Model Attraction. Sharon C. Cooper

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      For as long as Janna could remember, her sisters had been overachievers. Iris, a defense attorney, and Macy, a pediatrician, had chosen careers that helped others and, in many instances, saved lives. Though she had never said anything to either of them, she envied their selflessness and the way they poured themselves into helping other people. Unlike them, Janna had chosen a profession that was more about her, doing something she enjoyed that didn’t really benefit others. Considering how blessed she had been, it was way past time that she gave back in a big way and did something to help those less fortunate. Besides, she wanted to make a difference in someone’s life.

      She couldn’t wait to get her nonprofit up and running. Just thinking about the young people she would be able to help filled a void in her life that no amount of money could.

      * * *

      Forty-five minutes later, Austin pulled onto his parents’ estate in Johns Creek and followed the long circular drive to their front door. His parents had purchased the house, which his mother considered her dream home, three years after moving to Atlanta, once their business started making a profit.

      Austin parked his vehicle, still finding it hard to believe that he’d seen Janna. The whole experience seemed so surreal. How many times had he thought about her? Dreamed about her?

      He exited the car, grabbing the cake his mother had asked him to pick up. He used his key to let himself in, still trying to shake his encounter with Janna.

      “Hello,” he called out and headed to the kitchen, where he was sure he’d find his mother; it was her favorite part of the five-thousand-square-foot house.

      “Hi, son.” Sheila looked up from pulling a roasted chicken out of the oven. “What happened to you?” She nodded toward the stain on the front of his shirt.

      Janna Morgan is what happened was what he wanted to say, but instead he replied, “I had a little accident at the bakery.”

      His family knew Janna as his high school sweetheart. When they found out that things had ended between them, his mother had been the only one who pressed him for details. She was concerned about how withdrawn he’d become. Months later, when they saw Janna on the cover of Vogue, they’d put together bits and pieces about their breakup, no one knowing just how devastated he’d been. It wasn’t until years later that he had told his older brother the whole story about how she had left, disregarding their plans in favor of her career.

      “Oh, this is absolutely beautiful.” His mother gushed over the cake that he set on the center island in her state-of-the-art kitchen. A cook’s dream space, the room consisted of top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, marble countertops and every cooking gadget imaginable.

      Austin went to the refrigerator for a bottle of water.

      “Don’t even think about going in there without washing your hands.”

      Austin shook his head. How often had he and his brother heard those words growing up?

      As he washed his hands in the sink, his mind drifted back to Janna. Long hair that he wanted to run his fingers through, seductive eyes, high cheekbones and lips that were made for kissing were at the forefront of his mind. Seeing her gorgeous face and enticing body on the covers of numerous magazines hadn’t done her justice. The woman was absolutely breathtaking. He still wondered how he’d been able to walk away from her this afternoon. Then again, he knew how. All he had to do was think about how she had tossed his love away and crushed his heart.

      His high school sweetheart, she was the woman he had planned to spend the rest of his life with. Once he became a senior—a year ahead of her—they’d created a five-year plan. It included them getting married once he graduated from college and started his career. He would work while she finished her degree in fashion. Their plan had been solid, or so he’d thought.

      “Austin. Austin?”

      He glanced up to find his mother staring at him, concern in her eyes.

      “What’s on your mind? I called your name several times. Is it work? Your dad told me the negotiations regarding that New York condominium project have been a little stressful.”

      Glad to have his thoughts steered away from Janna and what should have been, Austin grabbed a bottle of water.

      “Yeah, we’re getting close to an agreement, but it’ll take a trip out there to finalize everything.” As the chief financial officer for their family’s company, Reynolds Development, he was used to tough negotiations. After graduating from college, despite already being a millionaire, he had joined the family business and taken the company to the next level with his negotiating abilities.

      “Please tell me this trip is not going to cause you to miss the anxiety and depression awareness benefit Saturday. I want my whole family to be there.”

      “I’ll be back in Atlanta Friday evening.” He hated attending formal events, but this cause was close to his mother’s heart. Shunned and disowned by her wealthy family for marrying Austin’s father, who at the time was a carpenter, Sheila had attempted suicide when Austin was twelve. For years, she had suffered from depression. With the help of therapy, she’d grown stronger. Once they moved from New Jersey to Georgia, she became an advocate for others suffering from depression. It was her own form of healing.

      “I know Zoe is looking forward to the gala. We went shopping the day before yesterday for our dresses. You’re not going to want to leave her side when you see hers,” his mother said, interrupting his thoughts.

      Oh, great. Seeing Janna had made him totally forget about his broken engagement, which spoke volumes about his lack of feelings for Zoe. His mother absolutely adored her and had already considered her the daughter she’d always longed for.

      “I hate to tell you this, but I guess you’re going to find out eventually. This afternoon Zoe and I called off our engagement.”

      “Oh, no!” The pained expression on his mother’s face sent a stab of guilt straight to his heart.

      “Why? What happened?” She set down the large spoon she was using to stir what looked to be collard greens. His mother was the only person he knew who cooked large meals at least three times per week. “No, don’t tell me. It was you again, wasn’t it? I had hoped you were finally ready to settle down. How many hearts are you going to break before you understand that you can’t go around dating a woman for years, or in this case asking a woman to marry you, when you don’t love her?”

      “What’s going on?” His father, Patrick, walked into the kitchen and set his car keys on the counter before planting a kiss on Sheila’s cheek. “What’s with the scowl?” he asked her before turning his attention to Austin. He and his father were about the same height, but Patrick was a tad thicker around the waist.

      “Your son...” Sheila started but stopped, her scowl growing more intense.

      “I just told Mom that Zoe and I called off our engagement.”

      His father shook his head and clasped a hand on Austin’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

      Austin knew his dad well enough to know what he was thinking, and he knew that at some point in the very near future, probably when Sheila wasn’t around, there would be a man-to-man talk. Neither of his parents could say anything that he hadn’t already thought about. But his mother was definitely right in saying СКАЧАТЬ