Xander's Chance

Toni's face was glowing. Xander looked bored.

"How about a beauty and the beast shot," Xander said. "Innocence and danger."

"Toni, this last one might work better if you're wearing a shirt," Laurencio said. "Sort of a beauty and the beast, innocence and danger."

Jessi was perplexed by the verbatim repetition of Laurencio. Gerry muttered something. She glanced at him.

"Toni isn't innocent looking," Xander added. "How about Jessi?"

Laurencio copied him again. Jessi wondered if she was the only one who heard Xander, which made no sense, considering the photographer stood between her and the massive man.

"Or Toni could put on her clothes," Gerry suggested. The edge was back to him again. He tossed the model her shirt. She pulled it on with a dirty look at her assistant.

Jessi covered her mouth but ended up faking an outburst of coughs to keep from laughing out loud. Xander looked at her again, a flicker of something she thought might be cunning crossing his features.

The photographer seemed to be considering.

"Jessi's got that look," Xander prompted.

"Jessi's got that look."

"Absolutely not," she replied.

"I can be innocent looking!" Toni replied. "I'm an actress."

Laurencio, however, was looking at Jessi. "You're right, Xander. Tell your assistant to come down for a shot."

"Tell your photographer no," Jessi shot back.

"She does need to lose double-digit pounds," Laurencio said.

"Sorry, Ingrid. I've got the number to the best weight loss doctor in town." Toni gave Jessi a triumphant look.

Gerry caught Jessi's eye. He shook his head.

What a bitch. Jessi bit back her words. She knew very well she had some physical assets that drew men, even if her body wasn't ideal like Toni's.

"She has a sweet aura," Xander said.

"Toni, I think he's right," Laurencio said. "She has that very sweet aura. Will make for a great Bella and the Beast photo."

Play along. Gerry mouthed the words to Jessi then added for her ears only, "I'll take you to lunch tomorrow, if you do it."

"Really?" she asked, surprised the handsome man wanted anything to do with her after Xander's warning.

"Date?"

"Yeah," she said, unable to help the smile that crossed her face. "Date." Her first date in five years was with someone who looked like Gerry. She was unusually pleased by the idea.

"Give Xander what he wants. Figuratively, not literally. Pretend like you're an actress, like Toni." He rolled his eyes.

She choked back another laugh then turned her attention to the photographer.

"I'd love to do this, Laurencio!" she exclaimed with all the enthusiasm she could. "Xander is my all-time fave. I'm his biggest fan girl!"