late. The call went to her voicemail, or so she thought. Standing there, staring at the phone, she waited for the flashing light to alert her that she had a voice message. And she waited. He hadn’t left a message and all of a sudden she felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest. Tessa started to wonder if she was avoiding him too much. Had she pushed him away too many times? Was he getting tired of chasing her? He had called several times last week after his call from the bar and had left messages, but she hadn’t returned any of those calls. She wanted to make him pay for making her wait and then calling at the most inopportune time. Enough was enough. She would call him when she had a break today, but now she had to get going to make her first appointment on time. She had three weeks to get all the doctors photographed and all the editing completed, so she had not time to sit around and dwell on all that was Cade. Tessa drove down to the beach where the photo shoots were taking place. There were several beautiful places along the shore that would work out well for the photos, so they had chosen a particular spot that showcased the ocean perfectly as a backdrop. When she pulled into the parking lot, she saw Susan leaning against her car. The look on her face revealing her eagerness to interview, as she called it, the doctors. Tessa, certain that the interviews were more for Susan’s benefit than they were for those who would be buying the calendars, felt a little sorry for those who would encounter Susan during this assignment.
“Are you ready for this?” Susan asked as she walked up to Tessa, excitement lacing her voice.
“Of course, why would I not be ready?”
“Only because there is going to be a lot of skin to look at. Thank God Dominick wasn’t politically correct on this project.”
Tessa was a bit confused by that statement, which had become common with her encounters with Susan. She had no idea what Dominick’s lack of political correctness had to do with their photo shoot.
“How do you figure?” she asked.
“Well, he picked only the hottest doctors. Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with some scrawny, nerdy doctors. Only the most ripped, tanned men for this project. I can’t even tell you how much I have been looking forward to this.”
“Oh, I’ve heard it enough to know that you are. Susan, we really need to get you laid. You’re like a teenage girl who just realized what the male species is for.”
“Tess! Are you making a joke? Geez, after the last few weeks, I thought for sure your sense of humor was buried, never to be seen again.”
“Ha! Ha! Let’s get set up. Andrew Balen is scheduled first and, if what Rowan says is true, he’s never late and hates when others are. I just have a few things to set up, but you might want to find a good spot to do your questioning. And Susan, let’s keep the questions to what the readers want to hear, not you grilling them to try to get a date.”
Susan gasped. “I’m shocked that you would question my professional integrity. Besides, if what you say is true about Andrew Balen, I cannot even consider him as a potential candidate for dating because I am often late.”
Tessa couldn’t help but laugh with Susan. She was incorrigible. Tessa finished setting up all her reflectors and umbrellas that she would need during the shoot just as Andrew walked up. He wore a white polo shirt that clung to his muscled chest with faded blue jeans that hung just slightly off his hips. His dark hair was cut short and accentuated the most beautiful hazel eyes. The photo shoots were starting off just right.
Andrew stretched out his hand. “You must be Tessa.”
“Tess, you can just call me Tess.” She felt like a giddy school girl standing next to her junior high crush. Andrew certainly didn’t
“Are you ready for this?” Susan asked as she walked up to Tessa, excitement lacing her voice.
“Of course, why would I not be ready?”
“Only because there is going to be a lot of skin to look at. Thank God Dominick wasn’t politically correct on this project.”
Tessa was a bit confused by that statement, which had become common with her encounters with Susan. She had no idea what Dominick’s lack of political correctness had to do with their photo shoot.
“How do you figure?” she asked.
“Well, he picked only the hottest doctors. Thankfully, we don’t have to deal with some scrawny, nerdy doctors. Only the most ripped, tanned men for this project. I can’t even tell you how much I have been looking forward to this.”
“Oh, I’ve heard it enough to know that you are. Susan, we really need to get you laid. You’re like a teenage girl who just realized what the male species is for.”
“Tess! Are you making a joke? Geez, after the last few weeks, I thought for sure your sense of humor was buried, never to be seen again.”
“Ha! Ha! Let’s get set up. Andrew Balen is scheduled first and, if what Rowan says is true, he’s never late and hates when others are. I just have a few things to set up, but you might want to find a good spot to do your questioning. And Susan, let’s keep the questions to what the readers want to hear, not you grilling them to try to get a date.”
Susan gasped. “I’m shocked that you would question my professional integrity. Besides, if what you say is true about Andrew Balen, I cannot even consider him as a potential candidate for dating because I am often late.”
Tessa couldn’t help but laugh with Susan. She was incorrigible. Tessa finished setting up all her reflectors and umbrellas that she would need during the shoot just as Andrew walked up. He wore a white polo shirt that clung to his muscled chest with faded blue jeans that hung just slightly off his hips. His dark hair was cut short and accentuated the most beautiful hazel eyes. The photo shoots were starting off just right.
Andrew stretched out his hand. “You must be Tessa.”
“Tess, you can just call me Tess.” She felt like a giddy school girl standing next to her junior high crush. Andrew certainly didn’t