I tipped my chin up. “I can do that.” At least I could try. Landscapes had always been easy for me, but if he wanted to push me, then fine. I’d get some portraits done. Even as I waved goodbye, my brain was already formulating a plan for the kinds of portraits I might be able to do.

Checking my watch again, I hurried out of the media building to meet Ilani for lunch. I’d already hit up most of the campus spots for a potential job before my meeting with Xander. Hopefully, something would come up in the next couple of days.

My friend arrived mere seconds after I did. “So how did your meeting go with Mr. I’d-consider-a threesome-for-you Chase?”

I barked out a laugh as Ilani and I grabbed a seat at the campus café. “Seriously, Ilani?”

The blonde shrugged. “I’m not into girls, but if that man asked me, I’d say hell yes, whatever you want. Come on, he’s certainly worth the shag.”

“You’re ridiculous. Have you had your meeting with him yet?”

Ilani shook her head. “Mine’s this afternoon.”

I eyed my friend. Ilani had gone for a short corduroy skirt and low-cut fitted sweater. “I see you dressed to impress.”

Ilani beamed. “Well, you have to put your best assets on display and see what happens. I mean, he might have said he’s not interested, but I know for a fact he’s slept with a student before.”

Intrigued, I leaned forward. “Really? Who?”

Ilani glanced around surreptitiously. “She was a year ahead of me and in his undergraduate class. Rumor is she made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.“

“So what happened with her?”

Ilani shrugged. “Well Xander is notorious. Maybe she couldn’t keep up.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay, fine, she caught him with some model on a shoot and went ballistic on him.”

“Explain ballistic.”

“Well, rumor is that their little tryst was all about woman on top. She allegedly grabbed the model by the hair and yanked her clean off Xander, then well, threatened him with bodily harm if you know what I mean.” Ilani waggled her eyebrows. “She went completely mental. Screaming and shouting that she was going to end his career. Of course, she’s the one who was carted off. He emerged unscathed.”

That sounded like something from a soap opera. “Don’t you think if all that happened, he’d be a lot less likely to sleep with another student?”

Ilani grinned. “Difference is I only want him for his body. I have no desire for a relationship of any kind. What about you?”

The waitress arrived with water and took our orders.

I shook my head. “Oh, I’m off relationships. I just got out of a bad one, and I’m not eager to repeat the experience.”

“Oh no, I meant Xander. What do you want him for?”