The openness in his expression pushes any teasing aside, and I give him an honest answer. “It was a goal I made for this year… to put myself out there more. Take more risks and do things that make me uncomfortable. When I saw the ad, I thought it sounded like a fun way to keep that promise.”
“You don’t seem uncomfortable,” Devon says. “You seem kind of unflappable, honestly.”
“That comes with the territory. It’s my job to appear unaffected.”
Curiosity wrinkles his nose. “What’s your job?”
“Security.”
He releases his grip on my shirt and wraps his fingers around my upper arm, squeezing the muscles as I flex with a grin. “That tracks,” he teases. “You’re obviously better with your hands than with a steering wheel.”
“Hey,” I say through a surprised laugh, and for the first time, a genuine smile spreads over his lips. Those stress wrinkles travel to the corners of his eyes and form happy little crow’s feet, and a dimple digs into his cheek.
A fuckingdimple.
My smile falters, my breath momentarily stolen by the happiness that lights his face.
I jolt back to reality as Sadie calls out to us, and my hands flex against Devon’s back. His head whips to the side to look at her and he almost loses his balance again, but I keep him steady as he lowers his foot to the grass. That sliver of bare skin is covered by his skirt, and I scowl at the offending material for taking away my view.
Sadie is all smiles as she says, “We got some fantastic shots from that pose. I have an idea for the next set, but you’d have to get down on the ground. Would you be okay with that?”
I lead Devon to the pavement once more, and he’s much steadier without his shoes stabbing into the dirt.
“Fine by me.” I turn to Devon with a grin. “What about you? Is the pretty boy willing to get a little dirty?”
“Good grief,” he mutters, and his entire face flushes as he hurries away, his heels clicking as his skirt sways.
CHAPTER 03: DEVON
Light shimmers off Aaron’s dirty blond curls as he stretches out on the pavement. Not a care in the world, lying there as though he’s sunbathing on a beach somewhere tropical. I stand in front of him with my hands on my hips, and his gaze travels up my body.
I force myself not to react as it lingers on my skirt.
He seemed genuine before when he insisted he liked it, and I caught him sneaking peeks at my legs when we were posed.
Maybe he likes those, too.
A ridiculous buzz forms in my chest with the thought.
Aaron props up on his elbows and leaning forward to one side, and those honey brown eyes finally move up to mine. He flashes me a grin as he pats his thigh. “Come on down. Seat’s waiting for you.”
“Oh, hush,” I say, and I make sure he sees it as I roll my eyes. Careful not to get my skirt dirty, I drop to the pavement. We’re just getting started, and I didn’t bring a spare.
That, and my brother would never forgive me if I returned his clothes damaged or stained.
Once I’m comfortable, Aaron bends in to talk low near my ear. “Why don’t you scoot closer, sweet thing? I told you I don’t bite.”
“You’ve just gotta make this weird, don’t you?” I ask, ignoring how goosebumps lift on my skin from his deep chuckle. He’s so stupidly attractive that my brain keeps going fuzzy, which is, frankly, kind of embarrassing.
I’m thirty-four. Old enough not to be swayed by a handsome face.
I glance over my shoulder and catch his grin.
Fuck. He isobnoxiouslyhot.
Thankfully, Sadie interrupts my awkwardness by directing us into the pose she wants. “Aaron, cross your legs a little above the ankle, and twist your body so Devon has somewhere to lay… yep. Just like that.” She nods towards him then meets my eyes. “Lean back on him, and Aaron, wrap that arm around his shoulders… perfect!”
My knees are pressed together, awkwardly trying to maintain my modesty as my skirt slides down my thighs.
