Page 44 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
He steps toward me, takes a swig from the glass, then roughly wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t ever back down from a dare.”
His voice is a low growl that has me aching to push this playful moment even further. It’s clear he’s game for it.
“Okay. I dare you to pose nude in public.”
He’s full-on beaming, like he’s been waiting for me to say those words all day.
Eyes still on me, he takes another step toward me before taking a long pull from his glass. “Just name the time and place. I’m there.”
My throat’s gone dry and my skin is tingling at this ridiculous yet totally hot back-and-forth. I grab the glass from his hand and drain the rest of the water.
My chest heaves as I catch my breath. “Tonight. Ten o’clock. Wear something loose fitting that you can take off and throw back on quickly.”
Lewis licks his lips as he smirks. My entire body catches fire.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Twelve
Harper
It’s past eleven when I pull into the Marina District of San Francisco. I’m pumped when I see a free spot along Baker Street, right next to the park that houses the Palace of Fine Arts. I turn off the headlights before I even shift into Park. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, I peer around the darkened grassy area. No sign of people loitering around, just like I hoped.
“You going into spy mode?” Lewis chuckles from the passenger seat.
“Just trying to make sure the coast is clear.”
I glance over at him. He’s dressed in gray sweats, flip-flops, and a long-sleeve T-shirt—all items that are easy to throw on and off quickly, which is crucial for this stealthy photo shoot to work out.
I twist in my seat to face him. “You sure you’re okay with this? It’s fine if you want to back out.”
“Nope. Like I said before, I never back down from a dare. I’m pumped for this.”
Nerves and excitement have overridden our flirty vibe from earlier today. Now my main concern is getting some killer shots of Lewis without getting arrested for trespassing. Even though the park is technically closed at night and there’s no one around, we need to work quickly while also being as quiet as possible so that we’re not spotted.
“Okay, so, I was thinking we could do some shots of you in the middle of the actual palace structure. Some where you’re standing and then a couple where you’re sitting or leaning against the structure and mimicking the pose ofThe Thinker.”
“I like that.”
“I think we’ll be able to get some epic shots of you that would look amazing in the calendar. And since the Palace of Fine Arts is such an iconic San Francisco landmark, any fans and paparazzi who happen to see the photos will flock there, thinking that’s where you are, when you’ll actually be in Half Moon Bay.”
“Genius.”
I take a deep breath and grip my phone tight in my hand. “You ready?”
Lewis’s eyes sparkle. “I’m ready.”
Together we climb out of the car and shut our doors as quietly as we can. We walk side by side in total silence through the grass leading up to the Greco-Roman-style rotunda of the palace, which is the architectural focal point of the entire park.
When we reach the structure, I scan the surrounding area once more. A few cars drive along the street nearby, but they don’t seem to notice us in the dark.
My heart assumes a frenzied beat as I turn to Lewis, who’s already shed his clothes and is standing in the center of the rotunda. I quickly snap a dozen photos of him as he stands tall. Thankfully the nearby streetlights and the full moon above provide just the right amount of light to illuminate his form in the darkness.
“How’s this?” he whispers as he turns to give me an exquisite shot of his backside.
“Perfection.”
He leans against the gold-brown-hued structure and mimics theThinkerpose. I hold back a squeal. “This is dynamite, Lewis. People are gonna flip when they see—”
