Chapter Twenty-Four
Maddie
Several days have passed since Caiden blew my mind with a confession I’m still not entirely sure is even a confession, because there was no explanation or anything, and I’ve been left utterly confused and pondering it far more than I care to acknowledge.
He did, however, promise to talk to the guys about the emails and drive me to the police station to hand in the emails to add to my report.
Not once did he mention saying he likes me, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask about it, for more reasons than one.
The first being, I don’t want to get my hopes up and then get crushed.
The second would be, who the hell would I choose?
Because there are four of them, I’m confident I like all four, and there’s no way to choose between them all.
Not only are they all so handsome I’m convinced they were sculpted by angels, but they’re all really great guys, even Rayne.
They’re all different, their personalities unique to them, and yet they blend so perfectly with one another that I can’t help but view them as a four-man unit.
Where there’s one, there are three more.
Thankfully, my day is busy enough that my brain only has a chance to think about it during short breaks and intervals between shoots.
Not so thankfully, Ryan decided to be a curious little cutie today and has joined me at Static, insisting that he come along with me this morning, much like Caid and Bax have done the past five days since the emails were discovered.
Rayne has hovered a little more than usual, but he hasn’t resorted to tagging along at work with me or driving me to and from the apartment to wherever it is I need to go.
Instead of hanging out in the lounge like he usually does, Ryan asked if he could spend time in the studio, and I couldn’t say no to him.
I can’t be sure if I could say no to any of them at this rate, and it’s quickly growing into a problem, because I’ve been more aware of Ryan than I have of myself all day.
Adjusting my camera lens while Jolie chatters away in my ear about lighting, I try to nod along, but I can feel Ryan watching, his eyes lingering, and it makes me think about what Caid said. That’s distracting enough without having Ryan hanging around and watching me work.
“So, we’re going to go for softer lighting, right?” Jolie asks, her tablet in hand and ready for my answer.
I nod, lowering my camera and flashing her a smile. “Sounds good. Think golden-hour kind of lighting. Maybe block off the window on the left and have all the light coming from the right. The shadows would look beautiful with Nina’s complexion and the clothes the designer sent over.”
After a quick scribble on her tablet, Jolie scurries away with a pep in her step, beelining straight for the ladder that will boost her to the high window that brings in plenty of light.
Trusting her to do her job, spotting Zeke at the bottom of the ladder a moment later, I sling my camera strap around my neck just as Ryan appears in his loose-fitting shirt and slacks that accidentally match my wide-leg slacks, both a soft gray that looks a little coupley at first glance.
“You know, it’s amazing watching you work,” he says sweetly, looking as impressed as he sounds.
I flash him a grin, pride blooming in my chest, and gently wiggle my camera at him. “Thanks. Mom and Dad always said it was my destiny to wield a camera.”
“They weren’t wrong. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone love their job as much as you do, and I’ve seen Bax, Caid, and Rayne at work,” he laughs, a little huff of a sound that shoots right through me like a heart-tipped, Cupid-sent arrow.
I’m practically preening as I say, “I’m not one who is lacking in passion for her chosen career path, that’s for sure. It helps that I work with good people. Like Nina over there.”
I point over at the stunning olive-skinned actress wearing a gorgeous dress that looks wet but isn’t.
The material is rumpled, washed in a sandy tone, while her caramel hair is loaded with extensions that run down to her ass in messy waves, feathers and gold accessories sewn in to make her look like a goddess of the desert and sun.
“She’s one of the sweetest nuggets to ever grace the planet, and she makes my job easy because she’s laid-back, a true darling, and has the facial features of an actual goddess,” I explain.
“A photographer is only as good as her subject, and I always choose the best subjects. Well, sometimes a few rotten apples slip through the cracks, but that’s a rare occurrence I try not to repeat.
I’m usually a good-people, good-vibes kinda photographer. ”
“Don’t you photograph your friends?” Ryan wonders with a grin.
I snap my finger and point at him. “Exactly my point. Good people. Good vibes.”
Laughing under his breath, Ry looks over at Jolie when she squeaks and Zeke grabs on to the ladder like his life depends on it, the idiot on the top step giggling down at the stressed man now glaring at her.
