LET ‘EM BREATHE
“What the hell is going on?”
I arrived fifteen minutes late for the photoshoot. One. Five. Yet, the back of Edward and Rose’s barn had already transformed into a full-on photoshoot. There were lights and computer equipment and plenty of people milling about, giggling between whispers.
“You’re late,” Amanda said, charging through the crowd and grabbing my arm.
“Fifteen minutes.”
“If you’re not five minutes early, you’re ten minutes late.” This was coming from a woman who hadn’t been on time for her own birth. If any of us were labeled chronically behind schedule, it’d be Amanda. Seeing the people holding reflectors and the woman behind the camera, I realized letting her boss us around had been the right move.
“How did you… Who are all these people?”
“Hi.” Amanda let go of me and cozied up next to a stunning woman. Legs that long should have been illegal. My girl had game, but nowhere near enough to snatch this ebony queen. I blinked repeatedly, trying to process. “You were right. You broke him.”
“Jon, meet Tessa. She’s Chris’s agent.” That made more sense. However, the way Amanda’s hand drifted south of the border, there must be more to the story. “She came into town to talk with him about our movie. I might have asked a favor or two.”
“She promised she’d leave our writers alone if I helped.”
“We both know she lied,” I said.
If Amanda touching her butt wasn’t enough, it was the knowing glance through Tessa’s round frames that hinted at more. Was this why Amanda had been ten percent less aggressive at Spectrum? Be still my heart.
“We do,” she said.
Amanda’s nose scrunched up. “Hey!”
“When Chris mentioned this, I couldn’t believe my ears. He’s so modest that he has a body double stand-in for nipple shots. The media is going to eat up this goodwill. Anyway, feel free to use my people. I hired them out for the day.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a slight wave before she walked out of the barn like she had a jet waiting outside. “Amanda… what happened to our low-key production?”
“Low-key doesn’t make it rain.”
She returned to holding my arm, leading me through the crowd. I spotted some of our models with Bobby,moving backgrounds. Everybody had outdone themselves. Mimi always said when somebody in Firefly needed help, the town showed up. Their help with Jason’s convention and Chris’s middle school production had been cute. This was a town-sized scandal in the making.
“Is that a buffet over there?”
“Quilting guild. When Gloria heard Chris was getting naked, she basically hurled baked goods at me.”
We reached the front, and Amanda climbed on top of a hay bale. “Listen up.” Oh no, she had that tone. “There are a lot of moving parts today. We get one shot at making this happen.”
When nobody turned toward her, she whistled loud enough that I winced. Amanda shouted over the three dozen members of Firefly. I expected her to— “Anybody get in my way, and I’ll have this sexy man—” She pointed at me… then gestured for me to step back. Oh. She meant Chris. “Will remove you.”
I was nowhere as commanding as her. Sure, I spoke up at staff meetings and voiced my opinion, but I wouldn’t risk making little old ladies cry. She tapped her foot as the crowd grew closer. I hated to admit it, but with her at the helm, this would go off without a hitch.
“Okay, ladies. Our gentlemen are about to whip it out to save the library. There will be no touching.” She pointed from her eyes to who I suspected might be Gloria. “When we’re done with the photos, we’ll need our robust—” Oh look, no air quotes for once. “—men to meet with Gail for a post-sausage revealing interview.”
On the far side of the barn, I spotted a woman in a turtle neck and blazer. Behind her, a man had a video camera on his shoulder. It had been one thing to get naked in front of the other guys. Amanda had seen me in the buff more times than either of us ever wanted to admit. No problem. The women of Firefly? I could feel myself shrinking… both me and my penis. A reporter was going to see it all?
I closed my eyes and thought of the smile on Tyler’s face. No, right now, I needed the look in his eyes as he held me against the bathroom wall. There we go. No more shrinking.
“Do we have any questions?”
Gloria raised her hand.
“No, Gloria. They don’t need a fluffer. We’re making a calendar, not porn.”
The frown on Gloria’s face made me chuckle. It seemed as if one of our men had themselves an admirer. I craned my head, looking past the crowd. While the locals blushed, giggling at the impending nudity, I focused on a single face.
