“A photo shoot? For my gym? My assistant has been trying to book with you for ages, and I figured since we’re practically living together, I would try and play the ‘we’re close’ card to get you to do my photo shoot for me?” he answers, sounding just as confused as I am now.
My eyebrows pinch, and I almost whisper, “That’s not what I was talking about. The thing you said before that. What?”
Caiden eyes me for a long moment, squints, and poses his next sentence as a question. “I have more vacation questions to ask you?”
“Oh my God,” I breathe, poking his muscle again like I can’t help myself, making his lips twitch, even if he looks confused. That tease quickly turns into a cute smile as I mutter, “Did you just say you like me? What? Is that… what? Huh?”
Oh great, now I’ve lost the ability to speak like a normal functioning adult. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Well, yeah,” Caid snickers, biting his lip and turning my brain to mush in the process. I actually forget why he’s here entirely, or what we were even just speaking about, caught upwatching his straight, white teeth biting into his naturally plump lower lip. It’s only as he speaks again that I snap back to reality. “What’s not to like? We’d be stupid not to like you, Blue. So, about that photo shoot?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Maddie
Several days have passed since Caiden blew my mind with a confession I’m still not entirely sure is even a confession, because there was no explanation or anything, and I’ve been left utterly confused and pondering it far more than I care to acknowledge. He did, however, promise to talk to the guys about the emails and drive me to the police station to hand in the emails to add to my report. Not once did he mention saying he likes me, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask about it, for more reasons than one.
The first being, I don’t want to get my hopes up and then get crushed. The second would be, who the hell would I choose? Because there are four of them, I’m confident I like all four, and there’s no way to choose between them all. Not only are they all so handsome I’m convinced they were sculpted by angels, but they’re all really great guys, even Rayne. They’re all different, their personalities unique to them, and yet they blend so perfectly with one another that I can’t help but view them as a four-man unit. Where there’s one, there are three more.
Thankfully, my day is busy enough that my brain only has a chance to think about it during short breaks and intervals between shoots. Not so thankfully, Ryan decided to be a curious little cutie today and has joined me at Static, insisting that he come along with me this morning, much like Caid and Bax have done the past five days since the emails were discovered. Rayne has hovered a little more than usual, but he hasn’t resorted to tagging along at work with me or driving me to and from the apartment to wherever it is I need to go.
Instead of hanging out in the lounge like he usually does, Ryan asked if he could spend time in the studio, and I couldn’t say no to him. I can’t be sure if I could say no to any of them at this rate, and it’s quickly growing into a problem, because I’ve been more aware of Ryan than I have of myself all day.
Adjusting my camera lens while Jolie chatters away in my ear about lighting, I try to nod along, but I can feel Ryan watching, his eyes lingering, and it makes me think about what Caid said. That’s distracting enough without having Ryan hanging around and watching me work.
“So, we’re going to go for softer lighting, right?” Jolie asks, her tablet in hand and ready for my answer.
I nod, lowering my camera and flashing her a smile. “Sounds good. Think golden-hour kind of lighting. Maybe block off the window on the left and have all the light coming from the right. The shadows would look beautiful with Nina’s complexion and the clothes the designer sent over.”
After a quick scribble on her tablet, Jolie scurries away with a pep in her step, beelining straight for the ladder that will boost her to the high window that brings in plenty of light.
Trusting her to do her job, spotting Zeke at the bottom of the ladder a moment later, I sling my camera strap around my neck just as Ryan appears in his loose-fitting shirt and slacks that accidentally match my wide-leg slacks, both a soft gray that looks a little coupley at first glance.
“You know, it’s amazing watching you work,” he says sweetly, looking as impressed as he sounds.
I flash him a grin, pride blooming in my chest, and gently wiggle my camera at him. “Thanks. Mom and Dad always said it was my destiny to wield a camera.”
“They weren’t wrong. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone love their job as much as you do, and I’ve seen Bax, Caid, and Rayneat work,” he laughs, a little huff of a sound that shoots right through me like a heart-tipped, Cupid-sent arrow.
I’m practically preening as I say, “I’m not one who is lacking in passion for her chosen career path, that’s for sure. It helps that I work with good people. Like Nina over there.”
I point over at the stunning olive-skinned actress wearing a gorgeous dress that looks wet but isn’t. The material is rumpled, washed in a sandy tone, while her caramel hair is loaded with extensions that run down to her ass in messy waves, feathers and gold accessories sewn in to make her look like a goddess of the desert and sun.
“She’s one of the sweetest nuggets to ever grace the planet, and she makes my job easy because she’s laid-back, a true darling, and has the facial features of an actual goddess,” I explain. “A photographer is only as good as her subject, and I always choose the best subjects. Well, sometimes a few rotten apples slip through the cracks, but that’s a rare occurrence I try not to repeat. I’m usually a good-people, good-vibes kinda photographer.”
“Don’t you photograph your friends?” Ryan wonders with a grin.
I snap my finger and point at him. “Exactly my point. Good people. Good vibes.”
Laughing under his breath, Ry looks over at Jolie when she squeaks and Zeke grabs on to the ladder like his life depends on it, the idiot on the top step giggling down at the stressed man now glaring at her. It only snags my attention for a split second before I turn my gaze onto Ryan, and my breath stalls in my chest as my heart hiccups.
The sunlight that still beams through the uncovered window spills over Ryan’s rugged but undeniably handsome face, the light dusting of stubble over his lower face looking more blond than chestnut beneath the rays of the afternoon sun.His brown eyes take on an ethereal hazel color that looks like glistening caramel, and his lips turn into a plush dream of peach that looks incredibly biteable.
Keeping an eye on the man, I lift my camera and peer through the viewfinder, adjusting my lens ever so slightly before taking a snap. The shutter draws Ryan’s attention, and I take several shots as he turns, taking a few more as a beautiful grin breaks free across his face.
When I’m done, I wink at him and tease, “See? The best subjects.”
I lean toward him and show him the shots I knew would look incredible, and I hear Ryan’s breath leave in a whoosh. He’s silent for a long moment before he rubs a hand over his mouth and shakes his head.
