Picture Perfect by Deena Remiel Read Free Book Online Page B

changed back to pleasantly stupid. Strange woman.
    “What about you?”
    “Pure pleasure.” She grinned wickedly. The elevator doors opened suddenly on a wall of windows that illuminated hallways to the right and left.
    “Well, enjoy your stay,” Hope told the stranger brightly and turned right down the hall.
    As the woman did the same, they laughed at the coincidence and continued walking. Hope stopped at her room, 306. “Well, this is me. Bye now.”
    She turned to her door and unlocked it. As she entered the room, a strong push against her back sent her careening into the lacquer desk causing her to drop her crutches. “Ah!” She’d landed on her right foot and pain shot straight through it like a scalding hot dagger. The door slammed shut behind her. What the hell’s going on? She turned to see the woman from the elevator standing before her, huffing and puffing like a tea kettle ready to blow, with one of her crutches clutched in her hands.
    “Jamie will never be your boyfriend, you fat cow! He’s mine!” The wild-eyed woman swung the crutch wildly in the air and connected with Hope’s head.
    ***
    “Man it’s been a while since Hope’s been gone. I wonder what the hold-up is. I hope she’s all right.” Jamie swiped his forehead with a towel and leaned against the tree.
    “I bet it’s taking her forever with those crutches.” The model took a towel of her own, sat down on a root, and patted her face, neck, and arms.
    “I think I’ll go meet up with her in case she needs help after all. Why don’t you go ahead and get some of your solo shots done?”
    “Sounds like a plan.” She smiled and walked over to the photographer to discuss set up.
    Jamie had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He walked into the hotel and up to the bar, immediately waving one of the bartenders over. “Hey, have you seen my girlfriend, a young woman with crutches, come by here recently?
    “Yeah, I’m getting water and ice ready for her. She’s gone up to her room for a backpack to carry it.”
    “Thanks, man.” He walked over to the elevators and pressed the button to go up. The doors opened immediately and he stepped in. Staring at his feet, he tapped his fingers against his thighs and waited impatiently for the elevator to reach his floor. Can this thing go any slower? The doors opened and he squinted from the bright sunshine washing over the entire hallway. I hope we didn’t pass each other like two ships passing in the night.
    He stuck his card in the lock and opened the door. Something wouldn’t let it open all the way. “Hope?” He looked down as he pushed the door open a bit wider. Walking into the foyer, he saw what had blocked the door from moving freely. Hope’s crutches were on the floor. What are they doing there? “Babe, are you all right?” He walked deeper into the suite.
    “Your babe is fine. Can’t say the same about the cow on the bed.”
    “What the hell? Hope!” He ran straight over to the bed closest to the window. There she laid, unconscious with blood dripping down her temple.
    “She took a mighty tumble, poor thing. I guess whacking her with a crutch helped her along a bit, but being built like a heifer, I’m surprised it didn’t take more than one hit to knock her out.”
    He turned to find the psycho model from hell sitting naked on the other bed, glaring at him. “Holy shit, Brittany! You’ve gone way too far, you sick, twisted bitch.” He grabbed a pillowcase off a pillow and pressed it to Hope’s head in an effort to staunch the flow.
    “No, you have. How could you two-time me with the likes of her? I told you I forgave you for being mean to me the other day. That we could still be together. But you didn’t answer any of my text messages or phone calls. I had to do something to get your attention.” She whipped out a gun and pointed it directly at his chest. “Do I have your attention now, James?”
    “Yes, Brittany, you have my attention.” He froze where