Modeling Death (3 page)

Jacob laughed. Gregor's nose was perfect. The man was stunning even if he was a jerk. More than once the two of them had competed for the same ad campaign; Jacob always won, which only added to Gregor's animosity towards him. Unlike other models Jacob worked with, he'd never warmed up to Gregor.

Mandy was still ranting.

"He sent back fifteen of the twenty models I thought would be perfect for his show."

"But you found him guys, right?" Jacob didn't want Paulie's show ruined.

Mandy sighed. "Yes, I found him guys, girls too. That is my job," she reminded him with a frown. "But you're missing my point here. My point is that Paul Sparrow isn't the exception; he's the norm. Do you know how hard it is to find a nice model, who actually gets along with photographers and designers?"

Jacob shrugged. It only made good sense to get along with the people who paid him. He couldn't help it if some models shot themselves in the foot with their behavior.

Mandy's phone rang.

"Just a moment, sweetie," she said, grabbing the receiver. Never one to miss an opportunity, she would probably answer her phone while meeting with the president.

After greeting the caller, she listened for a moment before turning her eyes towards Jacob. "Yes, he's here. When did you need him by?"

Jacob watched as Mandy's fingers flew across her keyboard. "Yes, we can fit you in for an interview between one and three today. He has a magazine shoot at four. Mmm hmm. I'll send you a contract. Sign it if you want to take him on."

She hung up and stared at Jacob for a moment. "Do you want to explain to me why one of New York's hottest new designers just called me?"

"Isn't that what they always do?" Jacob asked, puzzled.

"Yes, but they usually start with the cheap models. They don't call me and say they want Jacob Richmond and no one else will do."

Jacob shrugged. "Maybe he heard about me from someone else?"

"She. Faith Danes."

Jacob searched his memory, but he came up blank. "Haven't heard of her. Maybe she can tell me more when we meet."

"Well, she was most insistent on seeing you so she must have seen one of your ads." Mandy scrawled an address on a Post-it note and slid Jacob's new portfolio across the desk. "Better hurry, kid, or you'll miss your appointment."

* * * *

Guy sat on the corner of his sister's desk, swinging his heels.

"Would you tell me why I'm paying thousands of dollars for a kid I've never met?"

Guy grabbed the clipboard from Faith, signed the contract, and held it out to her assistant. "Fax this back."

The skinny kid grabbed the clipboard and scurried out of the room.

"Trust me, you won't be sorry. He's hot."

"And you think I should waste my hard-earned money to employ your new boyfriend, why?" Faith glared at Guy. "From the amount they're charging, I don't think your new boy toy is hurting for cash."

"Stop calling him that," Guy growled. "Or did you forget who financed your entire company?"

Faith raked her fingers through her hair. "Fine. I'm sorry."

Guy sighed. "No, I am. I financed your company because you're insanely talented, not so you'd owe me a favor." His sister's magical affinity for fabric helped her create incredible designs, and although she was two hundred and seventy years his junior, they were still close. "Faith, I've got to meet this guy again; I can't get him out of my mind. I'm almost certain he's my mate." He gave her his best imploring look.

"What do you mean you think he's your mate?" Faith sat up straight in her chair. "I thought you knew him."

Guy shook his head. "I met him at Favors, the new club downtown. I'm looking into a murder for the council. They thought one of their suspects might be there last night. I never saw the man I was looking for, but I found Jacob." Guy sighed as he remembered how hot Jacob looked. "He's the most gorgeous man I've ever seen, and he smells amazing."

"
He
'
s a model,
"
Faith said in a dry tone.
"
They tend to be good looking.
"
She examined her brother
'
s face and burst out laughing.
"
You
'
re infatuated with this kid. You really are. I hope he
is
your mate because I never thought I
'
d see the day when my cold-hearted brother mooned over
anyone. I
'
d hate for him to turn into one of your usual pickups. The family will be pleased you finally found your other half.
"

"Yeah, maybe mother will stop calling then," Guy growled. "And I'm not mooning." He ignored her comment about his pickups. It wasn't something he could deny. About a hundred years ago, he'd all but given up on finding his mate and decided to settle for Mr or Miss Person of the Moment instead of Mr Right. Abstinence didn't work for him even though his dates were starting to blur together.

