She stood at the counter frantically trying to find her wallet in the huge canvas bag that she had slung over her shoulder. She blushed crimson as the man behind the counter sighed heavily. She knew he doubted she had the money for the food she had just ordered, and her embarrassment showed. Yet she continued to search through the bag, slowly realizing it was hopeless. Her wallet had simply disappeared, was stolen, or lost.
Shaking slightly, she sighed and looked up at the man behind the counter. She attempted a smile, but it was weak and trembling. Before she could say anything, a hand reached out next to her and placed a $10 bill on the counter. She saw the man behind the counter look up, then scowl at her as he took the money, made change, and handed it to the man beside her.
Glancing up she saw a tall dark haired stranger, his dark eyes studying her. He seemed much larger than she, and she noticed that he was quite handsome even if his face was expressionless.
"Go ahead. The food is yours." The stranger nodded towards the tray.
"Um, thank you. That was very kind of you, but I don't know that I can repay you." She replied.
"Just sit with me, and I'll come up with something."
She hesitated slightly, but being in a public place she figured she was as safe as anywhere. She shrugged her shoulders and found a table while he ordered his food. As she waited, she fumbled for a mirror, and glanced at herself. Her long auburn curls framed her face nicely, her blue eyes were large and wide set. At 24 she still had a dewy complexion with clear skin and full lips. She glanced down at herself. She had been hitchhiking for several days, and had managed to bathe in a restroom of a gas station that morning. The faded jeans clung to her full hips, and the short, cropped t-shirt enhanced her full breasts, while nicely displaying her trimmed waist. She ran her fingers through her hair quickly, but figured the stranger probably wasn't worth more of an effort than that.
"You haven't eaten yet," he said almost sternly.
Looking up at him, she smiled, hoping to win him over, but his face remained calm. He heaved himself in the booth opposite her and started to eat. She picked at her food, wondering what this stranger might want.
"My name is Cassie. What's yours?" She tried to start a conversation.
"My name's not important. Where did you come from."
She was startled a bit, but quickly found herself telling him her story. How she had lost her job and then been kicked out of her apartment. With no money and no where to go, she had taken to the road, mostly depending on the generosity of those she met. Even though she had been doing this for 6 months, she still maintained a certain innocence with people β she never felt anyone would truly harm her.
"So, you have no place to stay tonight? No where to go?"
"No, I don't. But I'll find something."
"Don't worry about it. You'll come home with me. I'll put you up for the night."
"Hey, I don't mean to be rude, or anything, but what makes you think I'll just go home with you?"
He stared at her, his eyes taking on an intensity that pulled her gaze into his.
"Because I said you are. And you have a certain look I like. I'm going to photograph you."
At her startled expression, he returned to his food.
"I will pay you, naturally. Hurry up and finish, I want to finish the job early."
She ate as she watched him warily, wondering what he had in mind. She quickly finished her food, and they left the restaurant. As she climbed into his truck, she felt a stirring of doubt, but quickly erased it. He drove only a few blocks before pulling into a housing track and then into a driveway of a well kept home.
As he let her into the house, she noticed it was well maintained β none of the usual clutter that most men living alone seemed to gather, and she wondered if he was married. As she looked up at him, she decided he probably wouldn't tell her even if he were. He exuded a strange confidence, an air about him that he expected to be obeyed. Yet his emotions were held in check, and his reactions were calm.
She watched as he moved towards the couch, and pulled the cushions off. Reaching down, she watched as he lifted a bed out, and that stirring of doubt grew bigger.
"Look, paying for the food was great. Thank you. And even the idea of pictures is okay. But I'm not sleeping with you!"
"Who says you are? This bed is a prop. The bathroom is down the hall. Everything off but your bra and panties."
She stood with her mouth open, as she tried to digest what he had just told her. As she stood with her hands on her hips, about to say something, she noticed she had been dismissed. The stranger was walking about the room, arranging lights and sorting through camera equipment.
"Look. If I'm going to pose for you, I could at least know your name. Something I can call you."
He glanced up at her as though surprised to still see her there.