Take Me To The Beach

by K. L. Grayson, Karina Halle, A. L. Jackson, Marni Mann, Monica Murphy, Devney Perry, Kristen Proby, Rachel Van Dyken

  “Babe. At least let me get you naked if we’re going to talk about hard limits.”

  I roll my eyes, unable to suppress a smile. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do.” He curls his hand around my neck, presses his lips to my forehead, and lingers there a few seconds. “And you’re my who, Mo. Always have been.”

  “You can’t say that to me right before I leave.”

  “I can’t let you leave without saying it.” He presses a kiss to my lips.

  Monroe

  As promised, that following Wednesday, Rhett and I pull up to his family’s ranch at ten sharp. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make the shoot, but I put out an emergency call to my volunteers and one of them picked up the rest of the day for me.

  Thirty minutes later, two vans roll up, followed by a sleek silver BMW. A slew of people pile out of the vans and begin unloading: lighting, cameras, clothing racks, jeans, jeans, and more jeans, and every shade of flannel shirt known to man.

  “Do you have to wear all of that?” I whisper.

  “God, I hope not. It’s hot as hell out here today. They better pick an outfit and stick with it.” Rhett pulls off his Stetson, wipes the sweat from his forehead, and puts it back on. “We’re still good to go to Houston on Friday?”

  “Yup. What time is your appointment?”

  “Two o’clock.”

  I smile to myself, because I’m keeping a secret—a surprise of sorts—and I can’t wait to tell him. But not today.

  I bite my tongue, and we watch patiently as two women and a man climb out of the BMW. One I instantly peg as Jessica. She’s tall, lean, and dressed in a slate gray pencil skirt with matching pumps and white silk blouse. Her hair is pulled back in a bun at the nape of her neck, and she looks every bit the business woman. I’m assuming the man is the director or photographer, and last but not least…

  “That must be Molly.”

  She’s blond and blue-eyed with a tan that rivals Rhett’s. Together they’ll look amazing.

  Rhett grunts, but doesn’t say much more than that. I already know he hates that he has to pose with someone he doesn’t know. He hates it even more that I’m here watching.

  “It’s fine, Rhett. I’m fine. You’re making this into so much more than it needs to be.”

  We’ve come a long way since our who conversation. Both of us know what we want and what we’re working for, and it’s an amazing feeling. He and I have also alternated having dinner at each other’s houses since then. Some nights we eat with his family, other nights with my dad and Sharon, and it was over a plate of steak and potatoes last Sunday that he tried to talk me out of coming to the shoot.

  It seems he’s about to try again.

  His eyes narrow on mine. “We’ve gone over this, Mo. I don’t think you should be here. This is where shit gets screwed up in relationships. I’ve had several buddies lose their girl because she couldn’t handle seeing him wrapped around another woman.”

  “First, I’m not just any girl. Second, I trust you. And third, I’m going to see the ad eventually anyway. This is a photo shoot. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s not like you’re going to take her home when it’s all said and done.” I pause. “Right?”

  He scrunches his nose. “Hell no.”

  I push up on my toes and kiss his cheek. “And that’s why I trust you. Relax. You look way too uptight. I’m here because I want to help.”

  Jessica approaches us, her eyes warm and friendly.

  “You must be Monroe,” she says, embracing me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She turns to Rhett. “And how are you?” She pulls him in for a hug and air kisses both of his cheeks.

  He rolls his eyes as she steps back.

  “This is our photographer, Pilar De Luca, and I’m sure you’re familiar with Ms. Farris.”

  “Actually, I’m not,” Rhett says.

  His words are a bit too cool for my liking, and I nudge him in the ribs. He glares down at me, and I do my best to give him a be nice look, which he must understand because his shoulders relax, and he plasters on that panty-dropping smile I know and love.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Molly’s crimson red lips part in a coy smile as she takes his offered hand. Her slender fingers wrap around his, and a twinge of jealousy forces me to look away.

  Clearing my throat, I turn to Jessica. “We’ve got the horses ready to go. There are some old, distressed fence posts along the ridge as well as a red, wooden barn. Everything up here toward the front of the ranch is going to be modern and updated.”

