Cathy offered a friendly, impish smile that managed to inject an additional dose of comfort to Adelie. Though she didn’t know her, Adelie suspected the look implied confidence in her as well. In her. Adelie. “You’ll hardly recognize yourself when I’m done. Come on.”
CHAPTER NINE
Maddox checked his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time. He’d said two hours, but Cathy and Adelie had been at this for closer to three. How could it take this long?
He couldn’t help but remember the fear in Adelie’s demeanor when she’d first arrived. Maybe he’d made a mistake putting so much on her so quickly. She’d made it unmistakably clear she didn’t want this. He should never have pushed her into it or encouraged her the way he had.
But the gleam in her eyes when he’d said those words… He’d lit a fire in her. He could see her desire to be someone different from who she was. It was almost like belief, like the compliments he paid her were the first she’d ever received. That drew her to him. In some bizarre, mystical way, he wanted to shower her with attention. Didn’t she know how special she was?
He hadn’t been acquainted with her long enough to know the extent of her deeper qualities himself, but after their afternoon in the park, getting caught in the rain with her and seeing her endearing excitement about the carousel, he hadn’t been able to think of anyone else since.
Were her nerves the reason for her delay? Was she okay? Cathy would be careful, he knew. He’d nearly stormed in to check on her several times, but Ritchie, the photographer, arrived, and Maddox got distracted.
Now Ritchie was ready. He’d transformed the ballroom into a studio, complete with backdrop and props.
Adelie’s hesitation, her caution and timidity, made Maddox want to cradle her in his arms and assure her he would protect her and help her. He wasn’t sure why—though he suspected it had something to do with his mother. She’d had trouble with crowds as well, and his father had always given her a hard time for it. His mom had told him how grateful she was to have Maddox there.
For Adelie, he knew putting herself out there for a photo shoot took more courage than she thought she had, but he saw something in her from the minute he’d spotted her in the gift shop. Then, he’d witnessed the same spark in her as she’d settled onto the squat stool beside the March Hare’s table. People claimed they could read others’ auras, and while he’d never given the claims much backing, he would now. He couldn’t deny the sight of Adelie had called to him. Maddox was eager for Cathy to bring that spark out for everyone else as well.
Footsteps sounded from the hall outside. Maddox exhaled, doing his best to act casual and like he wasn’t a tornado inside. Ritchie also stood and pocketed his phone, watching the door with expectation.
Cathy entered first, wearing a black, stylist’s apron she hadn’t had on earlier. A blue comb and pair of scissors jutted from the wide front pocket. Breath bated, Maddox stiffened as Adelie entered after.
Combed away from her face and secured by a headband, her yellow hair tumbled in gentle waves to her shoulders. Its color was lighter, set off with highlights, and added a glow to Adelie’s countenance. Or maybe that was the way Cathy had arranged her makeup. Either way, she had created a youthful masterpiece. In the blue dress with its poufy skirt, the white pinafore over the top, and the red stripes along the hem? It was as though the Alice he’d seen in pictures his entire life had grown up.
The gleam in her blue eyes. The bright flicker of delight, the bashful blush pinking up her cheeks when her gaze aligned with his. Heat flushed across Maddox’s skin.
“Do you think this will work?” Adelie asked, tugging on the skirt.
Maddox had to clear his throat before he could speak. “You’re perfect.”
“Perfect?”
“You’ll make the perfect Alice, I mean.”
She dipped her chin.
“That,” Ritchie said, interrupting the chemistry swirling between them. He pointed a finger in her direction, camera in his other hand, before directing her to the bright studio setup with its green screen background. “Come here, young lady, and do what you just did.”
The instant Adelie set foot on the set, her head dropped. Her lips tucked into her teeth. Ritchie gave instruction after instruction, but no matter what he did, no matter how he posed her, she wouldn’t loosen up. Maddox wanted to go to her, to put his arm around her and assure her she would be okay, to help her relax, but he didn’t dare interfere.
“There,” Ritchie said, offsetting his feet and holding the camera over his eye. “That’s—no. No. Not like that. Go back to what you were just doing. Ugh.”
Ritchie’s tone grew exasperated.
“Sorry.” She hugged her arms to her chest as if trying to fold herself in half. “I told him I wouldn’t be very good at this.”
“You’re doing just fine,” Maddox assured, hoping she believed him.
Ritchie lowered the camera. “This is not working. Why don’t you take a break? We’ll all take a break. Get some air.” He set his camera down on its case near one of the tripod stands beside a light surrounded by a wide, circular shade, and strutted out of the room, his assistant scurrying after.
Color blotched Adelie’s cheeks. She took advantage of Ritchie’s absence and dashed from the set and back onto the tile with the desperation of a sailor eager to reach land.
Her blue eyes swam with worry. “I’m so sorry,” she told Maddox.
He placed his hands on her arms. “You’re doing just fine,” he said in his calmest tone. “This is all new. Ritchie is just used to working with more experienced models.”
She winced, and he cursed himself.
Why had he
