Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (6 page)

A knock at the door ends the tension. “Hello? Anybody home?” Emily comes around the corner with a surprised look. “Do not do those shots without me.”

Zoey looks over at Emily and grabs another shot glass. “Perfect timing, I was just going to suggest that Stella take your place with Ty on a part time status.”

Emily jumps into Ty’s lap and wraps her arms around his neck. “Oh, my G! That is a perfect idea, Zoey!” She looks at Ty, and then me, and stops in her tracks. “I thought you had a full time job, Stella?”

“I do, Monday through Friday.” I shoot Zoey a death look. I just can’t look at Ty. There’s nothing worse than watching a guy squirm. I do not want to be rejected in front of everyone.

“Fridays are optional, and she has time over the weekend,” Zoey says to Emily and Ty.

“I know we just met, but Stella, you know we have women’s intuition. I felt comfortable with you from second one. You would do great. Ty is so easy going that it takes a lot for him to get pissed.” She turns to Ty. “Isn’t that a perfect idea? Then I would know that you are taken care of.” She bounces up and down on his lap softly clapping her hands together.

“Shots…let’s do it!” Zoey yells. I down mine, and that, first shot puckered face appears quickly. Ty’s amused by my reaction to the stiff drink. I can’t help but let my face light up. His smile is contagious. I need another, STAT. Later, I’ll get Ty alone, and then he can tell me what a bad idea this is. I drink down one more without the face this time. The instant ease I feel is exactly the effect I was looking for.

“Well, I think it’s a perfect solution for you both. Ty gets help and Stella makes more money.”

Zoey is cut off when the door flies opens and everyone turns to look and see who appears in the kitchen. I know who it is, because I’m closest to the door. “Maxi-pad!” I squeal. Max could not have come at a better time. He grabs me in a bear hug and picks me up off my feet. I whisper, “Please tell me you are staying?”

He pulls away and his face is inches from mine. “No, we are going to a bachelor party tonight. Are you okay, Stella?” The concern is obvious in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m good.” He puts me down, yet keeps his arm around my waist.

“What are you doing here, bro?” Zoey asks, and shakes a shot glass at him.

He shakes his head no at her silent offer. “We are heading to a bachelor party. Ethan is downstairs parking his car. We’re leaving it here over night. When we got to the soon-to-be sucker groom’s house, there was no more parking on his street. You were the closest, is that okay?”

“That’s fine, big bro, have fun and be good,” Zoey says pouring more shots into glasses.

“I’m always good.” He waves to everyone. “Hello everybody, and I’m out!” Maxem plants a huge kiss on my cheek and turns to leave.

“Be careful, okay?” I say following him out the door.

“Have fun, Stella, live a little, would ya?” That great smile disappears as he heads downstairs and gets in his Lexus and takes off.

When I head back inside, I realize they all have moved to the living room. Turning into the kitchen for another beer, I see the most amazing ass ever created! Ty is squatting in front of the open fridge adjusting a twelve pack on the bottom shelf and opening another. My eyes dart to the exposed sliver of skin in between his jeans and grey t-shirt. My eyes hover over the bottom right hem of his shirt where a tattoo is peeking out at me. He turns those ice blue eyes to me and stimulates something low in my belly. My face blushes and my knees feel weak.

“You need another beer, Stella?” I catch his eyes moving quickly from my face only to roam down my body and end at my eyes again.
Did he just check me out…No effing way!

“Yes, please,” I say in a strained voice. I feel like a skank hoping that he was looking me over, considering his girl is right in the next room. Ty stands, twists the top and hands me the open beer. Our fingers brush lightly. Ugh! No more touching! It drives me insane!

“Ty?” I dart my eyes down to my beer and pick at the label. “We just met one night ago, so please do not feel pressured by Sargent Martin out there. She can be damn pushy.”

“I was going to say the same. Emily is demanding as hell, if you know what I mean.” He takes a couple drinks and I look back up to watch his throat move as he swallows. Big hands hold the bottle and I think of a couple places he could put those thick fingers. Damn,
I need to get laid…

“
I really could use some help on Saturday, Stella. It’s my busy day. Sunday, I would probably need you half of the day, and maybe the one weeknight. I also have a big wedding coming in about four weeks as well. You worked today, right? So I’m confused if Fridays are available?”