  Pilar’s eyes light up as he looks around, taking in all the beauty that is Allen Family Ranch. Around us, several people start setting up along the edge of the barn. A woman steps up to Rhett with a tape measure. He takes a hasty step back when she lowers herself between his legs.

  “Hold still, honey,” she instructs. “I won’t bite.”

  Trevor steps out of the barn, a bale of straw balanced on his shoulder. He stops to look at Rhett, grins, and walks away.

  Rhett doesn’t look at all amused. He flips his brother the bird, but gives the woman room to do her job.

  After a moment she looks up at Pilar. “32-34.” She studies Rhett’s face.

  He hasn’t shaved for a couple of days, so he’s sporting a scruffy jaw, which is what I assume she’s looking at.

  “His beard growth is a little thick,” she says. “Would you like me to shave it?”

  Pilar shakes his head. “No. I want him edgy and raw. What’s a handsome cowboy without some scruff?” he says, winking at the woman.

  Jessica turns toward Rhett and Molly. “For the fall campaign, we’re looking for something sweet, but sexy, and we need hot, raw chemistry.”

  “I’m not sure our man is going to deliver,” Pilar muses.

  I follow his gaze to Rhett and Molly a few feet away.

  “That won’t be a problem,” Molly hollers. She’s all smiles and hands, chatting Rhett up, and he looks seconds away from growling.

  “He’ll loosen up,” I assure them. “I’ll talk to him before you start.”

  “Perfect.” Pilar nods. “Let’s get them into wardrobe and head out to the red barn. We can start there.”

  Thanks to Rhett’s dad, we have the Gators to haul everything to the location, although walking wouldn’t be bad. It’s only a half mile out. Once they’ve loaded up the clothes and equipment, everyone else piles into their vehicles—everyone but Rhett and me. We head for Shadow and Sadie, who are saddled up and waiting in the pasture.

  Rhett and I mount the horses, and that’s when I see Molly whisper something to Jessica and climb out of the Gator. With her hands in her pockets and a sexy little smile that makes me uneasy, she approaches Rhett.

  “Mind if I ride with you? I’ve never been on a horse before.”

  Rhett’s stares at her, totally indifferent, and then cuts me a look. Rolling my eyes, I give Shadow a little kick and take off through the field, allowing him to make the call. It’s a bitch move, considering I promised I’d be fine watching the two of them and said I was here to help, but I wasn’t expecting her to look at him as if he were a piece of meat she wanted to consume.

  He’s my piece of meat, dammit, and it’s that thought that has me looking over my shoulder. Rhett is only a few paces behind me, and the knot in my stomach loosens when I see that he’s alone. He smiles, winks, and flies past me, along with a Gator carrying an annoyed-looking Molly Farris.

  I slow Shadow to a walk so I can take a second to clear my head. Being a supportive girlfriend is important to me, and I can’t let the green monster inside rear his ugly head again—not if I want Rhett to relax and cooperate for his shoot.

  By the time I make it to the barn, the crew is nearly finished setting up. Rhett and Molly are getting their clothing, and each walks off to get changed—Rhett in the barn, and Molly behind a set-up dressing curtain off the side of the van.

  When everyone is ready to go and the makeup artist
has swept her brush along their faces, erasing any imperfections, Pilar starts barking orders.

  I stand back, not wanting to get in the way, and watch everything unfold.

  “Rhett, up against the fence. Yes, that’s good. Prop your boot on the rung and drape your arm along the fence.”

  Rhett follows Pilar’s commands to a T, and when he’s situated just perfectly, with his Stetson pulled low, Pilar turns to Molly. So do I, and holy shit.

  My jaw nearly hits the dirt. How they transformed her into a cowgirl goddess in such a short amount of time, I’ll never know. She’s wearing a pair of faded jeans that hang low on her hips and a flannel shirt tied below her breasts, showing off her tiny little waist. Her hair is in a loose braid hanging over one shoulder, and her Ariats are scuffed to perfection—although I’d bet just about anything she had nothing to do with that.

