He pinched his eyes closed. What did he think? Thinking about her was his problem. He could ditch big money’s daughter, find a hotel room, and they wouldn’t leave for a week.

“I need to speak with Jenny.” Asher stepped toward her. “Alone.”

Cole took a step back from her, eyebrows bunched, but stopped and walked forward, extending his hand. “Congressman McIntyre, so nice to meet you.”

Asher moved across the worn, wooden floor and completed the obligatory hello. The seamstress smiled and waved as she passed. Even Ricky stepped out, which surprised Asher.

Mirrors surrounded him on three sides. Floor-to-ceiling windows served as the fourth wall.

“How do I look?” Her fingers knitted together like she was suddenly nervous under his attention. “I’m going for hot, but, ya know… So?”

“You want hot? Pretty?” Were there even words for how she looked? “How about you try every man’s lifelong fantasy? You’re making Victoria’s Secret angels look like knobby-kneed bums.”

She laughed, and her already-red cheeks flamed. “Thanks.”

“My lifelong fantasy.”

Teetering on breakneck high heels, she stopped fidgeting and looked up from under the sexy veil of her eyelashes. “Really?”

Asher stepped to her. He dropped his hand to her flat stomach between the corset top and the sequin bottom, and his finger traced softly. Her skin was velvet. They were suspended in the moment, Asher holding Jenny to him with the strength of a gaze.

Her chest rose and fell, mirroring his tempo. Jenny sucked her bottom lip, nailing him with textbook bedroom eyes. Her palm found his, smoothing it from her hip, over her bare stomach, and stopped on the corset. She leaned against him, pushed onto her toes, and pressed her lips against his ear. Warm breath caressed him, and his mind spun.

A knock on the door, and Cole popped his head back in. “You guys good? Photographer’s here for her promo pieces.”

He dropped his finger but ignored the director. “I need to get you out of here.”

The room filled.

“Asher,” Ricky sang to him. “I got you a smoothie. Wheatgrass with strawberries. It’ll help your mood, whatever’s wrong with you.”

She shook her head. “I have to work. And then there’s a happy hour I have to go to. We’re celebrating… me, I guess.”

He stepped back, drawing a fresh breath and hoping for some perspective. “I have a dinner thing to go to too.” Ricky stood next to them with a green smoothie. It looked disgusting.

“Try it.” Jenny smiled. “Pretty good, actually.”

He shook his head. “No, thanks.”

“Take it anyway.” Ricky pushed the cup into his hand and turned to Jenny. “I’d say the congressman looks horny, but that’d cross the line, wouldn’t it?” Ricky winked at Jenny and walked away.

She covered her mouth, shocked and laughing. “Oh my God. How well do you two know each other again?”