I sneak into her office and send a text to let her know I’m here. I know she keeps her phone on silent when she’s working and checks it during breaks. Within seconds, she whips around the corner through the open door.
I open my eyes wide and clench my teeth. “I’m sorry. I tried to be quiet.”
“What? No. You were. You’re fine.” She shakes her head as her words come out rapidly.
“What’s going on?” I ask as she pinches the bridge of her nose, her telltale sign that she’s stressed.
“Thank God you’re here.” She paces, pressing her fingers into her temples, then walks over to me. “I’m going to need your help,” she says, placing her hands around my shoulders. She’s already a couple inches taller than me and with 3-inch heels on, she looks like a giant.
“Of course. Whatever you need. I’m here. What’s happening?”
She releases me and fills me in quickly. “Gigi, she’s the other model, she’s running late.” She lets out an exasperated sigh. “She’salwayslate. I need to get this shoot in tonight because she leaves tomorrow and then she’s booked for another two months. And this project is due. I have to get it done.”
“Okay, tell me, what can I do to help?” I have no idea how I can possibly help in this situation, but I’m certainly willing to.
She takes my shoulders in her hands again. “I know this is totally out of your comfort zone, but I need you,” she says desperately as she releases me.
“Okay.” I shake my head and stretch out my palms toward her. “What? I’ll do it.”
“I need to test the lighting so as soon as she gets here, we can get the shots in.”
Seems like a no-brainer to me. “Okay, done. How can I help with that?”
“She’ll be wearing white so I need you to wear white and pose with the male model.”
“You want me to pose with someone?” Surprised by her request, my voice raises a bit.
“Yes. For the lighting. I need you both in the shot. He’s really nice. I’ve worked with him before. Actually, you know him.”
“I do?” She has me searching my mind as to what male model I would know because I don’t know any.
“Yeah. He’s from the movie that got you all hot and bothered.” Giving me a mischievous smile, she wiggles her brows at me.
My eyes widen and my face heats instantly as I take a small gasp of air. “You mean…”
She shoots me a devilish wink and shifts her gaze behind me.
I turn my body, following her gaze, and he’s walking toward me, oozing every droplet of sexiness he possessed in his role in the movie Don Matteo. Like I’m in some distorted time warp, he approaches me in slow motion and I swear I can see heat waves shimmering, emanating around him, filling the air.
His dark hair is glossed in place and his chocolate eyes melt me where I stand. Tidy two-day scruff hugs his strong jaw. With each step he takes, the temperature of my blood rises, heating my cheeks even more. Every stride of his long legs in sleek black dress pants synchronizes with the thumping of my heart. Add some dry ice smoke and the song “Coffee” by Hippie Sabotage and it would be a stinking movie scene. By the time he reaches me, the perfectly groomed dark hair dusting his toned bare chest meets me just above eye-level. With his open, crisp white shirt clinging to his broad shoulders, he towers above me and I almost fall over.
“Niccolo Mancini.” I breathe his name in a proper Italian accent as my body seizes in place and I look up into his gorgeous face.
Ho…ly…shit.
“I’m impressed.” His deep voice with its thick, Italian accent vibrates in my ears. “You pronounce it very well.” He chuckles.
My tongue is nonfunctional and all that comes out of my mouth is a bizarre, nervous giggle as I stumble back into Candi’s desk. Thankfully, the desk prevents me from falling backwards.
Reaching both of his massive hands out towards me, he wraps them around my arms. “Are you okay?”
No, I’m mortified and want to disappear into thin air.“Yes.” Another strange laugh weasels out of me as I tuck an unruly wisp of hair behind my ear. “I’m, I’m fine. Thank you.”
Candi chuckles from behind us. “Nicco, this is my best friend, Destiny.” She gestures her hand at me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he pauses. “Destiny.” The way he says my name is so damn sexy. The manissex. Everything about him exudes sex. Lowering his head, he leans toward me.What’s he doing?The scent of stale smoke drifts into my nostrils as he gently kisses my left cheek and then my right; a traditional Italian greeting. As he draws back, I try not to contort my face from the stench of cigarette smoke still lingering in my nose.
A nervous laugh huffs out of me. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you as well, Niccolo.”