  And it’s settled: I hate her.

  Pinching at the roll that hangs over my jeans, I frown. Okay, I don’t hate her as much as I do myself for letting my own health go. Frustrated, I focus my attention on Rhett.

  “Molly, I want you to start over there and slowly walk toward Rhett. Rhett, when she hits this post, your gaze is going to slide up her body. I want to see chemistry. I want to see the connection. You’re the cowboy, and she’s the bull you’re about to mount,” he says, using a terribly inappropriate analogy, if I do say so myself. “You two stare at each other. It’s intense, and after a few seconds, you push away from the fence and walk toward her. That’s where we’ll cut.”

  Rhett’s face tightens, but he nods his understanding.

  I know from a previous conversation with Jessica that the campaign is going to be a series of short videos spliced together. It’ll start with this scene, followed by a shot of the two of them coming together, most likely in a heated kiss, and end—of course—with them riding off into the sunset.

  “Places, people,” Pilar yells.

  Rhett and Molly take their places, and Jessica tugs me behind the video camera so we can watch the take. Pilar yells action, and Molly saunters into the frame. Her hips sway seductively, her heated gaze trained on Rhett, and when she hits the designated spot, she stops.

  I hold my breath, watching as Rhett’s head slowly rises, his eyes sweeping up her body—only the heat she’s projecting isn’t reflected at all on his face.

  “Stop! Stop, stop, stop.” Pilar throws his hands in the air.

  “Damn,” Jessica hisses. “Not even a spark.”

  “How do you know?” I whisper. “Maybe he just needs a second to adjust.”

  She shakes her head. “Trust me, I know. I’ve been around the business long enough. Some people have it and others don’t.”

  “Now what?” I ask, secretly glad Rhett doesn’t have a spark with someone else.

  “We’ll make it work. They’re both too gorgeous not to feel something.” She closes her eyes as soon as the words pass her lips and looks over at me. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure—”

  I hold up my hand to stop her. “It’s okay. I understand, and I trust Rhett completely.”

  She pinches her lips together and nods before turning to watch Pilar. He’s talking with Rhett, and when he steps away and calls action, everything starts into motion again.

  This process is repeated over and over again until frustrated, Pilar turns to Jessica. “We need to take a break, and you need to talk to him. Her tits are perfect, she’s sexy as hell, and there’s no reason for him not to feel some iota of attraction.”

  Jessica turns a pleading look my way. “Could you talk to him, please? Try to get him to come around.”

  “Sure.” Let me convince my boyfriend to drool over another woman. That’s exactly what I want to do today.

  As I approach, Rhett’s hands are jammed into his pockets, a scowl marring his face.

  “Some women may be scared of that scowl, but it sort of turns me on. I suggest you remove it from your face before I force you to have sex with me in the hayloft.”

  His jaw slackens, the tight line of his lips curving up into a smile. “You wouldn’t have to force, darlin’. I’d be a willing participant.”

  My cheeks flush. I slide my hands up his flannel shirt, unbuttoning the top few buttons as I go because he looks way too uncomfortable. “Maybe if you’re good and do what Pilar asks of you, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “In the hayloft?”

  “Anywhere you want.”

  “How about any way I want?”

  Rhett’s words wrap around me, caressing my body like a feather.

  He takes a step closer, crowding me against the fence. “There are parts of you I’ve yet to explore.”

  Oh, God. I know exactly what parts he’s talking about. It’s uncharted territory, but something I’d be willing to give him.

  “My body is your playground,” I whisper, nipping at his earlobe.

  A low rumble emanates from his chest as he presses his thigh between my legs. My nipples pucker tight, my panties growing increasingly damp, and I’m seconds away from begging him to take me now, onlookers be damned.

  “Don’t. Move,” Pilar commands.

  Rhett moans as he presses his face against the side of my neck. I wrap my arms around him, embarrassed that we got caught in an intimate moment.

  “You.” Pilar points to me. “What size jeans do you wear?”

  “Uh…” I point to myself because surely he isn’t talking to me. “Me?”

