Chapter 80: MILLION DOLLARS SMILE

LAURA

For a few moments, I was too stunned to speak. Then...

Tristan instantly reached out and grabbed me by my waist.

"What is going on?" I murmured into his chest.

"Relax," he said in a voice that was too calm for the chaos that seemed to be happening around us. "It’s just turbulence."

Turbulence? Or the universe just wanted an excuse to bring Tristan and I together in a private place?

Tristan seemed to be liking the turbulence a little too much, as he kept his arm tightly wrapped around me the whole time.

His heartbeat was loud and unstable against my ears, making it difficult for me to concentrate on anything else...anything but the flutters in my stomach.

When the jet finally stopped shaking, I cleared my throat and squirmed in his grip. He glanced down at me with fire in those blue eyes. "You shouldn’t have left your seat."

I scoffed as I struggled to get to my feet. The space was too small for the both of us, making me press up flat against the wall. I wonder how we even fell in.

"I didn’t realize I was in a prison," I spat. "Even prisoners are allowed to relieve themselves, you know."

I glared at him as he stood to his full height, leaning against the wall. He looked devastatingly good in a simple black shirt and jeans. His hair was styled back, a few strands brushing his forehead. He looked like he’d put some extra effort in this morning.

Fuck. Is that even what I should be thinking about right now?

Someone could have seen him come in here... What would they think? How could he be so reckless?

I stared pointedly at him, expecting him to get the point. But he didn’t. Or maybe he just pretended not to.

"This is the female lavatory, in case you did not notice," I snapped.

The corners of his lips tilted in a tiny smirk. "Of course I know that, Laura. I came here because I was worried you might have fallen and hit your head."

My eyes smarted behind their lids. "I’m not a kid."

"You’re not." His jaw hardened. "But accidents happen. And I won’t let anyone happen to you, not on my watch."

My breath caught in my throat, and I forgot what I should be doing. I forgot my demanding bladder.

Why did he always say things like that these days? Was this him trying to woo me into his bed?

Honestly...he didn’t even need to do all that.

"Can you please leave, Tristan? I was here for some private business before you barged in." His eyes trailed to the base of my throat and devoured it. I swallowed a lump down, and he appeared fascinated by the movement.

Then he moved those eyes back to my face. "Get strapped in soon. We have about seven hours more and turbulence might hit again."

I rolled my eyes at him as he turned and walked towards the door. Then he paused and turned those blue eyes on me one more time. "You know, you should smile more often. You’ve got a million dollar smile." Then he closed the door behind him.

My cheeks heated up instantly, because I did not expect that.

And who even said he could look out for me? I get that we were partners now, but was it really necessary?

°°°

There was a shoot scheduled for 5.30pm, so as soon as we arrived at the hotel, we had to get ready immediately.

All I had to do was shower, but I was jetlagged and wanted a nap.

I was contemplating lying down for a minute when a knock sounded on the door. "Ms. Hayes," Layla’s voice came from the other side. "Are you ready yet?"

"Not yet!" I called. "Please come in."

The door swung open and she stepped into the room, already dressed in a sky blue shirt, neatly pressed pants and simple flats.

She blinked when she saw me. "Oh. Have you showered yet?"

I heaved a sigh and trudged towards the bathroom. "Well, what do you think?"

"I’ll help you pack a few things you might need!" She called after me, trying to encourage me in her usual manner.

As I turned the shower on, I shut my eyes against the warm droplets of water and let my mind drift for a moment.

I wondered if Eli was back home yet or still at school. I wondered if he was missing me as much as I missed him.

Shoving my fingers through hair, I thought about the way Tristan had looked at me in that cramped space we shared on the jet. I wondered what would happen if he kept looking at me like that...if I would be able to withstand the—

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. "Ms. Hayes, they’re asking for you already."

"Coming!"

I quickly rinsed off the suds and dried off. Then I picked out a simple outfit. The shoot was at a beach. Apparently, it was a bikini shoot. The newest line in Pierce Fashion.

So I got dressed in baggy pants and a cutoff shirt, and left the suite with Layla. It was as I burst out of my door and came face-to-face with Tristan that I realized we were next door neighbors.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and adjusted my small handbag on my shoulder.

Layla kept moving ahead.

Tristan’s eyes hadn’t left my body once. "I’m happy to be doing this with you."

My brows pinched together in a frown, even though my heart skipped a few beats. "What?"

"This partnership. Your body is—I mean," he cleared his throat and flicked those dark eyes to my face, "you’re the right choice for us."

I stared at him for a moment or two, face heating up again, then I managed to flash him a tight smile through my racing heart. "I’m glad I am."

I hurried towards the elevator, where Layla was waiting.

He was about to join us when his assistant, Peter Callahan, called his attention from behind. He turned away from me with disappointment in his eyes, and as the doors finally slid shut, I swallowed deep breaths and exhaled.

"Nervous?"

I shrugged, turning to Layla with a smile. "I guess. I’m going to stand half naked in front of strangers and model different sets of bikinis. Kinda my first time." I left out the most important part. That Tristan was among the people who would watch me model in bikinis, and I couldn’t stop thinking and daydreaming about how that would feel. His eyes on my half-naked body the entire time.

"You’re going to do just great," Layla assured behind me. "I believe you will."

I hoped so, as well. I even looked forward to wowing everyone who watched.

When we arrived on set, I was immediately pulled to the dressing room and dolled up for the shoot.

The first session was to be shot in a set of polka-dotted bikinis that hugged my breasts like they were undersize but perfect in a way. My hair was done up like a Barbie doll’s. Pinned and curled, a few careless strands loose against my face.

The moment I stepped out of the dressing cubicle, the air went dead quiet, and I could immediately feel Tristan’s heated gaze on my face.