Chapter 34
The next month had been a busy one; even in Austin on the assignments Owen had referred her, Lucy hadn't gotten much time with Paul.
She also figured he had his own life and friends to fill his time, and that most guys didn't like being pressured into spending time together if they didn't want to. Besides, absence made the heart grow fonder.
"You know you can crash at my apartment instead of paying for a hotel," Paul informed Lucy once she had arrived.
"Yeah? And how do I know you'll keep your hands to yourself?" she teased.
"You mean I have to after you just photographed me practically naked not long ago?"
"Maybe," she giggled. Lucy loved teasing him.
"Come on; I can park my ass on the couch while you're here."
"It's nice that you want to be a gentleman, but it isn't like we haven't slept together before. No use giving up your own bed for my sake. Besides, you need to take care of that foot, ankle, or whatever the hell it is."
"So what did Owen send you down here to do?"
"Don't worry; I'm not here to take pictures of more naked men. There's a fashion thing for one of those nightlife rags, and an architect that wants me to do some of his buildings for his promotional brochures. Not exactly Cosmopolitan, but I figure I could both get my feet wet down here and get some bookings in before the issue comes out."
"Uh….when does that thing come out anyway?" Paul wondered.
"If things stay on schedule, the editor gave me a date of around the week of April 7, but subscribers will likely get it a bit earlier. To think that is the week before your birthday."
"Great," Paul said, letting out a groan.
"Look, if you're worried about your buddies giving you shit, don't. We know they're jealous little weenies under those huge bodies anyway because Cosmo didn't pick them. As for Spanky, I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble planting your foot in his ass."
"Yeah, you're right in that aspect," he nodded, then began to ask, "Do you honestly think…?"
Lucy knew what he was about to ask, and nodded eagerly. "Paul, from both professional and personal experience, I can strongly attest to I think any magazine shoot including some sexy WWE guy--present company included-- will likely be a brisk seller. You should know first hand that there are women that love wrestling as much as guys do and they would like to see some man candy. The guys get hard ons from having Divas in Playboy every year; why not the ladies getting hot and bothered with a man in Cosmo? The only difference is you look like a real man and you aren't baring it all for the world."
"I almost was," Paul countered. "Very, very little was left to the imagination."
"I think that was the point of the shoot, Paul."
"It still felt a little strange, though. But be honest, you didn't show those naked test shots to anyone else, did you?"
Lucy rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. "No, I haven't; I have them locked up in a safe place no one but me knows about. I can't see why you're so embarrassed about this whole thing. It isn't like you're some fifty something guy with a bad comb over and a beer gut that thinks he's hot stuff."
Paul made a face. "Eww. Good point. Did I tell you since the shoot the talent agency I was with for a few years down here didn't re-sign me?"
She gave him a look. "What? Are you serious?"
"Guess they were cleaning house and since I didn't really get any requests, there was no point keeping dead wood around, I guess."
"Hmph. Dead wood my ass. They'll live to regret that move once your Cosmo issue comes out. Better yet, you'll probably have other agencies all over the country tripping over each other to sign you."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Luce, okay? Besides, my best talent is in the ring, remember?"
"Mmmm hmmm. Then there are some of us that may debate that that's your only real talent," Lucy grinned, giving him a sly wink.