Chapter 5
FIVE
Mackie steps away, and I keep my eyes on his boss, Noah, who watches him. He looked furious, and it’s obvious he upset Mackie, but as soon as the driver isn’t looking, Noah’s face transforms. He appears worried, and the longing in his eyes is easy to spot, even from here.
Are they dating? Exes?
Why does that bug me? I’m not here for that, just to repay a debt. Besides, he’s far too young for me, even if I can admit he is absolutely stunning.
“Conan?” Evan nudges me.
“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” I nod to Evan before turning away as we prepare to shoot outside.
Skylar and Mackie are already there, with Skylar putting Mackie in a headlock as they yell at each other.
My eyebrows rise, and Evan sighs. “It’s normal, don’t worry.
They act like idiot brothers.” He claps his hands, and Skylar’s and Mackie’s heads swing around to us. “No messing up hair and makeup.”
“Sorry, old man.” Mackie winks as he gut punches Skylar, making him let go, then he runs his hand through his hair and pushes it back into position with a charming smile that has me staring much longer than I should.
He’s way too young for me and filled with life, but as his bright eyes land on me, I forget everything else.
“Where do you want me?”
Would it be inappropriate to say my bed? Probably.
“Mr. Astor?” Mackie repeats when I just stare, his smile dimming a little as he looks around awkwardly.
“Conan,” I blurt before I clear my throat. “You can call me Conan. Nobody calls me Mr. Astor.”
“Okay, Conan.” Mackie’s smile grows once more, and I swear something inside me breathes back to life. “Tell us where you want us.”
Nodding, I look away, giving myself a moment to gather my thoughts, and I hear Skylar whispering, “‘Oh, call me Conan.’ The photographer is hitting on you. You should sleep with him.”
“Sky!” Mackie hisses. “He’s here to work. Don’t make him feel awkward.”
“What? He isn’t my type, but I know you prefer older gentlemen,” he teases, and my ears perk up.
Is it true? Does Mackie like older men?
Shit, why is that all I’m thinking about now when I should be focusing these photos? “Here,” I murmur as I turn back. “Let’s start over here.”
“Sure thing, Conan,” Skylar says as he strides past me, turning so he’s walking backwards, “or is that reserved for Mack? Should I call you Mr. Astor?”
I raise my eyebrows, and Mackie sighs as he reaches my side. He places his hand on my arm gripping my camera. “Ignore him. I’m sorry. Sky’s way of showing he likes someone is to bully them relentlessly.”
My eyes meet his bright ones, and the next words slip out on accident. “What is your way of showing you like someone?”
His head tilts to the side, and his hand lingers on my arm.
The warmth from his touch invades every cold part of me that hasn’t felt comfort in years.
“I like to take care of them. I show up every day, even if they don’t want me to.
” He grins as he drops his hand. “If you need me to hit Skylar at all, just let me know.” He winks as he turns away.
I watch him follow Skylar, who is still calling my name in a suggestive manner as Evan stops beside me, gear in tow. “Sorry, I should have mentioned these race boys are a lot.”
I don’t look away from Mackie as he kicks Skylar, knocking him to the ground before stepping over his body as he continues to shout my name. “Hmm,” I say, and then I look at Evan, my mouth opening and closing.
“Ask.” Evan smiles.
“Are they single?” I ask awkwardly.
I really only care about Mackie, but it feels weird to highlight that.
“Well, Skylar is practically a nun since he’s determined to marry his boyfriend, but that wasn’t who you meant, was it?
” My eyes widen as he chuckles. “Yes, Mackie is single.” He leans in, dropping his voice.
“But you better get in line or work fast.” He smacks my side.
“Good to know you feel human emotions, boss man.”
“I was just curious because of their job,” I defend.
“Sure, sure.” He purses his lips as if he doesn’t believe me. “Shall we shoot, or do you want to stand here all day talking about how you’re definitely not interested in Mackie?”
“He photographs well,” I grumble, feeling like a teenager caught checking out their crush.
“He does. You should offer him a one-on-one shoot.” The wiggle of his eyebrows implies he means something naughty, and my mouth drops open. He laughs and walks after Skylar and Mackie, leaving me shocked.
Do people . . . do that?
Would he?
No, don’t think about it.
It’s all I think of when I’m behind that camera. What would he look like naked in front of my lens?
Nudity is not a new thing to me. It is beautiful art. In most shoots for brands, there is always some skin showing, but Mackie being naked just for me? The idea is . . . alluring, and I find that his nudity is not a casual thing.
I would hate for someone else to see him like that.
“I’ll send some shots to you in a few days,” I tell Noah as I zip up my bag and add it to the other gear to be put in the car, “and then we can go from there.”
