CHAPTER 14
E
arly the next morning, Ryan slogged through the bar. He had spent a lot of time the
previous night getting the dance floor ready and blocked off for speed dating. Mary
was truly excited. He was surprised to see her behind the bar.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
Mary looked up from the cup of coffee in her hand. “I’m doing one more run-through
for tonight. I want to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. You are
going to be here, right?”
“Yes, I said I’d be here.” He paused, not wanting to ruin her optimistic mood. “My
friend Quinn might be a no-show, though.”
She slumped forward. “What? She confirmed. Not once, but twice. She’s bringing a friend.”
She plans on coming?
The news startled him more than seeing Mary after her long night. Quinn must’ve responded
before they spent the afternoon having sex. She would show, since she’d committed.
“I could be wrong.”
Mary put her cup down. “Could you call her?”
“You have her number.”
“She might agree to still show if you asked her.”
I don’t want to ask her.
“I’ll try.”
“Thanks.” She drank from her cup again.
“Go home. I’ll see you tonight. Who’s coming in now?”
“Jenna called. She’s running a little behind.”
“Okay.” He headed for his office. A few minutes later, he heard Colin’s happy whistle
in the hall.
Colin stuck his head in. “Hi. What’s Mary doing here? I thought she was running the
dating thing tonight.”
“She’s nervous and wanted to check on things again. What are you doing here?”
“I figured I owed Mary some help.” Colin was as calm and laid-back as ever. No anger
or tension rolled off him after last night.
Ryan looked at his brother quietly for a moment and decided he could confide in him.
Regardless of their issues, they were still brothers. “What do you know about photography?”
Colin crossed his arms and leaned on the doorjamb. “Is this a trick question?”
“No.”
“Not much. What are you looking for?”
“What if someone had pictures taken they don’t want anyone to see?”
“You got a Playboy Bunny I haven’t met?”
“I’m serious.” He ran a hand through his hair and reconsidered telling Colin.
“It was a joke. What’s the problem?”
“I have a friend who had some unflattering pictures taken. What’s the likelihood they’d
be destroyed?”
“I don’t know. If the guy’s less than professional, it’s a couple of clicks of the
mouse and her image is all over the Internet.”
“That’s what I thought.” He picked up his keys again. “Keep an eye on things. Jenna
will be here soon. Tell her I’ll be back before we hit lunch.”
“Need any help?”
Ryan shook his head. “I can handle this.”
He drove to Hill Studio. On the way there, Ryan told himself he would speak calmly
and rationally. There was a possibility this guy was legit and Quinn’s pictures would
be safe. Given her track record, though, he was scum looking for a quick buck. Ryan
would pay whatever price to save her the embarrassment. He figured the possibility
would occur to her soon, once the embarrassment left, and she could focus clearly.
Ryan parked in front of the building and strode quickly to the door. He rang and was
buzzed up without question.
At the door, a young girl met him with a smile. “Hi, can I help you?”
“I hope so. I wanted to speak with the photographer.”
She opened the door wider. “Xander’s not here, but he should be back in a minute.”
He followed her in and scanned the loft. It was mostly empty space, except for the
photography paraphernalia. “So what happens after pictures are taken? Do you give
me the only copies?
“No, we save it on our computer in case something happens to the client’s file.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes at the girl. “So my photos could be spread anywhere?”
Her eyes widened in shock. “No. Xander would never do that. He’s a professional.”
The door behind her swung open. A man entered. Based on Quinn’s description, this
was the photographer. He did look like a model. He was younger than Ryan. His eyes
registered the girl’s distress. “Hello. Can I help you?”
“Hi. My name is Ryan. I need to speak to you about some pictures.” He turned pointedly
to the girl. “Will you excuse us?”
She hesitated. “Xander?”
Xander looked at her. “Go around the corner for a coffee break. We’ll be fine.”
She exited quickly. When she was gone, Ryan focused on Xander. “Quinn Adams.”
Xander’s head snapped up and his gaze locked on Ryan’s. “What about her?”
“Her pictures. Where are they?”
“None of your business.”
Ryan stepped closer, his nerves thrumming.
Xander put his hand up. “I don’t know who you are, and I can’t release a client’s
information.” If he had any inkling he was about to get beaten, he showed no sign.
“She’s embarrassed. You managed to destroy her self-confidence with your inability
to take a good picture. I don’t need to see them. I want them destroyed.”
Xander straightened, puffing his chest out. “I’m good. She wouldn’t relax. It’s not
my fault she’s got hang-ups and her photographs didn’t turn out.”
“I don’t give a fuck how good you are. She’s a teacher. If those pictures get out,
her entire life will be ruined.” Reining in the need to punch this pretty boy was
getting more difficult by the minute.
Xander stepped forward. “I’m not a hack or a porn peddler. I don’t send around my
work for a few laughs, and I don’t release a client’s project to a lunatic who comes
in here threatening me.”
“The threats haven’t even started. Call her. Get her permission.” Ryan stepped back
and pointed to the phone.
Xander opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper from a file. He dialed and
waited a few seconds before saying, “Hi, Ms. Adams, this is Xander Hill. I need to
speak to you. Please call me back.” He turned to Ryan. “No answer.”
Ryan pulled out his cell phone and called Quinn’s cell.
