The couple I’m shooting today wanted something different for their photos and I suggested this and the rock jetty instead of the standard beach setting. They were cool enough to drive from the next town over to do it.
I’m about to say something to Lucas when the couple in question walks up. They’re adorable, to say the least. She’s wearing a boho pink long-sleeved dress and he’s in a white button down and dark jeans. “You must be Jordan,” the woman, Amber, says, “the pink hair was easy to spot.”
I hold a hand out to her. “It’s nice to meet you in person.” I turn to the man. “You must be Eric.” He shakes my hand and smiles.
These people are already a million times more normal than the couple from yesterday.
I gesture to Lucas since he hasn’t made himself disappear yet. “This is Lucas, my…” Do I say bodyguard? That sounds weird.
His face lights up. “Her boyfriend. It’s nice to meet you both.” And he shakes their hands.
I must be slack jawed because he turns to look at me and uses a finger under my chin to shut my mouth.
“He’s not my–”
“I love that you brought your boyfriend with you. It’s not conventional to use websites like we did, and you can never be too careful these days,” Amber chimes in.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Lucas nods with a smile on his face.
You get taken advantage of one time and suddenly everyone cares about your safety and well-being.
I decide to let it all roll off my back and get to work.
“Exactly.” I force a smile. “Shall we?” I gesture to the front of the mural, and we get started.
~ ~ ~
It doesn’t take more than thirty minutes for the shoot to be finished, and by the time we’re done, Amber and Eric are ecstatic about seeing the final results. I let them know that I’ll be in touch, and we say our goodbyes.
Surprisingly, Lucas made good on his promise, and I didn’t even know he was there. Well, that’s a lie because I could feel the heat of his stare on me the whole time, but he stayed silent and out of my way and that’s all I could ask for.
As we’re leaving the jetty, he finally talks. “Why don’t we get something to eat? I could use a real meal right about now.”
I would love a full meal, but I mentally calculate what’s in my bank account and realize I don’t have anything to spare. “I have to get back to my apartment. Sorry,” I tell him. I’m embarrassed to not have enough money to eat out, even occasionally, but that’s the reality of my situation. A situation I hate with every fiber of my being.
“I’m sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. “That wasn’t a question. What I meant to say was, we’re going to lunch since everything should be open by now and I’m paying.”
That makes me pause. I don’t need his charity and that’s what this feels like. But when I look at him, his eyes show a challenge. “You’re done babysitting me. You don’t need to hang around me any more than you already have.”
“I may be done babysitting you, but I’m not done being around you, beautiful. Let’s go.” And he grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers like it’s nothing. Like we do this all the time.
My gaze flicks from our hands to his face and he gives me a small smile and a wink. I’m not sure I should let thisperfect stranger, emphasis on the perfect, touch me and parade me around. But I let him for some reason. I know I shouldn’t because although he may have shown a protective side to him, what do I really know about the guy?
I’m in a daze as he pulls me through town, trying to process what’s happening, when we arrive at Paddy’s Pub. I’ve only ever eaten from here when Penny brings me her leftovers, but from what I’ve had, the food is amazing.
“Table for the two?” the hostess asks. Her attention is solely on Lucas, and I can’t blame her. He’s not just a snack, he’s the full meal.
He drags me from behind him to his front, letting go of my hand and instead putting both of his on my hips. “Yup. Just the two of us.”
I’m frozen, not sure if I should pull away because this feels too intimate. I’m also not sure if he’s smiling at her, but she swallows and diverts her attention from him to me, placing a fake smile on her overly botoxed lips.
“Right this way.”
He gives my hips a delicious squeeze and let’s go to guide me by my lower back.
A breath I didn’t notice I was holding leaves my mouth and we make our way through the restaurant. When we get seated at a table by the window, I find myself fiddling with the menu, not paying attention to it in the slightest. The hostess returns with water, and I catch her eyeing Lucas once again. I shake it off though because everyone in the vicinity is looking at him. Male and female.
Questions are running through my head. Is this a date? Or is this just a friendly lunch? He held my hand. Does that mean something? I feel so out of my depth and I’m not sure how to act.
