Chapter 20 Zhuri
twenty
Zhuri
Melanie
Patrick and I just got confirmation of your photoshoot with Cameron for Rana Dagon
Shoot will start at nine am on Saturday
They want you there by seven for hair and makeup
Zhuri
Got it
Melanie
You can make this work, right?
Patrick spoke to Cameron, so I know he’s available
Zhuri
Yeah
I’ll be there, Mel
Melanie
Perfect!
We’ll see you on Saturday, then
It’s always weird seeing myself in makeup since I almost never wear it, especially during the hockey season.
Right now, though? I look damn good.
The makeup is making my deep brown eyes sparkle in the lighting. The sheer gloss on my lip is tinted and shiny. The large curls in my hair frame my face. The gold gown I’m wearing complements my athletic frame.
The top is corseted with boning outlined in the same metallic gold fabric as the skirt. The thin straps are covered in the same glitter that’s woven into the sheer fabric of the top.
I’m towering over every woman here in my four-inch stilettos, but I know I still look fantastic.
“Zhuri!” Rana chimes as I exit my dressing room. She flew to Denver with two of her favorite photographers specifically for this photoshoot of me and Cameron. “That gown was made for you.”
I smile at her. “It’s positively stunning.”
“The gold is so beautiful with your complexion.” She links her arm in mine and starts leading me down the hall. “Cameron just finished as well, so he’s waiting for you out here with your agents. We’ll be ready to get this started soon!”
I’m almost blinded by the studio lights as we step into the room, but I adjust relatively quickly.
And the first thing I see?
Cameron looking way too damn good right now.
His suit is navy, and he has a light blue button-down underneath it. The top buttons are undone, leaving some of his tattoos peeking out. They also peek out from under the sleeves of his jacket, and I didn’t realize how much I liked tattoos until just now.
I watch Cameron take a pronounced breath, as if he’s struggling to stay composed right now.
As if he’s so affected by me that he can’t hold himself together.
“Wow,” he finally says. “You look… incredible.”
I can’t hide my smile. “Not too bad yourself, Cammy.”
His grin is soft and beautiful, his dimples barely noticeable.
I love his dimples, but I think I like this smile even more. It seems… genuine.
It makes my heart flutter.
The only feeling I had for him for more than a decade was pure contempt, but lately that’s been changing.
Everything happened so quickly, but I care about Cameron.
I care about him a lot.
There are so many facets to him, and seeing him be vulnerable with me last week gave me a whole new appreciation for him.
So while the feeling used to be hate, that’s not what it is now.
Now, it’s almost starting to feel like the start of something I never would have expected.
Something it can’t be.
I mentally curse myself for even daring to go there. Am I really so affection-starved that I’m wondering if I might be starting to feel something for Cameron?
It’s been years since I’ve been on a date and even longer since I’ve had sex.
That has to be all it is.
Or is it?
As soon as the photographers get us into our first position, I relax on a stone bench surrounded by fake snow, Cameron standing behind me. They tell him to rest his hand on my shoulder, my bare shoulder, and the moment we connect, electricity zaps through me.
He felt it, too.
I know he did because he pulled his hand away from me like it was on fire, and then he looked at me, dumbfounded.
“Sorry,” he mutters, seemingly resisting the urge to run his hands through his perfectly styled hair. “I, uh…”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, just as confused as he is. “Let’s, uh, get into position.” I gesture my head toward the photographers. “They’re waiting on us.”
“Right.” Cameron runs his hands over his thighs before readjusting his suit jacket. “You ready?”
“Mhmm,” I hum with as much conviction as I can muster.
This all feels so weird right now.
With Cameron’s hand clamped on my shoulder, the shoot begins. For this part of the shoot, I stay seated on the bench, and Cam switches between standing and sitting next to me.
Rana watches over the photographers and apparently loves what she sees, talking about how she can see the chemistry between us.
We both turn visibly uncomfortable at the mention because if there is one thing we don’t need, it’s chemistry that isn’t on the ice.
We finish this part of the shoot and break to our dressing rooms to get ready for the next one.
Tiffany, one of the assistants, follows behind me, excitedly talking as we walk through the door, and I pull off my heels.
“The shoot is going so well, Zhuri!” she chimes. “You and Cameron are working really well together.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “It’s been fun so far.”
It’s not a lie; I’m having a lot of fun.
I’m also having a whole host of confusing thoughts that I try to shove from my mind.
Tiffany grabs my next gown from the hook and brings it over to me.
Green with a big tulle skirt. I certainly wouldn’t consider this one a favorite.
“Here you go!” I take the dress from her. “I like the first gown more, but this one is still pretty. I’m sure Cameron will like it.”
My head whips to meet hers. “Why would Cameron like it?”
“Did you not notice how he kept looking at you?” Her grin is playful and teasing.
“He was supposed to look at me,” I shrug. “That was part of the shoot.”
“He was certainly convincing then.”
Tiffany chuckles to herself as she exits my dressing room, leaving me alone.
Was Cameron watching me more than I realized?
I don’t know for sure that he was… but I do know that I like the thought of it a hell of a lot more than I should.
Shit.