beginning to rise up inside me. "I should probably put my dress on hold and start working on his stuff. I think I'll need to go thrifting to find something to work with."

Grant was silent.

"I know you're not exactly a fan of Carling," I started, "but he really was completely professional."

His expression held a hint of skepticism, but he forced a smile on his lips.

"I'm proud of you," he said. "You're going to blow their socks off with your designs."

"I hope so," I replied as the butterflies in my stomach flapped even more rapidly. "I've never done anything like this before."

"The guy came up to you because he liked the dress you had on," Grant said. "So he's clearly impressed by your style. Just do more of that."

"But I have no idea if my style is what he's looking for in this new fashion line." I dropped my forehead to the table with a thunk and closed my eyes. "Ugh. I have no idea what I'm doing."

Grant put his hand on the top of my head and patted consolingly.

"You're going to do great," he said. "I believe in you. And I'll continue to tell you how awesome you are until you believe it, too."

The butterflies calmed as a feeling of warmth and well-being washed over me.

This was why I'd fallen for Grant. This was why I loved him.

This was why I couldn't bear to lose him.

“You know I don’t understand women’s fashion but you always look gorgeous wearing anything you make. Of course,” he added with a cheeky grin, “you look gorgeous wearing nothing, too.”

“I can just imaginethatfashion show,” I said. “Me, walking down a runway in my birthday suit.”

“I’d buy front row seats to that,” Grant said.

“You don’t need to buy seats to anything,” I said. “I’m more than willing to get naked for you any time you want.”

Grant raised an eyebrow.

“Anytime?” he asked slyly, looking pointedly at the clock.

The slight tilt of his lips was enough to send heat straight between my legs.