I suddenly noticed my security gal had stopped and was holding her side. I came back to see what was wrong and found her breathing hard as she gave me a dirty look.
“You okay?” I asked her.
She suddenly cramped up. She went down, so I helped her stretch to get it to stop. Cramps are a runner’s worst nightmare.
“Is she okay?” Colin asked as the scooter came back to see what was going on.
“She’s cramping. Go and see if you can find some Gatorade and a banana.” I turned to her.
“I’m sorry. I was zoning out and didn’t notice you were struggling.”
“Sod off! I should be able to run you into the ground. I ran cross-country at university, and I run every day.”
“It sucks getting old.”
“You little wanker, I can make you disappear,” she shot back with a quick grin.
“You’d have to actually catch me for that to happen.”
“Just stretch my leg while I figure out how you’re going to die.”
“Again, you’d have to catch me first,” was my reply. “I guess hearing is something else that goes when you get old.”
Boy, I was glad to see Colin when he came back. She had me in an armbar, and it hurt a little. I misjudged how quick she was. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I chuckled when we had to get a cab to take us back. It was cool, though, because we got to go in one of those old-looking cabs.
I felt much better when I got back. I showered and it was time to meet everyone in the restaurant. Colin was telling everyone how my security detail had to put me into a submission hold. He even had pictures to prove it. She was standing behind me, so I let it go.
“Colin tells me that he got some great shots this morning,” Devin said. “That actually helps with our schedule. The models that Ford has arranged for have a conflict this morning. You’ll meet Yvette and Raina this afternoon. This morning we’re going to hit the tourist spots and have you work solo. I might have Lana stand in for a few shots with you,” Devin told me.
I could see that Lana fancied herself a model. Sandy rolled her eyes, but everyone else kept a straight face. Colin had his work cut out for him.
Something else I noticed this morning were hints that Clare and Colin had something going on. I started to put it together. How else would he have known I was running this morning? They were careful not to let on, but when they thought no one was looking they would share a meaningful glance.
I asked Colin when he thought we’d be done so I could make plans with Aubrey. My security gal came over and asked what my plans were for tonight.
“I’m going on a date,” I told her.
“Hanging out with hookers isn’t a good idea,” she said, either teasing me or assuming I couldn’t have found a date so quickly.
“I could cancel the hookers if you’re free. I’m just nervous you can’t keep up,” I shot back.
She smiled at me. I was enjoying that she had a sense of humor.
“No, you keep your plans in place. Just when you know what they are, let me know so we can be prepared.”
“What should I call you?” I asked.
“Normally, you call your betters ‘ma’am.’”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
She just smiled at me.
ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF the way through the morning, Lana put her foot down and made Devin put her in the shots. Colin got a lot of shots of us walking away or side shots of her looking up at me with him behind her. He was trying to minimize her face in the photos. She got the great idea that we should look out over the River Thames with my arms wrapped around her. Thank God, Devin stopped that after a couple of pictures.
THE AFTERNOON WAS STUDIO work with our newly arrived Ford models, Yvette and Raina. They were everything I hate about models: they showed up late, weren’t happy with anything, and generally acted like bossy little bitches. About halfway through they got so bad that Clare had to call a halt and talk to them. Apparently, I was too tall and blocking their light.
Devin came over to see how I was holding up.
“I think Lana’s looking like a good replacement right about now,” I shared with him.
“Yeah, sorry about that. You were a good sport, though. I owe you one. She can’t stop talking about how great you are to work with. I have a feeling she thinks she’ll get to do more work with you in the future.”
“You’re the man writing the checks.”
“Don’t you forget it, smartass.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather passing.”
“Mom told me to honor my commitment to you. We have plenty of family to help her and Grandma through this. Or that’s what they tell me, anyway.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I really am.”
Colin called us back and the bitching went down nearly fifty percent. We were able to get through the afternoon without any more incidents. When we were done, I was the happiest person in the room. I had just run the entire gamut of modeling in two days, from the best to the worst. I hoped that tomorrow would be better.
FOR MY DATE WITH AUBREY, Clare made me take a driver and ‘ma’am.’ Aubrey knew ‘ma’am.’ Her name was Tess. I smirked at her when Aubrey used it. Tess had made sure no one on the set told me what her real name was. She was the lone bright spot in the day, so I played along.
Aubrey took me to a trendy restaurant where you went to be seen. I was shocked when the paparazzi went nuts when they saw me. Then Aubrey reminded me that I was on the front page of several of the gossip rags. I’d forgotten that was coming out. At dinner, we had people coming up and talking to us. I guess putting one of the gentry in their place was considered cool.
“Did you plan this?” I asked her.
“Sure did. Adrienne told me that you’d be good for my career. I’m sure we’ll be in the paper tomorrow. I just hope they spell my name right.”
“Well, I’m free tomorrow night, too.”
“You cheeky little monkey! Are you asking me out again?”
“Of course I am.”
“If you’re game, we can do a full night of it. We’ll hit five or six of the hot spots and do a full media blitz.”
I agreed. She was shocked when I took her shopping for china after dinner. She figured I’d want to go to a club. Once she knew the plan, she got into it. She took me to her favorite spots. I found she had good taste. She even found me hunt-themed plates for Greg and Angie. I knew Kyle would love them when he got older. For Mom, I found a nice floral design that was in her favorite colors. Tami had always liked the light French blue look. I found a classic design that I knew she’d love. I knew this because she’d pointed it out to me several times while growing up. It was surprising to me that I remembered, but when I saw it, it felt right.
Aubrey talked me into getting sixteen place settings with the platters, soup tureens, butter dishes and anything else they had. She even picked out silverware for Tami. Mom already had a set that she liked. She suggested that it not be actual silver because I really didn’t want to have to clean it every time we used it. I arranged for everything to be shipped back to the States for me.
We went back to the hotel. Aubrey said she was having her monthlies but was willing to help me out. She certainly did! She took me to the moon three times before we finally crashed.
Friday April 25
I SWEAR AUBREY WAS ruining me for any other woman. She gave the best oral sex I have ever had. I was in a tremendous mood when she walked me down for breakfast. Clare was the only one who’d met her before. Everyone else was stunned. Aubrey is a striking woman, with the emphasis on woman.
Aubrey told me where I needed to pick her up and suggested what I should wear. When she left, Devin came over.
“It sounds like someone’s whipped.”
“And you’re not?” I shot back.