Atlantis

by Jessica Rosberg

  "I already have," she whispered, enthralled by him and this sensitive side of him that she was seeing.

  He graced her with the most charming smile she'd ever seen. It stole her breath. "So, how was Jamaica?"

  "Beautiful." She smiled. "The weather was perfect the entire time and the shoot went flawlessly, which rarely happens." She laughed nervously.

  "And where do you go next?"

  "Bora Bora. We leave next Friday."

  He nodded as if he were thinking something, but didn't want to say it. Candace didn't push the issue. She simply settled in the seat next to him and enjoyed his company. They arrived at the fundraiser a few moments later. That was the best thing about living in New York – everything was so close together that if you could beat the traffic, you could get anywhere you wanted to go relatively quickly.

  Harvey got out and offered her his hand, helping her out of the car. She once again took his arm and walked inside with him. The place was packed and everyone looked wonderful in their tuxedos and ball gowns. Candace was really in her element here, and she knew Sloane would've loved to be here.

  "There's my father," Harvey whispered at her ear. "C'mon, I'd like you to meet him."

  Candace felt her nerves resurface again as she walked with Harvey. Their first date and she was already meeting his father. Talk about fast.

  "Dad, I'd like you to meet Candace Parker. Candace, this is my father, Benjamin Balmain," Harvey said.

  Candace's eyes widened and she swore her heart stopped beating. Balmain…as in Balmain Models, Parker Inc.'s biggest rival? The entire party seemed to stop around her. Harvey was a Balmain? Dear God, why was this happening? It had to be a nightmare.

  "Miss Parker," Benjamin said with a smile, offering his hand. "So nice to see you."

  She faked a smile. "Likewise." You slimy, sneaky, model-stealing, backstabber.

  "You two already know each other?" Harvey asked, looking back and forth between them.

  "Candace here is the owner of Parker, Inc., the modeling agency that's been giving me a run for my money." Benjamin winked; then laughed.

  Harvey gave her an odd look. "Huh, I can't believe I didn't put that together before now." He laughed.

  Candace was suddenly very uncomfortable and wanted nothing more than to leave, but that would be rude and thus far, Harvey had been a total gentleman. "Excuse me for a moment, I need to go find the restroom," she lied.

  Harvey pointed in the direction of the bathrooms, and Candace walked toward them. By the time she made it there, her hands were shaking and she felt nauseous. Why did Harvey have to be Benjamin Balmain's son? Then another thought struck her – Sloane would be furious when she found out, especially if Candace decided that she wanted to continue to see Harvey. And she did. She liked him, and Sloane was always on her case to get a boyfriend. Calm down. Think. Okay, so, maybe Candace wouldn't tell Sloane just yet. She would let her sister calm down over the whole Johl thing, and then Candace would tell her. Yeah, that's what she'd do. It would be fine. Touching up her make-up, Candace left the bathroom and found Harvey.

  *****

  The night progressed and Harvey was the perfect gentleman, never leaving Candace's side, introducing her to people he knew, including her in his conversations. It was hands down the best date she'd ever been on. They were two of the last people to leave, but that was fine with her. She wasn't ready for the night to end just yet anyway. She was enjoying his company too much. Plus, she knew the moment she got home, Sloane would want all the details and Candace wasn't prepared to face her just yet. Lying to her sister was something Candace had always struggled with.

  Harvey leaned forward and whispered something to the limo driver, and then he put the window up between the front and back seats. Harvey settled beside Candace and asked, "Would it be alright if I kissed you?"

  Candace smiled and nodded. Harvey put one hand on her face and pulled her toward him. He slanted his lips over hers and parted her lips with his tongue. Her eyes fluttered closed and she welcomed his kiss. It was soft and gentle and imploring and it was searing hot. She moaned softly into his mouth and he deepened the kiss.

  "Mmm." Harvey pulled away and licked his lips. "I've wanted to do that all night." Then he kissed her again.

