I don’t know why he is saying this, but he seems genuinely proud of what he has accomplished. It’s no Harvard, but I am impressed.
“That’s impressive,” I say.
His eyes look lustful now as they drop to my chest and then come back to my eyes. “I don’t usually do this. I don’t usually ask models I work with out on dates. I don’t like mixing business and pleasure. But you’re not one of the typical models I work with, and I just can’t help myself. Will you go out with me?”
My eyes grow wide. I’ve never been asked out by another model. It’s the cardinal rule that you never break. I glance over behind the camera to see what Killian is doing. My heart still has hope that we can work things out together. I’m still holding out a small bit of hope that last night was more than a one-night stand. His body language earlier made it seem like he was jealous, but I’m not sure if jealousy is enough for him to want anything more to do with me.
When I spot him, I see him talking to the spunky makeup artist. He’s laughing. She’s flirting. He’s flirting back. I’m nothing to him but a problem he needs to get rid of.
I turn my attention back to Cedric. He’s handsome. He seems nice. He even has a future planned out beyond modeling. And I need to get over Killian.
Who knows? If this turns into something, Granddad might think Cedric is capable of helping me run the company.
“Sure. I’m free tonight,” I say.
Cedric’s smile and erection grow in unison. His body presses closer to mine. “Tonight is perfect.”
He lowers his lips to mine, which surprises me because Brock never told us to kiss. This kiss is real. It’s not planned. It’s tentative and gentle, just testing the waters in a way that most first kisses are. When I kiss him back, wrapping my arms around his neck, I try to keep myself from comparing this kiss to Killian’s. Cedric deepens the kiss. His tongue easily slides into my mouth, like he has practiced this many times before. I don’t care though. I feel his hand slide up and cup my breast, and I moan.
Shit, I moaned. I’m on camera, moaning, as a man I just met is feeling me up.
“Cut!” Killian shouts.
I look up and am shocked that he was the one yelling cut. He looks angry, but I don’t know why. He walks over to us. His face is bright red, and his nostrils flare with each step.
His eyes travel to Cedric’s and then mine. “This isn’t a porno. Just kiss her, and then deliver your lines.”
I gulp nervously as Cedric’s body stays plastered to mine, but Cedric seems unaffected.
“Sorry, boss.” He looks back to me, winking as he does. “It’s just hard not to get lost in a beautiful woman. I forgot I was doing a job.”
“If you don’t just do your job, you won’t be getting paid, Cedric,” Killian says.
Now, I’m glaring at Killian. That’s taking it a little too far.
“Sorry. It won’t happen again—at least, not until tonight,” Cedric says, winking at me.
I giggle at Cedric. It wasn’t the most suave of lines I’ve ever heard, but I don’t care. I’m having fun, flirting with Cedric. I’m excited to see where he takes me to dinner tonight. That’s two dates in two nights. I’ve never had my beauty work so well in my favor, but maybe that’s the strength I should be playing up. Everyone has always told me I’m beautiful. I’m sure I can find a man my grandfather likes more than Killian. It was my father who was in love with Killian after all, not my grandfather. It might not be Cedric, but if I spend the next month dating, I’m sure I can do better.
I smile, happy to have a new plan. It’s my own plan for my life.
“What does that mean?” Killian says.
“Kinsley agreed to go out with me tonight,” Cedric says.
“Is that true?” Killian asks, looking at me.
My smile drops when I see a hint of sadness in his eyes. I don’t know why he’s sad. This is what he wanted—for me to live my own life.
“Yes,” I say weakly.
Killian shakes his head. “Just finish the shoot. I’m not paying for overtime.”
I watch as Killian walks away, but this time, he doesn’t stop. He walks back into the hotel. He doesn’t finish watching the shoot. And I have no idea why he reacted like that.
I turn my attention back to Cedric, back to the job at hand. And I do my best to erase any thoughts of Killian from my brain.
I hear the knock on my door. I glance down at the time on my phone—seven fifty-five. He’s five minutes early. I finish applying my red lipstick before I head to the door. I check through the peephole first before I open the door. Cedric is standing there in a suit. I exhale, happy that I wore appropriate clothing for once.