Zoey nodded, looking around the house. We’d gone into the kitchen because this was where I’d go through my ideas for the shoot, she’d tell me what she liked from those ideas and then we’d work out the logistics of it.
It was also where she’d have wine. Just a couple of glasses of fizz, to ease her apprehension and help to relax her. Usually I’d have joined in, but there was no chance of that for the next few months, which I wasn’t complaining about.
“Is Gully in the house?”
“No. He’s gone fishing with his brothers and a few others. He knows you’re round so he won’t come home until I call him.” He’d been looking forward to going out with Finn and Roe too. There was some competition about who could catch the biggest fish that they’d been talking about all week.
“He doesn’t mind?” Zoey looked curious.
“It isn’t like I do these sorts of shoots all the time so he’s fine with it. Prosecco?”
She nodded, looking a little more relaxed. I started the process, showing her some sketches I’d made and one or two of Gully’s photos which he’d said it was okay to share.
By the end of Zoey’s second glass, we had a plan and she was smiling, looking more confident and less apprehensive. I got the vibe of what she was after – sexy but arty, photos she could put up in her house at some point and be proud when other people saw them, and maybe one or two to share with a future lover.
It was always interesting shooting someone who was used to the camera. They generally had a good instinct of how to stand and where the light was, and the experience of how the camera would catch them. Zoey was no different. She’d left her curls wild, and chosen to make her make-up smoky, a little dangerous, which contrasted with what she’d brought to start off wearing.
By the end of the shoot I was proud of what we’d got; sexy, arty pictures that made her look completely different from the teen pop icon she still was.
“These could be in a high-end editorial,” she said as we looked through them. “I can’t believe that’s me.”
“That’s definitely you and I haven’t played with them yet, so some will get tinkered with to adjust the light or contrast. I’m not fixing any imperfections though – we agreed to keep it as you are. Not that there are any imperfections.” She was a stunning woman and the camera had caught that.
“I can probably find them all.”
“So don’t look for them.” I studied her for a moment. She’d talked more about relationships during the shoot, and Caleb. “You’re sure you’re not going to share any of these with Caleb?”
There was a laugh and a shrug. “Maybe. There are one or two I might show him – nothing that shows too much flesh.”
“They all show a lot.”
“The ones where it’s no more than an average day at the office. You’ve seen what I wear on stage.”
I had. “Yep, but these are more intimate. This you is nothing like the one that’s sold.”
“Which is the point. I might share some with him.”
“He might - ” I stopped.
“He might what?” she pushed.
“See what’s right in front of him.” Because it had become obvious that he wasn’t just a friend to her, or at least she didn’t want him to be.
“We’ll see. I’ll keep you posted.”
I saw Zoey out and tidied up, grabbing a quick shower. Before I got in, I noticed an envelope placed against my moisturiser, my name written on it in Gully’s handwriting.
Dear Iris,
Just wanted to say that while I’ll be busy trying not to push my brothers in the water today and catching the biggest fish the Menai Strait has on offer, I’ll be missing you, which sounds really soppy and nothing like the big, hard man I really am (you know how hard!). I know you’ll have had a great time taking photos and making someone feel beautiful; I hope you’re missing me too in a really good, can’t-wait-to-see-him way.
Is that too needy?
Probably. I’ll make it up to you with an orgasm later.
By the way, the Northern Lights are meant to make an appearance tonight – get your camera ready.
Love you,
