her agent permission to find her nude modeling gigs. The woman had been thrilled, saying that she knew the exact job for her and it could start quite soon. Gabby's stomach churned and she had an impulse to put on her thickest clothes and a giant coat, covering herself to the eyeballs. But, of course, that wouldn't make her feel less exposed.
Her mother's recliner groaned from the other room as Gabby sat in her bedroom. It was for her mother. The whole thing was for a good cause. She couldn't let her mother suffer if she could do something about it. Modeling had been her ticket thus far, and it would continue to be for another few years. After that...well, she'd deal with after when she had to. With a little luck, she'd get some decent jobs as a model and make enough money to support them while she went to college or got a vocational certificate. Gabby reminded herself to keep the big picture in mind.
Still, she wondered how it was going to feel, being naked in front of a camera. Would the lights be hot on her breasts, or would the room be cold? Was she supposed to walk around the set nude as a hairless cat, or would they let her put her clothes on between sessions? The answers would come out once she started down that path.
Ace would totally disapprove of the idea.
Gabby straightened her shoulders. Ace had no say in the matter. He'd be going back to Texas the next day, at least a day before her first nude shoot. He didn't have to know about the plan. No one but her agent had to know. Her mother would think Gabby was doing her usual modeling jobs, and she'd never see any of the nude shots, so there was no chance of discovery.
It was going to be okay.
And, in the meantime, she had one more night with Ace, and she planned to make the most of it. They were going to her favorite Italian restaurant, Conti Brothers, where they knew her and would treat them well. Maybe Ace would take her back to his hotel and keep her busy for a few hours. The experience would be over too soon, but she was determined to ignore the end and focus on the present.
The young medical aide showed up a few hours later, and Gabby let her in with a smile, introducing her to her mother.
Her mother was polite, and seemed to accept having a stranger help her for a few hours.
"I wrote a medicine schedule for you, Colette." She showed her the paper. "If she complains of pain and it's not time for her medicine, you can massage her with this camphor stuff."
"Got it."
Gabby liked the intelligent look in the woman's eyes. Even though she was beholden to Ace for finding the service and having them call, it looked like it was going to work out. Relief about her mother's care had lightened her responsibilities for one evening at least. What she'd do when she had to go back to work, she didn't know. It was going to take several weeks of long photo shoots before she'd put together enough money to start paying for an aide all by herself.
One thing at a time.
Ace arrived exactly on schedule, and Gabby said her goodbyes and hurried out to meet him. His warm hug was a luxury. His kiss, a promise of more to come. He drove them to the restaurant, and took her hand as they left the car with the valet.
As they sat waiting for their main entrees to be served, they chatted about their days. Gabby carefully sidestepped any mention of nudity as she talked about possible new opportunities coming up.
"Soon, huh?"
She nodded. "Possibly. My agent said there's a hot prospect. We'll see."
"I know you need the money, sweetheart." He held her hand and rubbed her fingers. "I know it's a burr under your saddle blanket, but your mama mentioned bill collectors the other day. Are you in financial straits?"
Gabby withdrew her hand and put it in her lap, frowning down at the tablecloth. "She shouldn't have said anything. It's nothing I can't handle."
Ace leaned back in his chair, and Gabby could sense his eyes boring a hole in her forehead. "It's not urgent? You're not going to
Her mother's recliner groaned from the other room as Gabby sat in her bedroom. It was for her mother. The whole thing was for a good cause. She couldn't let her mother suffer if she could do something about it. Modeling had been her ticket thus far, and it would continue to be for another few years. After that...well, she'd deal with after when she had to. With a little luck, she'd get some decent jobs as a model and make enough money to support them while she went to college or got a vocational certificate. Gabby reminded herself to keep the big picture in mind.
Still, she wondered how it was going to feel, being naked in front of a camera. Would the lights be hot on her breasts, or would the room be cold? Was she supposed to walk around the set nude as a hairless cat, or would they let her put her clothes on between sessions? The answers would come out once she started down that path.
Ace would totally disapprove of the idea.
Gabby straightened her shoulders. Ace had no say in the matter. He'd be going back to Texas the next day, at least a day before her first nude shoot. He didn't have to know about the plan. No one but her agent had to know. Her mother would think Gabby was doing her usual modeling jobs, and she'd never see any of the nude shots, so there was no chance of discovery.
It was going to be okay.
And, in the meantime, she had one more night with Ace, and she planned to make the most of it. They were going to her favorite Italian restaurant, Conti Brothers, where they knew her and would treat them well. Maybe Ace would take her back to his hotel and keep her busy for a few hours. The experience would be over too soon, but she was determined to ignore the end and focus on the present.
The young medical aide showed up a few hours later, and Gabby let her in with a smile, introducing her to her mother.
Her mother was polite, and seemed to accept having a stranger help her for a few hours.
"I wrote a medicine schedule for you, Colette." She showed her the paper. "If she complains of pain and it's not time for her medicine, you can massage her with this camphor stuff."
"Got it."
Gabby liked the intelligent look in the woman's eyes. Even though she was beholden to Ace for finding the service and having them call, it looked like it was going to work out. Relief about her mother's care had lightened her responsibilities for one evening at least. What she'd do when she had to go back to work, she didn't know. It was going to take several weeks of long photo shoots before she'd put together enough money to start paying for an aide all by herself.
One thing at a time.
Ace arrived exactly on schedule, and Gabby said her goodbyes and hurried out to meet him. His warm hug was a luxury. His kiss, a promise of more to come. He drove them to the restaurant, and took her hand as they left the car with the valet.
As they sat waiting for their main entrees to be served, they chatted about their days. Gabby carefully sidestepped any mention of nudity as she talked about possible new opportunities coming up.
"Soon, huh?"
She nodded. "Possibly. My agent said there's a hot prospect. We'll see."
"I know you need the money, sweetheart." He held her hand and rubbed her fingers. "I know it's a burr under your saddle blanket, but your mama mentioned bill collectors the other day. Are you in financial straits?"
Gabby withdrew her hand and put it in her lap, frowning down at the tablecloth. "She shouldn't have said anything. It's nothing I can't handle."
Ace leaned back in his chair, and Gabby could sense his eyes boring a hole in her forehead. "It's not urgent? You're not going to
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