“Thank you,” Noah grumbles. Despite the fact that he is clearly protective of his people, he is a good boss.
“We should celebrate!” Evan calls as he joins us, his hand firmly in Alek’s. “Want to try that new BBQ place down the road?”
“Food? I’m in!” Skylar calls, slinging his arm around Noah, who shrugs him off with an eye roll. “Wait, is it a company expense?”
“Honestly, for someone so rich, you’re stingy,” Mackie scoffs as he slips his jacket on and joins our little huddle.
He changed into some loose black cargo pants with a chain on the side, a shirt, and a leather jacket.
He looks ridiculously handsome, and a lot of people would pay me a fortune to style them that way for photos, yet he wears it effortlessly.
“I’m saving up.” Skylar shrugs as he pulls out a lollipop and hands it to Mackie, who takes it without asking and puts it in his mouth.
“What for?” Alek scoffs. “More carved statues of Bones?”
“I only have two of those, okay?” Skylar retorts. “Nope, for my wedding.”
My eyebrows rise as I look around, and it’s Noah who asks, “When did you ask Bones to marry you?”
“I haven’t,” Skylar replies, “but he’ll say yes, so what’s the point in asking?”
It’s quiet for a moment, and then Noah sighs. “BBQ is on me. Let’s go before he says more weird shit.”
“Are you coming?” Evan looks at me. “Come on, we owe you.”
“He’s right. Will you join us?” Noah asks. He seemed to warm up to me a little over the day, so that’s something.
“I should get back,” I say as I check my phone, only to see there are no notifications or excuses.
“Please?” Mackie’s voice makes my head snap up, and our eyes clash. “You did us a favor, so you should come.”
“Sure,” I blurt, making him grin. “I guess I’m hungry.”
“It’s decided then. Mackie, you go with Conan, and we’ll meet you at the restaurant.” Evan shoves Mackie toward me, but Noah catches him and pulls him away.
“He didn’t bring his car. Did you, Mackie?”
“Oh, no, it’s at the shop—”
“I’ll drive,” Noah snaps. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for my answer, he steers Mackie to the garage door, and I watch them go as someone slings an arm around me.
“Never back down, brother,” Skylar says, then he hurries after them. “Wait for me. I call shotgun!”
Shaking my head, I grab my bags, and Evan and Alek help me load them into my car before I follow them to the restaurant. The others are already there when I arrive. A man I haven’t met before is seated next to Skylar, who is staring at him dreamily while he pours water.
“Bones.” Evan leans in. “Skylar’s prisoner or boyfriend.”
“My angel, you look beautiful today.” Skylar sighs. “How about a quickie in the bathroom?”
My cheeks heat as I look around, but no one else appears bothered by his words, and his boyfriend, Bones, just pats his arm. “Later. I’m hungry.”
“So am I, for you.” Skylar wiggles his eyebrows.
“Sit far away from them,” Alek warns me. “They are like this all the time. Seeing Sky’s bare ass in a chicken restaurant bathroom still gives me nightmares.”
“It was a beef joint,” Skylar corrects as I sit in one of the wooden chairs. Mackie pulls out the one next to me and sits. I look at him as he smiles and grabs a menu.
Noah sits down opposite us, his eyes locked on Mackie and me, and I quickly avert my gaze.
It’s obvious there is something between them.
Is he just protective? It shouldn’t matter.
There are so many reasons Mackie and I could never work, but when he leans into me while everyone else is talking, I lean into him as well to make it easier to hear him.
“What are you going to order?” he asks.
“Oh, um, I didn’t look,” I admit as I grab a menu. “I’ve never really eaten this kind of thing. I’m a vegetarian.”
“Oh, you should have said something. Let’s go somewhere else.” He stands, and I can’t help but bite back a smile as I tug him down into his seat.
“It’s fine. There will be options,” I assure him as I scan the menu and pick out a few items.
“Are you sure?” His bright eyes swim with worry. I want to do anything to make that disappear.
“I’m sure,” I promise. “What are you going to have?”
“I was going to have the feast, but I’ll order something else.” He eyes me with concern, and I laugh.
“You can eat whatever you want. It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it. It’s my choice to be vegetarian, not yours,” I reply.
“Why are you a vegetarian?” he asks curiously, leaning closer.
“Hmm, I didn’t have a lot of meat when I was younger.
I guess I was picky, and when I grew up, I just didn’t really like it.
Besides, I like animals a lot, and the idea of eating them always made me feel a little weird,” I explain.
“I had lamb before I became vegetarian, and I found out later I’d fed the lamb the day before. Bleh.”