But he was mine.
Lights went off as the cameras flashed. Reporters tried to move in to stick a microphone in his face.
Conway grabbed my hand and pulled me with him, guiding me down the red carpet to the entryway. He kept me close, taking the lead as he pulled me past the crowd of people who reached over the rail to touch us.
One reporter managed to sneak into our path. “Mr. Barsetti, this is the first time you’ve been accompanied by a date. Is it safe to assume that Miss Sapphire is more than just your model?”
I was surprised by the personal question, especially because of the way the camera was shoved into his face. Every reporter wanted to get the best response from Conway, and they were willing to do anything to get it.
But Conway handled the situation calmly. “Yes. It’s safe to assume.” Then he pulled me inside.
Once we were inside the auditorium, the flashes finally stopped, but Conway was swarmed by another set of people. Editors, designers, and other industry professionals inundated him with greetings and questions.
I stood beside him, smiling and standing perfectly upright.
Some people ignored me.
Others instantly recognized me. Joan Ivory, the editor for an American fashion magazine, seemed more interested in me than him. “You’re quite the star. You really make everything you wear stand out. This dress…” She looked down at it. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Does that mean you won’t be on stage tonight?” she asked.
“No,” Conway answered for me. “She’s here as my guest.”
“I see.” Joan smiled. “I’m looking forward to the show. I have no doubt it’ll be spectacular.”
We moved farther inside, talking with more people as we walked. We came across an eccentric woman, dressed in a fur scarf and a jean dress. Her hair was large and poufy, and the pink glasses on her nose were shaped oddly. “Conway.”
He greeted her with a handshake. “Israel, I’m glad to see you here.”
I noticed the way he shook everyone’s hand. Not once did he kiss a woman on the cheek. He didn’t even hug anyone.
“I’m very excited to be here,” she said. “I’m sure I’ll be ordering in bulk.” She turned to me. “I’m Israel. You’re Sapphire, I remember you.”
“Yes,” Conway said. “She’s my girlfriend.”
She didn’t do anything more than smile, but a knowing look came into her eyes. “It’s nice to see you happy, Conway. And it’s nice to see your work soar to new heights.” She shook my hand before she walked away.
Hearing him call me his girlfriend sent a jolt of joy through my body. I asked him to label me that way, but I didn’t think he would actually do it unless he had to.
With his arm around my waist, he guided me farther into the auditorium where the seats were. His security team trailed behind us, ready to intervene if they had to. But everyone kept a respectful distance, honoring the enormous presence he cast in the room.
He took to his row and guided me to my seat. He sat beside me, taking the chair next to the aisle. Once we were seated, no one bothered him again. His security team surrounded us, taking seats in the nearby chairs so he was cushioned with protection.
But it didn’t seem like he needed it.
Perhaps he did it just so people wouldn’t approach him. He must have spoken to a hundred people already—and the show hadn’t even started.
His grabbed my hand and held it on my thigh, his fingers warm and his pulse soft. He sat upright in the chair, keeping his masculine posture despite the fact that the cushions were easy to sink into. He stared at the stage as his thumb brushed over my hand.
My head was slightly turned as I watched him. “You don’t like to sit with people?”
He turned his gaze my way, the same smoldering and intense expression he’d been wearing all night still plastered on his face. Like he was a model himself, he projected a particular image. He was sexy like all the women in his lineup, but he didn’t need to be half naked to be desirable. “No.”
“Because?”
“They talk too much. I want to watch the show, uninterrupted.”
“Well, I talk a lot.”
His thumb continued to glide over my skin. “Yes, but I actually enjoy your company.”
A smile automatically stretched across my lips. “I knew it.”
The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Already has.”
He leaned into me and kissed me, the embrace soft but long. It was PG-13, but I still felt the heat burn throughout all the veins in my body. His lips were soft, and his chin was smooth from his fresh shave.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed his affection, excited to get back to the hotel room so this kiss could turn into something more. I loved it when he was gentle like this, enjoying the connection between us rather than the pleasure of the flesh.