I roll out of bed with a grin on my face and a fluttering in my stomach and make my way into the bathroom. Clothes drop to the floor behind me as I step into the shower and turn it on. For the first time in ages, I woke up feeling excited for my day instead of dreading it, because today I get to chauffeur a special guest around the Atlanta SPCA today for their annual fundraiser: a Ms. Dolly Barkton, Great Dane extraordinaire.

I love doing these type of events. They're fun and for a good cause and I never charge—though Cody always argues I should. Luckily, Zoe set this one up for me, so it wasn't an issue. Now that I think about it, Zoe schedules 99% of my fun events. Interesting.

A delicious wave of longing washes through me as I step into the shower. The water rushes over my tingling skin, simultaneously exiting and cooling it down. Something’s happening to me. I don’t know what it is, and I’m not sure I care to find out. But I do know that I can’t seem to control it when I’m around Bryce, and that scares me.

As the last of the conditioner slides down the drain, I switch off the water and step out of the shower. I’m reaching for a towel when Dolly comes galloping into the bathroom, tongue out and tail wagging. I laugh as she starts dragging that long tongue all over my wet skin.

“Okay, girl, that’s enough. Enough!”

I’m saved by a knock at my door. I wrap the towel around my now sticky skin and follow Dolly across my room. One glance through the peep-hole has me leaning back from the door with a puzzled frown.

“Hey,” I say, opening the door to my two stylists. Without Kendra and Billie, I’d look like a sack of potatoes. Seriously. I don’t know my way around a flat iron or bronzer, so I owe them, like, a lot. “What are you doing here?”

“Good morning to you, too,” Billie huffs. The overly starched collar of his Luis Vuitton polo doesn’t crease as he plants two air kisses on my cheeks. He gives my wet skin and hair an approving look as he leans back. “Oh, good. You’re clean.”

I take one look at my two stylists’ perfectly coifed hair and immaculate makeup (yes, even Billie), and decide to keep the doggie sponge bath to myself.

“Yup! Totally clean!”

Kendra frowns as she glides into the room after Billie. “How are you, honey? We heard about you know who.”

It takes me a few seconds to realize that she’s not talking about Voldemort.

“Oh, Cody? I’m fine,” I say, really meaning it. I shut the door behind them and head for the pile of dog paraphernalia lying in a heap in the corner. Kendra purses her lips as I locate the forty-pound bag of kibble and start pouring it in Dolly’s bowl.

“Well,” Kendra says, her magenta maxi skirt swishing over her snake skin mules as she struts toward my closet, “let’s make you look like a million bucks, anyway.”

With a light laugh that hopefully sounds authentic, I walk past them and step into the bathroom. As I brush my teeth with the vigor reserved for the morning of a dentist appointment, I can’t erase the uncomfortable truth that Bryce’s name popped into my head before Cody’s back there. I scowl at my reflection in the mirror.

What is wrong with you?

“You know, I think I’m good today. This event is no biggie.” I step out of the bathroom in time to see Kendra pull out a mini skirt and a top that looks like it met a cheese grater and lost.

“Uh, don’t you think that’s a tad over the top?” I ask as she brandishes the slit fabric in front of me.

Kendra purses her full lips and shrugs. “I think it works, but it’s up to you, sweetie.”

I glance over at Billie. “Thoughts?”

He stands up from plugging in four devices that loosely resemble torture devices. His pale blue eyes pop when he sees Kendra’s choices. “Love it. It’ll go perfectly with the wild blowout look I’m slapping on you today.”

I look between them, then back at the daring and revealing ensemble clutched in Kendra’s brightly polished fingers. “I don’t want that smelling like dog, though.”

Kendra recoils. “And why would it?”

“Because we’re going to the animal shelter today.”

Kendra puts down the leather jacket she’s just selected. “Sorry, honey, but I ain’t here to dress you for no dog show.”

“SPCA,” I correct. The truth breaks over me The truth breaks over me like a cold wave on a warm beach. “What event do you think you’re dressing me for?”

My question’s answered as Kendra adds a pair of spiked faux crocodile skin stilettos to the jacket on my bed.

