Chapter Nineteen Photoshoot
RYLEE
The next morning, I wake up early and sneak out of the apartment without waking up Zander.
On my way to the hotel, I think back on my conversation with GlideControlZ last night.
The date didn’t go quite like I expected.
I mean, I wasn’t anticipating that he’d tell me he’d met someone else.
I’m not gonna lie… I was really disappointed at first. However, I appreciate his honesty and in the end, this might be better for me.
I’m still in Colorado, after all, and then there’s Zander.
I just can’t get him off my mind.
When I got home last night and found him lounging on the couch with Gizmo, dressed in a gray t-shirt and sweatpants, my whole body went hot. His invitation to play video games was so, so tempting, but I couldn’t ditch GlideControlZ.
Fuck, what’s going on with me? Of all the men in the world, why do I have to be thinking of him?
Then again, the night of the wedding…
Uhhhhhh…. no! Don’t go there. Playboy, Rylee, remember that. I can’t let myself get distracted by him today. I need to focus on the phone call with Juliet and the photoshoot.
I’ll figure out what to do with these stupid feelings later.
When I arrive at the Hilton, I make my way inside to the concierge desk.
“Hi, I’m Rylee Benson,” I tell the sharply dressed woman behind the desk. “I’m with ICON… ”
“Oh, yes,” she replies with a smile. “We’re expecting you, of course. Let me just call our manager and he’ll show you to the conference room.”
“Great, thank you.”
I stand to the side and wait as she makes a phone call. Moments later, a tall thin man in a gray suit appears. He approaches me with a smile.
“Miss Benson, it’s a pleasure. “I’m Lyle Crane, hotel manager. Allow me to escort you to the space we’ve reserved for you and your team.”
“Lead the way, Mr. Crane.”
He turns and I follow him across the lobby and down one of the large hallways. We reach a tall doorway and walk through into a conference room that’s empty except for the team that ICON has sent for me to work with.
“Please let us know if you need anything else, Miss Benson,” Mr. Crane says before leaving.
I cross the carpeted room to the group of five gathered in the middle.
“Hey everyone,” I greet as I draw near. “I’m Rylee, the sport’s photographer for ICON’s Athletic Division. Thanks for being here and I’m excited to get today going.”
They all turn to me and introduce themselves one-by-one. Remmy is my lighting guy, Sally is the wardrobe stylist, Lou is props, and Kara is my digital technician.
The last team member is a young woman who looks to be about my age with platinum blonde hair styled in pigtails, heavy but meticulously done makeup, and is wearing a short plaid skirt and black tank top.
“Hey, I’m Crystal. It’s so nice to meet you!” She’s smiling and seems excited and bubbly.
Overall, this seems like a solid group of people, and I know they have to be good at what they do. Juliet wouldn’t send us mediocre help.
“All right, everyone,” I declare, clapping my hands together. “Zander will be here soon, so let’s make sure everything is set up and ready for him. Remmy, Lou, and Kara, you’ll be with me as we set up for the shoot. Sally and Crystal, how about you get your stations set up against that far wall?”
We all get to work, getting everything set up.
I get my camera out and get it ready for some test shots, then go around and make sure everyone is ready to go.
I’m feeling really good about this, and proud of myself for being able to take charge.
This is my big break, after all, and I can’t fuck it up!
After working with the tech and prop crew, I touch base with Sally and then make my way to Crystal. She’s got a mobile vanity set up with a mirror framed with lights and a chair for Zander.
“All good?” I ask her.
She turns to me, that wide smile still in place.
“Yes! Oh, man, I have to tell you, I’m so excited to meet Zander Caldwell. I’m a huge fan of the Night Hawks, and he’s so hot! He’s got that Thor-post-haircut look and it’s just yummy!”
I’m momentarily taken aback by her enthusiasm and bluntness. Then, a shot of irritation cuts through me, but I do my best to maintain a friendly face… even as I start grinding my teeth.
God, everyone thinks he looks like Thor! And, yeah, he does, I get it. I was in bed with him and desperately wanted Thor to ‘hammer’ me into oblivion… and then there’s the way he looks so sexy when he wears tight t-shirts and it’s so hot my brain short-circuits…
Christ! I need to calm the hell down. I’m losing my damn mind.
“Have you met him before?” Crystal asks in a breathy tone.
“Uh, yeah, I have,” I nod. I don’t tell her that I’m actually living with the man right now. She might lose her fucking mind and follow us home.
