Newly Exposed

by Meghan Quinn

  “This is such a waste of money,” she complained. “We could be spending this money on something else, like a car for me or maybe a raise.”

  “We get paid pretty damn well.”

  “More money is never a bad thing,” Nolly smiled.

  “I guess you’re right about that.”

  Levi and Ty had a calendar to shoot today, and thankfully, they were using the house and pool as the backdrop. I enjoyed days like this on occasion, where I could roll out of bed, put some clothes on and then do my job. I didn’t always love shoots out of the house, because at times, they were one right after the other, and I needed to separate work from life, but on days where I was dragging ass, I loved to work from home.

  “Tell me again why you’re so tired,” Nolly said, as she organized the fruit platter that actually looked pretty damn good.

  “Just a late night, couldn’t sleep.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, just thinking about work and all of that,” I lied.

  I pulled out some clothes that were delivered on a rack and picked out the fabrics that would easily cling to the men when wet. I knew exactly what worked best now for all of the wet shoots. As I was setting a linen shirt on a hanger, I looked up to see Adam running toward the pool area, where I was standing. He was wearing a pair of workout shorts that hung low on his hips, showing off the waistline of his boxer briefs, and, of course, he was shirtless. His hair was pushed back by a hat again and he had an iPhone strapped to his arm. His body flexed with each step, and as if in slow motion, I watched him glide across the pavement in all of his muscular glory. Every sinew in his chest twitched from his movement and the sun beating down on us in the early morning had his skin glistening with sweat. He was mouthwateringly good looking.

  “Earth to Solo,” Nolly said, pushing my shoulder. “Do you need these pants?”

  “Umm, what?” I asked, trying to pull my attention away from Adam.

  Nolly looked over my shoulder and a giant smile spread across her face. “So, I’m guessing he’s the work that kept you up all night.”

  “It’s not like that,” I whisper-shouted at her, so she would keep her voice down. We had PAs setting up lights and screens; I didn’t need Nolly blowing up my spot.

  “Then, what is it like?” she crossed her arms and stared at me for an answer. I knew this side of Nolly; she wouldn’t get anything done until I explained to her what was going on.

  “Let’s not get into this…”

  “Hey, muffin,” Adam’s deep voice came from behind me.

  My entire body tensed from his presence, not because I didn’t want him around, but because he set my body on fire and I didn’t need Nolly seeing how Adam turned me into a pile of mush with a little hello.

  I turned around and came face to chest with him. His chest was completely devoid of hair and it looked so damn smooth, all I wanted to do was lick him up and down. The deep V in his waistline stood out against his boxer briefs and his pecs begged for my hands to run all over them, exploring every last contour.

  When I looked up at his face, he noticed my perusal of his body and he fucking enjoyed it, because that dimple of his was deeper than ever.

  “How are you doing?” he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I backed up so he couldn’t touch me, and disappointment crossed his face from my stand-off-ish attitude, which made me instantly feel guilty. He’s been nothing but sweet to me and just because people were around didn’t mean I needed to be a bitch. I just wasn’t good with PDA, not that we were making out in front of anyone or in any kind of relationship. I just didn’t need everyone asking me questions, because I could already feel Nolly’s eyes blazing behind me and I knew I would have to at least face her questions.

  Calming myself and making sure I wasn’t being a bitch, I looked up at Adam and smiled. “I’m doing well. Did you have a good run?”

  “I did,” he looked around and said, “I went with Nikko and Gunner, but apparently, they couldn’t keep up. I have a gym session with the trainer today and I’m not sure what to expect cardio-wise, so I squeezed in six miles before we got started.

  “Oh, only six miles,” I laughed.

  He shrugged his shoulders and eyed the water bottles behind me. “Can I steal one of those off of you?”

  “Of course.” I reached behind me and handed him one.

  I watched the muscles in his forearm ripple as he uncapped it and brought the bottle to his mouth. I was mesmerized as I watched him gulp down the water and the way his throat constricted with each swallow. There was something seriously wrong with me if a man drinking water got me all hot and bothered.

  When he pulled away, he tipped my chin with his finger and said, “Thanks, muffin. I better go to the gym to meet Anzel.”

  “Alright, have a good workout,” I said lamely, not knowing what else to say.

  He looked down at my shirt, which had a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog on it, and he nodded in approval.

  “Kick ass shirt, girl. You’re so damn cool, it hurts.”

  With that, he winked at me and took off toward the gym. Gunner and Nikko came around the corner, huffing. Adam saw them and waved with ease, as Nikko and Gunner bent over and flipped him off. I laughed to myself. Adam was already making an impression on the guys and putting them in their place. I wouldn’t expect anything else.

  “Care to explain that whole interaction?” Nolly said behind me as she tapped her toe.

  “Umm…” I took a deep breath and shook my head while I leaned against the food table. “God, Nolly, I like him so damn much.”

  “I can see that.”

  I put my head in my hands and shook it.

  “What am I doing? I don’t date models, but…he’s so different.” I leaned forward and said, “He kissed me last night.”

  “Oh, my God?!” Nolly jumped and clapped her hands. “Tongue?” Shamelessly, I shook my head yes. “Holy hell, tell me all about it.”