Cody!

“Just peachy,” I say through gritted teeth. The familiar weight of the turbulent last three weeks returns. There’ll be another fight over some meeting or photo shoot that I don’t want to—

Wait a minute. I’m Autumn frickin’ Hart, country music star, model, singer-songwriter, and I can do whatever the hell I want.

Billie turns his attention back to his bag. “Blowout or curls?”

I don’t even have to think. “Neither, because whatever you’re dressing me for is canceled.”

His head jerks up. “Sorry?”

A wide, open smile breaks across my lips. “We’re going to a doggie fundraiser today, y’all!”

I give a little whoop and hightail it into the bathroom. I’m running a brush through my straggly hair when Billie pops his head in. He eyes me like I’ve lost my mind, which I suppose I have. “Is everything okay, Autumn? You’re saying you’d rather go to an animal thingy than meet with a rep from Blue Mercury.”

“Oh. That’s who it’s with?” My comb stops halfway through a nasty knot. I remember Zoe mentioned a meeting with Blue Mercury. That’s a brand I could get behind. It looked like Cody was keeping my preferences in mind when he booked promos…

Until I remember what he canceled to get me that meeting.

I wrench the comb out of my hair and set it on the sink. “Yes, so you two can take the morning off. I’ve got this.”

With a laugh, Billie strolls into the bathroom and snatches the blowdryer out of my reach. “Uh, no. I may think you’re nuts for choosing doggie drool over high-end facial products, but I’m still Billie Annett.” His lip curls as he takes in my tangled hair. “Doggies or humans, no species wants to see that bird’s nest.”

* * *

I’ve wiggled into the fashionable yet sensible outfit Kendra selected for today’s fun when my phone pings. My heart quickens as I rush over to the nightstand, and then begins to pound when I see whose name is flashing across the screen.

My hands shake as I pick up my phone and hit reply. Ever since that moment in the alley yesterday, every fiber in me craves to hear his voice, talk to him, to feel his arms around me again.

My leg begins to jump as my eyes stay glued to the screen. His reply comes moments later, but it feels like days.

“Autumn?”

Billie’s voice pierces through my daydreaming. I turn to meet his indignant gaze.

“Those curls are going to fall if you don’t get your cute butt over here.”

I stalk over and plant my ‘cute butt’ in the chair, my fingers clasped tightly around my cell in case Bryce texts again. As Billie applies an ungodly amount of product and heat to my poor hair follicles, my gaze alternates between the door and my phone. The fifth time I click on my screen, Billie leans over my shoulder and whistles. “Got a hot date?”

I jerk around, almost burning my cheek against a hot roller clutched in his hand.

“Careful!” Billie tsks and turns my head back around. “You’re jumpy today.”

“Just excited.”

“About your date?” he says in a sly voice.

“About the dogs.”

He nods and grabs a lock of hair. “Right. Dogs always make my eyes sparkle like Cartier diamonds.”

I look between him and Kendra. “What?”

Kendra rolls her eyes. “Come on, you have a crush!”

My deer-in-the-headlights look says it all.

Kendra and Billie squeal in unison. “Aw, poor Cody,” Kendra says, “already in your rearview mirror.”

“It’s not like that,” I rush to say. “I’m not… I don’t…” My stylists wear a knowing grin as my words peter out. I turn back around and cross my arms over my chest. “Can we focus on today, please? I don’t want Dolly to be late.”

They share a look that sends Kendra nodding. “Mhmm. She’s got it bad.”

I let out a heavy sigh and vow not to look at my phone again. I cave after two minutes. I glare at my blank screen. It’s been six minutes, he’s late! He did say five minutes, right? Maybe I misread? I’ll just check it again—

OH MY GOD.

I drop my phone and slump in my chair. My wily stylists are right: I’ve got it bad. Real bad.

A brisk knock at my the door sends me jumping to my feet. Luckily, Billie’s taken out the rollers by then so I don’t look like a crazy lady when I throw back the door. Bryce fills the doorway. He’s taller, wider, bigger than I remember, and as my eyes glide over his taut muscles under his blue shirt, I tell myself that maybe my crush is justified. How can I not be infatuated with a man that takes my breath away?

