Page 25 of The Model

“Not from Moscow, I think she got on in Amsterdam,” I shrugged the shoulder without my bag on it. “I didn’t see her on the flight.”

She turned to the van and narrowed her eyes at Lana, who was peering through the window at us.

“Okay.” I started to pull Lexie away. I didn’t really understand her disdain for Lana, and while she was normally professional, I had a feeling she might lose her shit on Lana if she provoked her in even the slightest way. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Parker made some confused noise as we walked off. When we were out of earshot, I asked, “You want to tell me what that was about?”

“The way she uses everyone within a ten-mile radius drives me nuts. Parker was sitting there for two hours waiting for her.” She shook her head, her mouth in a thin line. “I have no doubt it was her idea. She’s known to try to sleep her way to the top, and since she can’t have sex with me, she doesn’t hide how shitty of a person she is around me.”

I remembered when I first met them both in Lexie’s studio, and Lexie thought I wanted to have sex with Lana. I knew that if I had fallen prey to Lana, I wouldn’t have my blue-haired girl by my side now, and I’d never been more thankful.

“Do you really have reservations somewhere?” She’d only been in Rio since early this morning.

She stopped us by an old Jeep. “No, but there was no way in hell I was going to eat dinner with them. I’d rather stab my eyeballs out than eat with Lana.”

I chuckled to myself. “Is this your rental car?”

“Yep, get in because I really am hungry. I fell asleep when I checked in and haven’t eaten all day. I figured we can eat at the hotel tonight unless there’s someplace you want to go.”

“That’s fine. I’m sure they can make me some chicken and vegetables.”

She groaned. “That’s got to be hella boring.”

“It does get old sometimes, but I splurge every once in a while. I plan on eating whatever I want in December when I take time off.” I couldn’t wait to eat my mom’s zucchini muffins and her sesame noodles. “Are you regretting coming now that you know Lana’s here?”

“She may not be my favorite person, but I’ll live. At least I don’t have to work with her.” She started up the Jeep and pulled out of the parking space.

“Were you surprised that she said you’re one of the best photographers?” I certainly was.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say something so nice and have it come out of their mouth like an insult.”

“I thought the same thing.” I had to laugh at that. Reaching over, I grabbed her hand and placed it on my thigh. “I’m glad you’re here.” Giving her hand a squeeze, I asked. “Tell me, are you okay?” I was worried about her after what Raine told me on the phone and seeing her neck.

“It’s nice to be away. There’s no way Ben’s going to find me here, and I get to sit on the beach, relax, and look at your pretty…” Her gaze raked over me from head to toe. Her eyes darkening with each inch she took in. “All of you is gorgeous. Inside and out.”

If she kept looking at me the way she was, I was going to jump her the second we got out of the Jeep. The problem was, I didn’t think she’d try to stop me. It would be my luck to get arrested for indecent exposure or worse my first night here. Needing to change the subject, I asked, “Have you talked to Raine to find out if anything’s happened?”

She shook her head, and her voice took on an uneven tone. “No, after she dropped me off at the airport, she was heading out of town. I don’t want her to get hurt in case Ben followed her home one night and finds out where she lives.” Looking over at me, she frowned. “This all still seems like a dream until I see myself in the mirror, or I accidentally touch my neck.” Her hand rose as if she was going to touch the cut but thought better of it.

Pulling up to the hotel, I could smell the saltwater in the air as I took everything in. It was dark so I couldn’t tell much, but I knew the hotel was much nicer than the place the agency had booked.

Hopping out of the car, Lexie handed her keys to the valet and came around to my side. Slipping her hand through my arm, she pointed to my bag. “Can you have that taken up to my room? We’re going to go eat in the restaurant and don’t want to lug it around.”

“Of course, Ms. Keene. I’ll happily place it in your room.” The short, stocky valet slipped my bag from my shoulder and placed it over his own.

“Perfect.” She handed over a tip and pulled us inside the hotel in the direction of the restaurant. “Under normal circumstances, I would order room service, but I know we both need food, and I also know the second we step foot inside our room, our clothes are going to come off, and all thoughts of food will be forgotten.”

“Do you take me for someone who’s easy to get into bed?”

The hostess gave us the side-eye, and both Lexie and I clutched onto each other as we burst out laughing.

“Are you telling me differently? Is it normally hard for women to seduce you into their beds?”

The topic made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t want Lexie to think I was a manwhore. I knew the stigma that came along with looking the way I looked, but I was the furthest thing from it. The way we hooked up the first time probably didn’t help her opinion of me either. There was something about the woman on my arm that made my primal needs take over. I was inexplicably drawn to her.

After the hostess showed us to our table that looked out onto the dark ocean waters, I cleared my throat, ready to confess when a young waiter came to take our drink order.

“Is the water here safe to drink?” I whispered across the table to Lexie.

She turned to the waiter and asked. “Is your water filtered?”

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