Page 15 of Mermaid For You

“Yes. How about next to Ava. Lift one of the turtles.” My words come out bossier than I intended. “Please?”

I wildly click the camera, then walk over and adjust the turtles again. The sun is beating down, and sweat gathers on the back of my neck, which is my sign to hurry before everyone gets cranky.

“I hope a turtle bites his dick off.”

I glare at Ava as Shelly snickers but immediately looks ashamed at being caught. Ava only meets my sour look with a cocked brow. We don’t have time for bickering, so I ignore her remark and return to my position.

After a few more clicks, I show Margie the photos. I’m completely satisfied with them, but here, I’m the photographer and not Mr. Hayes of Hayes Resorts. She studies the photos but then calls to Liam and hands him the camera. My heart sinks.

“These are wonderful, but I have an idea. Van, I want you on the other side of Ava.”

Oh, hell no.

While I keep my thought to myself, Ava does the opposite. “Anybody but him.”

Margie looks shocked. “Ava, really. This is so unlike you.”

“I’ll move. I’ll trade places?—”

“Nonsense,” Margie scolds her, but not in the manner of her boss or superior, more like a loving grandmother.

I hesitate only for a moment, because Margie loudly clears her throat. I hop to it and position myself between Ava and the fucking turtle and other mermaid. I feel ridiculous.

“None of us are enjoying this,” Ava hisses at me. “Stop sulking.”

“You love the camera. Don’t even try to deny it.”

Ava scoffs. “I liked you better when you were mysterious.”

“Mysterious?”

“When I didn’t realize what a complete idiot you are.”

The sweet floral scent of her goes straight to my dick. I can’t stand that, even now, I find myself fantasizing about all the ways I could quiet that smart mouth. Why does she have to be so fucking beautiful and witty? I swear she’s finding ways to tempt me on purpose at every photoshoot. In reality, I know that’s just her. Beautiful. Genuine. Kind—well, to everyone except me. The way her eyes stare back at me like she’s begging for me to toss the camera and come to her. I can feel her gaze in the depths of my soul. Then I have to remember she’s not even looking at me; she’s looking at the camera. I’m seeing what I want to see. Yet every time I still get goose bumps.

“Everyone look here,” Liam calls out. After about a minute, he shows Margie the camera.

There’s sweet relief when she smiles and nods. “I think we got it. Thank you, everyone.”

Maisy comes over to me and invites me for a drink. We’ve still not gone past sharing a few drinks—not for her lack of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it’s me putting on the breaks.

“Actually, I’m working tonight.”

“After?”

“We’ll see. I don’t want to make any promises.” Another issue is I got paid, or rather turned around and handed my check back in. I barely had anything left after the tab I’d run up. What I did have left was spent at the taco truck. I have Ava to thank for that. She kept going on about those damn tacos, and she wasn’t exaggerating. As soon as this bet is over, I’m going over there with my precious credit card and buying twenty tacos. The entire day will just be me eating tacos.

* * *

The group of guys on the boat tour are hands down the most obnoxious people. They’re college-aged preppy boys. Every other word is “bruh” or “fuck, man.” It’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to scream at them to just please shut the fuck up. They’re also being extremely inappropriate with their comments about the mermaids swimming around.

When the boat docks, I hop off and hurry ahead to be ready for photos. Ava is there waiting—or rather, Nerine.

“Heads up, you’ve got some real winners coming up,” I warn her.

“I’ve dealt with worse. Like you, for example.”

“Nope. These guys make me likable.”

---