Page 2 of Tantrum Interrupted (Blue Collar Daddies in the City #10)

ROMAN

If you wanted to see a man have an existential crisis over a pillow arrangement, you just had to work a day at Luxehaus.

The head stylist, a high-strung vision in black turtleneck and gold earrings, was locked in mortal combat with an ottoman and three poofy pillows.

I’d seen less drama on reality show sets, but I kept my camera up and my mouth shut.

I clocked the talent for the day slumped against a mid-century couch.

Hunter Hayes was some kind of gaming prodigy.

He had his feet tucked under his ass and his hands curled around a phone like he was reading the most important text of his life.

The kid looked like he belonged in an after-school detention lineup instead of a furniture catalog, but his resume said he’d graduated college, so he wasn’t as young as he looked.

The director circled him, reading off the brief in a tone that implied she’d rather be anywhere but here.

“You’re alone. You’re bored. But you’re also mysterious.

Like, maybe you just finished reading something deep, or you’re haunted by your own genius.

” Janet paused, waiting for a sign that the kid was absorbing the Oscar-worthy emotional stakes.

He just nodded then hit a vape pen. “Yeah, okay.”

I smirked and adjusted a reflector to catch the light that bounced off his porcelain skin. This was gonna be a long day.

Hunter Hayes was used to doing whatever he wanted and getting praised for it.

I wasn’t a gamer myself, but I’d heard his name around.

The local celebrity with messy hair, big dark eyes, and moves that had earned him international attention.

For someone who was barely out of college, it was hard not to be impressed that he had to be pulling in seven figures a year. Minimum.

It wasn’t a bad gig, but I couldn’t help wondering if it was healthy for him.

He looked so innocent and soft, but that could’ve just been an act.

A mask to hide what was really going on inside him.

As I took a few test shots, I noticed a sullen aura around him that made you want to either parent him or strangle him.

Maybe both if he was kinky.

He made my job harder than it needed to be, but not in a way I totally minded. In fact, I rarely had to hold back a smirk when I was working, but he made me want to chuckle at the way he was obviously fishing for praise.

I ran through the first dozen shots and had to agree with Janet. Hunter looked less “wistful and mysterious” and more like a bratty child who’d dropped his ice cream cone.

She pinched her lips as she squinted at the preview images. She shook her head, and in a quiet voice meant just for me, she whispered, “This isn’t working.”

“Mm.” I knew he had it in him, he just needed to get over his shitty attitude and do what he was told. “Maybe we move to some of the standing shots.”

She nodded and walked to a bedroom set. “Hunter, we’re gonna move to the dresser. See if that helps you loosen up.” She knocked on the edge of the dresser and waited for him to get his ass up. “Now, please. Maybe we can get a little more energy and…life out of you?”

Hunter rolled his eyes as he slowly got to his feet. “You want me to do jumping jacks or something? I can do pushups too, if you want. I didn’t realize you were hiring me to be a jock, but I’m down. Winning is winning, right?”

The stylist gave him a look like she was considering smothering him with a pillow. She probably wasn’t the only one. I didn’t say anything, but the laugh behind my teeth was real. That boy needed a spanking.

“Hunter. Please.” The director pinched the bridge of her nose like she was warding off a headache. “You know that’s not what I’m asking for. Just look at the camera and think about…something you want.”

He looked at her and shrugged. “Like, a nap? Maybe some Skittles.”

Okay, now he was just wasting our time. “You want to get paid for this, right?” I asked loud enough to make sure he heard.

“Oh, I’m getting paid.” He seemed to give in to the fact that he was here for a reason and sighed, still in full brat mode but hopefully more accommodating. “And I’m worth every dollar.”

Little shit.

For the next five minutes, we let the kid mug for the camera, goofing off with duck lips and hair flips that he’d probably seen in his feeds.

I dutifully clicked through the shots just in case anything was usable, but as expected, most were trash.

Although, every now and then, he’d forget to be a brat and a genuine smile or vulnerable stare would slip through.

Those were the keepers. Maybe not for the client, but I wouldn’t be able to delete those ones.

The haunted stares and desperate glances like he just wanted to be seen.