“Hello?” Her voice was heavy with sleep.
“Hi. Tell this asshole you want those pictures deleted.”
“What?”
Ryan passed the phone to Xander at his desk.
“Hello, Ms. Adams?”
Ryan couldn’t hear Quinn’s voice, but he knew she’d panic.
“I can’t remove anything without your permission. Okay. I’ll be here.” He closed the
phone and tossed it back to Ryan. “She’s on her way.”
“Fine.” Ryan crossed his arms and stood stiffly.
“Sit down. I think you woke her up, so she’ll be a while.” His tone had changed and
he was no longer confrontational.
Ryan sat and propped his right ankle on his left knee.
“This is my business. My livelihood. I wouldn’t risk my reputation to ruin hers.”
Ryan didn’t respond. He didn’t trust this guy.
Xander leaned back in his chair. “She told me she was taking pictures for herself,
not a man. Who are you?”
“A friend.”
“Uh-huh.” He smirked as he straightened. “You should probably leave. She doesn’t want
you to see them.”
Ryan’s shoulder rose and fell. “I don’t need to see them. I’ve seen the real thing.”
Xander’s eyes shot back to his. One eyebrow rose. “A friend, huh?”
Ryan’s knee bounced. He hadn’t yet thought of how to categorize his relationship with
Quinn. His only thought was to protect her.
They sat in silence. Xander shuffled papers on his desk and Ryan watched the clock.
The young girl came back and set a cup of coffee in front of Xander. She looked from
Xander to Ryan and back, then escaped to another room.
Twenty minutes later, the bell rang and both men rose. Xander pressed the buzzer.
Ryan waited for Quinn to come in, expecting to see her panicked.
She came barreling through the door, head up, eyes blazing. The panic was there, buried
under the anger. She wore no makeup, a loose T-shirt, and shorts. His gaze wandered
to her feet. Her purple toenails peeked out from the sandals.
“Hi,” Xander said. “Thanks for coming.”
Quinn nodded to him but walked past. She stopped within a foot of Ryan. Her subtle
scent gripped him. Looking up, she spoke through clenched teeth. “Can I speak to you?”
Xander took the hint and disappeared.
“Why are you here?” she demanded.
“Take a breath and relax.”
“Don’t tell me to relax. Just because we had sex doesn’t mean you can run all over
my life.”
“You’re not thinking clearly. Listen to me. The photos are digital. They’re on his
computer. He can do whatever he wants with them.” He saw the moment the possibilities
registered in her brain. “Or he could get hacked.”
Her face paled and she covered her mouth with a trembling hand. “Oh, God.”
He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be okay. We’ll have him
delete everything.”
“How am I going to know that’s it? How can I be sure?”
“I’ll be sure.”
She stepped back and looked up at him. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“You were taking a chance. Completing your adventures. Don’t let this stop you.” He
leaned down and kissed her. She tasted like mint. She must’ve brushed her teeth and
flew out the door.
Her muscles relaxed as she melted into the kiss. He pulled back.
“Thank you.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “You can go now. If you had said
something, I would’ve handled it myself.”
“I’ll wait.”
Her look bore into him. “I don’t want you to see them.” She crossed her arms to let
him know it was non-negotiable.
He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “Like I told the artist over there, I don’t
need pictures. I’ve seen the real thing.”
Color rose to her cheeks. “I still don’t want you to see them.”
“Fine.” He reclaimed the chair.
“Xander, we’re done,” Quinn called.
Xander walked to his desk and clicked the mouse. “Regardless of what your boyfriend
thinks, I would never send these out on the Internet.”
“I believe you and I apologize for him busting in here. I’d just feel better if they
didn’t exist.”
He clicked the mouse a couple more times. Quinn’s body shielded the screen, so Ryan
saw nothing, but Quinn’s posture stiffened again.
She shook her head. “They’re not any better the second time.”
Click-click. “There. All deleted.”
“Please empty the trash and secure it.”
Click-click.
“Thank you.” Quinn turned and headed for the door. She nodded at Ryan. “We’re done.”
Ryan stood but waited for Quinn to reach the hall before he moved. He spoke quietly
to Xander. “If those photos ever resurface, I will make sure she sues you for every
penny you have and I’ll beat the shit out of you.”
He strode out without looking back.
Quinn was waiting in the hall. When he closed the door behind him, she asked, “Do
I want to know what you said to him?”
“Probably not.” He grabbed her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. “What are
you up to today? Want to grab breakfast?”
They walked side by side, holding hands down the stairs. “Breakfast sounds great,
but I can’t. My principal asked me to come in today.”
Outside in the late-morning sun, he assessed her face. Her color was back and she
was more relaxed. “It’s summer. Why would he call you?”
“I usually teach summer school. This is my first summer off and the teacher who took
my place is having problems.”
“How is it your problem?”
She blew a breath that puffed her bangs. “You sound like Brian. It’s not my problem,
but I’m a team player, and I do care about the kids.”
“Okay. Will I see you later?”
She shifted and stared at the ground. “Yeah, I’m doing speed dating tonight.”
Mary had been right. Quinn signed up to legitimately find a date. Now she was nervous.
If he said the wrong thing, she’d run away again. “Okay, see you then.”
“See you.” Although she raised her eyes, they didn’t meet his. She turned and walked
quickly down the street.