I’m heading out the door to start my shift when my cell phone rings. I know by the ringtone that it’s Kelsey and I know exactly what she’s going to say. I don’t even have to say hello. As soon as the call connects she lets it rip.
“Rhys Mitchell! Are you fucking serious? You bought the entire shoot. I got exactly two edits from Selena before she told me the whole set had been bought, by you! Care to explain?”
“No one needed to see that much of you, but me.”
I got the same two edits. And immediately asked to see the rest before anyone else did. Not a chance in hell I was letting anyone else see how amazing Kelsey looked, pressed against me in those cheeky underwear she loves so much. And that was just the tip of the iceberg.
“And what exactly do you plan to do with 250 photos of us in various stage of undress?”
I probably shouldn’t be so entertained by this or by the fact that I can’t tell if she’s mad or not.
“I’ll make us a photo album. Something for you and me to share. I don’t know. I didn’t think that far ahead.”
“You’re ridiculous, Rhys.”
“I’m protecting what’s mine.”
“We’re not done discussing this, but I’ll table it for now. I need to get Reid in bed, and you need to get your ass to work.”
“There’s nothing else to discuss. They’re non-refundable. Mine. That’s all you need to know.”
“Whatever. I love you. Stay safe.”
“Love you too. Goodnight.”
And if I thought that would really be the end of it, I was so wrong. I make it to the break room and actually fill my coffee cup before Smitty starts running his mouth.
“Oh, how the mighty fall. Dude, your girl, is pissed. And you, my friend, have it so fucking bad.”
When I turn around, Smitty is leaning in the doorway with his hands in his pockets, smirking.
“And you’d let the world see Zoey half naked, pressed against you or otherwise?”
He shoots me a wicked look, “Fuck, yes I would.”
“I don’t know why I asked. You’re one weird fucker.”
“Not weird, confident. If you looked as good as I do? Pair that with Zoey’s banging body? I’d be bragging too. Hell yes.”
“Whatever. I’m guessing you got this information from Zoey, so enlighten me. How much trouble am I in?”
“I believe I overheard the words ‘I’m not sure if I want to kill him or fuck him senseless.”
It’s my turn to smirk now. “Ah, I’m totally fine then. I know exactly how this is going to end.”
Her naked beneath me. Or on top. Cuffs may or may not be involved. We’ll both be sated, and all will be right in the world. And no one will see my girl half naked. Win. Win.
“I’m driving tonight. Get your ass to the car.”
“YES!” I cheer. “I get to play with the radio. Can I turn on the lights and sirens too?”
Smitty shakes his head as we walk out. “Fuck. I swear. Sometimes I wonder if you’re still a rookie.”
“Dude! Whatever, I’m not the one who got elbowed in the balls in the middle of the airport by a GIRL.”
“Don’t remind me,” he climbs in the driver seat while I get in on the passenger side, “Did you teach her that?”
I beam proudly. “I did not. She told me that she and Zoey took some self-defense classes.”
“Whoever taught her, they knew what they were doing! Worked out though. I got a nice massage for the boys after that,” he winks.
“FUCK. Smitty! Goddamnit,” I gag. “I want a new partner.”
“You love me, man.”
He’s already on a roll. It’s going to be a long night if he keeps this shit up. Which I know he will. He always does. And it’s ALWAYS worse when he’s just came off what I now call his “Zoey fix.”
Sometimes I wish they’d get their shit together and make it solid but, one – it’s not like I have a lot of room to talk. I’m still working my shit out. And two – Lord only knows how much worse he’d be if she was around constantly. I have noticed that he’s not been doing his usual playing the field lately though, which is very interesting.
“You know, Smitty…Speaking of someone having it bad. Where’s your harem been lately?”
“Ain’t got time for that nonsense.”
“Right. That’s what it is,” I snicker. “Nothing to do with Zoey, right?”
“We’re not talking about Zoey.”
“We are assholes. You want to give me shit about Kelsey and me, I’m going to give you shit about you and Zoey. That’s the way this works.”
“Fuck. You’re a pain in the ass.” He slams his fist on the steering wheel. “And she’s frustrating as hell. That’s all it is.”
“Sounds like things are going great. Think she’ll move out here now that Kelsey is?”
Smitty flips me off as a call comes in. Time to go stop some bad guys!
* * *
KJ
When Friday arrives, and Rhys calls to say he’s on the way, I’m still mildly annoyed about the pictures. Because if it wasn’t bad enough that he bought the whole portfolio, the asshole told Selena NOT to show them to me. I’m not going to tell him that it’s a little charming that he’s concerned about my virtue. And honestly the more I’ve thought about it, seeing those two edits, yeah, it’s a good thing they’re not out there for public view.
People would be talking some serious gossip because there is NO denying the chemistry.
I don’t know. Maybe I should get over it and quit worrying about what everyone else thinks.
I don’t want to be that person though. Things like this usually end badly. Models and authors have ‘hooked up’ before, and everyone has an opinion on it, then shit goes to hell – readers take sides. Maybe that’s really what I’m worried about, the inevitable kiss of death that public relationships, especially when it’s an author/model combo, seem to have in this industry.
Doesn’t matter that we started way before Rhys was a model.
And it’s complicated by the little rugrat that is adorably perched in the front window looking for his daddy.
“Da! Da! Da!” Reid’s little body starts bouncing, Lucy lets out a back and runs to the window and starts dancing.
I’m the only one not standing in the window waiting for him. I could get up and meet him at the door, but after his hissy fit about leaving the damn door unlocked for ten minutes, I figured I’d just give him his own key. He can let himself in. I’ll sit here in my comfy recliner and pretend that I’m still writing, instead of scrolling through stock photos looking for teasers.
Lucy hears the key in the lock and takes off. Stupid dog, I used to be her favorite.
Reid drops to the ground and starts crawling and yelling.
It hits me out of nowhere that we’ll only do this one more time. The next time Rhys comes to ‘visit’, it will be to move me to Tallahassee. In two weeks I’m going to hand over the keys to my first home. The one I bought on my own. The place I brought Reid home from the hospital too. The place he’s spent almost the entire first year of his life at.
Shit, I’m not going to cry over this.
It’s far too soon to be thinking bittersweet thoughts.
“Hey,” Rhys’ lips tip up as he walks into the living room and scoops Reid up off the floor. He almost made it to the end of the living room. Rhys kisses his cheeks and Reid squeals. “Writing?”
“Nope. Fell down the rabbit hole that is stock photos. You know, since I can’t use any of my pictures as a cover. Some asshole bought them all.”
“Not going to apologize for it either,” he shoots me a cocky grin, and I want to throw something at him. He’s lucky the only thing in my reach is my coveted laptop.
“You could have let me see them first at least. Jeez.”
“You can see them. I brought my laptop with me so you can have a look. You’re not using them for a cover though. Ever.”
I stick my tongue out at him, and he laughs at me.
“I found a place for us,” he says as he sits down on the couch with Reid.
Counting to ten, I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. “And?”
“It’s a rental. But it has three bedrooms, a backyard. It’s set up similar to this. I talked to the landlord, and he’s cool with you having Lucy. Decent neighborhood. In our price range.”
“My price range.”
“Ours. Give in. What’s the point in living in separate spaces? I’m going to be at your place every day anyway.”
“Stop being sensible.”
“Stop being stubborn.” He says as he hands me his cell phone with the link to the house pulled up.
God this man gets under my skin.
All weekend he keeps saying he’ll show me the pictures from Selena but when he leaves Sunday, I’ve still yet to see the ‘too hot to handle’ pictures from the photo shoot.