Page 15 of Unscripted Love
“Too late,” Chaz said.
I loved thathethought about what I looked like naked, but I could do without the rest of the town knowing or thinking about it. “I don’t think it’s wrong or improper, but I don’t think it’s my style.”
“Then you keep your clothes on,” Chaz said emphatically.
“Dr. Va… hey, Chaz,” Scotty said when he saw who had arrived. “I didn’t know you were coming today.” I didn’t like the familiar way the photographer looked at my… Chaz.
“It’s been a while,” Chaz said to Scotty.
“Too long, but we can remedy that later if you’re free,” Scotty said suggestively.
“He’s not,” I said emphatically.
“I’m not,” Chaz said at the same time.
“Oh, I see.” Scotty smile wryly. “Are you ready, Dr. Vaughn?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I answered. “I decided to keep my clothes on.”
“Pity.” Scotty sighed dramatically. “Let’s get this party started then.”
“Good luck,” Chaz said, walking backward toward his car. “Call me later and let me know how this works out.”
“Wait! Where are you going?” I asked, sounding more than a little desperate.
“I had planned on going home, but I can stick around if you…”
“Yessss.” My face turned hot with embarrassment when I realized how orgasmic my reply sounded.
Katie walked up to our group with a tiny Chihuahua at the end of her leash. “Let’s start with Beatrice.”
Beatrice looked as nervous as I felt and I thought we were a good match. I squatted down and extended my hand toward her, and she came to me. “Hi there, pretty girl,” I said softly. “Are you ready to have your picture taken with me?” Beatrice licked my hand and wagged her tail, which I accepted as a yes. I scooped her up in my arms, and she licked my chin. “Say cheese, Bea.” I aimed a practice smile at Scotty.
He blinked at me for a few minutes before he responded. “Let’s head over to the lake.”
Reaching for Chaz’s hand while we walked seemed natural to me, and I took it as a good sign that he didn’t pull away. I didn’t expect to have fun while shooting the calendar, but I found myself laughing throughout the day as we moved from one spot at the lake to the next with dozens of different animals. Scotty wanted to take about two dozen pictures and narrow it down to the best twelve for the calendar. The final scene was a sunset picnic, and my fellow model was a boxer named Sadie, who I estimated to be around four years old. Scotty had set out a plaid blanket and a picnic basket. Sadie sat beside me and looked at me with some of the saddest eyes I’d seen in a long time. I scratched her chin, and she ate up the affection like she was starved for it. She groaned and lay her head across my thigh.
“What’s her story?” I asked Katie as I stroked her velvety ears.
“Don’t know for sure,” she replied. “You know we take the animals without asking questions. It’s the only way to make sure they’re not just dropped off in the middle of nowhere and left to fend for themselves,” Katie said sadly. “She arrived earlier this week, and I’m afraid that it’s going to be hard to find her a forever home because she’s older than most of the dogs in our shelter. Most families are looking for cute puppies. She’s great with other pets though, especially the kitten Otis that you posed with earlier. They showed up on the same night and bonded quickly.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. Do you want to see Sadie and Otis together?”
“Sure,” although I wasn’t sure why until Otis crawled on top of Sadie’s broad back and took a nap. Sadie’s expression changed from sad to content in an instant.
“Katie, I think I know where these two cuties can find a good home.”
“You do?” she asked hopefully.
I smiled down at the sleeping duo on my lap then looked at her. “I’ll take them.”
“Dr. Vaughn, that’s wonderful news! I just know you’re not going to regret it.”
“I think so too, Katie,” I said. “I need to pick up some things for them at Brook’s Pets after the shoot, but I can swing by and formally adopt them in a few hours.”
“And I thought I couldn’t possibly adore you any more than I already do,” Katie said. “Do you hear that, Sadie girl? You get to keep Otis.”