Riley felt her jaw go slack. She followed Josh into the room, wide eyed, full of awe and powerless to hide it.
“Mia is my assistant, but she spends a lot of time in the closet,” Josh said.
“I’d love to have a closet like this,” Riley said.
Josh turned to face her. “Our closet is your closet.” He flashed a warm smile again, and Riley felt the butterflies squirreling around again.
“Hey, boss.” A short, thin, dark-haired woman moving in spiked heels like they were sneakers appeared beside Josh.
Riley looked down at her own heels. How does she make it look so easy?
“Busy day today. Need an outfit?” The woman smiled at Riley and extended her hand. “I’m Mia.”
Relieved at finally meeting a nice person, Riley smiled back and shook her hand. “I’m Riley, and I have to say, you have the greatest job ever!”
“I know, right?” Mia turned and opened her arms toward the clothes. “I dress everyone.” She eyed Riley from head to toe.
“Oh, I won’t fit in any of this stuff. I’m not here to be dressed.” Riley felt her cheeks warm and sucked in her stomach. She wasn’t under any misguided impressions about her size, and while she had been confident about her curves in Weston, New York City was a whole different ball game. She’d been in town for only a few days, but from what she’d witnessed so far, there were the tourists and then there were the New Yorkers, and you could tell them apart by the clothes they wore, the shoes on their feet, and the food, or lack thereof, in their grocery bags. It was as if resident New Yorkers survived on air alone to maintain their super-skinny figures.
“Riley, our new design assistant, of course. Sorry. I should have known that. Welcome to JBD.” Mia tucked her straight black hair behind her ear, arched a brow, and asked, “Did you survive Claudia?”
Riley shot a look at Josh.
He shrugged, like he’d expected trouble with her mentor.
“Yes. She’s…” Riley didn’t want to overstep her bounds, even if Mia seemed like the type of person she could easily be friends with. She was wearing skinny jeans, a designer belt, and a low-cut blouse—an outfit similar to what Riley might have been comfortable in, minus the spiky heels. In Weston she wore skinny jeans proudly, even with her curves. Now she contemplated shying away from them. At least when she was in New York. “Professional. I think she’ll be a good mentor.”
“Honey, you don’t have to lie to me,” Mia said with a wave of her hand.
“Careful, Mia,” Josh warned, but his eyes were light, playful even.
Mia looked at Josh and crossed her arms. “She’s a shark, and she’s competitive. You know she is. I’m just giving the girl a chance.”
Riley drank in the conversation, feeling a bit like she should come to someone’s defense—either Mia’s or Claudia’s; she wasn’t sure which.
Josh shook his head. “Riley’s working late tonight and she’ll need you to lock up for her.”
Mia checked her watch. “You have to leave before you’re late,” she said to Josh. “And don’t forget, tomorrow morning at seven we have a conference call with the Stafford Agency about dressing the girls for their spring show.”
The Stafford Agency was one of the top modeling agencies in New York. Riley tried to repress the shock at how casually the name of the agency was tossed about. Witnessing the natural ease of conversation between Josh and Mia made Riley feel guilty for wondering if there was some other side to Josh. He was clearly easy to work with.
“I’ll be here for the call,” he said.
“We’ll ring them at six fifty, so I’ll get espresso instead of your typical latte.”
Josh touched her shoulder. “You’re the best, Mia.” He turned toward Riley. “Be sure Claudia introduces you around tomorrow. We’re like a big family here. You need to meet the staff. You’re one of us now.”
Riley couldn’t help but smile. One of us. Part of the JBD team. Maybe dreams really can come true.
Chapter Three
RILEY SAT ON the edge of her bed in the guest bedroom of Savannah Braden’s apartment, where she was staying until she found an apartment of her own to rent. Savannah worked as an entertainment attorney in the city, but she traveled often, and for the next two weeks, Riley had the apartment to herself. The apartment wasn’t enormous. In fact, it was quite cozy, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a moderately-sized kitchen, and a living room dining room combination. It was just a few blocks from Central Park. She couldn’t have asked for more comfortable surroundings.
