Page 42 of Touch in the Dark

“I see you panicking,” Arizona shakes his head. “Relax, it doesn’t have to be something insane or outrageous to make it interesting. It’s our job to get that right. Just, think of something you like to do. When you’re not working what do you enjoy? What either relaxes you, or gets your motor running?”

“I’m the world’s most boring man, apparently,” I say, when my brain draws a blank. Arizona is frowning at me, probably thinking he fucked up hiring me on to this.

“No, it’s there, right on the edge of your mind but you don’t think it’s something worth mentioning. What is it?”

Not sure what kind of ESP crap he’s trying to pull but he’s clearly seeing something that isn’t there. I am blank, totally. Except for… “I read,” I say.

“Oh, what kind of books?” he perks up in his seat. “Thrillers, horror?”

“Romance,” I say without a second thought or even a hint of embarrassment. I like what I like, and I don’t particularly care what anyone thinks.

“Romance, really?” his mouth is hanging open a little as it runs through his head.

“If you wanna get specific, my preference is reverse harem.”

“I have no idea what you just said, or what it means but I love it,” he waves his bottle around so much, water sloshes out of the top and onto the floor over his shoulder. He doesn’t seem to notice. “Hot guy reading a romance novel, that, I can work with. I wonder if our budget can stretch to the New York Public Library.”

I laugh and finish off my own water. “I’m sure the books I like can’t be found in there. They’re a little…smutty.”

His eyes narrow. “Oh,” he taps his lower lip with the tip of his finger. “Hey, Louis,” he shouts at someone passing behind me. “Romance novels, reverse…” he looks at me.

“Harem,” I say and glance over my shoulder. The woman standing behind me is tall, attractive, and dressed like she just rolled out of bed. Her clothes are creased, as if she picked up the first thing she found on the floor. I’m pretty sure her socks are odd too. She’s not even wearing shoes.

“If we wanted to get Nick’s shots with some reverse harem romance novels how would that work for the brand?”

“Reverse harem?” her brow arches. “Who is your favourite author?”

“I’m reading Tate James right now, but I’ve just finished up an Eva Ashwood that I really liked.”

“Nice. Sheridan Ann is good too.”

“Oh shit, yeah I like her, she’s dark.”

She grins then turns to Arizona. “Well, you can’t use an author’s cover without their consent, but we can get around that by staging a scene maybe?” she looks at me. “That could work. We can set the tone for the type of books they are, with lighting and ambience, background models,” she looks at me more closely, her eyes roaming over my face and down my chest and abs, then back up again. “I love how different everyone’s hobbies are turning out to be.”

“I know, right. I never would have pegged you for a reader,” Arizona says with a weird smile on his thin lips. “Oh God, I’m sorry I didn’t even introduce you guys properly,” Arizona gets to his feet, so I do too, as it’s only polite. Louis has a bemused look on her face as she watches the two of us. “Nick Chambers, this is Louis Hoffer, the creative director for the campaign. Louis, Nick Chambers from BreakNeck. He plays the bass.”

“I remember ‘Find the Warwick’” she says with a chuckle. “My niece and nephew were out looking for that damn guitar. Even though it got stolen in a whole other country. I’d almost be tempted to do an exception for you and have your images with the Warwick but that defeats the purpose of the campaign. Plus, I like the romance backdrop, it’s already forming in my head.”

Louis pulls a pen out of her hair like some kind of weird magician and makes some notes on the back of her hand. “I’m looking forward to working with you,” she says and reaches out to shake my hand. I’m careful to avoid smudging the ink. “We’re doing still photography first then commercials later in the week, does that work for you?”

“My agent is sorting it all out right now,” I smile.

“Great. I’ll see you then,” she shoves the pen back in her hair and waves as she walks away.

“I’ve never seen her that excited before.”

“That was excited?” I whip my head back to Arizona. I’ve seen excited people, and that was not it.

“Practically giddy,” he pats my arm. “See you soon.”

Francis drops me off at my grandma’s telling me he’ll get everything organised and once it’s sorted, we’ll be good to go. Letting myself in to Doris’s apartment, I call out hello as I shut and lock the door.

“In here!”

I follow her voice to the kitchen and find her up on a step stool reaching into a high cupboard on the wall.

“Doris, what are you doing?” I hurry over and put my hands up to grab her.

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