Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1)

by Jackson, K. M.

  Mika let out a sigh, and Tai turned to her with a question in her eyes.

  “Yes, quickly, please.” Mika said, her voice laced with exasperation. Could this day get any more mortifying?

  Alejandro snorted, a twisted little grin played at the corners or his mouth.

  Well, yes, it could, Mika thought.

  “Can I see you for a moment?” she said to Alejandro, daring him to do anything but agree.

  The room fell silent as Tai, Tong and their two sons looked on with anticipation, as if waiting for an impromptu floor show.

  Mika looked around at the audience. “Alone, please.”

  Alejandro raised a dark brow, challenging her back. No one moved.

  Mika turned to Tai giving her a woman-to-woman look. “My boss and I need a moment.”

  Tong and his sons unceremoniously dropped the bags they were holding. Tai looked at Ale with a question in her eyes and then back at Mika as if waiting once again for her word. Mika gave a small nod. Tai shooed the men from the hut with brisk orders in her native language.

  The hut was now too quiet. The only sounds were Tai’s distant voice giving orders to her small band of men, mingled with the surf lapping against the shore.

  Suddenly Mika wanted to call them all back instead of just being stuck with Ale staring at her,—one beat, then two—as the air seemed to stand still around them. The sun streamed in through the cutout windows that wrapped around the entire structure, and Mika became acutely aware they were both still wet from their dip in the ocean. She fought the urge to cover her chest, and instead, she reached over to the chair and handed Ale a towel. “Here, dry yourself off. You’re dripping all over the place. No sense in getting sick before the shoot.” Good, she’d found herself. At least her voice was close to normal. She could do this.

  Ale took the towel, placed it on the table next to him, and peeled off his wet shirt.

  Her heart skittered as she took in the solid expanse of his wet and glistening chest. She swallowed. So much for normal.

  He quickly started to towel off as Mika worked to keep her gaze level and even. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t be this cool, not when she was busy fighting to keep her breathing from coming out in gasps and gulps.

  But it was Ale. He was the king of cool. Theirs was probably just one in a long line of many unmemorable kisses on his part. She continued to look at him. His muscular torso was sprinkled with dark hair that trailed lazily down to his defined abs. Annoying man. He was always religious about his running and exercise. She knew because she worked his schedule around it. Well, it had sure paid off.

  Mika shifted on the balls of her feet, now wishing she’d spent a little less time on his schedule and a little more on her own exercise routine. Seeing the way his wet shorts rode low on his slim hips, the hair making an enticing trail that took her wandering eyes farther, well—enough. Time to snap out of it.

  “What the hell were you doing back there with that kiss?”

  Alejandro blinked. It seemed his whole body tensed for a moment, then he relaxed with a slight quirk of his lips. Oh, he was good. Here she was, staring at him like a starving woman at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and he brushed it off as commonplace.

  He threw the towel down on a nearby chair and went to his luggage where he then grabbed a black tank and put it on before turning back to her. “I’m not entirely sure,” he said. “But I apologize. You’re my employee and I shouldn’t have done that. It was a mistake.”

  Despite herself, Mika flinched inwardly at his words. Mistake. She bit her bottom lip and forced her back to straighten a bit more. She looked up at him, a serene coolness coming over her.

  “You’re right, you shouldn’t have done it,” she said.

  “I know. I just said that. And I apologized. I just wanted you to calm down,” he replied, taking a step back to look for shorts. She watched as he rummaged, making a mess of his suitcase. He pulled out a pair of cargos and went to unbutton his wet shorts.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Mika shrieked.

  “I’m changing my shorts.”

  “Well, could you give a little warning or something?”

  Ale smiled. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me at my best before, Mika. We’ve known each other a long time.”

  “Yeah, your best. Funny, I’ve also seen you at your worst. Damn your stupid ego. And you never kissed me before. This is crazy. A little modesty would do you a world of good.” She whipped around to remove the view from her line of sight. “Just hurry up.”

  Mika listened as he dropped his wet shorts, imagining how he must look as the fabric came down over his hips. Was he still anywhere near as hard as when he had her up against him in the water? In her mind’s eye, she imagined slowly unbuttoning his shorts, her hands trailing the path of that inviting line of hair and taking down the zipper—

  “Okay, all done.”

  Mika blinked, forcing reality into focus. This was so bad. She had to do something to get Alejandro out of her system.

  She turned around, knowing her face was heated but fighting to keep her composure and willing any hint of a blush away.

  “Are you blushing?”

  She gave him a glare. “Shut it. You know I don’t blush.”

  Mika reached for the towel and fumbled as she folded it with shaky fingers, then put it on the back of the chair. She was shocked as Ale’s hand came out to cover her own stilling her. “So do you accept my apology? Are we cool?”

  She looked up at him, forcing a smile to her lips. “Of course we are, boss. We’re always cool.”

  *

  These were so not the shoes for climbing. Mika tried to keep her balance moving up a steep ridge while carrying an equipment bag plus her own camera bag. She was determined to sneak in shots of her own too while she was out here. Despite the rough terrain, it really was breathtaking, besides there was no need to let this opportunity go to waste. She just wished she could have persuaded Ale to wait a little longer while her sneakers dried. Her flip-flops were no match for these rocks, and her brain must have been still muddled by that kiss or she would have dug deeper in her bag for her more sturdy hiking sandals. But no, she was thrown off by a not-to-be-deterred Ale—who had to get out and start shooting, like yesterday. She’d quickly changed into a dry top and the first pair of shorts she could grab.

