The year had been long, and somewhat boring for Jessa. Although glad she had only one year left of college, she was ready to be out on her own, with a job and an apartment of her own. She was grateful to her family for paying for all her needs, but since she had little time for a job currently, all there was money for WAS those needs. There simply wasn't anything left over for her to have a little pocket cash. Jessa never went out, never splurged on anything; she didn't have any money of her own to splurge with. So when her best friend Kris had called with the news about the modeling, Jessa reluctantly listened.
"I'm telling you, this will be PERFECT for you! The hours are flexible and short, the money is pretty good, and you can finally stop complaining about not being able to afford to come out with me! What have you got to lose?" Kris spoke quickly, as she did whenever she was excited.
"I don't know. I've never done any modeling before." Jessa said hesitantly.
"Oh come ON! The guy is an artist. All you have to do is sit still and look pretty. How hard can it POSSIBLY be?" Kris coaxed.
"Well, I suppose maybe I could do that. How much did you say he was paying again?" Jessa asked.
"100 bucks a sitting. Seriously, Jess, what have you got to lose?" Kris waited.
"Oh, I suppose I could give him a call. Hey, who knows, maybe he'll be a hottie. I've always been attracted to that artsy type." Jessa allowed herself a small smile.
"Great, let me give you the number!" Kris proceeded to rattle off the digits, then said she had to go. "If I find out you didn't call, Jess, I SWEAR I will kick your ass!"
"I'll call, Kris, I promise." Jessa said, then hung up the phone.
And so, after she had finished checking her email (empty), and listening to her messages (one, from Kris) Jessa dialed the number Kris had given her.
He picked up on the second ring. "Hello?"
Jessa was silent for a moment. His voice was low and somehow dangerous. It sent shivers up her spine. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.
"Hello?? Is anyone there?" He sounded exasperated.
"U-uh, hello. I'm uh, calling about the modeling job?" Jessa managed to stutter out.
"Oh, right. Well, do you have any experience?" he asked.
"No, I just wanted to make some extra money and my friend told me about this job so I thought I'd call and see what it was all about so..." Jessa realized she was rambling when he cut her off.
"Good. I wanted someone fresh. Can you meet me so I can see if you have the right look?" his voice was now more curt than anything, and Jessa mentally kicked herself for letting her imagination run away from her.
"Oh, um, sure. Where would you like to meet? I'm free for the rest of the day." Jessa said and glanced at her watch. It was 1:00, so that should give them plenty of time to meet, and maybe, if he liked her, they could even get to the modeling.
"You know the park on 20th and Griffin? There's a little café there. Can we meet there in say, half an hour?"
"Okay, sure I can do that. Um, how will I know it's you?" she said, then kicked herself again for making it seem like a blind date or something. He chuckled, the sound making her shiver once again.
"I'll bring my sketch book and I'll be drawing at the table."
"Okay. Oh, by the way, I'm Jessa."
"My name is Lucan."
Half an hour later, Jessa was parking her beat up old Camry at one of the many metered spaces surrounding the park. She checked herself in the mirror, but then remembered that there wasn't much to be done. She had elected not to wear makeup, since he had said he wanted someone fresh.
Lucan. What an unusual name. Not that hers was all that normal either, but his sounded so exotic and foreign. Realizing she was still staring at her own reflection in the rear-view mirror, Jessa shook her head and exited the car. She walked the short distance to the café and then stopped, her jaw dropping.
Sitting at a table on the outside was a young man, bent over a sketch book. His eyes were obscured by messy dark brown hair, but the rest of his face was the stuff of every girl's fantasies. A strong jaw and straight nose framed his serious, but somehow sensuous, mouth. His skin was unblemished, a perfect light contrast to his dark hair. And his hands. His hands were flying surely and precisely over the page in front of him, never hesitating. Jessa looked heavenward in thanks, then back to the man and began to approach the table. And then he looked up at her.
If she had to describe it later, Jessa would have said that time had stopped. As soon as the two of them made eye contact, Jessa had stumbled to a halt, her breath hitching in her throat. His eyes were an intense, deep blue, looking as though they held all the secrets of the world within. It was like staring into the deepest part of the ocean. Though you could see the shapes of things moving in the depths, there was no way of knowing whether or not they meant you harm.
Jessa stood there, staring, until he broke the spell by smiling and standing up. She shook her head again, trying to regain her composure, and returned his smile, walking the rest of the way over to the table. He put out his hand to shake hers, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Jessa, was it?"
"Yes. And you are Lucan." Jessa struggled to keep her mind on the conversation and off of the disconcerting feeling of arousal his touch had produced.
"Perfect." Lucan murmured, almost to himself.
"E-excuse me?" Jessa frowned at this flustering man.
"You. You're perfect." he paused as he noticed her look of bewilderment. "For the modeling job. You're exactly what I am looking for. Still interested?"