  She liked kissing him. He was good at it. Heck, she liked everything about this man, and she knew if she wasn't careful, he'd steal her heart before she ever realized what was happening. The feel of his tongue exploring her mouth lit a fire deep in her belly that raged out of control. She wanted this man. Right here, right now, and to hell with the consequences. Candace put her hands in his jacket and pushed it off his shoulders. Then she reached for his tie and tugged on it until it came off.

  "Are you sure about this?" Harvey mumbled against her lips.

  "Yeah…" She began to unbutton his shirt. Harvey continued to kiss her as he reached around and unzipped her dress, leaving her back fully exposed to his caress. It sent delicious shivers through her body. This was so not like her. She didn't sleep with a man on the first date, but there was something special about Harvey and she felt comfortable with him.

  "You have the softest skin I've ever felt," he said as he ran his hands up and down her back, his lips finding and kissing her neck. Then he kissed his way down her throat, pulling down her strapless gown as he went. He cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her nipple.

  She arched her back and moaned. His hands were soft, firm, and so assured, like he'd spent his life touching only her. It was glorious. He dragged his mouth back to hers and kissed her hard. "I want you, Harvey."

  He groaned and pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddling him. His erection was apparent and she couldn't wait to see it, to feel it inside of her. She fumbled with his pants until she was able to free his cock, which was much larger than she'd expected. She stroked him until he was breathing so heavy she knew he was close to orgasm. "I need you, Candace, I need you right now."

  Candace wiggled out of her dress, leaving her in just her panties, which Harvey tore from her body. She watched as he dug in his wallet for a condom, and then wiggled his pants down his hips until they were around his ankles. He deftly rolled the condom down the length of his cock; then he reached for her and she sat down, taking all of him inside of her. They moaned simultaneously.

  Slowly, Candace started to rock on his lap. He gripped her hips and let his head fall back against the seat. She put her hands on his shoulders and dug her nails into him, loving the feel of him inside of her. It had been far too long since she'd been with a man and wow, had she missed it, missed the feel of being desired, of being brought to the brink of pure physical ecstasy and then shoved over the edge.

  Harvey wrapped his hands around her and held her to him as they both gave in to their orgasms. He nipped at her neck and shoulders as she cried out his name. Then she collapsed against him, letting her head fall to his chest. Her breathing was sporadic and it took several moments for her to regain her composure. The entire time, Harvey showered her with quick, heated kisses.

  "You're incredible, Candace," he murmured.

  "So are you." She planted a firm kiss to his chest before sitting up and looking at him.

  He speared his fingers in her hair and kissed her. "I want you to spend the night with me. Will you?"

  She simply nodded. Yeah, she liked the idea of spending the whole night with Harvey, especially if that meant they could make love again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Did you see this?" Sloane tossed a copy of Model Manual Magazine onto Candace's desk and smiled broadly.

  Candace picked it up and on the cover was a photo of the front of their building with the headline: Parker, Inc. The Next Hot Thing in Modeling. Her eyes widened and she couldn't contain her smile. "Oh my, God, this is fantastic!"

  "I know." Sloane sat on the edge of Candace's desk and crossed her legs. "It gets better. According to Becky, since that article was published, we've had a surge of interest from models who want
to sign with us."

  "Wow!" Candace leaned back in her chair. This was the best news ever!

  "Yup, and you know that new Australian model, Toni Keiran?"

  "Yeah, he's signed with Balmain right?" Candace's throat went dry just saying that name. She still hadn't told Sloane the truth about who Harvey really was, and it was killing her lying to her sister like that.

  Sloane grinned wickedly. "His contract is up this month and he's looking to sign with us instead of going back to Balmain." She laughed and clapped her hands. "Serves Balmain right for stealing Johl from us."

  Candace rolled her eyes. She wanted to remind Sloane that Balmain didn't steal Johl from them, that he made the decision all on his own, but that would just end in an argument and Candace was in too good of a mood to argue with Sloane today. "Speaking of Johl…how're you doing with that?"