Faith's assistant rushed back into the room. The kid's eyes were round like a child's at Christmas. "Faith, there's an incredibly gorgeous model waiting by my desk. I'll work free for a month if you let me dress him."

"Hands off," Guy snapped. He didn't even have to look to know who caused the silly twink to drool. No one touched Jacob's naked body but him! His magic rose to the surface, ready to protect his man from poachers, even as Guy knew realistically people touched Jacob all the time. The man couldn't model without a team of people getting him ready, but Guy didn't have to like it.

Faith stood up and rushed for the door.
"
Now I just
have
to meet him.
"

Guy scraped his fingers through his hair as he followed his sister out.

He almost slammed into her when she stopped in the doorway to catch her breath. "Wow, I see why the mighty have fallen," she said in a low, breathless tone. "Are you sure he's gay?"

Guy growled as Jacob turned to face them.

"Hello." Jacob offered a tentative smile. "I was told to wait here." Jacob's eyes widened as he caught sight of Guy.

Faith stepped forward, offering her hand. Jacob automatically took it and gave her hand a gentle shake.

"I'm Faith Danes, and this is my brother, Guy Franks."

Guy stepped forward for his handshake and bit back a gasp as a jolt of electricity passed between them when their hands met. Jacob took back his hand, rubbing it on his pants. Guy smiled at the gesture. At least he wasn't the only one who felt the connection.

Faith gave all her attention to Jacob. "If you'd follow me please?"

Jacob followed Faith to the back work area, with Guy bringing up the rear. Guy glowered at Faith's assistant until the kid made a squeaky noise and rushed back to his reception area. When he joined the other two, he found Jacob standing in the center of Faith's design studio, studying the mannequins dressed in Faith's designs.

"Could you take your shirt off please?" Faith said.

Guy pinched her arm.

"Ouch." She jerked out of his reach and glared at him.

Guy smirked.

He lost his amusement when the man, who wouldn't do casual sex, stripped off his shirt without argument, revealing miles of waxed, tanned, and toned skin.

Damn, he's fine!

He'd never considered the benefits of a lover who waxed. If Jacob waxed everything, there'd be no hair in the way when Guy sucked Jacob down. A slight moan broke from his throat.

Jacob's crystal gray eyes flickered to his, and Guy forgot how to breathe. "I heard you threatened my cousin."

"He was being an ass."

Surprisingly, Jacob laughed. "He is rather protective."

"I don't mean your cousin any harm. I only wanted you to form your own opinion about me without outside influence."

"Did you make up this job to get to me?"

"No," Faith spoke up. "He did recommend you, but I won't hire you if you don't look good in my clothes."

Jacob gave Faith a charming smile, completely unlike the frown Guy had received. If he didn't know Jacob was gay, Guy would've opened a black hole and shoved his sister through it.

"That's all right then," Jacob said. "I've gotten lots of jobs through recommendations, I just didn't want you to be pressured to hire me."

Guy could tell his sister was thoroughly charmed. As a tough single mother of two, Faith rarely found anyone charming. He felt a strange surge of pride over Jacob's considerate nature.

This one was a keeper.

Guy just had to figure out how to get that first date.

"Let's get you into a few things and see how you look," Faith said, taking on a businesslike tone. "Come this way." She led Jacob back to the dressing area, picking up pieces of clothing as she went. "Why don't you try these on then we'll have you walk for me."

"Sounds good." Jacob took the clothes with a smile and headed back to the curtained off dressing area. As soon as he was gone, Faith turned to Guy.

"Oh. My. God."

"I know," Guy said with a smug smile. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

"Yeah," Faith's assistant said from the doorway, well out of Guy's reach.

"Danny, go man the front desk; you're going to scare off the talent."

"Fine, but if he needs help with a button, you come get me right away." The skinny kid stomped back to the reception area.

