Entangled (A Tryst Novel) by Alex Rosa Read Free Book Online Page B

one thing,
bella
,” he adds.
    I squint, not at all understanding. “What thing?”
    His charming yet sly smile appears for the second time in reaction to my antagonistic tone.
    “That I might have found my muse. But we will need those test shots first.”
    “Excuse me? Your what?” My voice has shifted to a whisper.
    I turn to look at Blake, who only offers me a shrug.
    Huh?
  This can’t possibly be a good thing.
    With that Gio exits the small space, leaving Blake and me alone, and I know I’m only minutes away from the bombardment of the strange entourage again.
    “Blake?” I hiss. “What’s going on?” I breathe out.
    “Don’t you know who that is?”
    I scrunch my brows. “Giovanni Vigilucci?” I repeat his full name robotically, not having a clue what meaning his name holds.
    Blake grabs for my face with both hands, chuckling, on the verge of bringing my lips to his. “He’s a very renowned photographer. I guess you wouldn’t know that, but he is. He does
Vogue
,
Harper’s Bazaar
,
Vanity Fair
, and all that. Everyone wants to work with him.”
    He says it as if it’s supposed to make me feel better, and I should be happy by the turn of events.
    He leans in to close the distance between us, but I stop his onslaught of kisses with a firm hand against his chest. This all feels so bizarre. “Blake, am I supposed to agree to all this?”
    “What Gio wants, Gio gets.”
    I scoff at the remark. “No. Gio doesn’t get to have me if I don’t want him to.”
    “You’re right, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
    Blake’s features fall in such a way that I wonder if this could be the lingering disappointment I very much want to avoid.
    “Is he your friend?”
    Blake nods. “Yeah, I guess he is. We’ve worked together for a long while.”
    “Should I do this?”
    Blake pushes past my hand, kissing me hard and quickly, leaving me breathless. “Why not? Ten grand in your pocket, and a photo shoot with the best photographer in the biz. Some might call you the luckiest girl in LA, and you just stumbled upon it.”
    I want to reply with something snarky, like,
No, my super-hot, stupid boyfriend asked me to come . . .
But suddenly the meaning of his words dawns on me, and I feel ungrateful. I know of many girls, even some of my classmates, who traveled to LA with the hopes of getting even slightly noticed. I should try understanding the enormity of this opportunity.
    “You’re saying I should do this?”
    He smiles my favorite smile, and the singular dimple is there, matched with his sprite-green stare, commanding me body and soul. He almost seems excited. “I’m saying, what could go wrong?”
    “Do you trust him?”
    Finally, a look of concern flits across Blake’s angular face as he thinks it over, but it isn’t long before he says, “Yes; yes, I do. I mean, I’ve never known Gio to date the women he works with, or treat them poorly, if that’s what you mean by all of this. Plus, it could be fun.”
    Is that what I mean? Am I worried he’ll be attracted to me romantically? Am I worried what Blake might feel with the situation? I pause, thinking Blake is obviously okay with all this, so why should I have such a problem? It’s only one gig . . . okay, maybe two, but that’s it.
    I grab for his strong, muscular arms, finding they balance me in more ways than one. Something else begs to be asked if I agree to all of this. “Blake, what does he mean by his muse?”
    He lets out a shockingly loud laugh at the sight of my well-crafted, nervous pout, and I worry instantly about its meaning.
    Shocking us both, there is a bright, sudden flash, and I look up to find Gio has been lurking and snapped a photo of us in the heat of the moment.
    Both men begin to laugh, and all I can manage is a shout. “Gio!”
    What have I gotten myself into?
    BLAKE
    I chew my cheek curiously as I trail behind Skyler, her flawless back leading the way. Skyler turns around to give me her