The Photographer (Seductive Sands Book 4)

by Sammi Franks

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” Chad growled, taking a step towards Charlie.

  I took a step so I was in front of her. I knew she could handle Chad in her sleep but my body reacted before I could stop it. I didn’t appreciate anyone talking to her that way. I didn’t care what their history was, who was right and who was wrong. He could still have a respectful conversation without being a dick about it.

  “Please refrain from speaking to Charlie like that,” I warned through gritted teeth. My eyes narrowed at him. I could take him if it came to that.

  “And who are you?” Chad asked. “Besides a pain in the ass?”

  “This is my new partner, Chad,” Charlie announced.

  I knew it was fake. I knew this whole thing was a lie just to give Charlie power in a situation she couldn’t really control. However, it made my insides spread with warmth just to hear her call me her partner. God, what I would give for the opportunity to prove myself worthy of her.

  “Not that it’s any of your business,” she added. “Why are you here?”

  Chad snorted, rolling his eyes. “I would buy you a drink if you weren’t such a dick,” he said to me, completely ignoring Charlie for the time being. “The entire time she was with me, she couldn’t do anything on her own.”

  “Because you wouldn’t let me!” Charlie exclaimed. It was an uncharacteristic loss of control. I never really understood why she had been so upright before, but now I understood. She had no other option. “Listen, what’s done is done.” She flicked her gaze at me and a soft smile touched her face. “We’ve both moved on. We’re both happier. I am, at least. Did you come here to gloat about something or did you actually plan to make a purchase?”

  Chad opened his mouth. I could tell from the way his facial expression contorted into a smile that he was going to say something stupid to try to piss Charlie off. For someone who was insistent on being over her, he seemed to care about rubbing his current life in her face. I was just glad it didn’t seem to get to her. Then again, she was good at being guarded. Who knew how she truly felt about the situation? I just wanted to ensure I was there to support her.

  “We were here for some wine, but I think we’ll take our business elsewhere,” the blonde said. It didn’t seem as though she was being snotty. She still had a look of doubt on her face, like she wasn’t sure how to handle what Charlie told her. I watched as her eyes flickered to an assortment of wines before shifting back to her new husband. “Chad, we need to talk.”

  Chad gave Charlie a glare that could curdle milk. “I’m sure this won’t be our last time meeting unfortunately,” he said.

  When they were gone, I watched as Charlie blinked away her frustration. I could see the tension in her body, her neck, her shoulders, everything, but she played it off like she wasn’t hurt.

  “So.” She paused as her voice cracked. “Where were we?”

  10

  Charlie

  * * *

  We were kissing. We were ready to take things to the next level once Chad and his newest victim had left the winery. Instead, I leaned into Alex who already had an arm around me and began rubbing my back. In a matter of seconds, I twisted and buried my head in his neck. When his other arm moved to encircle me completely, I murmured, “Thank you.”

  “What are you thanking me for?” He scoffed. “Any decent man would’ve stood up for you. Not that you need it, mind you.” Alex quietly sighed.

  I pulled back and looked at his face. “You’re disappointed?”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m proud of you. I stand in awe of you. I now have a small sense of what you went through. And it makes me sad.”

  I stiffened. “I don’t want pity.”

  Alex frowned. “I’m not explaining this properly. Don’t think for one minute that I pity you. No one who knows you could ever feel sorry for you, Charlie.”

  “Good.” I exhaled. “The woman you see before you is nothing like the girl he was married to.”

  “That’s usually how it works. You know, flowers that bloom in adversity are the rarest and most beautiful of all.” He winked.

  I smirked. “Are you quoting Mulan to me?”

  With a chuckle, Alex nodded. “Doesn’t make it less true. Look at you.” He gestured to encompass all of me. “You’re strong and beautiful. None of this happens by accident. And I sense you feel the need to explain, the desire to talk about it. If you do, cool. If not, then we move on.” His shoulders heaved. “Before your ex showed up, I was about to divulge my deepest, darkest secrets too.”

  I tilted my head. “I know, but you don’t have to if you’re not ready.”

  “Now seems like the perfect time. Come with me.” He tugged on my hand. I grasped his more tightly than I normally held onto another human being. Alex brought me to the porch swing he’d used earlier in the day while shooting Max and Victoria. “Sit with me?” he asked tentatively, as if I could deny him anything after what we’d just been through.

  I laughed. “Of course.” As soon as he sat, I settled in at his side. For a couple of minutes, we simply sat there relaxing, enjoying the view of the vineyards and the gentle breeze. I nuzzled into his neck. He smelled so good. He brought me more comfort than I deserved, especially since I felt like I was about to hurt him. “I’ve had to be independent,” I began as a warning. “I’m not sure I could ever be dependent on anyone again.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Alex asked quietly.

  “I’m attracted to you, Alex. And I’m reasonably confident you feel the same way about me.” I blew out a breath.

  He nodded. “Yes, but there’s more to it than all that. It started out that way, but now, if you’ll give it a chance, I could see serious feelings developing. How could they not?”