  Sloane shrugged. "I'm letting him take me to dinner tonight. We've been talking. I'm still mad at him for not signing with us, but I think I like him more than I'm mad at him." She laughed; then smiled shyly. "And I do miss him."

  "I'm glad you're going out with him again, Sloane. He's good for you." Candace stood. "Please give him a fair chance."

  "I will." Sloane hopped off the desk. "Where are you going?"

  "To the gym."

  "Oh, you mean you're going to go see Harvey." Sloane playfully batted her eyelashes and said his name in an overly dramatic way.

  Candace laughed. "Yes, I'm meeting Harvey there."

  Sloane hugged her. "I'm so happy that you're dating again. And he clearly makes you happy. I don't think I've ever seen you smile as much as I have these past few weeks."

  "Thanks. Okay, I need to get going or I'll be late."

  "Have fun."

  *****

  One Month Later…

  "I can't believe we're even considering this," Sloane said as she and Candace made their way into the offices of Balmain Models.

  "We have to consider it, Sloane. I'm sure the offer is going to be very generous, and with all the new modeling work we've been getting, it's harder and harder to run the agency," Candace said.

  "I know, but we have Becky and we can hire more staff. I just hate the idea of Balmain buying Parker, Inc., and of working for him," Sloane whined.

  "He's looking to buy our agency, not us. I made it very clear that the only way we were taking this meeting was with the understanding that he did not get us in the deal. We'll remain independent and we'll still be able to do what we want."

  Sloane made a face. "I know, but still…"

  Candace stopped with her hand on the door handle to the office. "You promised to keep an open mind and hear him out."

  "I will."

  "Thank you."

  Together, the girls walked into Benjamin Balmain's office and the color drained from Candace's face. There, sitting next to Benjamin, was Harvey, looking sexy as hell. She should've known he would be present at this meeting. He smiled at her and her body was instantly heated with the memory of what it was like to make love to him, to be held in his arms. Then she sliced a look at Sloane and all of Candace's fuzzy feelings were replaced with ice cold dread.

  "Candace, Sloane, so good to see you." Benjamin stood and shook each of their hands in turn. "I'm sure you both know my son, Harvey."

  Harvey stood and greeted each of them, his hold on Candace's hand lasting longer than necessary.

  "Wait," Sloane said, looking pointedly at her sister. "This is the Harvey, the guy from the gym?"

  "Not now, Sloane." Candace's voice was stern.

  Sloane smiled sweetly at Benjamin and Harvey. "I'm sorry, could you please excuse us." She grabbed her sister's arm and led her out of the office. Before the door was fully closed, Sloane started to rant. "You're sleeping with Harvey Balmain? He's the enemy, Candace! How could you do this? And how could you not tell me about it?"

  Candace sighed with frustration. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd freak out, but now is not the time or the place to have this discussion. We'll talk about it after the meeting."

  "No." Sloane crossed her arms over her chest. "Did you agree to this meeting because you're sleeping with him? Is that what this is about?"

  "Don't be ridiculous. For your information, I didn't know Harvey was a Balmain when I met him. I didn't know until the night of the fundraiser event, but you know what? I like him, Sloane. I like him a lot and I think…I think I'm falling in love with him, okay?"

  Sloane was silent for several moments. "It's really that serious?"

  "Yes. It is for me, anyway. I'm not sure how he feels."

  "Okay, okay, let's go hear what they have to say, but in the future, don't keep something like this from me."

  Candace smiled. "I won't. I promise."

  *****

  They girls left the meeting an hour later. They hadn't made a decision, but rather decided to wait and give it some more thought. As Candace had suspected, the offer was more than generous. She stood outside with Sloane, both lost in their own thoughts, when Harvey came running outside.

  "Candace, wait!" he shouted.

  She turned to face him. He looked frazzled, like he'd been chasing her for a long time, which wasn't the case at all. "Harvey, what's wrong?"

  He took her face into his hands and kissed her, taking her by surprise, but she leaned into him and fully embraced him. "Did you mean it?" he asked.

  "Mean what?" She gave him a confused look.

