She hadn't seen her father since he had abandoned the family home when she little more than a few months old. Now, almost twenty years later, she had found him. Her mother had told her little about the man who had walked out on them all those years ago, but she had learned that he was a photographer and worked in a town not that far away.
Finally, she had tracked him down and was about to see him face to face for the first time really. She knew neither of them would recognise the other (although she had checked his own picture on his website) and he wondered what he would think of her. She had prepared what she was going to say over and over in her mind but now, standing outside his studio, she hesitated.
Would he be delighted to see her? Would he welcome into his life after all these years? She knew that he was single but that was about all she did know about his private life. Her mother had given her all the love and support she had wanted as she grew up, but she had always felt like there was something missing and now she was about to find out if that "something" was her father.
Forcing herself to take the last few steps, she reached out and knocked on the door. The door was buzzed open and she took the last few nervous steps to finally meeting her father. The first words he spoke to her were not promising.
"You're late."
"I'm sorry?"
"I don't have time for apologies. The agency called and said they would have to send a replacement for the other girl, but they should have told you that I don't like to be kept waiting. Have you brought your own outfits?"
"I think there's been some mistake."
"Of course there's been a mistake. You're not the kind of girl I usually work with but I'm sure we can do something."
Suddenly he realised how rude he was being.
"Sorry. Now it's my time to apologise. Let me take your coat and we can start again. I was just setting up."
He hung her coat up on a rack and then turned to face her, holding out his hand.
"Hi, I'm John. I'm afraid the agency didn't tell me your name."
"Mary," she managed to reply, taking his hand and enjoying the warmth of both it and his smile. Her mother had warned her that he could be a charmer. Forcing herself to stop staring at his captivating eyes she tried to point out his mistake.
"Look there really has been a mistake. I haven't brought any outfits because.."
"That's not a problem," he interrupted her. "We can deal with that in a minute. Come over here."
He led her to where a row of cameras were set up in front of a blank screen and told her to sit down on the chair placed between the screen and the cameras. Standing before her, he moved an escaped wave of her hair off her face and lifted her face to look directly at him.
"You seem nervous. Is this your first time?"
She could only nod in agreement, wondering why this meeting had gone so far off the rails, her prepared speech completely forgotten as she found herself staring into his blue eyes once more.
"You're a beautiful young woman and I would really like to take to take your picture."
Taking her hands, he lay them on her lap and took his place behind one of the cameras, seeming to test out the angle and lighting, making small adjustments while she nervously sat there. Watching him at work she realised what her mother had seen in him all those years ago and wondered why he was still single. He was an attractive looking man and could see why other women would be interested in him.
"That's all I need for now. Would you like to step behind the screen and change into whatever you find in your size? I promise not to peek."
"I wonder what he would say if her knew I was his daughter. He certainly wouldn't be peeking then," she thought to herself. But she seemed to have stopped thinking rationally as she did what she was asked and walked behind the screen. How could she make him listen to her? How could she tell him he was her father before this went any further? She thought that if she let him to a few shots then she might get a chance to tell him why she was really there.
Never having been in this position before she wasn't really sure what to do but she knew he expected her to change. Telling herself that she would find something to fit, let him take his pictures, and then break the news to him when he didn't seem so preoccupied, she began to undress. Tentatively she unbuttoned her blouse and pulled it off her arms, hanging it up like the well-mannered girl she had been raised to be. Next came her skirt and she suddenly realised that she was standing only feet from her father in her bra and panties, separated only by a screen.
"Mary? Have you found something?"
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry she managed to answer him.
"I'm not sure I should be doing this."
"Nonsense. It's why we're both here after all. Put on one of the robes and I'll help you choose something." When he walked round the screen he was captivated by her all over again. Ever since she had entered his studio he had been entranced by her beautiful eyes and radiant smile, but she seemed so nervous. He would obviously have to coax her slowly to allow him to show her at her best.
"Let's see what we can find," he smiled encouragingly at her. Standing so close he could smell her perfume and he inhaled deeply, certain that he had found someone very special this time. She was smaller than him, maybe that's why she was so nervous, but he knew how to help people relax and his professionalism kicked in. She could see why he had been so successful in his career, he really was very good at making people forget that they were standing almost naked only inches from him She was just beginning to relax a little when she gasped.
"I can't put that on. I've never worn anything like that."
He smiled and handed it to her.
"That may be true, but it will look really great on you. It's just the right colour."
He could see her nerves rising to the fore again and tried to calm her down.
"Let's make a deal. Put this on and I'll take a few shots. If you don't like them then you can choose something else and we'll finish the session like that. Agreed?"
He smiled at her again and she knew she was going to do what he asked. She just wanted to get this over with and get back to why she was really there. If only he would stop smiling at her with his gorgeous eyes.
She looked away as she practically snatched the gown from his hands, waiting for him to walk round the screen again. She tried it on, wondering if this was how he treated all his models and customers; certainly the female ones at least, she decided. It was only then however that she realised she would have to remove her bra too. The straps were obvious under the silk and she didn't want to give him an opportunity to ask her to expose even more of herself.
As she unhooked her bra and placed it beside the rest of her clothes she slipped on the gown once more and luxuriated in the feel of the smooth silk on her naked skin. She didn't know why but she instinctively slid her panties down her legs, telling herself that no woman would wear anything under such a beautiful piece of silk. Seeing her reflection in the full-length mirror she could see why he had chosen it. The only thing that worried her was that it seemed to fit her body like a second skin and showed off every curve that she had never been comfortable about displaying. Taking a deep breath, she walked round to face him.