Free A Hot Mess by Christy Gissendaner Page A

“Now delete them.”
    Dylan held the camera out of her reach. “I will on one condition.”
    “And that will be?”
    “Let me take a real photograph of you.”
    Cait watched him, desperate for a hint of ridicule. She could find none. Why did he want to take her picture when he had the most beautiful models in the world vying for his attention? It wasn’t that she didn’t like cameras, but with Dylan behind the lens it seemed personal somehow. He was a professional, a man trained to see the flaws and do his best to capture a good image anyway.
    She gave him a stern look. “Just one?”
    Dylan gave a solemn nod. “Just one. Then I swear I’ll delete the others and put the camera away.”
    Cait heaved a sigh. “What do I do?”
    “Lie back.”
    Cait did as he asked. She felt weird just lying there looking up at the camera. “Now what?”
    “Here, let me do this.” Dylan leaned over her and brushed her hair to one side. “Now turn on your side and tilt your head down.”
    “Dylan, I don’t feel comfortable taking a nude photograph.”
    “You won’t be. Trust me, Cait. Okay?”
    She gazed up at him, the handsome face that was so close to hers. What she saw in his eyes reassured her. She gave a short nod. “Okay.”
    Dylan tugged the sheet over her hip, so it draped her from waist to knee. “Put your arm like this.”
    He maneuvered her arm, so it hid her naked breasts. “You’re not naked. See?”
    The tension left her body. Now that she wasn’t quite so self-conscious, it actually seemed like fun. “What do I do now?”
    He put the camera to his eye. “Whatever you want to do.”
    Cait frowned. She didn’t know if she should smile or attempt a serious face. Or she had a better idea. Her lips quirked upward with amusement as she made a duck face at him.
    Dylan lowered the camera. “Oh, now that’s seriously sexy, Cait.”
    Cait shrugged. “Well you know all the girls have to make at least one duck face photo in life.”
    “So you can post it online with all the other thirteen-year-old girls? What’s next, a Justin Bieber poster on your wall?”
    Cait giggled and shook her head at him. “How about this?” She widened her eyes and stuck her tongue out one side of her mouth a la road kill .
    “Any better?” she asked with difficulty since her tongue was still hanging out her mouth.
    “You are not taking this seriously.”
    She motioned toward him. “Well, it’s kinda hard to when you’re standing there naked as a jaybird.”
    “Cait.” Dylan’s exasperation shone through in the one word.
    “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’ll do better.” She scrubbed her hand down her face as if it could wipe the amusement from her features. She parted her lips slightly and schooled her features into a peaceful expression.
    Dylan lifted the camera again. “Move your chin to the right, and cut your eyes back at me.”
    Cait did as he asked. Dylan pressed the shutter, and the flash went off.
    Cait pushed up on one elbow. “Did you get it?”
    Dylan didn’t answer. He studied the image for much longer than she thought necessary.
    She held out her hand. “Is it that bad? Can I see it now?”
    Dylan finally snapped out of his daze and held the camera out to her. She took it and glanced at the screen. It wasn’t a bad picture actually. She was pale and thought the white sheets leached what color she did have from her skin, but her face looked sort of pretty.
    She handed the camera back to him. “It’s decent.”
    “It’s better than decent, Cait.” Dylan took the camera and packed it back into its bag. “You’re very photogenic.”
    “You’re just saying that to get into my pants.”
    “Cait, you’re not wearing pants.”
    “Exactly my point! So why don’t you get over here and finish what we started.”
    Dylan strolled back to the bed and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “I would love to, but there is something we need to do first.”
    Cait reached out to touch him, but he clamped his