Read Online Model Attraction by Sharon C. Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

the server asked, her gaze bouncing from Austin to Janna and back as if sensing the tension.
    â€œNo, everything is fine.” Austin’s clipped tone had the server hurrying away.
    â€œI called you,” Austin said. “As a matter of fact, I called you four times, to be exact.”
    Janna sat stunned.
    â€œOnce we returned from vacation, imagine my surprise when I went by your house and your mother said you were in Milan. Do you have any idea how that made me feel? To find out the girl I’d loved and planned to spend the rest of my life with had left the country without a word?”
    Guilt lodged in Janna’s throat. Her hand went to her chest, making small circles as if the move could release some of the tension that had built from the anguish she heard in his tone.
    â€œYour mother gave me your manager’s number, saying it was the only way to reach you. I called. The first two times, I left a message with him for you to call me back.”
    â€œOh my God, Austin, I didn’t know. He never told me.”
    â€œThe last two times I left messages on his voice mail.”
    Janna was going to kill Nelson. How could he have not told her? He’d known how much Austin meant to her.
    â€œAustin—” she reached out and placed her hand on top of his “—I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I would have called you back had I known.” His gaze went to where her hand rested on top of his and he surprised her when he didn’t pull away.
    â€œWhether your manager gave you the messages or not, that’s no excuse for you not calling me.”
    â€œI thought you were angry with me after receiving my letter. When I didn’t hear from you, I just assumed...” Her words trailed off. There was nothing else she could say, and no other excuse she could give to explain her actions.
    â€œHow could you think that I wouldn’t try calling? You knew how I felt about you.” He turned his hand over and grasped her hand, squeezing a little as he continued. “I had planned to make you my wife. How could you think I wouldn’t try to find you?”
    Janna lowered her gaze and shook her head, fighting the tears that pricked the back of her eyes. She should have known that Austin would try contacting her. Even at a young age, he was the most responsible, loyal person she’d ever known. He had always been clear about his feelings for her and wasn’t shy about telling her how much he loved her. This...all of this was on her.
    She looked up at him, her vision distorted by unshed tears. “I should have known.” She lifted her napkin from her lap and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, trying hard not to let a tear fall. If one slipped through, more would follow. Thankfully, her back was to the majority of the other patrons.
    â€œListen, maybe talking about this out in public wasn’t a good idea.”
    Janna shook her head. “No. I’m glad we’re having this conversation. We should have had it years ago. I’m not happy with my manager, but ultimately, this whole mess is my fault.”
    Austin sighed and picked up his fork. “Why don’t we eat while you tell me how everything played out?”
    The last thing Janna wanted to do was eat, but she was glad he was willing to at least listen to her. Not that she was surprised. He’d had plenty of opportunities to practice patience and tolerance when it came to dealing with her. She hadn’t been the most levelheaded person back in the day, especially considering the number of messes she used to get into. That often led to disagreements with Austin, but he never stayed mad long. He had once told her that his parents had a rule—never go to bed angry at each other. Austin had told her early on that he wanted that to be the case with them.
    â€œThe morning after you and your family left on vacation, I was contacted by Nelson, my current manager. On a whim, months