Carl was like a mother hen. He escorted me to the studio where we were shooting while he checked me for imaginary lint. The studio was a huge room and it was packed with people. It looked like all the designers and models wanted to watch Adrienne in action. It wasn’t every day you saw someone with her pedigree work.
I knew when she entered the room by the sound level going down. One of the artists was touching up my makeup, so I didn’t see Adrienne until I was brought on set. When I saw her, I froze. She took my breath away. She watched as I put my eyes on her. She smiled at my reaction, and my knees almost buckled when I realized that her smile was just for me. I guess the photographer wasn’t a complete amateur because I heard his camera going off in rapid succession as we came together.
On a subconscious level, I knew we had something special—there had to be sixty or seventy people in the room, and the only sound you heard was the camera snapping pictures.
“You are a vision. I wish Tyler was here to see how beautiful you are in that dress.”
It was strapless, and tight, with no decorations on the top. A touch of cleavage, to focus the eye on her femininity, gave the dress a sleek, clean line, which only enhanced Adrienne’s considerable assets. It clung to her figure as Alice’s design continued with this sophisticated look. It wasn’t until you got below the knees, where the dress flared out slightly, that there was beadwork and hand-sewn lace. Any bride seeing this dress on Adrienne would simply demand one for herself.
I was surprised when Adrienne closed the distance between us and put me into a lip-lock. It reminded me of when I first met her in Chicago. I knew we would need our makeup fixed after this. I took her in my arms and lifted her up so I could twirl her around. When I set her down and our lips parted, I heard the photographer say: “Look at me.”
Sure enough, after a few more shots, our Ford artist pulled us back to makeup to repair the damage we’d done to each other. I was surprised when Adrienne reached over and held my hand while we were getting fixed. I caught her eye and glanced down to ask what was going on.
“When you said that about Tyler, I thought my heart was going to burst. You made me feel like I was the prettiest girl in the room.”
“If you could see yourself through my eyes, you’d know it’s true. I meant it, you take my breath away.”
“You keep it up, and when you turn eighteen, I might decide I like guys,” she teased me.
“Don’t tease me. I might have to give up Hannah if that happened."
“You have to catch her first, and I think her boyfriend might have something to say about it.”
“Details, details. You just need to have a positive mental attitude.”
We were soon back on the set. Something I loved about working with Adrienne is that I always learned new things when I worked with her. I think all the other models were hanging on her every word as she continued to teach me the finer points of being a model.
ADRIENNE HAD DINNER plans with a few of the models she met today. Kendal had found herself a boy-toy to take her out on the town tonight. He had to be the dumbest guy I’d ever met, but he made up for it in other areas, according to Kendal. I covered my ears when she wanted to go into detail.
It was a good thing I was Harper’s boyfriend or I would have been in trouble. What is it about seeing a woman in a wedding gown that makes other women horny? Adrienne had to intervene while I was getting dressed, or I might have been having sex right there. I was sure Ford would look down on their models doing the deed with clients around. Adrienne took my arm and walked me out of the building. She was teasing me because one girl came up right in front of Adrienne and made me an offer I was considering. These older women were not shy.
“I don’t think we can leave you alone tonight. I think she was serious about you taking her back to her place and tying her up.”
“You know, this might be a nice group activity. What do you say? We use her body for the next ten or twelve hours and add it to our bucket list,” I said hopefully.
Adrienne pulled her phone out.
“Hey, I need you to get on the next flight to Chicago. David has me so revved up I’m about to jump him,” Adrienne said, obviously talking to Tyler.
We got into my Jeep and I took her to a condo building on the lakefront. On the drive over, I could hear her whispering naughty things to her life partner. With a hefty tip to the doorman, I was allowed to park my Jeep out front. Adrienne wanted me to meet her friends.
I could only stay a few minutes because I’d promised the doorman. Adrienne already had a few of the pictures from today’s shoot. They only released ones they knew weren’t going to be in the ad campaign but wanted sent out via social media. It helped create some pre-buzz for whatever we were working on. She made sure I had copies and I sent them to Lily and told her to have fun with them.
On the way to Harper’s house, I got a text to pick up Ray first. I swung by his house, another McMansion. Ray was waiting for me on his front steps.
“Thanks for getting me out of the house. My parents won’t let me go anywhere unless they approve of who I’m with,” he confessed.
“I take it Harper’s in charge tonight.”
“When isn’t she?”
We both laughed. I pulled up to Harper’s house and Ray jumped out to go let her know we were there. As he went in, I was surprised when Bev came out to the Jeep and got in.
“Are you joining us tonight?” I asked, trying not to sound disappointed.
“Don’t act so excited.”
“Sorry, was I that obvious?”
“No, but you forget who you’re dealing with, young man.”
I hung my head in mock shame. She wasn’t buying it.
“I wanted to talk to you about Ray. Tonight is a test run to start allowing him more freedom. I’m sorry to put this on you, but if he acts up, please call me. We’re afraid Harper would never let us know if he was up to anything.”
“If she won’t tell on him, I don’t think it’s my place to keep him in line. Harper is funny about things like that,” I said.
“If it will make you feel any better, she knows why I’m out here talking to you. She agreed it would be better if you were the responsible one tonight.”
Something didn’t ring true.
“For some reason my bullshit detector is going off.”
“Was it the part where she agreed you were responsible?”
“We both know she doesn’t believe that for one minute, even though it’s her that has us doing things we shouldn’t.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“Not happening,” I said as I shook my head. “She was very clear on what I can and cannot tell you. Do us both a favor and interrogate her. We both know if it was anything really bad, I would step up and tell you regardless of what my girlfriend thinks.”
“I know you’re a good boy. It’s why you’re not already dead. Now, back to Ray.”
“I’ll make you a deaclass="underline" if I see Ray touch drugs or alcohol, I’ll call you immediately. If he’s up to something else I don’t approve of, I’ll talk to your lovely daughter first. If she agrees, I’ll call.”
“I guess that’s the best I’m getting out of you. I expect a full report when you get home.”
“Again, your daughter has rules. Talk to her,” I said.
Bev went into the house and Harper and Ray came right out. Before I could pull into traffic, the interrogation began.
“What did my mom want?” Harper asked.
“As if you’re surprised? Apparently, Ray is on something like double-secret probation. I was instructed to turn him in if he doesn’t do everything I tell him.”
They looked at each other and then back at me.
“And what do you want from me?” Ray asked, a little worried.
“I figured you could help Harper decide where we’re going to dinner. If I have to find parking, you’ll be responsible for keeping her company and treating her like the princess she is. You know, hold the door for her and submit to her every whim,” I decided.