Page 6 of All I Desire

Nina shuts the folder and studies me. Aw, hell. Should I have admitted that I’m just here for the promo?

“So, your brother thought you should do this to somehow promote your new business?”

I give her a sheepish smile. “Caught me. Kind of, yeah. But I thought it would be cool, too. I’m trying to say yes to new things. I’m in a new chapter in life.”

That’s an understatement.

She grins. “That’s how it starts with lots of my subjects on these so-called stranger photo shoots. I’ve done them all over the country. People think they’re going to use this as their own personal branding session. And then it turns into something way more. You’ll see. But yeah, more people should say yes to new adventures.”

Huh. I wonder what she means by something way more.

She stands on her tiptoes — she’s wearing pink Birkenstock sandals, khaki shorts, and a white button down — and peers over my shoulder, waving her hand in the air.

“Oh, I think that’s our other person. Hey! Over here!”

I turn to see a woman coming toward us.

Nina claps her hands. “Natalia, right?”

The woman struts toward us as if she’s on a Milan catwalk. She’s wearing a floofy, pink dress that has a deep V neckline and no sleeves. Damn, the woman must work out because I spot a nice line of muscle on her shoulders and arms. There’s an elaborate silver and pink necklace around her neck, practically pointing my line of sight to her breasts. I paste on a smile and look down, taking in her long, tan legs.

Black boots? In early September on a beach in Florida? Okay.

My gaze snaps back up to her eyes. Blue, like a perfect sky on a clear day.

“Yeah, I’m Natalia,” the woman responds. “You must be Nina Michaels. I love your work. I actually saw your show last year at Art Basel in Miami.”

The two women shake hands and briefly discuss the art scene in Miami. I don’t mind that I’m being ignored, because it gives me more time to stare at this unusual woman who’s showed up in what looks like a crinkled, pink wedding dress and combat boots. Thing is, she wears the whole ensemble perfectly. It makes her look like some sexy, dystopian warrior bride.

Color me intrigued.

Her hair’s long, wavy, and honey blonde. Wild, like she might not have brushed it all the way. But again, it somehow goes with the overall look. I’d say she’s younger than me by, what, six or seven years? She looks edgy and cool, and I’m over here like the middle-aged dude that I am.

“Natalia, this is Matt, the man you’ll be paired with. He’s a pilot. Do you go by Matt or Matthew?” Nina turns to me.

At the mention of my name, I snap to attention. “Hi there. I’ll respond to either.”

I hold out my hand and the woman steps forward and clasps my palm with a firm grip. “Hey,” she replies, her voice low and smoky.

“Nat and Matt, I like that,” Nina says.

Natalia smiles while looking me in the eyes. For a second, I’m not sure what to say. The way the sunlight makes her hair look like spun gold, the fantastical dress, her long, dark lashes framing those blue eyes — it’s like I’m in the presence of something rare and fleeting.

And captivatingly gorgeous.

“Natalia,” I say. “It’s really good to meet you.”

The three of us pause for a beat while Natalia and I shake hands.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this, a photo shoot with a stranger,” I add.

“Perfect strangers,” she murmurs, and we drop hands.

“That’s the name of the campaign, right?” I ask

I feel Nina’s hand on my arm. She’s also touching Natalia. “I don’t like the subjects to have too much small talk before. Don’t want you getting to know each other at all, really, because I want the chemistry to unfold on camera. Make sense?”

We both nod.

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