But just as the last of the tension ebbed out of my body, his thumbs pressed gently against my hipbones, moving me back several inches. He raised his head, and we stood like that for several seconds before I realized Jasper had switched the music. Oh, God. I’d been standing there with a total stranger, practically melting into him.

Heat rushed to my face. “I—”

He smiled, and I was too blinded to finish. Gently, his thumbs traced across my hipbones once more, and he let me go. “Thank you for the dance.” Then he turned around and walked away.

I spent several seconds staring after him. What the hell had just happened?

“Hey, there you are.” Faith’s voice broke me out of the fog. “Who was that you were dancing with? I couldn’t see clearly.”

I stared into the crowd feeling empty. “I have no idea.”

8

Abbie…

Two days later, I stood in front of Xander’s office door wishing I hadn’t stayed up so late again. I’d need to be careful hanging out with Sophie and crew. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. Come on. Get it together. You’re here to learn. I couldn’t be afraid forever.

Taking one more deep breath to marshal my nerves, I knocked quietly.

“It’s open.”

“Here goes nothing,” I mumbled.

The moment I opened the door to Xander’s office, I felt like I’d walked into an episode of Hoarders. There were piles everywhere of books and boxes of photo equipment. Wow. “Um, is this a good time?”

He grinned as he stood. “Of course. It’s your time to use. Here, let me clear you a spot to sit.” Quickly, he cleared a stack of coffee table books off a chair and placed them on the floor beside his desk. “There you go. Have a seat, Little Bird.”

I flushed. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

He plopped into his seat across from me with a lazy ease. “What, Little Bird? It’s how I see you. I go through every single one of the photos that you all submit for review. Occasionally, one or two stand out. From that point forward, I can’t help but look at my students that way, as if that photo encompasses everything they are.” He shrugged. “Hence, Little Bird.”

There was no way I’d be able to concentrate with him staring at me like that. Like I had his full focus. I tried not to squirm under the scrutiny of his direct gaze. “So, can I ask, what are you looking for in your assistant position?”

His bark of laughter was rich and low. “Right to the point, I see.”

I shrugged. “It’s why I came to London. I want to work with you.”