“Good morning, ma’am,” he murmurs.

“Ma’am? You’re all business today.” I laugh and reach for his arm but stop when he flinches. There’s a tension in his face that I’ve never seen before. I let my outstretched hand drop to the door handle. “What’s wrong?”

“I found out about your schedule change. Canceling on the SPCA?” He gives me a disappointed look, then shakes out his sleeve and checks his wristwatch. “We should get going or you’re going to be late. Wouldn’t want to keep these important people waiting.”

His words have a harshness that surprises me. “What are you implying? That I did this?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Of course I didn’t!” I hate the slight tremor in my voice. I lift my chin and inject a little more confidence into my next words. “Is that why you’re being so cold to me?”

The corners of his mouth tighten, but he says nothing. His accusing stare says it all.

“You have got to be kidding me!” I pull out my phone and pull up my recent calls. Cody’s right there at the top. “If proof is what you need, then try this on for size…”

I clear my throat when my call goes to voicemail. “Hi, Cody, it’s your favorite client. Or at least, I thought I was until I heard that you canceled the SPCA fundraiser today. Call me ASAP if you value our future working relationship.”

Bryce shifts uncomfortably as I click off. “So you didn’t know?”

“It won’t matter what I say, you’ve already formed your opinion of me.” I don’t wait for a reply. I turn around to stalk back to Billie but find I can’t move. Bryce’s hand is on my arm, holding me in place.

“Let go of—” My heart stops when I meet his heavy gaze.

“I have an opinion of you…” With a slowness that sends a wave of slick heat through me, Bryce drags his eyes over my snug jeans and low-cut t-shirt. “You’re a strong, beautiful woman who never ceases to surprise me.”

Bryce takes a small step toward me. My pulse comes quicker as he shares the air around me, breath for breath.

“And about yesterday, I—” Bryce cuts off as Zoe zooms around the corner. Her focus is on the phone permanently clutched in her hand, so she doesn't Bryce until it's too late.

She yelps as she careens into his broad back. Bryce whips around, steadies her, and then steps back—or tries. Zoe's got her brightly painted fingers curled around Bryce's tight t-shirt with no sign of letting go.

"Zoe?" I poke my assistant in the arm when she doesn't respond. "Please let my bodyguard go."

Zoe gives Bryce a reluctant look before letting him out of her clutches. "Sorry about that," she says, not meaning a word, "but I'm in a hurry."

She turns to me. "I went ahead and told the SPCA that we were on still on for today. I can't believe Cody did that again. I knew it was him the second I saw that schedule change this morning."

Her hand disappears into her giant black tote bag before pulling out an over stuffed Moleskine. "I'm going to scour this blasted thing for anymore red flags, boss. This won't happen again if I have anything to say about it."

With one last irritated sigh, Zoe slides by me and heads for my desk.

Bryce doesn't meet my eyes when I turn to him. "At least someone on my team believes I'm better than that."

A muscle in his neck jumps. He takes a quick glance over my shoulder before stepping toward me. “Listen, I—”

“Ms. Hart, I am not finished with you!”

Billie’s shrill cry breaks us apart. Bryce takes a quick step back as I whirl around.

“Get your butt in this chair right now,” Billie demands, shooing at me with a manicured hand. His scowl breaks slightly as he spots Bryce. “Sorry, cutie, but she’s mine for the next twenty minutes.”

I nod a cold goodbye to Bryce and shut the door between us. I know I have to deal with Cody crossing the line again, but all I can focus on is how my best friend doesn't seem to trust me. I'm tired of defending myself--and I'm beyond tired of fighting with my manager.

Sometimes I wonder if it'd be easier to just give in.

While Billie plucks, prods, and teases me to perfection, I wonder what Bryce was about to say. Yesterday I felt like he touched me because he couldn’t bear not to. And just now he looked at me like he wanted me, desperately.

I thought the fantasy I created when I was ten years old would fade with time, but of course it hadn’t. It hit me full force the moment Bryce walked back into my life. And now it was a runaway train—one sharp turn (or smoldering look) away from flying off the rails.