by Sam Crescent
According to Rick, men had come and gone, but Payton was different with him, and Rick was worried about that. He didn’t want to see Payton getting hurt, and he knew all about his reputation. Hunter didn’t dispute him either. His reputation had been there long before he met Payton.
He hadn’t been with another woman in some time, a few months before he’d met Payton. Now, no other woman interested him. There was no way anyone else would have ever gotten him inside of a damn supermarket picking up chicken breasts and thighs. He enjoyed spending time with Payton, and not just fucking her either. He enjoyed her company.
After spending an hour in the supermarket, they were carrying their goodies to Payton’s apartment.
She had allowed him to drive his own car back to her place.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” she asked.
“No. My mother would be very proud of me.”
Here was another thing that surprised him with Payton, he wanted her to meet his parents.
So much for this thing between them just being sex.
****
Hunter was dressed for sex in the tight jeans and white crisp shirt he was wearing. Payton couldn’t believe how seeing his ass in denim could turn her on, and yet it was. It was official. She was losing her mind over a guy she barely knew.
“You look fine,” he said, coming up behind her.
She had settled on a mid-length skirt and a wraparound shirt. “I’m nervous. I feel badly for putting my friend to one side.” She held his hand. “You’ll be on your best behavior, right?”
“Of course I will. Totally best behavior. You won’t have to worry about me for a single second.”
When the doorbell rang, she stepped out of Hunter’s arms and made her way toward the door. Rick had the code, which was why he didn’t need the buzzer to be allowed in. Opening the door, she smiled.
“Hey,” she said. Rick was there with a beautiful redhead. Just by looking at her, Payton knew she was sweet. “You’re Francine, right? I’m Payton. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She took Payton’s hand, and her cheeks heated. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Rick has said you’re so sweet. I’ve been such a horrible friend to him, and I’m really sorry about that. I was hoping my cooking skills will show you that I’m not all horrible,” she said.
“Nah, she’s just ten percent mean,” Hunter said, coming out of the bedroom. “I’m Payton’s … boyfriend.”
Now that felt incredibly weird hearing him say that. Hunter shook Rick’s hand, and she was sure something was going on with that, but ignored it. He also took Francine’s hand, and gave it a kiss.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Hunter gripped her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing at the tension she was feeling in her back.
“You really didn’t need to go to this much trouble,” Francine said.
“She wanted to meet you, and I’m the one that has been keeping her away, not anything else. I know Rick’s pissed at me about that.”
“I’ve not got a problem with it, Hunter,” Rick said.
“Let me grab you something to drink.” Payton moved into the kitchen, going to the fridge, taking the bottle of wine out. She placed four glasses on a round tray and entered her sitting room. Hunter was standing in the corner, while Rick and Francine were on the sofa.
Putting the drinks on the coffee table, Payton took a seat. “I’m so pleased things are hitting off between you and Rick.”
“I’ve told her that you were the one who encouraged me to go on that date,” Rick said.
“What do you do, Francine?” Hunter asked.
“I work in accounting at the bank. Knowing what Rick does, it was kind of a shock. A manager to a model.”
“Rick and I go back a long way. We’re friends, and at times enemies.”
“Francine has a love of the law as well.”
Payton really didn’t like the tension that was in the room. Glancing over at Hunter, she saw him watching the two, and he kept looking at Francine. This was becoming really awkward.
Before she could say anything to try to cut through the tension, though, Hunter did.
“So, Francine, what kind of job do you do in the bank?” he asked.
“You know, I just work in the accounting department, so I handle all of that.”
She noticed that Francine got a little blush on her cheeks.
“My dad used to work in accounting, and he had so many tales to tell. You know the stories of what happens behind the scenes, and at times the horror of having to balance those books.”
“It’s all really cut and dry to be honest.”
“Really? What’s the bank that you work for?”
Francine hesitated, and Payton saw she was fumbling.
“We really don’t need to talk about work here,” Payton said.
“What about you, Rick? Know what bank she works for? Why she knows a thing or two about the law?”
“I think that’s enough,” Rick said.
“Hunter, come into the kitchen with me, please. I think I want to check on dinner, and I know I’ve got something you can do.”
Entering the kitchen, she waited for him.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked when he finally entered. “Leave her alone and stop giving her the third degree.”
“That woman doesn’t work in a bank.”
“You shouldn’t be questioning a guest like that. Are you completely insane?”
Hunter moved toward her, grabbing her arms. “I’m telling you, Payton, that woman doesn’t work in a bank. My dad did for years, and don’t you think it’s a little suspicious that she can’t even remember where she works for? Hello, a bank is open a lot of hours. Everyone knows where they work. No one hesitates like that, and completely forgets the name. They sign your checks.”
“She was flustered.”
“Yeah, but you don’t forget that long.”
Payton thought about it, and even flustered people didn’t forget where they worked. Moving toward the doorway, she looked out to see that Francine wasn’t paying much attention to Rick. She was looking around her apartment, and Rick leaned back against the sofa, talking, asking questions.
