The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure #1)(87)

Julian slipped into the driver’s seat and pulled back out of the gravel drive. I saw my mom standing in the kitchen window, watching us back up. I waved as we hit the end of the drive and she waved back, offering a final goodbye.

“Do you have to buy a pass for the subway or do you carry quarters around all the time?” she asked, leaning forward.

“You get a reloadable card. Definitely don’t carry quarters around with you,” I said, visualizing a weighed down Lily pulling mountains of quarters out of her pockets every time we took the subway together.

“Oh okay. That makes sense.”

“What are you planning on doing for work?” Julian asked, peering back at her in the rearview mirror.

She picked at her thumbnail as she stared out the window with narrowed eyes.

“Eventually I want my blog to be able to support me, but I know that I’ll have to get a full-time job for the time being.”

Julian glanced toward me. “Blog?”

I smiled. “Yes, Lily has a blog too, but it’s all about food.”

She beamed in the back seat. “It’s an ‘everyman’ food review blog. I post lists like ‘Where to Get the Best Burger in Texas’ and stuff like that, but I want to switch gears when I get to New York and really start to review more restaurants.”

“Have you told her about Dean?” Julian asked.

Lily leaned forward. “Who’s Dean?”

“One of my friends from college. He’s a restaurateur in New York and I’m sure he’d have room for you at one of his restaurants if you don’t mind serving.”

Lily pinched the back of my arm. “How could you have kept this information from me.”

“Ow!” I yanked my arm away and flashed her a death stare. “To be honest, I did it on purpose. You and Dean are going to be like oil and water. I already know it’d be a disaster if you worked for him.”

Julian laughed. “Can’t say I don’t agree. Dean’s pretty headstrong.”

“Yeah? So what? I am too.”

Julian and I exchanged a knowing glance. We both knew the facts: Dean and Lily were both annoyingly good-looking and annoyingly stubborn. The chances of them getting along were slim at best. The chances of them tearing each other’s clothes off at first sight were much more likely.

“Honestly, it sounds like fate that you have a friend in the restaurant industry. Promise me you’ll put in a good word for me?” Lily asked.

Julian nodded. “I’ll see what I can do, but you should know that Dean’s a smug bastard.”

I peered back at Lily out of the corner of my eye.

She wasn’t the least bit deterred by Julian’s warnings. On the contrary. She was leaning against the back seat with her arms crossed and a confident smile across her lips. She looked like she was plotting something diabolical and I didn’t want any part of it.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to handle him,” she said. “Besides, most guys are all bark and no bite.”





VOGUE BLOGS


Seasoned Designer Returns to the Spotlight June 28, 2015

By Josephine Keller of What Jo Wore Comments: 3,008 Likes: 55,434



Forget everything you thought you knew about Lorena Lefray Designs. In the past, she’s been known for dark, grungy styles best worn with crimson lipstick and paired with a serious gothic attitude. Next season, she’s taking her collection—and her brand—in a whole new direction.

I’ve been honored with a sneak peek of the designs that will hit runways in September. Three words: tribal, colorful, daring. This collection will not be for the faint of heart. There are no neutrals. She wants her clothes to speak volumes, and THEY DO.

In sync with her first runway debut in two years, she’ll be opening up her very first storefront in Chelsea this fall. I was a part of the beginning stages of this project and I have to say, you have never seen a store like this. Imagine walking into Chanel and having Karl Lagerfeld handpick a dress just for you. Now imagine that you’re listening to hip music and sipping on some amazing (complimentary) champagne while he does it.

It’s going to be EPIC.

I’ll be sitting down with the designer for a one-on-one interview closer to the opening of her store, but for now, I’ll leave you with a first look at the Lorena Lefray Designs 2015 Fall Collection. (I’d recommend you start saving up for it now!)

Until tomorrow,





XOJO





Acknowledgements


To my readers. I write these books to make you smile. I hope that they’re a light spot at the end of a long day. Whether this is the first book you’ve picked up from me or the sixth, I appreciate all of your support.

To Lance, who has become quite a writing partner. Thank you for taking my words and making them funnier than I could ever imagine. We make quite a good tag team!

To my mom & dad, thank you for your unconditional support. I would have never had the courage to pursue writing without you two.

To my street team, aka the women who put up with an author who is scatterbrained 95% of the time, thank you for supporting me when I need you all the most! This book was written during quite a crazy time in my life, and I would not have been able to finish it without you guys there to support me along the way.