“This is our photographer, Pilar De Luca, and I’m sure you’re familiar with Ms. Farris.”
“Actually, I’m not,” Rhett says.
His words are a bit too cool for my liking, and I nudge him in the ribs. He glares down at me, and I do my best to give him a be nice look, which he must understand because his shoulders relax, and he plasters on that panty-dropping smile I know and love.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Molly’s crimson red lips part in a coy smile as she takes his offered hand. Her slender fingers wrap around his, and a twinge of jealousy forces me to look away.
Clearing my throat, I turn to Jessica. “We’ve got the horses ready to go. There are some old, distressed fence posts along the ridge as well as a red, wooden barn. Everything up here toward the front of the ranch is going to be modern and updated.”
Pilar’s eyes light up as he looks around, taking in all the beauty that is Allen Family Ranch. Around us, several people start setting up along the edge of the barn. A woman steps up to Rhett with a tape measure. He takes a hasty step back when she lowers herself between his legs.
“Hold still, honey,” she instructs. “I won’t bite.”
Trevor steps out of the barn, a bale of straw balanced on his shoulder. He stops to look at Rhett, grins, and walks away.
Rhett doesn’t look at all amused. He flips his brother the bird, but gives the woman room to do her job.
After a moment she looks up at Pilar. “32-34.” She studies Rhett’s face.
He hasn’t shaved for a couple of days, so he’s sporting a scruffy jaw, which is what I assume she’s looking at.
“His beard growth is a little thick,” she says. “Would you like me to shave it?”
Pilar shakes his head. “No. I want him edgy and raw. What’s a handsome cowboy without some scruff?” he says, winking at the woman.
Jessica turns toward Rhett and Molly. “For the fall campaign, we’re looking for something sweet, but sexy, and we need hot, raw chemistry.”
“I’m not sure our man is going to deliver,” Pilar muses.
I follow his gaze to Rhett and Molly a few feet away.
“That won’t be a problem,” Molly hollers. She’s all smiles and hands, chatting Rhett up, and he looks seconds away from growling.
“He’ll loosen up,” I assure them. “I’ll talk to him before you start.”
“Perfect.” Pilar nods. “Let’s get them into wardrobe and head out to the red barn. We can start there.”
Thanks to Rhett’s dad, we have the Gators to haul everything to the location, although walking wouldn’t be bad. It’s only a half mile out. Once they’ve loaded up the clothes and equipment, everyone else piles into their vehicles—everyone but Rhett and me. We head for Shadow and Sadie, who are saddled up and waiting in the pasture.
Rhett and I mount the horses, and that’s when I see Molly whisper something to Jessica and climb out of the Gator. With her hands in her pockets and a sexy little smile that makes me uneasy, she approaches Rhett.
“Mind if I ride with you? I’ve never been on a horse before.”
Rhett’s stares at her, totally indifferent, and then cuts me a look. Rolling my eyes, I give Shadow a little kick and take off through the field, allowing him to make the call. It’s a bitch move, considering I promised I’d be fine watching the two of them and said I was here to help, but I wasn’t expecting her to look at him as if he were a piece of meat she wanted to consume.
He’s my piece of meat, dammit, and it’s that thought that has me looking over my shoulder. Rhett is only a few paces behind me, and the knot in my stomach loosens when I see that he’s alone. He smiles, winks, and flies past me, along with a Gator carrying an annoyed-looking Molly Farris.
I slow Shadow to a walk so I can take a second to clear my head. Being a supportive girlfriend is important to me, and I can’t let the green monster inside rear his ugly head again—not if I want Rhett to relax and cooperate for his shoot.
By the time I make it to the barn, the crew is nearly finished setting up. Rhett and Molly are getting their clothing, and each walks off to get changed—Rhett in the barn, and Molly behind a set-up dressing curtain off the side of the van.
When everyone is ready to go and the makeup artist has swept her brush along their faces, erasing any imperfections, Pilar starts barking orders.
> I stand back, not wanting to get in the way, and watch everything unfold.
“Rhett, up against the fence. Yes, that’s good. Prop your boot on the rung and drape your arm along the fence.”