Pulling away she turned to Hunter. “Who is she then? You look like you know her.”
“I think she’s press.”
“What? Why?”
“The way she’s looking around. Let’s face it, what better way to get an inside story than to be on the inside?”
“Is this about you?” she asked. “Is that why she’s here?”
“My gut is telling me that there’s going to be a story about the fact I’m your boyfriend. It will depend what other stories Rick has told her, and let’s face it, the guy looks smitten with her as well.”
“He is. He even told me that he wanted me to meet her. Usually, women don’t like how he takes care of me, managing me.”
“Then I think this woman is trying to get the inside scoop on the current flavor of the month,” he said. “I don’t mean for me, babe. I mean for the press. You’re doing a lot of interviews, a lot of personal details. I wonder if they’re trying to find fault.”
She had been asked about her diet, about how she felt about her own curves. What she thought of the current obesity problem in kids, how she was also contributing to that. She had been asked a lot of questions. Rick had told her before they went down this path that she would need a thick skin. She’d need to be prepared for everything.
“You can’t know this for sure.”
“I recognize her, Payton. She’s press. She’s after a story.”
How would she say anything? Rick was her best friend, but if this woman was using her, then she couldn’t allow it to go on.
This could risk her friendship with Rick, but she had to keep him safe.
Entering the sitting room, Payton smiled. “What story are you hoping to get?”
Francine turned toward her, and her eyes went wide. “Excuse me?”
Hunter moved in behind her, and Payton was thankful for the strength he offered her in that moment. “You heard me. What story are you wanting to write? Are you after information about Hunter, me, Rick? What is it? I don’t have all day, and I’d rather you cut the crap with my friend.”
The timid little woman changed before her eyes. Francine drew her shoulders back. “I wanted to get the inside scoop on the new plus-size model. I wanted to know if you’re really confident about your curves, and what stories are true. If you’ve slept your way to the top, or if Rick helps you in that department.”
Rick stood from the sofa. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
Francine shrugged. “My boss wants the story, and when we saw your ad, it was perfect. Sorry, no hard feelings.”
“Get out,” Payton said. “I want you out of my house now.”
“That’s okay. I’ve gotten what I needed.”
“You print any story and I will have your career,” Hunter said. “You think long and hard about what you do next.”
“You think we’re not used to big corporations coming after us?”
“It’s not my corporation coming after you. It will be me.”
Francine paled, stumbling over her own feet.
In the next second she was gone.
“I cannot believe that! I liked her, and all this time she was just fucking using me.”
“The press will use any means necessary to get what they want. I’m surprised you didn’t get suspicious of her. Did you give any information away?” Hunter asked.
Payton stared at Rick, and saw the sadness in his eyes. “You told her about Bethany, about my promise.”
“I wanted her to like you, Payton. You’ve talked about Bethany before.”
“Yeah, she’s going to go and dig deeper. It’s okay. She’ll probably latch onto the fact I’m screwing Hunter Reynolds, and I’m currently working on Elise Hamilton’s latest shoot.” She rubbed at her brow. “I hate the press.”
“I’m going to go.”
“You are not. I’ve got dinner. She was the bitch. You’re still my BFF. Nothing will change that. Not even scheming bitch girlfriends.”
“Or boyfriends,” Rick said.
“You mean shitty boyfriends, not the good ones.” She looked toward Hunter.
Hunter held his hands up. “I know I’ve got to deal with you to be with her. Let’s call a truce. I’m not going to hurt her.”
“Payton, I’m going to need more than wine,” said Rick.
Chapter Eight
The first story arrived three days later. This was connected to Payton and Hunter being together, addressing the question of how far Payton would go to land the job, which he hated reading.
“This isn’t good. You know that,” Daryl said.
They were in his office while the entire shoot was downtown. They had rented out a local restaurant for the romantic scenes. Marcel was there and would be acting opposite Payton. Hunter didn’t like it, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
“It’s the press telling tales.”
“Yeah, and those tales are partly true. Not the part about her screwing you to get a hand up, but you are in a relationship.”
They had surpassed just sex, even though neither of them mentioned it.
“What do you suggest?” Hunter asked, leaning back in his chair. He wanted to call Payton. See how she was feeling. The article had made her sound like a whore, which really bothered him. The article online had links to several kiss-and-tell stories, all of them lies. Those men couldn’t even describe her naked.
“I suggest you be seen. You show that this isn’t some dirty little secret, and that a lot more is going on that her getting the job on her back.” Daryl held his cell phone up. “How about you help your cousin out? The romantic scenes are not working for the shoot, and there’s bitchiness being directed at Payton. Go down there. Offer to stand up, and do the job no one could.”
“I’m not a model.”
“Let Elise guide you. You’ve got feelings for Payton. Let them be seen. Don’t hide them from anyone.”
“You want me to encourage this?” Hunter asked.
