Behind His Lens(58)

I know there comes a point when the baggage becomes too much and you have to cut your losses and move on. But maybe if I keep my baggage tucked away until we’re back in New York, I can pretend that this is real life and get to enjoy it while it lasts. Because it will surely end like everything does in life, whether it’s today or in twenty years, it ends.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Charley

“Did I catch you on your lunch break?” I ask as soon as the call connects.

“Yes, but I don’t have long. Bennett and I have a date with a secluded corner in about ten minutes,” Naomi states suggestively. I highly doubt she’s kidding.

“You hussy.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. How’s Hawaii? Have you gotten it on with any locals?”

“Half a dozen, but who’s counting? But seriously, I don’t have long and I need your advice about something.”


“You need my advice about Jude,” she clarifies, seeing straight through my bullshit. “If we don’t have long, you’d better spill.”

“It’s creepy how good you are sometimes, but yes.”

“Have the models been throwing themselves at him?”

I huff out a breath, thinking of the bevy of girls he has to choose from while we’re here.

“Yes, but he doesn’t seem to care at all. In fact, yesterday he told me he wasn’t interested in any of them. He saved me a seat on the plane and then he brought me dinner last night.”

“Of course he did,” she answers flatly. “Damn, he’s good.”

“And then after dinner he stuck around and he made another move on me,” I ramble quickly.

“I’m not seeing the problem here?”

“I’m not ready for this, Naomi. I didn’t want any of this to happen and I still don’t think I do. What happens when we go back home?”

“Charley, slow down. What’s wrong with having a little fun in Hawaii? Jude doesn’t seem like the type to want a long-term thing, so maybe you’re both on the same page.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Do you want to have a fling with him in Hawaii?”

I think about her question for a moment even though my gut is screaming yes. Her nails click repetitively on her desk and I know she’s trying to hint at her impatience with me.

“Yes! Okay? Yes. I do,” I respond with angst.

I can practically hear her smile through the phone. “Then do it, and don’t worry about what happens after. I’ve got to go, Bennett just got to my office.”

“Okay, yeah I have to go to breakfast. Tell him I said hi, and I’ll try to listen to your advice.”

…

Our photo shoot is taking place right on the beach so the plush Hawaiian landscape will fill the background of each shot. At breakfast I learned that the hotel sent a crew out at the crack of dawn to block off a few yards of beach on either side of the set so that visitors would know to stay away. The setup feels very exclusive. Apparently the moment the barriers were placed, paparazzi and various beach goers started to gather round, clamoring for a good view of the shots. So, if it wasn’t enough to model in front of twenty people, I’ll now be doing it in front of a couple hundred. Lovely.

They hired ten models in total. Half of them are scheduled to shoot before me and half are scheduled for after, so by the time I’m finished with hair and makeup and wrapped in a short pink robe, the shoots already in full swing. My white bikini is strategically placed over the important areas; my hair is styled in big, beachy curls. They used gold and brown tones for my makeup, so I feel natural and glowing. I just pray the effect will last long enough for me to get a few good shots. Already, I feel my nerves starting to seep in.

“It was really easy. Ryan has a good vision for what he wants from each model, so it didn’t take as long as some other shoots I’ve worked on,” Bella assures me as my sandals clap against the concrete steps toward the beach. Bella already finished for the day, so she offered to hangout with me until I have to start. I’m happy for the distraction because after last night, my entire body practically buzzes in anticipation of seeing Jude. I don’t have any idea where his head is today since he was already on set by the time I made it down for breakfast. Hopefully nothing has changed since last night because if I concentrate, I can still feel the lingering presence of his lips on my skin and each time it sends a surge of desire through my veins.