Crazy Hot (The Au Pairs 4)

NYU? Didn't you need that down payment for tuition earlier this summer?"

"I'm not going to NYU," she said softly. She felt confident about the decision, but it still sounded foreign to say it out loud.

"I see." Pete frowned, biting his lip. He opened his mouth and then h

esitated, shaking his head. "But at the duck pond, you said ..." He trailed off.

"What?" Jacqui asked.

A white-jacketed server came out of the kitchen and looked curiously at the two of them. They waited until he was out of earshot to resume their conversation.

Pete sighed. "Look, I know I don't know you at all, but I think you're making a mistake. When you were talking about what you really want to do in life, you never mentioned anything about modeling. It was all about NYU, your future. Are you sure modeling is what you want to do?"

Jacqui felt her face burning with annoyance. This was just like the lecture Mara and Eliza had given her. "You don't know me at all. I mean, seriously. You met me once, for like five minutes, and that was months ago," she spat. She knew she was being totally unfair, but why couldn't anyone trust her to make her own decisions anymore? Why was everyone treating her like a child or, worse, like some airhead model, when that clearly wasn't what she was going to be?

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"Jacqui--," he began, his voice soothing. But she wasn't going to be placated.

"It was great bumping into you again. Have a nice life." And with that, Jacqui returned to the party, certain for the second time that summer that she would never see Pete Rockwood again.

248

KISS A PRINCE, FIND A FROG?

JACQUI WAS STILL ANNOYED WHEN SHE FOUND MARCUS, who was saving a spot for her on one of the modern white couches and keeping her champagne glass filled. She smiled when she saw him. Everything was going to work out splendidly--she was moving to the most romantic city in the world with her boyfriend, and she was going to be an international supermodel. The more people told her otherwise, the more she was sure of it.

Marcus smiled back as she sat down beside him on the couch. "Great news, love--we can get a ride to Paris on my friend's private jet tonight. We'll get there early, and I can show you the city before we have to get to work."

"That's fantastic," she purred, snuggling next to him on the oversize white couch. The sooner the better. She couldn't wait to get out of here.

"You'll love Paris," Marcus murmured, playing with her hair. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Paris,

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and they were leaving tonight. She was more than ready for her fantasy life to begin.

"The other girls are going to love you," Marcus continued, nuzzling her neck.

Jacqui opened her eyes with a start. "What other girls?"

"Your roommates," Marcus said casually, running a finger up her leg and tracing all the way up to her thigh.

She pulled away from his touch. Other girls? Roommates? Her Parisian dream was starting to look very crowded. "I thought we were going to be together in Paris, just you and me."

"You and me, and Natalie and Francesca and Zenobia," Marcus said casually, setting his glass down on the table. "Although I'll be gone for a little while after next month. Midas and I are doing a film."

"Excuse me?" Jacqui stared at him, her jaw agape. "Repeat that again. I know my English isn't very good sometimes."

"My flat's one of the Chrysler Model apartments. I rent it out because I'm not there a lot," he said matter-of-factly. "You'll like the other girls, I promise. You won't be lonely. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but you're welcome to stay as long as you want." His tone indicated that he thought he was being very generous.

"But I thought . . ." Her voice trailed off, and she began to feel the tears well up in her eyes.

"Oh, Jacqui, love." Marcus sighed, turning to her and taking both her hands in his. "You had to know that this was only for the summer?" He tried to look shocked, but somehow Jacqui got

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