“What I want, Hunter, is for you to see that this looks badly on you as well. If, however, it is shown as say … a love story, then it’s not so bad. Come on. Think about it. Rich billionaire falls for rising plus-size model. It’ll be good for her, and for you.” Daryl stood, and made his way toward the door. “I already called Elise. She’s expecting you to arrive.”
“I should fire you.”
“You’ll do that when you know I’m wrong about everything. Right now, you know I’m right. Do as you’re told.”
Hunter laughed, and then made his way downtown toward the restaurant. There was a line of press outside of the building, and he was able to get through. Cameras were flashing, questions fired his way. He didn’t like it, not one bit.
This life was something he never wanted.
Rick was there waiting for him.
“You made it,” he said.
“You saw the headlines?” Hunter asked.
“I saw them. Payton saw them. I apologized to her, and I’m doing the same to you.”
Hunter held his hand up. “I don’t want to hear it. We can handle this.”
“Payton was really upset,” Rick said, making him pause. “Usually she doesn’t care what gets written, but they’ve been pulling other stories, and sounding like a whore was never something she enjoyed.”
Hunter turned to Rick. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Unless you have no intention of ever walking away, you’re going to hurt her.” Rick stood before him. “She likes to talk the talk. You’re the first man that has ever gotten this far.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s had boyfriends in the past. When we were younger, she didn’t trust anyone because she was always bullied by kids. You know the kind of stuff. One guy hurt her, laughed at her, and since then, she struggles to trust easily. Still doesn’t. You’re the first guy she brought back to her place, and made part of her world.”
“She said it was all about sex.”
Rick laughed. “Take a good long look at Payton. She’s a forever kind of girl, and she tries to play in this world. The stuff that has been said to her. She’s ‘really pretty for a fat girl’. ‘Obese women are ruining the world.’ She needed someone strong enough to keep an eye on her.”
“She’s one of the most confident women I know.”
“Yeah, but even confident people constantly get chipped away at. She’s my best friend. I will take care of her.”
“Thank God, you’re here,” Elise said. “You are going to save this shoot. We have like an hour left, and I need to get this right. We have six outfits, and not enough time. Come on.”
Hunter was pulled into the restaurant. The windows were blacked out, and Payton was sitting there. The sadness on her face as she was alone really cut him deep.
Taking a seat in front of her, he took her hand. “Hey, beautiful,” he said.
“Hunter, you’re here.”
“It would seem they need an actual couple to make this romance real, and guess what, I’m right here,” he said.
“The papers—”
“Mean nothing. They’re assholes for printing shit like that. Let’s prove them wrong, shall we?”
The smile that she gave him made him fall just a little harder for her. Tears were glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can usually handle things a lot better than this.”
“Having a total bitch call you a whore, you can be granted this little stumble, but only here, only between us. Tonight when I take you to my place after we stop by for some food, you can cry on my shoulder, and we can curse all the press. We could stop by an occult shop, and buy a voodoo doll. Stick it with pins.”
She was already laughing, and the tears were gone, fading with every passing minute. This was what he wanted with Payton. To make her laugh, to be
the reason she smiled.
“I think Rick would like to join in with you. He liked Francine, and now he thinks he’ll never find a woman who will accept what he does.”
Hunter looked toward Elise, who was talking with Rick. “I don’t know. He’s probably looking too far away from home.”
She followed his gaze. “Elise?”
“Those two are getting on well. We could work something out. After all the work is done, and we’re free and clear. Set it up as a date.”
“I can’t believe we’re conspiring. You with your friend, and me with mine. Well, yours is family.”
“Elise won’t mind. Ever since she was a kid she has been designing clothes. I doubt she’s even gone on a date.” He kissed her hand, and smiled at her. “How has everything been?”
“It has been hard. Marcel won’t talk to me, and I can see that he’s not sure of my motives. Britney is fine. She has said that the press always gets the story wrong. Everyone else has just been ignoring me. Antonio hasn’t though, nor Elise and Rick. Without them I would have quit.”
“You don’t strike me as a quitter.”
“Being called a whore is the final straw for me.”
He didn’t get to say anything else as they were set up to shoot. Hunter was pulled away to get changed, and he liked the feel of the suit that he’d been asked to wear. Entering the main restaurant, he took a seat, and Antonio started shouting out instructions. Payton was lapping it up, and saw that he didn’t like being told what to do.
Once there were enough shots of one dress, they moved onto the next. Each one stationed at different points around the restaurant. There was one leaning against the bar, chatting, enjoying each other’s company. Another of him up close, holding her cheek as she smiled at him.
He felt part of her world, and wondered what other men thought. As far as he was concerned, he was fucking lucky seeing as he’d be the one to take her home at night. Once the set was finished, and they were done, he waited for Payton to finish changing and he stood outside of the restaurant just as Marcel was leaving.
“Don’t come back tomorrow,” Hunter said.
“Excuse me?”
“You want to treat my woman with disrespect, that’s fine. You won’t be doing it on my watch.”