“You didn’t say anything about a plane earlier.” Elizabeth was half sulking and half awed. On one hand, how was she supposed to get her furniture delivered? On the other, she was flying on a business trip to a photoshoot after just having the makeover of a lifetime. Right now, she preferred to be the glass-half-full type of girl.
“You didn’t ask where the photoshoot was.” Derrick leaned back and sipped a glass of water.
The interior of the plane was ivory leather trimmed with mahogany. Elizabeth peered out the window. Clouds made a misty filter over the sun and the city below. The world looked softer from up here, more pleasant. She smiled, the motion caught her eye. For a second, she jumped. She didn’t recognize her reflection in the window. The realization made her chuckle to herself. This was real. This was all really happening.
“Mr. Page, we will be landing in fifteen minutes.” The captain came over the intercom.
“That was fast,” Elizabeth turned away from the window.
Derrick raised an eyebrow at her, “I’m not a huge fan of traffic. The shoot is only a state away from the office.”
A car was waiting for them when the stairs to the plane unfurled. It had just rained. The world outside was dewy and glittering as the sun beamed down on them. Freshness wove its way through every breath she took. Derrick held open the door for her, and she slid inside. The driver waited until he was seated in the back beside her before pulling away.
“You know, I have a question.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I have an answer.” A sly smile played along his lips.
She leaned in closer, and her fingertips brushed against his on the center portion of the seat. “How did you know the combination to turn off my alarm system that night?”
Derrick resisted caressing her fingers with his own. It would be so easy to reach out. “It’s the address reversed. Most people have some variation of that or their birthday. Since you were new to the house, I figured you hadn’t had time to update to anything personal, so I went with the address.” He pulled away from her and leaned against the door of the car.
The car came to a stop outside of a tall building with a sliver arch angled over it. Derrick opened the door for her and waited for her to exit before tapping the roof of the car. The driver pulled away. Tall, slender women and men with chiseled jaws were coming and going through the glass double doors.
“Shall we?” He held out his arm for her, and she took it sheepishly.
Derrick led her into the lobby where a blonde with a French twist and a clipboard rushed to meet them. Her red heels clicked rhythmically across the white tile floor. “Mr. Page, Charlemagne is waiting for you. Follow me, please.” She spun in a pirouette of grace and led them to an elevator.
When the doors opened again, they were on the top floor of the building. The floors and walls formed a wall of white. Various scenes were set up in different areas. Lighting instruments were meticulously aligned to set the desired moods. A man with blonde hair in a fade cut approached them. His size reminded Elizabeth of a Viking.
He extended his hand, “Derrick, pleasure to see you again.”
“You, too, Char.”
“And who is this lovely creature beside you?” Charlemagne took Elizabeth’s hand in his own and brought it delicately to his lips. Derrick felt a small thorn of jealousy twist in his chest.
“This is Miss Elizabeth Adams. She is the new girl I told you about.”
“Well, Miss Adams,” the photographer placed his hand on the small of her back and led her over to a set, “why don’t we get started?”
Elizabeth stumbled onto the set and stood stiffly, “I’ve never really done this before. I’m not sure what to do.” The set was a faux window overlooking a city with a staircase leading off to the side.
“Really, I would have thought you were a natural.” Char winked at her, and as she smiled up at him through her lashes, he snapped a picture. “See? A natural.”
As the camera clicked, she moved into various positions. It became easier as she loosened up in front of her audience of assistants. Derrick watched her blossom from a shy girl into a bold and confident young woman. He found himself smiling in spite of himself.
“I think we are missing something.” Char stood back from the camera. His eyes seemed to smolder as he thought. “Derrick, why don’t you step up there, too. The ladies need something to look at in these ads, too.”
“Me?” Derrick looked at him a little surprised. Charlemagne nodded. Letting out a sigh, he stepped up onto the set and put on his business smile.
“What are you doing? Get closer. She won’t bite.” He motioned for Derrick to stand closer to her.
Clearing his throat and giving a small glare to the man behind the camera, Derrick stepped up closer to her. He could smell her perfume. It smelled like wild flowers and strawberries. As he came closer, Elizabeth could feel the heat from his skin. She became aware of each breath she took.
“Beautiful. Now, let me get Derrick on the staircase. Miss Adams, could you just step up in front of him? Great. Now give me a sultry look. Pretend you are making love to the camera.” He took a few snaps then paused. Charlemagne walked around to get another angle, “Derrick, I want you to wrap your arm around her.”
Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath as his strong arm encircled her waist. Her breath was quick and shallow. She knew he had no choice but to feel the gasps that his touch had incited. Her ears began to ring. For a second she thought she felt him pull her closer to him. His chest pressed into her back.
“Miss Adams?” Derrick whispered her name.
“Huh?!” She turned to look at him. He nodded to where the photographer had been trying to get her attention.
Char smiled at them with the camera up to his face, “Turn and look up at him. You are the woman everyone is going to wish they were. Place your hand on his chest as if pushing him away, but he won’t let you go. Stare into his eyes. Get lost in them.”
Her hand hesitated in front of his chest. He was still her boss. She hovered just above his shirt, unable to touch him. Sensing her indecision, Derrick grabbed her hand forcefully and pressed it against his chest. Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart was pounding. His blue eyes pierced any remaining defenses she may have had left. Derrick let his thumb trace across the top of her hand as he held it against him. She shuddered at his touch, and he took pleasure in seeing her melt in front of him. Just the touch of his hand sent goosebumps across her skin. There was something empowering about seeing a woman react in such an involuntary and innocent way.
The camera snapped, pulling them both out of the moment. “I think that is our money shot.” Charlemagne waved his hand to his assistants, “That’s a wrap!”
The bright lights flipped off. Elizabeth blinked to try and clear the stars from her eyes. Derrick’s hand fell away from hers. “You can let go now, Lizzie.” His breath tickled her ear as he whispered.
“Oh. Yes.” She pulled away from him and brushed her hair away from her face. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” She laughed nervously and fanned herself, avoiding his eyes.
Derrick walked over to examine the pictures that Charlemagne was pulling up on his computer. Her hand trembled as she reached out for a bottle of water on a nearby table. She glanced at him over her bottle as she took a small sip. Her heart fluttered again, and butterflies twirled in her stomach. A giddy smile lit up her face. Elizabeth bit her lip and closed her eyes. She could still feel his thumb on her hand.
Her eyes snapped open. What was wrong with her?! Derrick—no, Mr. Page—was her boss. She couldn’t have these feelings about her boss…could she?