Faith snickered. "I mean it, Guy. I interviewed a lot of models for my show next week. I don't think any of them were even half as gorgeous as your man."

Guy would've commented, but the curtain opened and Jacob walked out. The linen outfit with sapphire accents skimmed the model's body like a dream.

It took Faith two tries to find her voice. "If you could just walk for us."

Jacob flashed Guy a suspicious look. Guy returned it with what he hoped was an innocent smile. Somehow he doubted he pulled it off since he wanted to tackle Jacob and lick him all over with a need bordering on desperation.

Without a word, Jacob glided across the floor, back and forth, for Faith's inspection. His steps were confident and sure, like a graceful dance.

"Do you have your book with you?" Faith asked.

"It's in the waiting room."

"Get dressed and let's have a look."

Jacob nodded and went to get his clothing.

"What? Aren't you going to hire him?" Guy asked, indignantly.

Faith spun around. "Are you nuts? My clothes are going to sell like hot cakes with this guy on my runway. I just want to see how he photographs. I've got an ad campaign coming up." Faith jabbed him in the chest. "You may have introduced us, but this is business. Your new man is my dream model. Maybe if you're nice I'll put in a good word for you."

How had he lost control of the situation?

Guy stared at his sister. All he'd wanted was to see the beautiful stranger again, fuck him, and see if the man was his mate. Now, not only Jacob's cousin, but also Guy's own sister was getting protective over the man.

"I'm not some kind of monster," Guy protested.

"I know you're not," Faith said, her eyes fixed on the curtained dressing room. "I also know you're probably the most relationship-deficient person I've ever known. Don't break his heart until after Fashion Week is all I ask. I need him happy until then; my career depends on it."

"Oh please, like I'd ever let you be thrown out into the street."

Faith still didn't know Guy had bought her mortgage. If anything happened to the company, she'd still be in good condition. It was only her stubbornness that prevented Guy from taking care of her and her kids completely. At twenty she'd hooked up with the wrong guy, and after ten years and two kids together, he'd dumped her for a fresher model. Guy smiled at the memory of how thoroughly he had destroyed Faith's ex when the bastard dropped his entire family to go and fuck a nineteen-year old college freshman. The last he had heard, the guy was bankrupt and his teenager had dumped him.

* * * *

Jacob left the dressing room and found two pairs of interested eyes staring at him. A little unnerved by their intensity, he waved a hand towards the other room to get the pair moving. "My book," he prompted.

Faith led the way while Guy walked behind Jacob. He thought he felt the ghost of a hand on his ass, but when he turned around, Guy gave him an innocent smile.

Damn, he's hot.

Jacob might be uncertain how he felt about Guy, but his body was all on board to do anything the sexy man wanted.

They entered the reception area and found Faith's assistant going through Jacob's book.

"Danny." Faith held out her hand imperiously.

"I like the swimsuit photos," Danny said. He snapped the book closed and handed it over to the designer. Danny gave Jacob a shy look. "Let me know if you ever want to go out some time."

"He's busy," Guy growled.

Jacob spun around to face the big man. "What makes you say that?"

Guy gave him a smile of his own, more predatory than wistful. "Because I wanted to take you out to dinner to celebrate getting the job."

Jacob frowned. "But I haven't gotten the job yet."

Guy nudged his sister.

"What?" Faith said, flipping through the pages of photos.

"Tell him he got the job."

"Oh." Faith looked up at him. "Of course you've got the job. Have you ever been turned down?"

Jacob shrugged. "It happens. Sometimes designers want a different look, maybe a blond or someone built differently."

"Their loss," Faith said. "I'm sure you know you photograph beautifully."

"It does help with my modeling career." Jacob couldn't hold back the smile. She was really cute. If he swung that way, he would've asked her out in a heartbeat. Instead, he was stuck with her gorgeous, grumpy brother who pushed all Jacob's buttons in all the right ways. If only Guy wasn't so bossy.

Faith laughed. "You'd be surprised how many come by and have the worst books. Yours is amazing. It looks like you've done ads for every major designer and perfume company."