Page 11 of The Billionaire's Ride

The sunlight shifts, dimming the glow in the room, and I snap the final shot. “That’s a wrap.” I immediately begin dismantling my camera.

“Really, that’s it? I feel like we were just getting started.” Kate blinks her eyes like she’s awakening from a trance.

“Did you want something more?” I ask, meeting her gaze.

“I . . . I just thought it would last longer.”

If only I could show her how long I can really last. But it’s over. At least for now. “Blame the light.” I nod toward the window.

She looks behind her at the sunny stream coming into the studio. “Oh, right.”

I slide back into my jacket, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and grab Kate’s satin robe hanging over the armrest of a nearby chair. It’s soft in my hands but not as soft as I imagine she is.

“Here,” I say, holding it open. She slips her arms inside the sleeves, and I lay the fabric gently on her shoulders. What a shame, covering her up like that.

“Thanks,” she says, sweeping her long, brown hair to the side. The robe’s still open, and she doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to close the curtain. Is she inviting me in?

“You’re welcome.” I take one last look at her stunning curves, those pink lips, and luminous eyes. “See you around, Kate,” I say in the base of my throat, then turn to leave.

Goodbye, my American beauty. I have a feeling we’ll meet again soon.

Chapter Five

KATE

Did he really just leave?After flicking off my bra strap? Breathing on my skin? What a tease! I grip the ends of the robe’s sash, tying it tightly around my waist. The studio door opens again, and my stomach tightens.

Is he back?

No, it’s just Francesca and some of the other crew members. I let out a heavy exhale, unsure if I’m relieved or disappointed.

“How’d it go?” Francesca asks.

“Great!” I flash her a quick smile and trot past her in my stilettos as fast as I can without toppling over.

Garret stands just outside the studio doors, looks up from his phone, and flicks his sharp eyebrows. “Alone with the hot photographer? Tell me everything.”

Ignoring his request, I peer over his shoulder. “Is he gone?”

Garret looks back down the hallway. “Yeah, that guy could not get out of here fast enough. Kind of like the way you left Nina’s party the other night.”

“Really?” I search Garret’s face for clues about what transpired between the moments that Drew left the studio and disappeared down the hallway.

A devilish grin spreads across his face. “Yeah. Did something happen in there? Something fun?” he asks, and I say nothing but my eyes go wide as if I’ve been caught. He lets out an excited gasp. “It did, didn’t it?”

I force an exhale through my nose, snatch his arm, and drag him to the dressing room with me.

Garret’s face lights up like the London Eye after dark. “Oh, my God! What happened in there?”

I say nothing until I’ve closed the door behind us. “Nothing happened. I thought he was going to make a move, but then he basically disappeared.”

“Hmm, I wonder where he got that idea from.” He purses his mouth, folding his arms with his phone still clutched in one hand.

“You think he was trying to get back at me?”

“Maybe.”

I bite my lip, thinking that if he’s being spiteful, it’s a dick move. “Can you turn around, please?”

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