Riley changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt. It was eight o’clock, and if she worked this late every night, she’d have to put off her apartment search until the weekend. Exhaustion and excitement coalesced, bringing with it an ounce of homesickness. Riley reached for her cell and called Jade.
She tucked her cell phone against her chin.
“I’m stuck with Cruella De Vil as my mentor—or boss, I guess. I can’t even imagine how Josh works with her, or how I’ll survive her,” she said when Jade answered the phone.
“Cruella De Vil?” Jade laughed.
“Yeah, and don’t laugh. She’s awful.” Before Jade could respond, she added, “And I met Josh’s assistant, Mia, who’s just the opposite. She’s really nice and down-to-earth. I wish she was my mentor.” Riley sighed.
“You can handle Cruella. You told me yourself that it was a cutthroat industry, remember? Don’t let her get you down,” Jade said. “She’s probably just feeling threatened because you’re such a kick-ass designer.”
Riley smiled. She pictured Jade in her jeans and cowgirl boots, her long black hair flowing to her waist, sitting on her front porch. “I miss you,” Riley said.
“Of course you do.” Jade laughed. “But you’ll survive, and you’ll thrive. This is your big break. It’s all you’ve ever wanted, remember?”
“Yes, of course, and I’m thankful, but I miss you. I miss the smell of the farms and driving. God, it’s only been a week, but I miss driving already.” Riley realized how whiny she sounded and she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I do love it here, even if it smells a little like dirty feet, wilted food, and car exhaust. I swear, it’s almost eight at night and the entire city is still outside walking around. It’s so different from home.”
“I know, but Weston can’t offer you a career,” Jade reminded her.
And Weston can’t offer me Josh, either. “I know. I want New York. I want this. I just wish you were here with me. I could use a friend and a drink right now.” Riley walked to the kitchen and opened a bottle of water, making a mental note to buy some alcohol for times like this. “Bottled water doesn’t cut it. I want to celebrate my new job with you, and I want you to hug me and tell me that Cruella sucks and that I’m ten times better than her.”
“Cruella does suck, and you are ten times better than her.” Jade grew quiet, then said with mischief in her voice, “Tell me what it’s like to work with Josh.”
Riley took a gulp of water, then plopped onto the leather couch. “I never realized how sweet he was. All those years in school…I mean, he was cute. All the Bradens are. But Josh is…” She remembered the way he’d looked at her, the feel of his hand on her back. “He’s just really nice.”
“Riley, it’s me, remember? You never describe guys as really nice. And it’s Josh Braden, for God’s sake. Spill it already.”
She laughed. “It’s not like there’s anything between us. He’s just…he’s different. You know how Rex is all sexy, fuck-me hot and his brother Treat is more refined?”
“Yeah? And by the way, thanks for noticing Rex is fuck-me hot.” Jade laughed. Jade’s and Rex’s fathers had been feuding since before Jade was born, and when she’d moved back home after the end of a bad relationship, a chance meeting with Rex unleashed years of forbidden passion. Not only were Jade and Rex madly in love, but they were also in the midst of designing a house together. If Jade and Rex hadn’t eased the feud between the families, Riley, being Jade’s best friend, would never have had a chance to get closer to Josh.
“You know what I mean. I’m happy for you.” Riley curled her legs up on the couch and rubbed her aching feet. “Anyway, you know how their brother Hugh is kind of self-centered and Dane is so smooth that you just know he’s got to be a player?” She didn’t wait for Jade to concur. “Well, Josh is like a mixture of all of them. He’s smooth, but I don’t see him as a player. He’s refined, but not snooty; he’s not self-centered, but one look at how meticulous he is about his clothing and hair, and you know there’s a bit of self-centeredness in him. He’s just…different.”
“You’re all breathy. This is the guy you lusted over for all those years, and your answer is that he’s different?” Jade accused her.
She and Jade had been best friends since they learned to talk, and she knew Jade would see through any false impressions she tried to give, so instead she told her the truth. “I’m here for a career, not a relationship. I’m trying not to let myself think of him in that way.”