Page 72 of Shadow Redemption

Ruth quickly changed clothes. At least this time, she wasn’t wearing a swimsuit. She much preferred wearing capris and a tank top.

Soon, she sat in the makeup chair and patiently answered questions thrown at her from the two women.

“Are you kidding me?” Delayne scowled. “That’s why the drop-dead Latino peppered me with questions yesterday about the water. You can’t believe I would try to hurt you. We all know you’re the big money-maker here.”

Ruth blinked at the bitterness she heard in the wardrobe mistress’s voice. “This is a team effort. I just model clothes for designers. Everyone else takes care of the important details. Without you and Xena, Scott and his assistants, and even Rich, I wouldn’t be able to do the job at all.”

“Then why did that man think I hurt you?”

“Nico asked questions to find out if the allergic reaction was an accident or a deliberate attempt to hurt me.”

“Why would someone do that?” Xena powdered Ruth’s face. “No one can take your place.”

“I don’t know about that, but I have a contract to fulfill.”

“Roxanne has a stalker,” Ben said. “This isn’t the first attempt to harm her.”

“Roxanne!” Scott yelled from outside the tent. “Let’s go.”

“Well, I’m not the one who did it.” Delayne glared at him.

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

Xena removed the protective cape from Ruth. “Better go.”

The morning passed with a dizzying array of wardrobe changes. As the morning wore on, tempers flared, especially those of Rich and Scott when Ben insisted they give her a break every hour for five minutes to rest and hydrate.

When they broke for lunch, Scott yelled for everyone to take 90 minutes for lunch and be ready for a new session at the outdoor pool when they resumed.

Autumn walked with Ruth and Ben toward the hotel. She smiled at Ben. “I’m Autumn.”

“Ben.”

“It’s good to meet you. Roxanne has been keeping you a well-guarded secret.”

“I’m in private security. She’s been protecting me from public scrutiny.”

The other model’s eyebrows rose. “You’re a bodyguard?”

“Among other things.”

“How did you meet him, Roxanne?”

Ruth glanced at Ben. When he gave a slight nod, she turned her to Autumn. “Ben was part of the team who rescued me when I was kidnapped.”

“What? When did that happen?”

“A few months ago.”

Eyes wide, Autumn said, “I’m glad he and his team were able to find you.” A slow smile curved her mouth. “It’s romantic, too. This would make a great novel.”

“Ben is definitely hero material,” Ruth agreed.

He snorted although his grip on her hand tightened.

“How is Tito?”

Autumn’s face lit up. “Fantastic. He’s flying in later this afternoon.”