  “Because you’re a damn kid and I’m far from it,” I argued. “That’s why. Because I’m established and have roots, while you’re more of a free spirit. Because I can never be what you want for anything long-term.” I shrugged then stared at his face, watching for a reaction.

  His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure how you can say that, since you have no idea what I want. Sometimes I’m not sure what I want.”

  “That’s part of my point.” I sat up and turned to face him. “I guess I’m saying, I’m completely open to a fling, but I’m not able to offer you more.” My heart raced. I wanted him to understand. I needed him to accept my terms before I gave in to my growing desire. There was nothing more attractive than a loving and supportive guy. Of course, that didn’t mean I’d want to keep him. I could never risk my life again. I was unwilling to start over again when the relationship ended, as it inevitably would. I could see him mulling over my words.

  Alex licked his lips and rubbed his hands together while staring at the deck boards. “I understand. I don’t know how much I can offer right now anyway. My family situation is a bit precarious. I could be called home anytime.” He sighed and nodded. “Maybe we’re just right for each other.”

  “And just for right now. You get that part, don’t you?” I eyed him hopefully.

  His brow rose. “You have some deadline in mind, Charlie? Do I get a day, a week, a month, what?”

  “I don’t know.” I gnawed on the corner of my lip. “I think we can play that by ear, but we can’t go for anything permanent.”

  Alex leaned closer, his lips inches from mine. I wanted to tilt my head slightly. I wanted to feel them on mine again. I suspected it would feel different this time, more comfortable, just as exciting. There was something about knowing where we stood. “I’ll take all the time I can get, Charlie. I could use something beautiful and perfect in my life, something low maintenance and fun. Is that what you want to hear? Is that what you want me to be?”

  I nodded. “I do. I really do.”

  “So, what do we do now?” He grinned playfully.

  “Now, we do anything we want.” I laughed.

  “Anything?” Alex rested a hand on my thigh.

  “Absolutely anythin
g.” My cheeks hurt from trying not to smile. I felt like I could jump out of my skin. I hadn’t had much to be excited about lately. I was at peace. I was calm, but I have few surprises.

  “Then let’s go to dinner. I’ll go home and get ready. I’ll pick you up. Anywhere you want.” He ran his hand up and down my thigh.

  “You sure you want to go out? I thought we could stay in.” I tried to hide the disappointment. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in public with him. This wasn’t going like I expected at all.

  “Oh, we’re going out. Just because you don’t want this to be forever doesn’t mean it can’t be special.” Alex stood, held out a hand, and helped me to my feet. “I’ll pick you up at seven.” He kissed me tenderly on the lips. “See you then.”

  11

  Alex

  * * *

  I wanted tonight to go perfectly. The minute I returned home, I took out the SD card and started the long process of uploading the photos to my Dropbox. I even set an alarm in order to make sure I had enough time to shower and get ready for tonight.

  I took my work seriously. It took precedence over most anything else because it allowed me to take care of Mom, even from two hours away. My work ethic was important to me and I wanted to make sure I came across like a consummate professional. However, I also knew that Charlie was one in a million. I knew she couldn’t offer me more than what she was giving me right now. I knew she just wanted the physical, not necessarily the emotional and spiritual. I could respect that. I thought I wanted it too. My mother’s condition could worsen at any moment, my sister could call and tell me I had to come back home, and I would have to drop everything and go.

  Still, I thought Charlie was worth the effort, worth trying.

  The photos were nearly done when my alarm buzzed. I finished up what I could and hopped in the shower. The water ran down my back and the stream put pressure on the tension in my muscles. I emerged fifteen minutes later and dried off. I styled my hair so it didn’t come off as messy and dressed in a nice blue collared shirt to bring out my eyes, and pressed charcoal pants fresh from the drycleaner. I wore some cologne - nothing too heavy. I’d discovered some women could be overwhelmed with strong scents. I took my pocket digital camera with me - I always had to have one camera on me and phones didn’t count in my eyes. I wanted to see things from a lens, not a screen. I pulled up to the winery and went to the door. I could tell Charlie was closing up. Part of me wanted to go in and offer to help, but I didn’t know if that would be rude. This was her business and just because she was a woman didn’t mean she needed assistance. After her display earlier today…both with her ex and with her tasting…I could see she knew how to handle herself and she didn’t need me to come in and sweep her off of her feet. So, I waited before knocking.

  When she answered, she wore the same attire as earlier, except with high heels and makeup. She was a knockout. I had no idea how I had the privilege of breathing the same air as she did.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I was going to go home and change, but there were wine orders and I wanted to make sure I had a head start on everything.”

  “You don’t have to explain,” I told her, leaning down and giving her a soft kiss on her cheek. I liked when her eyes closed and she leaned into it. “You look beautiful.” I offered her my arm. “Shall we?”

  “You’re sweet,” she said. She took my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder as I led her to my car. “Where are we having dinner?”

  “Honestly, there’s not much of a selection in Westport,” I told her, opening up the car door. “But I managed to snag a table at a steak house for us.”

  She glanced over at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “How did you know I love a good steak?” she asked.