It only snags my attention for a split second before I turn my gaze onto Ryan, and my breath stalls in my chest as my heart hiccups.
The sunlight that still beams through the uncovered window spills over Ryan’s rugged but undeniably handsome face, the light dusting of stubble over his lower face looking more blond than chestnut beneath the rays of the afternoon sun.
His brown eyes take on an ethereal hazel color that looks like glistening caramel, and his lips turn into a plush dream of peach that looks incredibly biteable.
Keeping an eye on the man, I lift my camera and peer through the viewfinder, adjusting my lens ever so slightly before taking a snap. The shutter draws Ryan’s attention, and I take several shots as he turns, taking a few more as a beautiful grin breaks free across his face.
When I’m done, I wink at him and tease, “See? The best subjects.”
I lean toward him and show him the shots I knew would look incredible, and I hear Ryan’s breath leave in a whoosh. He’s silent for a long moment before he rubs a hand over his mouth and shakes his head.
When he doesn’t say anything, simply watches me flick through the shots, I say, “After some light editing, I can send them to you if you want. You don’t have to keep them, though.”
Ryan’s gaze darts to mine suddenly, his hazel-shaded eyes filled with warmth, and he says, “Thanks, trouble. They’re great.”
I hum a somewhat bashful laugh under my breath, right before Gretchen calls, “Model is ready, boss!”
I peer over my shoulder, catching a wave from Nina, and I throw her a thumbs-up before focusing on Ryan again. He’s already watching me, and I give him a sweet smile before I say, “Time to get back to business. Help yourself to lunch, though, okay? Let me know if you need anything.”
With a quick nod and a smile that melts my insides, Ryan gently shoos me away, and I smile and head off toward Nina, delving straight back into work for the rest of the day.
All the while, Ryan remains, helping out where needed, bringing me a drink or food when he realizes I haven’t taken care of myself like I should.
By the end of the day, I’m exhausted and ready to crawl into my bed, three shoots in one day wearing me out enough that I could easily fall asleep standing up… again.
Ryan, still sitting in a chair nearby with a pair of clear-rimmed glasses perched at the end of his nose, his chin in his hand and his eyes closed as though he’s resting, decided to stay despite my multiple attempts to send him home.
We ran two hours over tonight, a hazard of the job, yet he insisted on staying until I was done.
I’ve been told a handful of times that I won’t be catching a taxi home after Ryan brought me into work, and he was very adamant about it.
Smiling softly over at the guy, I tuck my camera away and sling the bag and my purse over my shoulder before quietly walking over to Ryan’s slumbering form. Squatting beside him, I tap his knee and softly call, “Ry? Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Hm?” he mumbles, slowly rousing but not enough to wake properly.
My smile only grows, and I reach a hand out to his forearm and squeeze gently. “Wakey wakey, Specs.”
Slowly but surely, those tired eyes open and those soft browns land on me right before a sleepy smile blooms over his face. “Hey, you. Are you done?”
“Mmhm, ready to go when you are,” I answer, still holding his arm and crouching beside him, close enough that I can see the way his eyes roam over my face before he nods and stretches out of his seat.
A moment later, he stands from his seat and holds his hand out for me.
With a flip of my stomach, those butterflies soaring to life once more, I slide my hand in his and allow him to pull me up.
That giddy feeling doesn’t leave as he keeps hold of my hand, reaching for his laptop bag and slinging it over his shoulder before he leads me out of the building, only allowing me to go ahead to scan my badge to let us out.
By the time we’re in his fancy car driving to a restaurant to pick up dinner Ryan insisted on getting, my mind has swung right back to Caiden’s words from days before.
I can’t stop thinking about them as Ryan turns on the cooling system in his car, my body still flushed and a little sweaty from work.
I can’t stop thinking about it as he turns on Spotify, playing songs I’ve been listening to over the past several weeks that he must have heard.
And I certainly can’t stop thinking about it when he climbs out of the car and insists I sit pretty where I am as he hurries into the restaurant to collect our dinner.
It makes me wonder why he’s being so sweet, why he’s being protective, and whether or not Caiden’s words hold a morsel of truth.