Fauxmance (Showmance #2)(4)

Most weeks, I sat one table away from Elodie and Suze, but today I’d daringly opted to sit at the table right next to theirs. I lifted my cup to take a sip, and as I lowered it back down, I missed the mark and brown liquid splattered over my table and halfway across theirs.

Suze let out a gasp as I apologised. “I’m so sorry.”

I grabbed some napkins to wipe up the spilled coffee from their table, inwardly cursing my sudden clumsiness. Awkward was not a word anyone would use to describe me. I didn’t have a clumsy bone in my body. I guess it served me right for paying too much attention on listening and not enough on what I was doing with my hands.

Suze looked me up and down with marked interest. Her pretty eyes went wide as they travelled from my feet all the way up to my face. “Don’t apologise. I can’t believe I didn’t see you sitting there.”

I gave her a charming smile. “Well, I am sorry for splattering coffee all over your table. Please allow me to pay for both of your drinks.” My eyes briefly went to Elodie, but she stared intently at the table. Her shoulders were rigid and her mouth a straight, tense line. That was odd.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you’re simply beautiful. Have you ever modelled before?” Suze asked.

“I haven’t, but thank you very much for the compliment.”

“Are you a fast learner?”

“Pardon?”

She stuck out her hand. “I’m Suzanna Lee. I have a collection showing at London Fashion Week and I’d be forever in your debt if you agreed to model for me this weekend. Two of my guys have come down with the flu.”

I shook her hand. “Julian Fairchild, and I’m afraid I have to decline.”

Her frown encompassed her entire face. “I’ll pay you handsomely, and I’ll be especially grateful if you happen to have a twin brother.”

I gave a soft laugh. “Unfortunately, I’m an only child.” I glanced at Elodie again and this time managed to catch her eye. Hers got big and fluttery, like she was nervous or frightened, which confused me. I frowned as I returned my attention to Suze, feeling bad for turning her down so quickly. She really did seem desperate, and perhaps this was my chance to ingratiate myself with the two of them, get to know Elodie better by doing a favour for her friend.

“I guess if you really need the help I could throw on some clothes and strut down a catwalk,” I told her, and she smiled wide.

“Oh em gee, thank you so much! And do you have any friends who look like you? Handsome men run in packs, right?” she joked.

“I have one, but he’s older.”

“How old?”

“Fifty-one, I think, but if asked he’ll tell you he’s not a day over forty-five.”

Suze laughed. “Well, it’s a gentleman’s prerogative to shave off a few years. Do you think he’d be up for a bit of modelling?”

“I’ll run it by him,” I replied and pulled out my phone to text David. I still couldn’t believe how quiet Elodie was being, and I was more than a little disappointed that she hadn’t taken the opportunity to flirt. Like Suze said, I was a handsome, well-groomed specimen of a man. She should be all over me.

Or maybe my ego had lost the run of itself. It wasn’t like every woman I met fell at my feet. I’d been rejected my fair share of times just like everyone else. Still, the idea of being rejected by Elodie bothered me. Having listened to all her stories, I felt a kinship towards her.

Didn’t she realise we were soul mates? At the very least two peas in a pod.

I focused on texting David and his reply was prompt.

David: Sure, I’ll do it, so long as there’ll be champagne and models to ogle.

I grinned at his message and typed back.

Julian: Models young enough to be your daughter, yes, there’ll be plenty.

David: Great. Thanks for ruining it for me.

I looked to Suze. “He says he’ll do it.”

“Fantastic! Here, let’s exchange emails and I’ll send you everything you need.”

As Suze was emailing me all the information, I turned to Elodie and held out my hand. “Hello, I’m Julian. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She stared at my hand like it had a venereal disease, then lifted her eyes to mine. Now that I was looking at her up close, there was something strange about her irises that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“Elodie,” she mumbled, not taking my hand.

“Is everything all right?” Suze asked as she slid her phone back into her handbag.

“Yes, perfectly fine. I was just introducing myself to your very beautiful friend here.” Elodie’s cheeks went bright red, suffused with warmth as Rose’s book would describe it, and I couldn’t get my head around why she was being so incredibly awkward.

“Oh, do you hear that, Elodie. This beautiful man thinks you’re beautiful, too. Isn’t that something?” Suze chimed with a wink.

Elodie stood from her seat and gathered her things. “Uh, I’ve just remembered I have a meeting at work. I have to go.”

Quick as a flash she fled the café, leaving Suze and I frowning in her wake.

“I’m sorry. She’s not usually so abrupt,” Suze said.

I waved her away. “No worries. I guess I’ll see you this weekend.”