And I saw him.

After twenty minutes, the director was circling the drain. “Let’s reset.” She clapped her hands and sighed. “Hunter, stand by the end table and maybe pick up a book. Pretend you’re interested in it.”

He nodded and did what he was told. We were finally making progress. Of course, after a few minutes of him rubbing his cheek and wiping his forehead with the back of his arm, his carefully applied makeup was uneven, and Janet called for a refresh.

“I got it.” The makeup guy descended on him for a quick powder and then blotted Hunter’s face. “You never seem like this much trouble in your videos.” He winked at Hunter before stepping back and holding up a mirror. “But the camera loves you regardless.”

It really did.

He didn’t miss a beat and that lower lip instantly popped out. “In my videos, I don’t have to wear pants,” Hunter muttered. His gaze drifted to me and he stared right at me. “And I rarely do.”

Fuckin’ kid.

The stylist tutted and tweaked Hunter’s messy hair into place. “Now, focus. At this rate, you’re gonna make me late for my date this afternoon.”

Hunter’s eyes cut to me again and quickly looked away. “Yeah, whatever. I don’t wanna be here any longer than necessary either.”

“You’re doing great, kid. Let’s just get through this and you can get back to your toys and whatnot.” Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that outloud. But he didn’t seem too bothered.

Hunter grinned with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And what would that whatnot be?”

“No damn idea. Let’s just keep going.” I refocused and adjusted the aperture and shutter speed without engaging any further.

We shot for another ten minutes, but things quickly deteriorated.

Hunter tried to be a bit more present, but the director wanted more than he could give, and I could sense his imminent breakdown.

“This still isn’t working.” Janet sighed after the third set change. “Can you just, I dunno, channel some real feeling?”

Hunter bristled as if offended and jutted out his chin. “I am feeling. This is me channeling real feelings. Real pissed feelings.”

She scoffed and shook her head. “Your face is a blank wall. I get that you’re used to doing this in a dark little room with EDM blaring in the background, but you gotta give us something we can work with. Just smile and pretend you don’t hate being here.”

His fists bunched in the front pouch of his hoodie as he narrowed his eyes. “I don’t fake emotions.”

This wasn’t my first shoot with a bratty model, but I could tell the kid was at his limit.

I lowered my camera and leaned on the arm of the couch. “Do you need to take five? Maybe have a snack?”

“No.” He glared at me with more heat than the suggestion should have evoked. “Let’s just get this over with.”

I raised my eyebrows, keeping my voice light. “Okay, but we need you to work with us.”

The director glanced at her watch and sucked in a deep breath. “Hunter, we hired you for your vibe. But you’re making this way more difficult than it needs to be.”

“Sorry, but I can’t just turn on a ‘furniture salesman’ vibe.” He threw his arms up. “I didn’t realize nightstands needed to be highlighted by emotional stares over the horizon.”

The stylist muttered something under her breath, but Hunter must have heard because he turned on her. “Am not!”

Hunter’s eyes got glassy, and for a second, I wondered if he was about to cry, but instead, he did something worse. He fucking exploded.

“You want me to be real? Here’s me being real.

I fucking hate this couch. It’s lumpy and smells like ass.

This living room setup is lame as fuck. There’s a camera up my nose, and you’re all standing around waiting for me to entertain, but that’s not what I do.

I’m not a fucking show pony that will dance around for treats.

I was told I just had to sit on the bed with my phone in my hand and the cameraman would do the rest.” He glared at me as if I was the one who told him such a ridiculous story.

“I’m tired. I’m hungry. I was told there’d be a hot breakfast and only the gross everything bagels were left, so sorry if I’m not as perky as you expected.

I’m not a professional model. I’m a gamer.

And yes, I actually would prefer being in a dark room by myself over dealing with assholes who make me feel like a goddamn troll?—”

And there it was.

He was in full tantrum, and I wasn’t even sure if he’d take a breath yet. Nobody moved. The silence was heavy. Makeup dabbed at his brush. The stylist looked mortified.