“I did work, but just like Zoey said, it really is optional. I started today with about forty five hours,” I reply and force myself to meet his eyes. I was expecting the complete opposite to come out of his mouth. It would be a nice change to be up and moving, versus plugging away on a computer. I’m not very bold and rarely make a hasty decision like this one. I think my mom leaving us so young made me want to be a good person. So, I tend to walk on the right side of the road. Always analyzing and thinking at every turn, is this the right thing to do? My goal has always been not to be anything like her. On a positive side, it’s exciting to think who I will be introduced to, both personally and professionally with Ty’s clientele.
Maybe my knight in shining armor?

“Can you come tomorrow morning? Emily will be there to help me, and she can show you the ropes.”

“I can do tomorrow. As my ever so sweet bestie pointed out, I do have time on weekends,” We hear laughter in the living room. “I guess we should get in there with them,” I drag my eyes from his and turn to walk out. How can I turn him down? It’s a win-win situation. He grabs my lower arm and when I turn, he has a card in his other hand.
I just melted inside…contact…fuck!

“Stella, I want you to see my work. Check out my website before you come, see what I do. I want you to be comfortable. If you decide not to come, I understand. If you are good, then tomorrow at 11 am?” His eyes look concerned. God, he always looks me dead in the eye as if he’s searching for something in my face or expression.

“No, I’m an open girl,” I squeak out.
Oh. My God. I’m. A. Giddy. Dork
. With an amused expression, he shakes his head at me, and I follow him out of the kitchen. The view is perfect.

We are having a blast laughing, drinking and talking. Obviously, Pierce and Zoey sit together and Ty with Emily. I sit on the chaise with Jaxon at my feet. We are feeling no pain as everyone takes a turn as “bitch” grabbing up to six beers at a time. It’s Jaxon’s turn to, “beer us.” Zoey and I take advantage of the wait, and change into some comfy clothes. I pick some baby pink fleece pants, and a fitted hot pink cami. The red bra and cleavage is probably inappropriate, but my decision-making skills are diminishing. There is nobody to impress. The hot one is taken, Pierce is so off limits, and the adorable one feels like friend material. I’m not sure I want to attract him.

I rub my tired eyes as I walk down the hall. His scent is new to me, but when I bump into a chest, I am very aware who it is. Ty’s hands are so strong and warm as he grips my shoulders. Our bodies are pressed together for the briefest of moments. His chest and abs are rock hard, and his eyes pierce into mine. Then as we both run our eyes over each other’s facial features, I practically pant. My chest is heaving inappropriately, and then I snap out of it, realizing Emily could come around the corner and find me in a trance looking at her guy.

“Sorry,” Now I’m speechless. I feel his fingers knead into my muscles.

“No, I’m sorry, Stella. I should have been watching where I was going,” Ty’s voice is low. His eyes take in my features. When they land on my chest, I reluctantly step out of his hold and step around him. It sucks to have a taste of what his body feels like, because mine is fully heightened, and my skin is hot and in overdrive. One touch has me thinking I may need to go back to the bathroom because my panties flood with moisture.

I plop back down on the chaise with Zoey. We are almost dressed the same but she’s in black. She wraps her arms around my neck and slurs a whisper in my ear. “Are you excited to work with hot ass or what?” I don’t get a chance to answer. “He takes sexy pictures…we should get him to take sexy pics of us,” She pulls away and loudly says about five inches from my face, “But not together, separately,” Zoey slaps her hand over her mouth because that was not a whisper, at all. I almost fall off the chaise laughing. In fact, I feel myself falling and she grabs my arm. We can’t quit the giggles.

I grab her like she had me and whisper in her ear. “We should look at his website when they all leave,” I may be buzzed, but I know my loud mouth friend. She won’t be able to wait. She will do all my dirty work looking as if she’s the one interested, and not me. Ty comes back in the room. I can’t even look at him as he sits next to Emily.

