To his left, his youngest brother, Adam, emerged from the trees, and Ethan sent him a questioning look.
“Lightning and Storm are at the house. I wasn’t willing to have them spotted and start a riot with the models,” was Adam’s response. Yes, his two wolves would have created a major scene with these city types for sure. “Looks like your little buddy is excited to see you.”
“Can it,” Ethan snapped.
“I can think of something to— Holy shit! Maybe, he’d take me as a model.”
Ethan followed Adam’s gaze and spotted the large SUVs that had delivered the models for the shoot. Unfortunately, his eyes were still rooted to the sight when the photographer joined them.
“Ethan, my man, how are you today?” Obviously, Ethan’s growl wasn’t enough of a deterrent. “So, I was hoping you’d reconsider your refusal to model. You see, one of the male models had an accident at the hotel last night, and he’s been flown to the hospital in Nashville. Anyway—”
Whatever the flaming photographer had been about to say next was lost on Ethan the moment she stepped into view.
Long brown hair glistened in the sun, highlighting the tan on her voluptuous body and causing his wolf to stir. She had the body of a centerfold, perfectly proportioned and built for sin. Her breasts were full and pert, making his hands itch to hold them, and her ass was a perfectly rounded work of art. Her waist dipped in before flaring at her hips, giving a man the perfect handles to hold onto.
Adam’s voice cut into his fantasy with, “Dear lord, that girl is—”
“Mine,” Ethan snarled, cutting his brother off.
“Which girl?” the little weasel asked.
“The one in the green top,” Ethan replied.
“Ah, that’s Lacy. She’s new, but with her looks, that girl’s gonna go places.”
Yeah, Ethan thought, like home with me.
“So, uh, my name’s Adam. Do you need any more models?”
Ethan pinned Adam with a deadly glare before he smiled. “I think having you on guard would work out just fine. After all, I can’t work with the lovely Lacy and guard the shoot.”
The photographer clapped his hands together and beamed, “Oh, this is great! Let’s get you over to the men’s tent to get changed and see if anything else needs to be done.”
“What do you mean ‘anything else’?” Ethan asked, narrowing his eyes on the little man before him.
“You know, a little concealer, waxing, bleaching—”
“Now, wait just a damn minute. I go natural, or I just go.”
The little man threw his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I like a manly man myself, so I won’t argue with you.” And with a quick wink, the pest scurried off to deliver his news to the rest of the crew.
“Here,” Ethan grumbled, “take my gun and badge.”
“Sweet!”
“Don’t be playing around, either,” Ethan warned, “That gun has a hair trigger.”
“Got it boss. Now, go let Landon make you look fa-bu-lous,” Adam sang the last, and Ethan cringed.
“Landon?”
“That’s his name. You didn’t know?”
“I’ve been avoiding him like the plague. Do you really think I stopped to ask for his name?” Ethan shook his head, wondering how in the world he’d allowed himself to be dragged into this then she walked out of the women’s tent.
Lacy.
Just her name was enough to send his thoughts spiraling south. It made him think of pretty, feminine things…lacy things.
Right now, she was charging toward Landon with what appeared to be several ties dangling from her fingertips. Was that her outfit?
Hmm…this could turn out to be worth it after all.
* * * *
Fury, pure and undiluted, fired Lacy’s blood as she stormed her way over to the photographer. “What the hell is this?” she demanded. “I thought this was a shoot for the outdoors, for hiking and things like that, but this is just one step above nudity!”
“It’s just a bikini, Lacy. Relax.”
“Relax? Relax? I’ve seen more material on an eye patch! Are the men’s suits this small? If so, it’s going to appear that we’re having sex rather than posing.”
Landon’s eyes got that far-off look which meant he was envisioning the possibilities.
“Don’t you even think about it, little man, or I’ll kick your shit so hard you’ll be swallowing your own balls back down.”
“Well,” he huffed, “I never once considered having my own balls in my mouth, so I think I’ll pass. But I do have some good news for you, dear.”
“Does it include a change in this?” she asked, dangling the minuscule bathing suit in his face.