  Pilar huffs and rolls his eyes. “Yes, you. Jean size.”

  “Eight, depending on the brand,” I reply before whispering to Rhett. “What does he want my jean size for?”

  “Not a clue. I just want this day to be over.” He pulls his head out of my neck, and I shiver at the loss of him pressed against me.

  Pilar claps his hands, catching everyone’s attention. “Change of plans, people. Molly is out; Monroe is in.”

  “What?” I say.

  Molly gasps. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She plants her hands on her hips and marches toward Pilar.

  “I need heat, pure sexual chemistry, and those two have it,” he says, waving toward us. “Jessica, please tell me you saw that.”

  Her red cheeks and grin tell me she saw exactly what transpiring between Rhett and me. “Oh, I saw it, and I agree.”

  “No.” I push away from Rhett, but he grabs my wrist, pulling me back in. “I’m not a model. I have no clue how this stuff works. Rhett can make it work with Molly. Can’t you?” I turn a pleading look his way.

  He shakes his head. “I think they’re right. I am insanely attracted you, and if that’s what they’re looking for, you’re perfect for this.”

  “This is crazy.” My throat closes, making it difficult to breathe, let alone argue my point.

  Rhett runs a soothing hand down my spine, and the giant smile on his face tells me he’s more than thrilled with the changes.

  Jessica motions toward the woman who measured Rhett. “Get her into wardrobe, please. Something similar to what Molly is wearing.”

  My eyes widen. “Hell no,” I protest. “There’s no way I’m showing my stomach like that.”

  Pilar waves me off. “You’re gorgeous.”

  Before I have a chance to respond or argue any more, I’m hauled off to the makeshift changing room Molly was using moments ago.

  “Molly looks pissed,” I whisper to Jessica as she peeks her head around the corner. I don’t even bother to cover up my chest, mostly because I don’t have time to react.

  She tosses a shirt at me. “She’ll get over it. Plus, she’s still getting paid, so…” She shrugs. “And we’ll pay you too; so don’t worry.”

  “Oh no.” I shake my head. “I don’t need to get paid.”

  Her face goes blank. “I think you’re the first model to ever tell me that. I won’t hold you to it.”

  “I’m not a model.” What don’t these people understand about that?

  “You are now.”

  Rhe
tt

  Monroe walks around the corner in a pair of faded jeans, a red and white plaid shirt similar to the one Molly had on, and her favorite Ariats. Her hair isn’t in a braid; it’s falling down her shoulder in loose curls, casting a shadow across her face. She looks like she’s seconds away from ripping out someone’s throat if they so much as lay another finger on her.

  “You look beautiful.” I wrap my hand around her hip and kiss her. “Not that you don’t always look beautiful, because you do.”

  She smiles. “Nice save.”

  “I’m not used to seeing you with makeup.”

  “That’s because this stuff is the devil,” she sneers. “If you pick at the edges, you could probably peel a layer off my face.”

  I laugh and pull her in for another kiss. “You know what I love most?” I whisper.

  “What’s that?”

  “Those red lips. When this place clears out, I want them wrapped around my cock.”

  Her eyes glow as Pilar yells, “Let’s take our places. Monroe, do you remember what you’re supposed to do?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She waves and takes Molly’s spot by the fence. I have no idea what happened to Molly, and frankly, I don’t give a shit, because I’ve only got eyes for one woman.

  “Action!” Pilar yells.

  “Wait.”

  Pilar sighs. “What’s wrong, Monroe?”

  “Shouldn’t we practice or something so I can make sure I get it right?”

  “No, we shouldn’t. I want this to look natural and unrehearsed.”

  “Fine. Okay, I’m ready,” Monroe declares.

  Pilar yells action again, and everyone around us goes quiet as I look down at my boots. I can’t see Monroe, but I can feel her—I can feel her eyes on me, her body drawing mine in like a magnet. The strawberry scent I know and love floats through the air, making my mouth water. I don’t wait for her to hit a certain fence post before I look up. Instead, I look up when I can’t take it anymore, when my body screams with the need to see her and touch her.