Free Melt Into You by Roni Loren

to refocus on the conversation. “What’s that?”
    “I should get you to take pictures of
me
.”
    “Huh?” Evan’s eyebrows knitted.
    “Don’t look at me like that.” Callie waved her off. “I’m serious. I’ve been trying to come up with something to get Brandon for his birthday, and I bet he would totally be into some sexy boudoir-style pics. We haven’t, ya know, done the deed yet, so maybe that would get the ball rolling. He’s that gentlemanly type and his slow approach is kind of driving me crazy.”
    Evan frowned. “Maybe slow isn’t a bad thing.”
    “
Pfft!
I’m not getting any younger. No use burning daylight. So do you think you could make me look as sexy as that cherry pie?”
    Evan pinched the bridge of her nose, Callie’s question only bringing the past farther to the front of her mind—the haunted eyes of the women who’d posed before her camera. The sick feeling that came along with knowing you were sacrificing someone else’s dignity to save your own ass. “I don’t really do that style of picture, Cal.”
    “Oh, come on. Don’t be a prude.”
    She sighed. “It’s not about that. It’s just, are you really going to trust a guy you just started dating with half-naked pictures of yourself? What happens when—”
    She held up a finger. “Nope. Don’t finish that sentence. I’m doing that whole putting positive energy into the universe thing. I’m not even considering that this guy isn’t going to work out. Now will you take photos for me or not?”
    “Cal, I—”
    Callie’s phone dinged and she checked the screen. Her smile turned florescent. “Oh, he’s so sweet.”
    Evan hated that Callie already had that smitten-beyond-repair look. Even if this Brandon was a nice guy, giving your heart to anyone that easily had disaster written all over it. Evan had firsthand experience on that one.
    “He’s waiting outside. Sorry to stop by and then run off,” Callie said. “But I only have a little while for lunch. We’re shorthanded so Jessica will probably go on strike if I’m not back by one to help her.”
    “No problem,” Evan said, ready to get back to her own work anyway. “We’ll catch up next week.”
    Callie pointed a finger at her and arched an eyebrow. “And you are so doing those photos for me. I’ll withhold
petit fours
otherwise.”
    “Hateful bitch.”
    She laughed. “Ta for now. Don’t work too hard.”
    Yeah, right. That was exactly what Evan planned to do. Work so hard that she had no space left in her mind, her bed, or her heart for anything else.

 
     
FIVE
    Jace straightened the display of erotic novels as his best friend, Reid, selected one of the paddles from the rack on the other side. Reid flipped it around in his hand, testing the weight and feel of it. He held it up to Jace. “Really?”
    Jace shrugged, the sight of his suit-clad friend holding up a paddle with the words “bad girl” scrawled in pink a comical picture. “The newbies like that kind of thing. Makes ’em feel scandalous. It’s got great thud, though.”
    Reid smacked it against his own thigh. Frowned. “Brynn needs more bite than that. Plus, she may laugh herself right out of the scene if she sees what’s on it.”
    Jace grabbed a utilitarian black paddle with holes in it from the shelf. “Try this one. The holes lessen air resistance and give you more impact.”
    Reid took it from him to examine it. He sliced it through the air, the whooshing sound making Jace’s skin itch. God, he loved that sound. Even better was the noise the sub made when it smacked against her bare skin.
    “Mmm, better,” Reid agreed.
    “So how is that beautiful blonde of yours? You haven’t brought her by in a while. Still afraid she’s going to realize the error of her ways and come sub for me instead?”
    Reid shot him a deadly look. “Don’t make me test this paddle on your skull, smartass.”
    Jace laughed. A more tactful friend probably wouldn’t make a point to remind Reid on a