AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ll keep your information on file and give you a call if anything comes up.”
That lead weight drops into the pit of my stomach as he echoes that same canned phrase I’ve heard too many times today. I’m on my fifth agency, and I’ve gotten essentially the same response at each.
I work to keep the disappointment from my face, plastering my smile in place. But my chin starts to tremble. No one’s ready to take a chance on me.
Not that I expected much better. The last time I attempted to get a high-heeled foot in the door, it took considerable patience—and the willingness to drop everything at a moment’s notice if an opportunity arose. I can’t expect it to be different this time around.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Hunter.” I rise from the chair across from him and extend my hand.
He shakes it with a polite smile, then passes back my headshots.
It’s a long elevator ride down to the first floor of the building. We’re nearing lunchtime, so I imagine Gleb will need to take us back to the condo after this. But try as I might to logic myself out of it, I can’t deny my disappointment. Now that Gleb has opened up this door of opportunity for me once more, I really want it. I want to model, like I set out to do three years ago. And I’m scared that I blew my shot out of the water by running last time.
The sight that waits for me outside helps wash away the sense of rejection, however.
Stooping next to Gabby, Gleb braces his elbows against his knees so he’s down at her level. She stands within the circle of shelter he provides with his body as she points up past the bustling passersby at something high in the sky. And she says something I can’t hear.
Gleb’s gaze follows her finger’s direction, and he says something to answer her before gesturing with his own hand.
My heart stutters at the sweet interaction and the way Gabby turns to look at Gleb with such open trust and adoration. If only I could take a leaf out of my daughter’s book when it comes to that whole trust thing.
Still, my feelings for Gleb intensify to see him, once again, taking the time to interact with my daughter—our daughter.
I swallow the fresh wave of confusion that follows my brain’s reminder, which I really don’t need right now. Because I don’t know that telling him the truth about Gabby is the right thing to do. I haven’t found the courage to talk about what happened last night or come back around to why he was so covered in blood.
The morning with Gleb seems to be going much better, and I don’t want to destroy that. Today, he’s done nothing but support me in my independence—the very reason I was so reluctant to trust him three years ago. And that means a lot to me.
Not to mention, Gabby seems as taken with Gleb as he is with her. It melts my heart to see her so at ease.
As if sensing me watching them, Gleb glances toward me, his green eyes finding mine through the steady flow of bodies down the busy New York street.
Forcing a smile onto my face, I approach, preparing to reveal another disappointing interview.
Gleb rises, his long, taut body stretching to its full height. His hand reaches instinctually for Gabby’s, and she wraps her fingers around his pinky without hesitation.
Why does that make my heart flutter like a schoolgirl’s?
“Did you get the job?” Gabby asks excitedly, practically skipping beside Gleb as they help close the distance between us.
Her question is so mature, I have to assume she’s learned to echo Gleb’s inquiry. My eyes skip back up to meet his intelligent green ones, and the amusement behind his reserved expression tells me I’m not too far off.
“We’ll see,” I say to Gabby, scooping her up and shifting her to my left hip. “I had a nice conversation with the man in charge. He thought he would call if a position opens up.”
Gleb studies my face for a long moment. Then he slips the folder of headshots from my grasp so I can use both hands to hold Gabby. “You okay?”
Forcing my smile a little brighter, I nod.
“You girls hungry?” he offers, as if sensing that I need to think of something other than my obstacle-ridden modeling career.
“Don’t you need to get to work?”
Gleb checks his watch. “I’ve got a bit more time. I thought we might stop at Chewy’s and take some street tacos over to Central Park.”
“Oh, I love Chewy’s!” I exclaim, the words spilling from me before I know they’re coming.
A rare smile quirks one corner of Gleb’s lips. “I remember.”
And once again, he sends my heart to hammering. “Well, if you can spare the time, that sounds great.”
