“Anything you need, I’m happy to help.”
“Well, that’s part of it. We’d have to keep the project incredibly hush-hush with very few people around to aid us, if any at all. I simply can’t put anyone’s safety at risk. As it is, if you take on this project, you need to understand that you too will be under a microscope, and also may be in danger.”
“First of all, I’m a trained soldier and survived fourteen years of active wartime situations. Four in the Army, the other ten capturing it. I’ve spent more of my life in danger than out of it. I also have a very secure home, alarm system included, and a mean as hell Rottweiler. Taking the pictures old school is my preference. If we’re allowed carte blanch with the photography, I can promise you they’ll be unlike anything you’ve taken before.”
“I’m not sure what the initial vision and scope was for the project, but a lot of that is out the window and the client really wanted me in the product—which is great, because the designer does too. The entire line is lingerie with some robes, teddies, and the like. High scale, expensive. We have to make the pieces look incredible. They were designed by my sister Blessing who you met today, and she really needs this contract to take her business to the next level.”
“Your sister? Blessing Jones, the fashion designer?”
“Yeah?”
“She’s your sister?”
“Yes.” I frowned. “Why?”
“Baby, she’s black and you’re white.”
My heart melted when he called me “Baby.” Then his words sunk in and I cracked up laughing and kept going until my belly hurt. It’s not something I thought about, but it would probably be a little strange to an outsider.
“We’re foster sisters.”
“Now that makes a whole helluva lot more sense.”
I giggled. “I bet it does.”
“When do we start?”
“I’m ready when you are. Blessing is confirming the change with the clients and I have no doubt she’ll be able to talk them into it. So, it’s really up to when you’re available to take me on.”
“Oh, Addison, I can definitely take you on…” He laughed, and my cheeks heated, while the redness kept flowing down my neck and to the top of my chest where my nipples took notice and hardened beneath my clothes.
“Killian,” I whispered his name, realizing it sounded rather husky, hinting at something more when more between us should not even be on the table right now. My life was an absolute mess, and no one deserved to get dragged into it. Especially a war veteran who made it clear he had his own demons to contend with.
“Just messing around. I promise I will be the pillar of professionalism…while on the job. Outside of work, all bets are off.”
I groaned and he laughed once more.
“Let me know when you have the go-ahead. I’ll make sure the studio is set up and we have what we need. I’ll e-mail your sister to get information on the scope of the full project. She gave me her card before the two of you left today. The client didn’t provide me anything when I arrived earlier other than you standing in front of the first backdrop, which I found rather uninspiring, to tell you the truth. I think we can do far better than what they had available and blow their minds.”
“Thank you, Killian, for being willing to do this. I know the circumstances are unusual…”
“Fitz. Call me Fitz.”
“Okay, call me Addy.”
“Addy. I like it. Suits you,” he murmured, and the sound of my name coming from that warm honeyed tone sent a shiver of excitement skating through my veins.
“I’ll text you when I know more. Thank you, Fitz.”
“You’re welcome, Addy. See you soon.”
“Yes, I believe you will.”
CHAPTER THREE
Living in a house with nine women growing up had seemed nothing but normal. Now as adult women, even though there are only eight of us with Tabby gone, we have added Rory, Genesis’s three-year-old daughter, Jonah, Simone’s man, Amber, their dog, and Ryan, Jonah’s partner who slept on the couch. Apparently, an enormous house filled to the brim with women didn’t deter the one man in our lives from calling in reinforcements by having Ryan stay. The upstairs was abuzz with activity, and I was glad I was an early riser because I caught a shower first and had first pick of the fresh baked cookies Mama Kerri left on the counter wrapped in tinfoil.
Blessing dashed down the stairs and stopped at the bottom where I stood sipping my tea and shoving a second cookie into my mouth. The woman moved as though she was in sneakers when she clearly had on four-inch heels. I wasn’t sure if I’d seen her in flats in the last few years. My sister from another mister was top to toe a fashionista. I couldn’t fault her for that because not only did she look fantastic all the time, but she also gave all of us free clothes she designed, and it was her job to look good. So good, I could see FBI hot guy Ryan Russell’s mouth drop open and his eyes heat while he scanned her form from where he was folding a blanket and setting it on the couch he’d just slept on.
“Hey.” She nodded, putting a rather large gold hoop into her ear. I took a minute to appreciate all that was Blessing Jones-Kerrighan. She wore a see-through black shirt that gathered at the neck but was completely backless and sleeveless. Under it she had on a black bandeau top that covered her average sized tatas that left nothing to the imagination but absolutely highlighted her glorious dark skin. The sheer shirt was tucked into a pair of cream-colored, slinky dress slacks that curved magically over her tight booty and came down in a taper at her ankles. There she rocked a pair of stunning red heels that boasted a sexy ankle strap. Her nails were painted fire engine red, the same as her glorious pout. Her hair was up in a pineapple-type shape but artfully pinned that way, so her curls were on point.
“Daaaaaauuuuummmm, girl. You got a hot date?” I teased when she turned around and grabbed her bag.
“Yeah, with you and your photographer. Then once we get you settled, I’m off to meet clients in the city.”
“You’re not planning to go alone, are you?” Ryan interrupted. He stood a few feet from us and placed his long arms up above his head as he took hold of the wood that framed the entryway from the living room to the kitchen area. The sleep shirt he wore stretched along his muscular frame proving he took care of his body much like his partner Jonah did. The simple loose black pajama pants he wore gifted us a hint of what the man might be packing down under and it did not look small. Yowza!
I watched with glee as Blessing’s dark gaze took in all that was Ryan Russell from his golden, layered hair on top that was cropped short at the sides, his scruffy jaw, and down that long, somewhat lean but definitely muscular form all the way to his bare feet.
“Tall glass of milk,” she murmured. “Too bad you’re in law enforcement.” She sighed as if genuinely disappointed in that factoid, while he frowned.
“Excuse me?” He tilted his head and ran his hand down his broad chest to his stomach where he rubbed his abdominals, then rested his hand at his hip.
The man was good-looking to be sure. No, he was seriously good-looking, but nowhere near as glorious as Killian Fitzpatrick. Not to mention his eyes were glued to my sister like she was eggs and bacon, and he was ready for his morning meal.