“You’ve got to be kidding me,”Bryce says.
We’re on good terms right now, butI don’t feel like that should keep me from messing with him a little bit. Heneeds to loosen up. Have a little more fun.
“He says he thinks it would beconvincing for your cover,” Kiernan says.
“No…just no…”
He heads for the door, reachinginto his pocket for his cell phone. I assume he’s going to call Roeder, whowill likely just go along with it like he said he would when he spoke withKiernan.
Darren and Debra look giddy with excitement.I think we’re all having a little too much fun at Bryce’s expense, knowing thatthe far-too-serious FBI agent will have to have to develop a sense of humor tosurvive this photoshoot on Thursday.
Twenty-Nine
Bryce
I stand in the dressing room for the photoshoot Debra booked.
I signed up for this job because Ithought it would be nice to get away from the field, and now I’m expected toembarrass the crap out of myself so I can convince people that me and Tad are anitem.
I’ve been in hair and makeup forthe past hour. I’m already shirtless. The makeup guy said that once I remove mypants, he wants to look to see if he needs to touch up anything on my legs.
Tad’s loving this. But I’ve seenall the covers he’s been on where he’s worn next to nothing. This is his thing,not mine. I can’t believe Roeder agreed to this. He’s supposed to be the onewho forces them to take this job seriously. After today, I doubt anyone willrespect me.
I drop my pants and head out ofthe dressing room, blushing in my boxers as I head back to find the man who wasdoing my makeup.
Tad prances around the hall of theempty warehouse the shoot is taking place in. All smiles in a dark-bluejockstrap, he’s loving wearing next to nothing. It’s like clothes have been socumbersome and now he finally gets to be who he really is—an exhibitionist.
He turns around and laughs as themakeup artist massages some foundation over his perfectly arced ass.
I head toward them, and when a PAat a table covered in makeup sees me, the makeup artist instructs her to grabme my outfit. She approaches me with a bag.
“Here,” she says as she hands itto me. “Put this on.”
I glance inside. It’s a blackleather g-string. “You have got to be kidding me.”
She presses the button on herwalkie and talks into her headset before turning to the makeup artist andasking, “You need anything else from me?”
“You’re all good here.” Shescampers off.
Tad whistles as he sizes me up.“You better hurry and throw that on.”
I bite my tongue because all Iwant to do is find an excuse to storm out of here. “Fuck you.”
“Just let me know when,” he sayswith a wink.
“Get into it,” the makeup artistsays, seeming annoyed that I haven’t already dropped trou.
I don’t want to change in front ofthem, but I figure I need to get this over with. I drop my boxers and slideinto the g-string, glaring at Tad all the while so he can see the big “fuckyou” that I’m psychically sending him. His smile expands.
“Tad!” Darren’s voice comes frombehind me. My face fills with heat as I blush.
Darren stares at a box in his handand then looks up, his gaze settling on my body. “Whoa,” he mutters. He gulps,then looks into my eyes. He appears stunned.
“Yeah, Darren?” Tad asks.
Darren shakes his head slightlyand then manages to pull himself out of his trance. He turns to Tad. “This boxyou gave me before we got here.”
He opens it, revealing the shirthe wanted at the boutique where we’d gone shopping for our Henry Masoninterview.
