Page 16 of Off the Post

“I think that can be arranged.” I’m about to say more when I hear my name being called from the studio.

“Soren.” The lilt of Ali’s voice comes from behind me. I swivel around, Heinrich and Clara still glued to my sides, and my eyes connect with Ali’s.

She appears to flinch and something flickers in her expression that I can’t quite discern. “Oh, excuse me. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know that we’re ready for you in makeup now.”

My gaze does a sweep over her face. Her cheeks flame with a deep red blush that matches the color of her long, wavy hair. She glances briefly from me to Anna and then scans over the two kids before landing back on me.

I drop my hold from around Heinrich’s and Clara’s shoulders and cover their blond heads with my palms.

“Ja, it’s no problem. My family has just arrived.” I motion to the three with a dip of my chin. “If it’s okay with you, Ali, may they stay for the photoshoot?”

Ali’s mouth opens then shuts, and she chews her bottom lip. Finally, she waves a hand awkwardly through the air.

“Oh… well, of course,” she stammers with a hesitant look down at her iPad and then over her shoulder, as if searching for something. She absently strokes the line of her eyebrow with her index finger. “But, well, there may be a state of undress with most of these photos, if you know what I mean.”

If possible, her face burns brighter. It’s cute. And sweet.

And Goddamn sexy as fuck.

The kids giggle at Ali’s announcement. I raise an eyebrow and rub my hand over my stubbled jaw. It reminds me that I was going to shave this morning but ignored the need to give myself five more minutes in bed.

“You didn’t mention I’d be posing naked.” I’m pulling her chain, and the way it makes Ali’s blush deepens almost makes me full-on grin. The bloom expands over her cheeks and down her collarbone, coloring the pale cleavage that peaks out from underneath her T-shirt and overalls.

Unbidden, an image comes to mind of me backing her up into a low-lit studio and slowly removing those pink overalls to uncover all that creamy skin inch by inch to see how far that blush of hers goes.

Jesus, what is wrong with me? I clear my throat and avoid any eye contact with anyone.

“No, no… well, not exactly.” She places a hand on her collarbone, seemingly flustered by my question. “My idea was to put you in an Alpine backdrop to show how comfortable you are in cold, mountainous climates. And, well, okay, maybe you’d be partially naked.”

Anna tips her chin down toward the floor and snickers. I nudge her shoulder with mine.

While I like the fact that Ali did her research and wants to pay homage to my culture and home country, there’s a significant detail she doesn’t know that dredges up emotions I’ve buried and tried to avoid.

Günther died in the mountains.

It was a trip I was supposed to be on but due to my team contract, I was forbidden from going unless I wanted to be cut. My brother absolutely forbade me joining him and said he’d cancel the trip on the spot if I showed my face.

So I didn’t go. And had I been there, there’s a strong possibility my brother may have lived.

I breathe in deeply through my nose and exhale loudly. Ali watches me, lips parted, eyes wide, as she waits for my response, her finger see-sawing along her brow.

“So, this calendar is R-rated?”

My question sounds gruff and judgmental, almost menacing. I narrow my eyes and pin her with a glare. I’m totally fucking with her, which is childish and immature. But I like the way she reacts to my moody temperament—how her body responds, the change in the sound of her voice. The breathy hums in between the beats of her words send frenetic waves of excitement through my body.

It’s literally woken me up from a deep, self-imposed hibernation.

Ali vehemently shakes her head and takes an unconscious step back, glancing between Anna and the kids as if searching for help.

“No, no… not at all. I just…” She pushes her palms out and waves them wildly as Anna steps forward and places a hand on my shoulder, ready to play mediator and big sister if necessary.

Ali’s eyes zero in on Anna’s proprietary hand placement, then quickly flash away.

Does she feel threatened by this familiarity?

I don’t have time to consider it because Anna jumps in to provide context.

“Soren, from what I gather, I don’t think that’s what—” Anna hesitates, looking to Ali with an expectant gaze.