Aaron.”
“The gossip columnist?” A spark of interest flared in the photographer’s eyes as he looked closer.
“Not anymore.” Caroline had lost her interest in invading stranger’s private lives in La Grange. That story had hit too close to home.
“I had no idea she was so…” He gestured toward her as if that finished his sentence for him.
“Exactly.” Jefferson’s smile was arrogant, despite his dimples. “She’s all we’ll need. Did you get the dress I sent?”
He motioned over his shoulder, still staring at Caroline. “In the makeup room with the paperwork. I’ll send the other models home while you two are getting ready.”
Dread hit her stomach like a ball of icy steel as Jefferson dragged her toward the back of the studio. “He means while you get ready, right?”
“We’re getting ready.”
This was not happening. “I’m not a model. I’m not a reality star. This isn’t like getting pictures at the mall, Jefferson. This is serious.”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am.” His accent thickened sarcastically. “I’ll admit I was a mite confused as to where I was.”
She tugged on her hand but he wouldn’t release her. “I’m not kidding, Jefferson. They won’t appreciate you wasting their money with film they can’t use. It’s irresponsible.”
He strode into the makeup room and smiled at the two blushing women organizing their concealer and eye shadow. “I’m so sorry to barge in on you lovely ladies like this,” he started smoothly, his smile disarming, “but would y’all mind giving us ten minutes of privacy to change? My woman is shy.”
They left with a breathless obedience that Caroline didn’t blame them for. He had charm. She couldn’t deny he had charm. “I am not shy.”
And I’m not your woman!
He closed the door with one hand and pushed her against the wall with the other, his palm skimming her breast before his fingers climbed up to curve around the base of her throat. “I know. I’m trying to be that career-minded man on your list and fulfill my obligations, but I’ve got to tell you, all I can think about is getting you in my arms. I thought this way I could do both.”
His thumb caressed the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. “They tell me I’m supposed to pull off ‘hungry’ and ‘passionate’ in this layout. Because hungry sells. I told you I’m no actor, Caroline. But I don’t want to let these good people down. That’s where you come in. I’ve already told them you’ve got modeling experience and that I’ll fly back for free if they aren’t completely satisfied. If that’s irresponsible, then there you have it. That’s what I am. But I know you’re the right fit for this and I need you.” He bent his knees to look up into her eyes. “My sister says you’re always there to help a friend in need. Will you help me, Caroline?”
“Jesus, you’re good,” she breathed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” His eyes sparkled mischievously but his smile disappeared. “Now unzip your dress.”
Her hands went to the zipper on the side of her sundress instinctively. Maybe she lied too. Maybe she was his woman. Her body seemed to think so.
“Passionate cougar shots,” she muttered as her dress slid down to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her white lace thong and heels. “I’m sure they’ll love it and won’t be at all disappointed that you swapped five perky twenty-year-olds for me.”
Jefferson ignored her comment, staring at her breasts while his thumb scraped across her neck again. His skin flushed and his green eyes narrowed. “When this is over I’m going to owe you again. And I know exactly how I’ll thank you. I’m thinking I might tie you to my bed and show you how hungry I really am for you. I can’t promise I’ll be gentle, because what I’m feeling isn’t gentle. Hell, it’s hardly sane. But I think you like that.”
Her body loved it.
He stepped away from her long enough to rip the black
“The gossip columnist?” A spark of interest flared in the photographer’s eyes as he looked closer.
“Not anymore.” Caroline had lost her interest in invading stranger’s private lives in La Grange. That story had hit too close to home.
“I had no idea she was so…” He gestured toward her as if that finished his sentence for him.
“Exactly.” Jefferson’s smile was arrogant, despite his dimples. “She’s all we’ll need. Did you get the dress I sent?”
He motioned over his shoulder, still staring at Caroline. “In the makeup room with the paperwork. I’ll send the other models home while you two are getting ready.”
Dread hit her stomach like a ball of icy steel as Jefferson dragged her toward the back of the studio. “He means while you get ready, right?”
“We’re getting ready.”
This was not happening. “I’m not a model. I’m not a reality star. This isn’t like getting pictures at the mall, Jefferson. This is serious.”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am.” His accent thickened sarcastically. “I’ll admit I was a mite confused as to where I was.”
She tugged on her hand but he wouldn’t release her. “I’m not kidding, Jefferson. They won’t appreciate you wasting their money with film they can’t use. It’s irresponsible.”
He strode into the makeup room and smiled at the two blushing women organizing their concealer and eye shadow. “I’m so sorry to barge in on you lovely ladies like this,” he started smoothly, his smile disarming, “but would y’all mind giving us ten minutes of privacy to change? My woman is shy.”
They left with a breathless obedience that Caroline didn’t blame them for. He had charm. She couldn’t deny he had charm. “I am not shy.”
And I’m not your woman!
He closed the door with one hand and pushed her against the wall with the other, his palm skimming her breast before his fingers climbed up to curve around the base of her throat. “I know. I’m trying to be that career-minded man on your list and fulfill my obligations, but I’ve got to tell you, all I can think about is getting you in my arms. I thought this way I could do both.”
His thumb caressed the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. “They tell me I’m supposed to pull off ‘hungry’ and ‘passionate’ in this layout. Because hungry sells. I told you I’m no actor, Caroline. But I don’t want to let these good people down. That’s where you come in. I’ve already told them you’ve got modeling experience and that I’ll fly back for free if they aren’t completely satisfied. If that’s irresponsible, then there you have it. That’s what I am. But I know you’re the right fit for this and I need you.” He bent his knees to look up into her eyes. “My sister says you’re always there to help a friend in need. Will you help me, Caroline?”
“Jesus, you’re good,” she breathed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” His eyes sparkled mischievously but his smile disappeared. “Now unzip your dress.”
Her hands went to the zipper on the side of her sundress instinctively. Maybe she lied too. Maybe she was his woman. Her body seemed to think so.
“Passionate cougar shots,” she muttered as her dress slid down to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her white lace thong and heels. “I’m sure they’ll love it and won’t be at all disappointed that you swapped five perky twenty-year-olds for me.”
Jefferson ignored her comment, staring at her breasts while his thumb scraped across her neck again. His skin flushed and his green eyes narrowed. “When this is over I’m going to owe you again. And I know exactly how I’ll thank you. I’m thinking I might tie you to my bed and show you how hungry I really am for you. I can’t promise I’ll be gentle, because what I’m feeling isn’t gentle. Hell, it’s hardly sane. But I think you like that.”
Her body loved it.
He stepped away from her long enough to rip the black
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