Exposed: Laid Bare (Laid Bare #1)(2)

So, of course, as he neared me, I spun around and grabbed up Veronica’s hand. “Quick,” I said, “let’s get out of here.”

“What? Why? Are you crazy?” was Veronica’s certainly understandable response. She tried to twist away, but I kept my hold firm.

“Come on,” I urged once more, this time tugging for effect. “Please, V.”

Veronica held steady, but her voice turned soft and understanding when she said, “Why don’t you want to meet him tonight, Dahlia? You’ll be working with the man soon enough.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want to meet him,” I replied.

I tugged Veronica’s arm again to get her moving, and added, “You know my rules.”

Finally, that got her moving. And just in time, as Lucien was gaining ground.

“Okay, okay,” Veronica said as I turned us away at the same second Lucien’s searing gaze connected with mine.

Too late, I’m outta here, my parting glance conveyed.

As I dragged my cousin in the direction of the rest rooms—surely a safe spot—she murmured under her breath, “How could I have forgotten about you and your weird idiosyncrasies?”

Okay, yes, she had a point. I was a little weird about my work, quirky even, but my weirdness kept my creativity at play. I am a photographer, you see, and a damn good one. Not meeting my subjects before taking their picture is an integral part of my creative process. I prefer to go in to photo shoots cold. That way I learn my subject as I work. It makes for a better outcome, and I have the award-winning photographs to prove it.

“Come on,” I hurried my cousin along, toward an alcove with a tastefully small, gold plate engraved with the word Ladies.

“Calm down,” she said. “He’s not following us now. He stopped to talk with someone.”

“He may catch up,” I replied, worried.

“Oh, Dahlia…” Veronica shook her head.

She was sweet to indulge me, but she understood my idiosyncrasies. Veronica is a photographer too, and has her own quirks to contend with. The two of us freelance around the city. My cousin is good, very talented, but I am better. Not to brag, it just is what it is. That’s why I was awarded the prestigious gig of shooting Lucien Chambers the day after Christmas.

Interacting with him in seven more days would be soon enough. I’d have time to build up my courage by then and, hopefully, not make a fool of myself. Photographing Mr. Chambers—for a piece Lucent Magazine was running on him and his many business successes—had the power to make or break my career. He gave so few interviews and rarely allowed himself to be photographed, so this was a coup. The only reason he agreed to this news piece was because he’d recently bought a stake in the magazine.

Needless to say, I was nervous as hell. I could not screw up this job.

“I still can’t believe you’re passing up the chance to meet Lucien Chambers,” Veronica mused out loud. “Surely, a little preview won’t mess with your wacky ways.”

“I’ll meet him next week at the shoot,” I maintained, keeping Veronica moving through the crowd and away from Mr. Eligible Bachelor.

Finally, we reached the ladies room. I hurried in, Veronica in tow, and closed the door behind us.

Turning to me, Veronica rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re safe now. I doubt he’ll dare step in here.” She gestured around at all the feminine décor in the ornate facility. “There is way too much estrogen in this room for any man.”

“I think you’re right,” I agreed, smiling at all the flowery and frilly detail everywhere.

Stepping over to one of the many floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the walls, I let out a sigh of relief.

But when I took in my reflection—seeing only disheveled auburn hair and green eyes with lashes in dire need of a mascara touch-up—I murmured dejectedly, “Damn, I’m glad he didn’t catch up to us. Ugh. Look at me, Veronica, I’m a mess.”

“Oh, you’re fine,” she said.

But, quietly, after a beat, I disagreed and added, “No wonder I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

My cousin stepped over to me and leaned her head against my shoulder. Lovingly, she adjusted the ruby red spaghetti strap of my silk dress. “You look beautiful, as always, Dahl. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

“Maybe,” I mused, leaning my head to hers. “Too bad no man wants me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yeah, it kind of is.”

Veronica sighed. “You’re gorgeous, hon, but you are a little too picky for your own good.”

Now, it was my turn to sigh, because, sadly, she was correct. I was mighty choosy. A few dates, a couple of vanilla kisses. That was my experience in the areas of love, lust, and men. And it was all because my standards were pretty much unattainable.

Not that I had any standards defined, not exactly. Still, it was as if there was this little voice in my head urging me to wait.

I was waiting for something…or someone. I just didn’t know which one. In any case, I sure hoped that that something—or someone—happened soon.

Mostly because being a virgin at the age of twenty-six was beginning to feel downright embarrassing.





I had successfully avoided Lucien at the Christmas party, but he was still on my mind.