  "What you said to your sister…that you're falling in love with me?" Oh God! He'd heard that? As if sensing her embarrassment, he added, "The walls in the office are thin. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it was hard not to."

  "Yes, I meant it."

  Harvey smiled in a way she'd never seen him smile before and it make her heart flutter. "I'm falling in love with you, too." He winked; then kissed her again. Candace's head spun with his words. Harvey loved her. His admission was music to her ears.

  "I'm leaving to go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico tomorrow. Go with me, Sloane. We can spend a few days there, just the two of us. I have to meet with a potential business contact, but that should only take a few hours max; then I'm all yours."

  The way he said that, just the two of us…I'm all yours. His voice held so much promise. "Yes," she said with a laugh. "I'd love to go to Mexico with you."

  "Really?" He seemed genuinely shocked by her agreeing to go that she couldn't help but laugh again.

  "Yeah, really."

  He picked her up and spun her around, kissing her fully on the mouth. When he finally set her back on her feet, he said, "I can't wait to have you all to myself." He smiled. "I'll call you later, okay?"

  "Okay." She nodded and watched as he walked back inside. When she turned around, Sloane was grinning at her.

  "Okay, I'm officially not mad anymore. That was the sweetest thing ever," Sloane said.

  "Yeah, he's pretty great, huh?" Their car pulled up and they got into the backseat. No sooner than the car pulled onto the road, Candace got a text message from Harvey. It read, miss you already. She couldn't stop smiling.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was Fashion Week in New York and the Parker sisters were in high demand, more so than they'd ever been in their lives. It was exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. They'd been offered so many new jobs they had to have Becky start a spreadsheet just to keep track of all of them. There was no way they could commit to every single offer they got, but they were now in a position where they could pick and choose, and that was the best position in the world to be in.

  As if they weren't busy enough themselves during fashion week, every single model that was signed with them had multiple jobs that they were doing – and those models were getting numerous offers, too. It was surreal. Candace had to keep pinching herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. But, she wasn't.

  Her trip to Mexico with Harvey was a dream come true and it had been hard to return home. In fact, since they'd returned, it had been difficult for them to hav
e time together. Their schedules were both so full. She missed him terribly. Hopefully, once this week was over, they could find some time.

  Sloane was hot and heavy with Johl again. She'd completely forgiven him for signing with Balmain Models and the two of them were nearly inseparable. Candace was happy for her sister. Their lives and careers had come a long way from where they were just six months ago. They'd overcome adversity to be major players in the modeling industry, and that was no small feat.

  "So, the deadline to make a decision is tonight at midnight," Sloane said as she threw her napkin into the garbage.

  They'd hosted a party for all their models tonight to celebrate everyone's successes and now it was over, and they were the last two people there, except for the clean-up staff. Candace sighed and looked around. Large easels were set up, displaying prints of their models and the company logo. A smiled pulled at her face. "I love this company," she said.

  "Me too."

  "I mean, look around. We did this, Sloane." Candace waved her hand around the room to emphasize her point. "Every single one of these models took a chance on us. We can't sell them out."

  Sloane wiped a tear from her face. "God, I'm so glad you said that, because I really don't want to sell Parker, Inc."

  Candace hugged Sloane. "There's no way we're selling. I'll call Harvey and let him know that we're declining Balmain's offer."

  "Oh, girls!" Becky walked in with a huge smile, waving a business card in her hand. "Guess who I just spent the last half an hour talking to?"

  Candace and Sloane just looked at her, waiting for an answer.

  "Maria from Évoqué Magazine."

  In unison, Candace and Sloane screamed, "Oh my God!"

  Becky laughed. "That's right. Go home and pack. You two are flying to Milan tomorrow for a photo shoot."

  "Becky, if this is a joke, it's so not funny," Sloane said.

  Becky held out the business card to make her point. "No joke. You girls did it. You're going to be on the cover of Évoqué!" She smiled again. "In fact, they're talking about doing a four page spread on Parker, Inc., too."