Page 52 of Save Me
“This is not a negotiation.”
With a heavy sigh laced with irritation, she asks, “And what time can you work me into your schedule?”
“Talk to Miles, but we will make something work.” Henry leans in to whisper, but I’m within earshot to catch, “You are not taking off your clothes for another man unless I am there. You know the rules.”
I immerse myself in my lavender water while pretending I didn’t hear that last part. The rules? What does that mean? If Henry is there, his wife can strip for other men?
“Joel, have you met Sloane?” Abbi asks, gesturing to me. “She came with Ronan.”
“Just a quick hello when we sat down. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sloane.” My name in his accent is enchanting.
“Joel was our photographer at our wedding,” Abbi explains. “And the pictures he took are out of this world. I still look at them all the time.”
“I’ve seen them. I mean—” I stumble over my words, not wanting to come off sounding like a stalker. “—they were all over the internet.”
“Ugh.” Abbi rolls her eyes. “Yeah, the media wouldnot leave us alone for a while there. It’s gotten better, though. They’ve moved on to their next target.”
I know. I had endless material to pull from with those headlines while the paparazzi were in a feeding frenzy. And now I realize who I’m sitting next to—Joel the photographer, aka the pervert who takes intimate pictures of women mid-orgasm. My cheeks flush as I make the connection. Okay, maybe it’s not so odd or controlling that Henry isn’t keen on leaving his pregnant wife alone withthis guy.
“It seems I have time in the morning for a shoot,” Joel purrs in my ear. “What do you say?”
“Me?” I squeak.
“Oui. I am always looking for a model and this face … This body…” His gaze dips down into my cleavage.
“Uh … I don’t know how to pose.” That’s the truth. I see all these girls in their bikinis at Starfish Beach, arching their backs, sucking in their cheeks, and all I can think of is how ridiculous they all look.
“It is no effort at all. Well, no effort for you. I do all the work.” He winks.
Oh my God. Is he hitting on me?
I try to catch Ronan’s attention, but he and Margo are deep in conversation. I wish I could hear what they’re discussing, but the buzz of voices is too loud.
“Sorry, I’m working tomorrow. Maybe another time.” As in never o’clock.
“For your first course.” A male server appears over my shoulder, holding a bottle of white. Thankfully, it forces Joel out of my personal space. “A Chenin Blanc, its blendof fruit and nuttiness a perfect complement to the blue cheese and pear.”
Before I can deny the offer, he’s filling my wineglass.
“None for me, obviously.” Abbi holds her manicured hand over the glass. Something I should have done.
“That’s okay, we have a lovely nonalcoholic for you.” Another server appears to fill her glass, smiling at her as he pours.
“Abigail, you will be coming to the grand opening of the chateau, oui?” Margo asks as a third server comes around to pour red wine into her glass, as well as Henry’s and Ronan’s.
“Probably not. The baby will only be a few months old.” Abbi rests a hand on her belly. She touches it a lot, I’ve noticed. I guess that’s a normal thing that all pregnant women do? Will I end up doing that?
“You must! It is my crowning achievement!” Margo drapes her arm over the back of Ronan’s chair as she leans in. It’s very intimate and personal. “Henry, I insist that Abigail comes. How can we open the Wolf Chateau without you both there?”
“We’ll see how things go.” Henry swirls the freshly poured red wine around in his glass. “But I promise I’ll be there.”
Her bottom lip curves downward in a pout.
“Margo and Henry are opening a boutique Wolf hotel in Margo’s family castle in France,” Abbi explains without me needing to ask. “The first of its kind for the hotel chain.”
“That sounds exciting.” Another friend of his opening a hotel.
The supermodel pauses to assess me. “You should visit too.”
