Page 2 of Picture Perfect
“Yeah, I guess I did. The only problem is… now I’m out of a job. I have rent to pay. Bills. If I don’t figure something out soon, I’ll have to move back in with my parents. And that’s the last thing I want to do. I'm twenty-three years old, dammit! I want to be independent. I want to live life in the city and have tons of fun and leave a huge mess in the kitchen when I can't be bothered to clean up without worrying if my mom's going to go bananas when she sees it.”
Cupid scratches the stubble on his perfectly chiseled chin. Someone orders drinks. He serves them to him mechanically. Like he doesn’t even have to think about what he’s doing, and his hands and his feet just act on their own accord.
Once he’s given the customers their change, he comes back over to me and there’s a playful glint in his eye.
“I have an idea,” he says.
I look at my drink. It’s almost empty. “I don’t think I can handle another mojito, Cupid. I don’t usually drink this much.”
“No, silly,” he says. “I mean… I have an idea about your work situation.”
I rest my head in my hands. It had been nearly three minutes since I thought about the total, devastating mess that is now my life. “Oh, God. What am I going to do?”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Hazel! I have a friend. He’s looking for an assistant.”
“Is he a creep?” I ask.
“No,” Cupid says. “He’s amazing. You’re absolutely going to love him.”
“Love him?” I say. “I don’t want to love him. I just want to have a nice normal job where your boss doesn’t hit on you and fire you and ruin your life. Is that too much to ask?
“Trust me, Hazel.” A business card appears in his hand as if by magic. He passes it to me as I look into his violet eyes. The card is scented. Flowers and oak and something else that makes my tummy flutter and my lady parts tingle. I feel like a cobra sitting in front of a snake charmer. This is either going to be the best decision of my life, or the worst. Only time will tell. “You’re going to love him, Hazel,” he says. “He’s perfect for you. Now, hurry home. The job starts tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”
2
Chase
I checkmy watch for about the millionth time.
She’s late.
Cupid said she would be here at seven. It’s quarter after seven now. I have to be at the photoshoot soon and the traffic is terrible. I’m going to be late. It could really fuck things up with my new client.
An Uber pulls up at the curb. I put my hands on my hips. I’m ready to tell this woman to go to hell. I was doing Cupid a favor hiring her sight unseen. I should have known better. I barely even know Cupid. There's just something about him that made me trust him. Made me think I was doing the right thing.
“About time!”
The car door flings open. I step forward ready to give her a piece of my mind.
Hazel steps out onto the sidewalk. My heart leaps up in my throat and almost chokes me to death.
I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful before. And I’m a professional photographer.
“I’m so sorry, Chase,” she says. “My car broke down. I had to call an Uber.”
I look her up and down. I don’t even care if she knows I’m checking her out. This woman is fine with a capital F.
“Your car broke down?” I say. “You really expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth!”
She pulls her phone out of her handbag. Quickly, she unlocks it and shows me a picture of her… on the side of the road… standing next to a car that looks more like it’s on fire than broken down.
“Damn,” I say. “I thought you meant you got a flat tire or something.”
She puts her phone back in her bag. I can’t help but look at her big ass, boobs, and her thick, pink lips. Hazel is everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a woman. I love them short and curvy. Just looking at her is making my length hard.
“I guess I’m on a bit of an unlucky streak,” she says.
