Read Online Groomless - Part 1 by Sierra Rose - Free Book Online

turned to my assistant, Claire, and said, “Cue the wind.”
    She directed a small fan toward the model, blowing the girl’s hair around.
    I glanced over at the computer, then back at the model. “That’s good. Let’s try that.” I kept clicking away to take another series of shots, trying to capture her beauty from every angle. “Perfect,” I said.
    When the persnickety and ever-complaining model scratched at her eye and smeared her perfect makeup, Pam hurried over to fix it. Meanwhile, Mel made a few adjustments to her hair, making sure there wasn’t a strand out of place after it was blown around in the fan.
    “Let’s have you run across the set while Mel holds the fan,” I said. “Look right into the camera. Yes, that’s beautiful.” I looked at the computer and studied the new image. “Let’s try it one more time.” I snapped away as she carefully ran in her sinfully high heels. “Got it. That’s great.”
    My assistant repositioned her for another of my brilliant ideas, coaching the model to lie down. I sat on the floor and started snapping as the model smiled and added her own flair to the photo. The girl was a natural, and I was thankful for that.
    “Great shot,” my assistant said.
    “Well done!” I said. “Let’s try the black dress now.” She nodded and scurried off to change, and I looked over at Pam. “Darker makeup this time. Let’s give her a very dramatic look.”
    “Got it. How about putting her hair up, to make it more elegant?”
    “Love it!”
    “I’m on it,” Claire said.
    Around lunchtime, one of my guy friends came to get me.
    “Hey, Zack,” I said. “I’ll need a few more minutes.”
    “No problem.”
    I then turned back to my model. “Just like last time, run and smile at the camera.” As she did as instructed, I snapped away, then walked over to my computer to analyze the shots.
    “Sweet!” Zack said over my shoulder.
    “We got the shot!” I said as everyone applauded. “Great work, everyone. Take thirty for lunch.”
    “Great,” Claire said.
    Mel glanced up at me while holding her cell. “Are we here tomorrow or on location?”
    “On location. I wrote it on the calendar. Also, don’t forget the fashion show on Wednesday. Then we’ve got a hectic week to meet those deadlines I told you about. It’s gonna be tight, but I know we can do it.”
    “Okay, cool.”
    Zack began clapping. “I love watching you in action,” he said, “and those shots are gorgeous, baby.”
    “Thank you. It helps to have a little…natural talent.”
    “My photographer keeps barking all these orders at me. Can you believe he had the nerve to roll his eyes at me? Seriously. Did I deserve that?”
    “He’s probably stressed. Deadlines suck.”
    “Yeah, but he’s not cool at all. If I stuck a piece of coal up his ass, it’d come out a diamond. Anyway, we’d better hurry this lunch date up. If he fires me, I won’t be able to afford to rent that gorgeous tux.”
    “Special occasion?”
    “Only the best ever! One of my dearest friends is getting married!”
    “Congratulations!”
    “It’s you, silly. I heard about the reception.”
    “Oh. I was gonna tell you but haven’t had the chance.”
    “I know you’re busy, girl. Now, let me cut to the chase.” He got down on his knees and slipped a ring on me. “Will you marry me?”
    I laughed. Zack was gay, so I knew the marriage proposal meant nothing, but I loved him for trying. He was the sweetest guy I knew.
    Everyone started clapping.
    “How on Earth did you manage to turn Zack straight?” Claire asked.
    “I’ll explain later.”
    “Do hurry, because I’m dying to hear this one!”
    “I do believe she’s blushing,” Mel said.
    “She’s definitely hiding something from us,” Pam said.
    “Can you do Julia’s hair?” Zack said. “You know, for the big day and all.”
    I playfully nudged him. “Zack!”
    Bubbling over with too much excitement, he led me out the door. “You need a groom, and