Zoey’s wide eyes meet mine…consider it done. Wait for it… “Ty, what is your website called? We want to see some of your sexy pics!” She looks at me with a goofy ass grin. “Get the iPad, Stella,” I reach over her onto the floor with my ass in the air and grab my iPad off the charger. I open it up, ready to start a search.

A hand pushes my booty, “Move over and make room. I still love looking at his pictures. He’s a total artist.” Emily is pushing herself on to the chaise. We don’t need Ty, we have Emily. She takes control.

The website is a simple layout with lots of black all over the page. Beautiful pictures surround the logo in the middle. Couples in love, weddings, and a woman in a field of flowers that has a face so perfect she must be a model. We admire a younger man who is sitting backwards in a chair giving the camera a sultry smile. Emily clicks on galleries and then on boudoir photos. A pop up opens and we must choose one of two boxes. The first one reads, I’m eighteen and down to enter. The other says, Nope, I’m not eighteen, so I am out. We select the first and bingo we are in. I’m fascinated by what I see. These women are stunning with their hair and makeup done to perfection. Now, I understand what Emily was saying. Ty is talented and artistic. Anyone can pick up a camera and press the shutter button. These are so much more. I think the editing is what makes them so amazing, and that is done by the photographer…done by Ty. The angles and poses are perfect. I turn my head to look at him, our eyes meet and I make sure he sees the amazement in my eyes. He almost looks embarrassed.

“These are incredible, Ty,” I say, making sure he hears the sincerity in my voice.

“They really are, Ty. Geesh, you make these women look sick hot! You have some serious talent,” Zoey slurs to Ty.

“Thank you, ladies. I’m no paramedic like these two life savers, nor can I construct a building from the ground up like Jaxon can in his spare time, but you guys can enjoy the male section as well,” Ty stands and gives Jaxon a hand shake. I think he’s leaving.

“I know you both save lives, but Jaxon, you build things?” I ask looking between both of them.

“I have a contractor’s license and I got the need to build from my dad.”

Zoey’s still mesmerized by Ty’s website. She slurs, “No males for a bit, Mr. Caulder. We aren’t about to take our eyes off the hot chicks. Especially, the ones without tops,” Zoey says and I shake my head in agreement.

Ty leans down and gives Emily a kiss on the cheek. She grabs his neck and returns the affection. Eff that! They are so damn chaste. I don’t get it. Scent–O–Ty would set me off, accompanied by the feel of his lips on my skin.
I really am going to have to stop thinking dirty thoughts of him if we are going to work together
.

“So, Em, I’ll see you tomorrow, and Stella, I’m taking this as a yes for the job?”

“Definite yes.” Intoxicated Stella is bold.

“Have a good night all.” He leaves and I try to limit the sexual thoughts.

Emily and I talk about what I should wear tomorrow and about the location. I learn that Ty is in a warehouse flat right in downtown. He works and lives there. She tells me to wear ballet type flats if I have them, since we will be moving all day. I’m nervous and excited. She will be there before me, and she is going to give the boss a guideline on what she thinks I can and cannot handle with limited experience.

Lying down to sleep is not successful. My mind will not turn off. So many questions and worries about tomorrow, but I relax knowing Emily will be there to guide me. I will have only one day with Emily. Will that be enough?

T
HE
DRIVE
TO
T
Y
’
S
STUDIO
is only about ten minutes. As I come straight through downtown, my phone GPS instructs me to make a left into a decent sized parking lot. To the right, is an old style, brick, two story warehouse, with huge windows spanning the length of the building. It looks historical. A large retention pond with a small fountain is behind the warehouse. We call them small lakes here in Florida, it sounds better.

I open a beautifully detailed glass door to enter the building. The elevator is to my right and the stairs to my left. Straightening my clothes, I check my reflection in the mirror and press the call button. The black ballet flats and my hair down are a definite yes. I’m hoping the white linen Capri pants, with the black sleeveless wrap front blouse, is appropriate for today. Stepping out of the elevator to the right is an elaborately engraved wooden door. Ty’s logo is in the center and it reads Ty Caulder Photography. On both sides of me, there are two large landscape canvas photos of an old park in Orlando.
It smells really good in here, almost like a spa.
God, I feel nervous.