Page 19 of Love Me Gently

His head tilted. “Do you? I would like a shot of you, softer than what we’ve taken, more natural. Would you mind unbuttoning your blouse for me?”

He must have registered my surprise because his finger disappeared and instead his hand settled on my shoulder. “Not nude, Trina. We’ll keep you covered. I’m looking for something a bit more mature, seductive, to show your range.”

Of course. It made sense. Models were photographed in almost nothing all the time anyway.

“It’s okay,” I said. “What would you like me to do?”

His grin softened, along with his eyes, and I allowed Robert to do the work.

He unbuttoned my top, spreading it open, but he stayed true to his word. My bra stayed on and covered. He brushed my hair over my chest and then pushed off a shoulder of my shirt, but the entire time he adjusted me, whispering quietly and softly, he stayed professional, working on keeping me calm and relaxed.

Billboards and magazine spreads. I repeated my goal in my mind. I was reaching for my dream, obviously it might mean showing more skin than just from the throat up.

“Beautiful,” Robert murmured, clicking away. He glanced at me occasionally and asked if I was okay, and with each nod, he seemed more pleased.

He was checking the back of the screen when I made a decision.

While he wasn’t looking at me, I dropped the rest of my top, and lifted my hair off my breast, letting it fall behind my shoulder.

His eyes jumped up at my movement, and his gaze settled on mine. “You okay?”

“Yes.” I readjusted my position in the chair and gazed back at him. “I’m okay with all of this.”

“Lovely.” With a quick nod, the camera was once again in front of his face. He took photo after photo of me, all from the waist up, some with my hair in front of my bra, some with it behind my shoulders. He moved close and tugged a bra strap off my shoulder and then stepped back and clicked away. And when he declared us done, there was only a professional gleam of approval shining on his face.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, once I was redressed. He held out my purse to me, and I slid it up my shoulder. “The camera loves you. I won’t make promises I can’t deliver on, but I can tell you I haven’t been this excited about working with a model in a very long time.”

“Thank you.” My voice went breathy again, surprised at his honest candor.

“I’d like to see you again next Friday. More photos, perhaps…even more natural?”

His eyebrows rose in question, one I quickly understood. I’d already made my decision. I was willing to do anything to reach my dreams.

I nodded. “Of course, that will be excellent. Same time?”

“Yes. I’ll see you back here, and if you have any questions in the meantime, please call me. Okay, Trina?”

“Okay Robert.”

“Wonderful.” He pressed his hand to my hip and leaned in. Brushing his lips over my cheek so quickly I almost wondered if I imagined it, he whispered, “You’ll be a star, Trina beautiful. I’ll make sure of it.”

His hand squeezed my hip, and he dropped his hand. Then he stepped back.

The moment was beautiful. Excitement and hope were drumming through my veins in unprecedented measure.

So I let him guide me back to the elevator, lean in and give me another kiss on the cheek, this time I returned one to his, and we said our goodbyes.

When I returned to my apartment with Stella, I was so over-the-top excited about my afternoon, we were almost late for our shift at the diner.

I was thrilled. Living on cloud nine.

Robert Madrid was going to make me a star.

I was certain of it.

Nine

Cole

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