Page 97 of Not Part of the Plan
“Emma,” Emma said, offering her hand.
“Nat.” She shook with efficiency if not effusive warmth. “I’ve known Nikolai a long time, and I’ve never heard the word ‘girlfriend’ cross his inhumanly sexy lips before.”
Emma laughed. “It’s new. Very new.”
“Well, this certainly explains his mysterious sabbatical,” Nat surmised. “I had to grovel for him to come back for this shoot.”
“He’s an amazing talent,” Emma said, watching him make small talk with Branka the model through her Slovenian translator.
“A bigger talent with much smaller asshole tendencies than my other options,” Nat said, consulting her phone. “How did you two meet?”
“He came into my restaurant while I was yelling at a supplier,” Emma reminisced.
Nat grinned. “So you’re not even a model?”
Emma shook her head. “Nope. Regular person, regular job.”
“I hope you’re wearing something fabulous tomorrow. You’re certainly braver than I am. Coming face-to-face with a long line of model ex-lovers?” Nat shuddered in mock horror. “I’d need a year of therapy to recover.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Emma said with flagging confidence. She hadn’t considered the possibility of facing down a bunch of gorgeous, perfect women who had all enjoyed naked Niko the way she was now. God, what if he took one look at her next to them and came to his senses?
Nat excused herself to make a call. And Emma was left alone with her panic over Niko. As if she’d called him by name, their gazes met across the space, and he cocked his head to the side, questioning. She gave him a weak smile.
Emma pulled out her phone. She needed her sisters.
Why did I not consider the consequences of meeting Niko’s model exes tonight???
Eva was the first to respond.What are you going to wear? Make sure it shows off your boobs. Models don’t have boobs. Not enough body fat.
Gia, the yoga instructor and mother of two young daughters, had a different take.Do not imagine yourself in some idiotic lady competition with them! Be confident in yourself and Niko’s feelings for you.
Eva chimed in again.G’s right on the girl power. I’m right about the boobs.
Emma’s lips quirked. She could always count on her sisters.Thanks for talking me down. I hate acting like an insecure teenager.
Just remember we’re all insecure teenagers on the inside,Gia responded sagely.
Beneath the pulsing beat of a hair band ballad, Niko got the shoot underway. Branka had been transformed into a high fashion model in a sleeveless silk jumpsuit in bone white and a delicate gold watch with an onyx face that cost more than a year’s rent for Emma’s L.A. townhouse. She pouted prettily on a floral divan against a white backdrop.
The shift from fresh-faced youth to made-up fashion model was startling to Emma. The girl didn’t look like the same person who had walked in in jeans and flip-flops. The woman before her was fierce and mysterious.
Niko, casual in jeans and a tee, orbited around her, giving instructions through her translator.
“Cheat your chin this way.”
“Tilt back. Back. Back. Perfect.”
“Elbows forward. More. Right there!”
He put her through her paces, and Nat looked pleased with the results she saw appearing on the portable monitor behind Niko.
After several minutes, Niko handed the camera over to an assistant, and wardrobe descended upon Branka, stripping her with the efficiency of a NASCAR pit crew and redressing her in a body clinging sheath dress in magenta. A stylist fashioned Branka’s dark hair in a bulbous bun at the base of her neck while the makeup artist touched up her lips.
In no time, Niko was shooting again, this time in front of the raw brick of an interior wall. He continued an endless stream of encouragements and instructions. Tiny, imperceptible movements made each image better than the next. Emma looked on in fascination.
While the images on screen looked perfectly fine to Emma, she sensed that Niko wasn’t pleased. He was taking longer and longer to review the shots before trying some new pose or outfit or backdrop.
Finally, he announced they were taking five and handed the camera over to his assistant. He gestured Nat over, and they put their heads together.