  I couldn’t help it. I had to take a picture. When I let my camera hang from my neck, she had a small frown, all playfulness was gone.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I had to take your picture. You looked stunning then. There was this glint in your eyes…”

  “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with that,” Charlie admitted.

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated. “It’s instinctive. When I see beauty, I want to capture it, but I won’t do that without your permission from now on. Forgive me?”

  She stared at me for a long moment before curling her lip into a small grin. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of it and I was relieved when she nodded.

  I drove her to Cattleman’s Ranch, a steak house tucked just off of Main Street. It was always busy on the weekends, even in the off-season. I was a complete gentleman. My mother would have been so proud. I opened doors, I let her walk in first, I pulled her chair. I knew she didn’t want me doing things for her, but I wanted to show her that I would without hesitation. I hoped she liked old-fashioned courting.

  Since she was the expert, I had her select the wine, and when I tasted the fruity concoction, I was pleasantly surprised. “This is amazing,” I murmured, looking at the strawberry color.

  “Thanks,” she murmured. “It’s mine.”

  I looked at her with wide eyes. “This is amazing,” I repeated. “You are amazing. I can’t even - I mean, I’m not surprised. But I am. Do you know - am I explaining myself the right way?”

  She chuckled and I grabbed my camera. Before I snapped the picture, I looked at her. “Can I -?” I asked, indicating my digital camera. “You just look beautiful right now. I mean, you’re beautiful all the time but I just wanted to…”

  “Go ahead,” she said with a laugh.

  I snapped three pictures.

  Charlie shook her head. “I don’t understand.” She sighed. “I’m in clothes from earlier. I don’t feel like I tried at all.”

  “I don’t know when you’ll believe me, but I’ll keep telling you so you finally do,” I told her, serious. “There’s a glow about you. You’re beautiful, but it’s more than that. You’re a beautiful person inside and out. And that’s a photographer’s dream. You are a dream.”

  I could feel her resisting my compliments, but a light blush touched her cheeks and she tried, and failed, to hide a smile.

  “I’d rather be your reality than a dream,” she murmured.

  12

  Charlie

  * * *

  “So how long are you going to let this little seduction scene play out?” I asked over dessert. Then I leaned over the table. “I’ve already decided we’re going to fuck. Shall we get on with it?” I’m not sure what I expected. Okay, maybe I thought he’d immediately flag down our waiter and ask for the check. That would’ve been a nice boost to my ego.

  Instead, I watched him lean back in his chair and study me a moment in silence. “Is that what this is?” he asked quietly.

  Immediately, I knew I’d hurt his feelings. “We don’t know each other well enough for us to be making love, if that’s what you’re asking.” I tilted my head. “Don’t tell me you want a relationship. I’d never believe something like that.”

  Alex bristled. “Why not? Why would that be so hard to believe?”

  I shook my head, enjoying the feel of my hair whipping around as I did so. “You’re young,” I began. I had much more explanation to provide, but he cut me off.

  “Is that what this is about? You think I’m so much younger than you, I can’t possibly want a relationship?” He frowned and picked at his lava cake.

  “How old are you, Alex?” I asked gently. If he didn’t want to hear the truth straight out, I could bring him around using the Socratic method almost as easily.

  His brow furrowed. “I’m twenty-seven. I’m not exactly a child, if that’s what you’re getting at.” He scowled at me and I realized he was a few years older than I’d guessed.

  “Do you have any idea how old I am?” I stared at him evenly, preparing myself for whatever outlandish guess he hurled my way.

  He shrugged. “Actually, I never really thought about it. I saw you as a mature, beautiful, confident woman
. I never stuck a number on it.”

  “Well, I’m thirty-five.” I blew out a breath. “It’s a good age really. I like being in my mid-thirties. I feel like I’ve found myself. I finally know what I want in life…”

  “And you don’t have time for a relationship, or you don’t have room for one?” Alex frowned. His pain was nearly palpable. The disappointment in his eyes tore at my heart.

  I sighed. “There’s more to it than that.” Guilt weighed on me. He’d stuck up for me. He’d been there through one of my roughest days in a ridiculously long time. And now I was wounding him more than I imagined was possible. “I rather thought you’d like knowing where you stood. I expected you’d be happy I didn’t want any strings. And I guess I hoped a fling was maybe all you could handle with everything on your plate these days.” I shrugged.

  His eyes narrowed at me. “That’s what you thought, Charlie?” Alex shook his head sadly. “I know that we both have our challenges. I’m working to take care of my family long distance and might be called away with no notice…”

  “Whoa. I don’t have any challenges. I’m living my life on my terms. I’m building a business…” I stiffened as he interrupted me.

  “Yes. And you’re struggling to get past the shoddy treatment by your ex-husband.” He offered a half smile. “We both have our baggage. I guess I thought we could unpack together.”

  “We can,” I assured him. “Casually. Like…a weekend getaway instead of moving in. There’s no need to rush. It’s like visiting a new country instead of up and moving there. Make sense?” I could feel my heart racing. None of this had gone the way it was supposed to, the way I pictured it. We should already be in his car, racing back to my place for some hot, passionate sex, not arguing over a relationship I was not ready to have.