  “We went to dinner with Scout last night, and then Adam asked to hang out with me on the lounge chairs. I was planning on having my own chair, but then he pulled me down and made me get all cuddly with him. I’m telling you right now, I was pretty sure my heart was going to hammer right out of my chest. I felt like I was in high school again and my crush was finally making my dreams come true.”

  “Oh, God, this is so adorable.”

  “He kept rubbing my…”

  “Clit,” Nolly tried finishing for me with excitement.

  “No,” I pushed her shoulder. “God, Nolly,” I laughed. “We’re not all whores like you.”

  “A satisfied whore at that,” she smiled.

  “Back to my story, he was rubbing my back, and I can’t tell you how turned on I got from such a simple movement.” I took a deep breath and continued, “Nolly, I really think he was made for me. We have so much in common, and I feel so relaxed around him. I’m just nervous.”

  “Why?”

  “Because,” I looked around and held out my arms. “His life is about to change in the matter of a few days. You saw him; he is going to explode once we get some professional shoots going. The ladies are going to adore him. I’m afraid he’s going to change and I can’t get involved with him now and deal with what happens later. It would crush me, just like last time.”

  “I don’t think he will change,” Nolly stated.

  “The last guy did,” I said, referring to my old fling, my last fling, the last model I ever dated. He crushed me, and I wouldn’t be able to go through the same thing again.

  “He was a dick from the beginning. Adam is better than him, and you know that. Adam is different. He isn’t in this for the same reasons the other guys are. His motives are different.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Tell me this, how was the kiss?”

  I sighed and looked over where Anzel and Adam were now walking outside. Anzel was holding a clipboard and talking to Adam animatedly. Adam’s full concentration was on what
Anzel was saying; it was endearing to watch. You could tell Adam respected everyone who talked to him.

  “It was mind blowing,” I admitted. “I’ve dreamed of that perfect kiss, you know that kiss that makes your toes curl and your mind go completely black from the world, because the only thing that matters is the man touching you, holding you. I stayed up most of the night replaying it over and over in my head, and damn it if I didn’t wake up this morning wanting more.”

  Nolly came up behind me and hugged me. We both watched Adam pull up on the monkey bars, slip his legs through the slot and start to do crunches while hanging upside down. It was one of the most erotic things I’ve ever watched. No wonder his abs were perfection, because he made workouts like upside down crunches look like a walk in the park.

  “Shit, that’s hot,” Nolly said.

  “I think I’m drooling.”

  Nolly laughed and then turned me around to face her.

  “You need to go for it; I’m not going to tell you this again.”

  “I’m scared, Nolly. The feelings I have for him are so strong, what if he turns out to be different than I think? It’s almost better to dream about him than to put myself out there and possibly experience major disappointment and possible heart break.”

  “You and I both know that you can’t live your life like that. Look at me. How many times have I had my heart broken by douche bags? I don’t cower in a corner; I keep putting myself out there because what is life if you can’t live it? Live your life, Solo.”

  I nodded as I glanced over at Adam again, who was still crunching up and touching his shins with ease. No wonder he had that deep V…because of workouts like the one he was doing right now.

  “Maybe…”

  “Oh, and can I please add something?” Nolly said.

  “When have you ever hidden anything?”

  “True.” She held up her hand as if she was stopping traffic and said, “I just have to say, the fact that he calls you muffin makes me so fucking giddy inside. I mean…God could he be any more adorable?”

  “I hate that he calls me that,” I leaned forward and admitted, “But damn if it hasn’t worked on me.”

  Nolly clapped her hands and laughed. “It’s adorable. Oh, my God, Adam and Solo sitting in a tree.”

  “Please stop,” I laughed, and went back to the clothes.

  “You know the guys are going to think Adam is the man’s man after he bags you.”

  “Please, that is not helping, making me seem like the ungettable get.”

  “You know that’s not what I mean. Adam would never do that. But you have to admit, those boys have been after you from the very beginning, and then Adam, Mr. Anti-model, walks in and sweeps you off your feet. Just look at that shaggy hair. He’s just so different than the other guys; they are going to be wondering how he did it.”

  “I like his hair,” I smiled, as I thought about how it was all tussled and crazy last night. “And the guys can just deal with it…that’s if anything happens.”

  “It’s going to happen. You might put up a fight for a few days, maybe even a week, but that boy is not going to quit. He’s got his heart set on you; it’s written all over that bright smile he’s saved only for you.”

  “That damn dimple will be the death of me and every other woman in this country.”

  “But he only has eyes for one person…and that’s you, remember that.”

  “I will,” I responded, as Ty and Levi came strolling outside wearing speedos. They were ready. “Looks like it’s time to work,” I said to Nolly.

  “Yup, get your grease hands ready; it’s going to be a hot and steamy shoot today.”

  “Let’s only hope Zia can get what she wants quickly because I’m not in the mood to stay all day. I need a nap.”

  “That’s what happens when you have midnight a rendezvous with men out by the pool.”

  “Shhh,” I tried to quiet Nolly. “I don’t need everyone knowing my business.”

  “Good luck with that,” Nolly laughed. “These men gossip more than we do.”