I should have left it to the director, but I didn’t think Janet had it in her to do what needed to be done. With a deep exhale, I set down my camera and cleared my throat mid-rant. “Enough.”

He froze, chin still jutting out but his eyes wide as they locked in on me.

“Take a walk with me.” It was clear that wasn’t a suggestion, so I didn’t wait for him to respond. I merely grabbed my water bottle and walked out the service door at the side of the store.

The loading dock was cold as I leaned back against the brick wall and waited for Hunter to appear. After a beat, the kid came out and slammed the door behind him.

He glared at me like a feral cat. “What?”

I took a sip of water and let him stew for a moment while I just stared. “You wanna talk about it, or should I guess?”

He shoved his hands in his hoodie and turned away from me. “I’m not a baby who needs a timeout.”

“Coulda fooled me with the way you just blew up in there.”

He turned back and scowled. “They’re treating me like I’m too stupid to know how to look out into space. It’s furniture. People will buy it if they like it and can afford it. My face isn’t gonna actually sell more coffee tables.”

That might’ve been true, but that wasn’t the point. “Everyone’s just doing their job. Janet is paid to create a great ad. I’m paid to take great photos. You’re paid to look moody and hot, and right now you’re only half delivering.”

He huffed and looked away, but his ears turned a darker shade of pink as I watched. “Yeah, I’ve got moody down pretty good.”

That wasn’t the half I was referring to. “That too.”

He stomped his foot once, which nearly killed me with how fucking cute it was. “Did you draw the short stick or does the camera guy always have to deal with the bratty boys who are about to be fired?”

“I’m here because I want good pictures, and I hate wasting a day.” I took a chance and leaned closer, gripping his shoulder in a firm hold. “I know you can crush this photoshoot.”

He chewed the inside of his cheek and peeked over at me. “You don’t know that.”

I didn’t, but I did know that bratty boys like Hunter usually needed some strict guidelines to get refocused.

“Look, you’re here and you look great. It’s good money for an easy gig.

All you gotta do is pose however Janet asks for one more hour and show some emotion.

You don’t have to be happy. Just be…non-neutral. ”

His lips pulled back in a grin. “I’m not good at non-neutral in public situations.”

“That’s obvious.” I winked to let him know I was teasing.

He shook his head, and his shoulders dropped a few inches. “You’re a dick.”

“Sometimes.” I stepped back to give him space but stayed close in case he needed me.

What the fuck? Why would he need me? He definitely didn’t need me.

Hunter let out a shaky sigh and nodded. “Sorry, that wasn’t cool.”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the people inside who have to clean up your attitude.”

He snorted and actually relaxed. “You sound like a dad.”

I’d been called worse. “Not technically, but I’m not afraid to step in with a spanking or timeout now and then.”

“Gross,” he whispered without any heat to it. In fact, the way his pupils dilated before he turned away told me all I needed to know about how my statement affected him.

“Some might think so.” I slipped my finger under his jaw and forced his line of sight back to me. “Are you one of those people?”

He shook his head. “No, sir.”

Damn, that sounded good. Only way that could sound better was if he called me Daddy instead. “Then do as I say and get your cute little ass back in there and give Janet what she wants.”

“Everyone probably hates me already.” He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. “I’m too embarrassed to go back in.”

“I don’t care if you leave or stay, but I do care if you’re wasting my time.” I moved my hand to his shoulder again to ground him. “Either go in there and earn your fucking paycheck or walk away and let someone else take over.”

He considered my words and then bit his lip. “Are you gonna spank me if I don’t?”

“Do you want me to spank you?” This was a dangerous game, but I couldn’t stop myself from flirting back with the kid. Man. He was a man. Despite his youthful good looks, he was old enough to know what he wanted…and I was fairly certain he wanted a spanking.

Instead of speaking, he just shrugged.

Christ, I was done for. “Okay, Hunter, then get your ass in there and do what the director asks you to do. You talk back again, and I’m putting you over my knee and paddling you until you’re not even able to sit on the softest pillows.”

His face went red, and I definitely felt the emotions coming from him. “That’s—yeah, okay.”

I grinned and waved my arm for him to walk ahead of me. “Let’s go see what you can do.”