“Do you know if he’s single?” Then she chuckles and shakes her head. “Wait, duh! Of course he is. He’s ICON’s Bachelor of the Year after all.”
No shit, Sherlock. She really had to use all her brain power for that one. “Well, if you’re ready… ”
“Oh, I am more than ready for that hunk to get here,” she practically purrs.
Thankfully, my phone suddenly buzzes, so I pounce on the excuse to get away from her.
“Excuse me, Crystal,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket. “I need to check this.”
“No problem!” She smiles and turns back to her work station.
Letting out a quick breath of relief, I hurry to stand by the wall of the room and check my text. I half expect it to be from Zander, but my heart sinks when I see that it’s, in fact, from Miles.
Miles: I heard you’re in Denver doing a story. Really? You go to another state to highlight a team when I’ve got a laundry list of solid athletes here you could feature?
Motherfucker. I clench my jaw, furious. He’s really got some nerve to send me this! I can’t stop myself from slamming out a response instantly.
Rylee: It’s none of your business where I am, or who I’m writing about. Get over yourself and leave me alone!
It’s like Miles was waiting for this. He replies just as fast.
Miles: You’re so fucking stubborn! Thank God my new girl isn’t such a raging bitch.
New girl? Miles is seeing someone? A strange mix of emotions washes through me that I can’t really make sense of.
I don’t give a fuck that he’s with someone else, but at the same time, there’s a voice in the back of my head hissing that whoever it is, Miles won’t cheat on her the way he did me. She’s better, somehow.
I quickly shove that voice away, though. Fuck that! And fuck Miles! I’m not the one who messed up our relationship. That was all him!
Rylee: Well this raging bitch has work to do, you tiny dicked manchild. I hope your new girl figures out what a worm you are sooner rather than later and dumps your ass.
Sent. Blocked.
Good riddance.
Still, as satisfying as that was, I still feel like shit. How did I ever let myself fall for that bastard? How could I have been so blind?
At that moment, I see Zander walking into the room, and I feel strangely calmer seeing him.
He looks around and spots me. Smiling, he waves and I hurry over to him before anyone else can reach him first. Without thinking, I touch his arm and feel a jolt shoot through me.
His heat seems to wrap around me, and I have to fight the urge to squeeze his bicep just to feel how hard it really is.
“Hey,” I say, my voice breathless. “You’re here.”
“Yep,” he nods, his gaze lingering on my hand on his arm. “Just like we planned.”
Rolling my eyes, I reply, “Yeah, yeah, okay. Anyway, we’re doing the photoshoot first because Juliet has another client meeting, so we’ll have our call with her later.”
He shrugs. “Sure, that works for me.”
“Great, let’s get you into hair and make-up… ”
“Oh, don’t worry, Rylee!” Suddenly Crystal appears and slips her arm through Zander’s. “I’ve got this. You can come with me, handsome.”
I immediately see red and my body goes rigid with tension, but I doubt Crystal notices since she’s too busy giving Zander googly eyes.
“Uh, sure.” Zander gives her a little grin.
God, he’s such a manwhore. Just lapping up her attention. Does he not know how unprofessional they’re both being right now? So fucking irritating!
Fuck, it just makes me think of Miles again, and catching him with someone else.
Gnashing my teeth, I manage to choke out, “Fine. That’s fine. I’ll go get some lighting test shots done.”
Crystal barely waits for me to finish as she drags Zander to her station, chatting at him the whole way.
“My gosh, you’re even more good looking in person,” she gushes.
He chuckles. “Thanks, that’s nice of you to say.”
“You know, you’re my favorite Night Hawk. I watch the games just to get a glimpse of you.”
She’s laying it on awfully thick. Rolling my eyes, I stomp toward the picture set up and work with Remmy and Kara to make sure the lighting is good and take a few test shots. I try to ignore the sound of Crystal’s giggles from across the room as she blatantly flirts with Zander.
And the fucking bastard is just soaking up the attention, chuckling and replying and being way too nice. It makes my stomach churn.
“I don’t have to do too much to make you look good,” Crystal declares. “Your skin is so perfect.”
“Thank you,” he grins.
Motherfucking asswipe…
By the time Crystal finishes with him and gets his dick out of her mouth, my patience is gone.
When Zander comes up beside me, looking like a damn snack, I snap, “Okay, sit on the stool.”
He furrows his brow and frowns, but does as he’s told and goes to sit on the stool set up in front of the backdrop.
“Okay, relax and look off to the right,” I instruct in a short tone.