I shake my head. “We were just posing.”
She leans closer, eyes sparkling. “And you can’t tell me you didn’t feel it.”
My cheeks heat again. “I felt you being extra.”
Hazel gasps, delighted. “Me?”
“You did that on purpose,” I accuse, jabbing a finger at her. “You kept moving them closer. ‘Hands here, hips there, lean in.’ Like you were directing some… porno.”
Hazel’s laugh is quiet but wicked. “And?”
“And,” I mutter, “it was unnecessary.”
“Mmm.” She squeezes my arm like she’s proud of herself. “My strategy worked.”
I glare at her. “Hazel.”
“I’m serious,” she says, still buzzing. “You were glowing. You didn’t even realize. You were smiling like you forgot how to bracefor impact. And they were gone for you. The way they looked at you? That wasn’t camera focus. That was want.” She tilts her head, studying me. “And you liked it.”
My throat goes tight. “They’re Alphas, Hazel.”
“So? Who cares?”
I care,I want to say. But I can’t explain why without revealing secrets I’ve kept for seven years from everyone.
“They’re only here for two or three weeks,” I say instead. “Then they’re gone.”
“So make the most of it.” She squeezes my arm again. “Any woman would kill to have men look at her like that. Like you’re the sun and they’ve been living in darkness. Don’t overthink it.”
“I always overthink it.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here to tell you to stop.” She releases me. “Now get out there and take some photos. And try not to murder any of the fangirls who throw themselves at your men.” She’s already walking away, flipping theOPENsign on the booth.
A line forms immediately.
It’s insane, a snaking queue of women clutching tickets and checking their reflections in phone screens. Some are dressed like they’re going to a club, clearly hoping to catch attention. Others are more casual, just excited for a fun photo. All of them are staring at Kai and Carter like they’re made of gold and wishes.
“Welcome to our reality,” I mutter, positioning myself behind the camera.
Kai catches my eye and grins. “Don’t worry, doll. I only have eyes for one woman tonight.”
“Save the charm for the paying customers.”
“The charm is infinite. There’s plenty to go around.”
Hazel directs the first group forward, three college-age girls who look like they might actually faint, and I focus on my job.Take the photos. Capture the moment. Don’t think about how Kai’s arm wraps around the first girl’s waist the same way it wrapped around mine.
Except it’s not the same. I can see that now. With the fans, he’s polished. Professional. The smile reaches his eyes but there’s a distance there, a performance.
With me, there was no distance at all.
The next hour passes in a blur of poses and flashes with the four cowboys and strangers pressing themselves against them like they’re claiming territory. Some are subtle about it. Most aren’t.
One woman—blonde, poured into a revealing dress—actually tries to slide her hand down Carter’s chest toward his belt buckle. He catches her wrist smoothly, redirecting it to his shoulder, but she just laughs and presses closer.
Something hot and sharp twists in my chest. My jaw is tight, and there’s a possessive growl building in my throat that has no business being there.
During a brief lull between groups, Carter slips away from his position and appears at my side.