  Nolly was right about that.

  We spent the rest of our morning hosing down the boys, retrieving lights and reflecting shields for Zia, while playing music for Ty, who could only work to the beat of Fifty Cent. He was a white boy from Texas, but he thought he was born and raised in the heart of the ghetto; the man was infuriating.

  By the time I finished, Adam was nowhere to be seen and his car wasn’t in the driveway. I grabbed a TV dinner from the freezer and ate out at the pool, waiting for him to show up, but he never did. I went to bed that night wondering if I would see him tomorrow because I was that desperate to have a little five minute interaction. I was pathetic.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Solo

  Two days, two freaking days and no Adam. Well, a day and a half, but still, I was on edge. I hadn’t seen him since the morning he met up with Anzel for the first time. Yesterday he got a “make over” and today was his first photo shoot with Zia, and I felt like I was more nervous than he was, or at least I thought I was. I didn’t really know, since I hadn’t seen him.

  After he talked to our stylist, I for sure thought I would meet him outside by the pool, but he never showed and his car never came home. I feared that maybe he was staying with someone else, maybe having fun with someone else, but the more I thought about that possibility and Adam, I knew it wasn’t true. He was honest and true to what he said; he wasn’t that guy that floated around from girl to girl. There was no way; at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

  Zia’s photo shoot with Adam was very basic. She just wanted some test shots to see how he worked with the camera, so we set up the shoot in the office where we could use the blank slate wall in the casting room. I arrived early to get everything set up before Adam arrived, because once he got on set, I wanted to make sure he was comfortable. I knew it could be intimidating, trying to perform and do something you’ve never done in front of a bunch of people.

  Even though there was technically nothing going on between Adam and me, I couldn’t help but feel sad that I hadn’t seen or heard from him in two days. I missed him and his goofy personality and quick wit, plus that gorgeous smile and body of his.

  I hated that I missed him so much and that in such a short amount of time he’d made such a big impact on my life. I looked forward to seeing him, to listening to his corny lines, and relying on that brilliant smile to brighten my day.

  The front door to the studio slammed shut and Zia came charging in, wearing her ever-present sunglasses while pressing her hand to her head as if she had a headache.

  “Is the new guy here yet?”

  “No, but it’s still a half hour before…”

  Zia waved her hand and interrupted me. “Tell me when he’s ready. I’ll be on my couch, passed out, until then.”

  With that, she took off toward her office while massaging her temples. Someone was hung over, and I was glad it wasn’t me.

  If Zia was hung over, Adam was going to be in for a real treat because she was difficult to work with on a normal basis, but give her a raging headache and shorter temper, and she was going to be a bitch and half to work with. I was glad I would be around in case Adam needed my help, which by the looks of it, he was going to need.

  “Uh, hello?” Adam’s voice rang through the empty studio. I sat up from where I was working and turned to greet him.

  When I turned around, I stopped in my tracks at the sight that stood before me. Adam was wearing a pair of tightly fitted jeans, a plain black T-shirt that clung to every curve and bulge on his body, and his hair was cut so it was short on the sides and styled into a fauxhawk on the top. He had earrings, but they were dark round earrings that looked like small plugs, but I knew they weren’t because Adam made it clear that he didn’t want to stretch out his ear lobes. He looked like a walking sex-sicle.

  “Over here,” I called out while taking a giant gulp.

  The moment he saw me, his ent
ire face lit up, and that heart stopping smile took place on his face, making me almost too giddy inside. There was something so sexy about a guy who didn’t mind smiling, and it was one of Adam’s best attributes.

  “Hey, muffin,” he said, as he walked up to me. Once he reached where I was sitting, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up into his chest. He wrapped both arms around me and pulled me in for an all-encompassing hug. The scent of his soap filtered through my nose and the hardness of his body pressed against mine, sending my entire world on a tilt. I could feel myself starting to slowly lose control over my emotions.

  “Hi,” I said meekly, as I pulled away.

  “God, I’ve missed seeing your face,” he admitted easily.

  I looked up at him and took in his new look. My hand went instinctively to his hair. I missed his longer locks, but with his new haircut, I knew he was hotter than hell.

  “Where’ve you been?”

  “Had some things I had to take care of. Did you wait for me out by the pool?”

  I shrugged my shoulders and turned to the cords I was trying to unravel.

  “Damn,” he said, as his arms wrapped around me again and his chin rested on my shoulder. “I’m sorry that I made you wait. I should have called you, but I left my charger at my mom’s and my phone’s been dead.”

  “You don’t need to explain anything to me, Adam,” I said nonchalantly, as I smiled and packed the cords we weren’t using in the giant Tupperware bin where we kept them all.

  “I know, but I want to.”

  “Well, thanks, I guess.”

  He studied me for a second and shifted in place. “I hate these new clothes. They’re so tight and this hair, I feel like a tool bag,” he laughed nervously.

  My eyes connected with his and I spoke from the heart, “You don’t look like one at all. You actually look…really hot.” I paused for a second.

  His eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

  I nodded and then said, “Don’t get me wrong, I liked your long hair, but you can totally…um, rock this new look.”