A Taste of Spring novel Chapter 20

Spring looked up in time to see Mr. Spencer motion to the same man who stepped in-between Brandi, her, and the secretary. Unlike Stanley, Joe didn't shake their hands. Instead, he just saluted them then continued to fiddle with the camera in his hand.

"Let's get you guys set up," Taylor said with excitement. She motioned for them to follow again.

Spring glanced over her shoulder at Mr. Spencer. He was still watching her. Blushing, she turned away and followed Brandi, who was following Taylor.

Spencer Studios was a grand space with many wide windows, whiter than white walls, and more natural light and lighting fixtures to brighten a dark city block. Everything looked new, clean, and expensive. Two lines of columns separated two sides of the main floor that had four sections set up for picture taking, leaving the middle of the building as a wide walkway. Two bay doors sat at the far end of the building and on the opposite side, where they were headed, was a wall that didn't quite reach the high ceiling. The wall had a huge glass window above several doors.

Taylor pointed to the doors. "There are the offices. That one without a nameplate is Stanley's. These are the dressing rooms," Taylor said, pointing at doors as they approached.

Spring glanced over at the only room without a name but quickly looked ahead, entering the room that Taylor held open for them. She glanced over her shoulder as she entered, once again meeting Mr. Spencer's hooded gaze. Spring sucked in a gulp of air then turned away immediately.

"He can be pretty intimidating at first but he's a teddy bear." Taylor smiled as she closed the door.

"Really? Because teddy bear isn't the vibe I was getting." Brandi said as she took a seat on one of the chairs.

Teddy bear wasn't exactly what Spring got either but she didn't say so. Instead, she looked around the dressing/makeup room that was about half the size of her sister's apartment. Racks of clothing, drawers of accessories, and shoes were on one side while four vanity makeup centers were on the other side. A sitting area sat in the middle of the room and another door was in the rear. Spring figured it was a bathroom.

"He is," Taylor said with little conviction, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself.

Taylor was young, maybe in her late teens. She was tall and thin but still carried a little baby fat in her cheeks. Taylor brushed her stylish blond short hair off her forehead as her brows knitted in thought. "But he is my uncle so..." Taylor left her comment up in the air.

"Glad you got the message about keeping the braids in." Taylor giggled, shrugged, then started giving them instructions.

Spring nodded with a smile. She was happy she didn't have to take them out.

Spring listened intently. Taylor sounded sure and informed and if Stanley Spencer trusted her, then she would too.

What she didn't like was the way her body shivered when she thought of Mr. Spencer. What was going on with her? First Dez and now Mr. Spencer. Something definitely had woken inside her.