  Now she looked up at him on the rocks ahead and grimaced. He climbed with the ease of a seasoned mountain man, not the city boy she knew he was. He was carrying the heavier of the two equipment packs on his back like it was nothing when she knew it weighed more than fifty pounds. He had his camera slung over his shoulder at the ready. As if he was born with it. Almost like an extension of himself. His body moved with the ease and grace of someone completely comfortable.

  A pebble lodged under her foot and Mika faltered, letting out a small, “Oh,” before reaching for the tree nearest her.

  In a moment, Ale was there, his arm reaching for her, tight around her waist. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you this time. Not the bag.”

  She let out a snort, feeling even more shaky than before now that his arm was around her. Nevertheless, she arched a brow. “Very funny, but I’m fine.”

  He let her go. “Well, come on then, tough one. There are shots with my name on them.” He took her hand and pulled her up the ridge onto more level ground. At least, it was supposed to be, but one touch from him had her reeling again.

  Mika pulled her hand free and fell into step behind him. She turned around. There was a gorgeous view of the beach peeking out teasingly through the trees behind them. This would be a perfect place to stop. She could imagine tapping him on the shoulder, and when he turned around, she would be the one to surprise him. Wrap her arms around him, kiss him, let her hands go where her mind had been dreaming of for so long. But she didn’t. She took her shot and let her quick fantasy be enough to hold her.

  They reached a clearing with lush trees and a small reflection pool that seemed straight out
of a fairy tale. Mika couldn’t help but smile to herself when Alejandro’s face lit up with unchecked happiness. “Looks like we found our first spot,” he said, looking at the scene from every possible angle as he reached for his camera.

  “So I guess the mainland is out,” she said.

  “Are you even asking?” He responded.

  “No, not really.”

  They’d been together long enough for her to know how his mind worked. He was imagining which models he would place where and in what outfits. She was thinking the same thing, wondering how she’d lay things out if it were her own shoot for Stylist magazine.

  But as she watched Alejandro, who was busy reaching in the bag for a portable tripod, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was a specific who on his mind as well. He stared out at a far-off point in the treeline. Mika reached in her bag for a long-view lens and handed it over to Ale with an easy smile, anticipating what he wanted just as he started to reach out towards her.

  She was relieved when he took it with his old nonchalant air and no comment. Good, they were back to themselves. Ale focused on work, she by his side. This was how it should be.

  But still, Mika couldn’t ignore the unmistakable charge she felt as Ale’s hand met hers to take the lens. He looked up at her and a flush of warmth flowed over her body. She told herself it must be the island sun or the hike. Maybe she needed some water. But then Ale had to go and speak. “Thanks. As usual, you’re always one step ahead of me.” His voice practically rumbled over her body, filling the quiet air around them.

  “That’s what you pay me for, isn’t it?” She quipped, hoping her own voice came out normal and light but hating the slightly husky tone that emerged instead.

  He gently ran his fingers over hers in an almost imperceptible caress, as if he were touching the most precious thing in the world. Was it for her or for the lens she was holding?

  Mika blinked. Of course, it was the lens. Ale loved his cameras, almost as much as he loved the art of photography. He lived for his work. Forcing herself to live in reality, she pushed the lens into his hand and stepped back, following his eyes to where his gaze was now alighting. “I don’t know what you plan on doing way up there. You know the agency will have a fit if we try to get models up that high. The insurance cost will go through the roof. Also, if we ruin any of the gowns, we’ll have the designers coming after us too.”

  “Calm down. It’ll all be fine. I won’t go too crazy with this shoot. But I’m sure Brian can rig something,” Excitement crept into his voice, obliterating his cool demeanor. This place is ideal. Look at these trees, this sky. It’s like we’re in Eden.”

  She let out a sigh. Not that she disagreed, but because she could see his vision, too. Still she raised a brow at him.

  He grinned. “Ah, ah, I can tell you’re seeing it too, Mika,” he challenged, and raised his camera to her eye, pointing the lens at the trees. “Here, have a look around.”

  His large hands with those long fingers gently held the camera to her eye so that it barely touched her skin. She looked though his viewfinder to get a glimpse of the world the way he saw it. Lush, green and vibrant, it would be transformed through his lens, a wash of misty magic lent to it to make it even more beautiful.

  He was so close that a strong whiff of his scent wrapped around her. Earthy, lightly musky with a touch of fresh linen soap. All him, plus a hint of the salt water from earlier. She would miss that scent at her new job, but the change would do her good. She had to ease this longing for a man who couldn’t be hers. It wasn’t healthy.

  “I don’t know,” she said, thinking over the setup once more. “I have a feeling this will be over the top. How will we get all the extra things we need? Ropes, pulleys, harnesses?” She pulled away from the camera and turned to him.

  “Now, Mika, that’s your job. And I can tell you’re seeing it. And if you’re seeing it, then it can be done.” His voice held its trademark determination.

  “Of course I am. It’s perfect here. But to do the shoot like you want will be a huge undertaking. It will mean pulling out all the stops. I’m not sure this little island or the client’s budget can handle it.”

  He frowned, his brows constricting in that I’m-not-about-to-budge-one-bit way. “Why do you always challenge me? Of course it means that. But this type of work is what is expected of me. Besides, it’s what I want.”

  With that, Mika let out an exasperated snort. She knew it was done. Ale had his vision, and it would happen. There was no stopping him now.

  He grinned at her, suddenly looking boyish and dangerously excited. “Good?”

  She nodded, her mind darting to the logistics of the location.

  “Great. We’ll shoot here for a while, and when we get back, we’ll send word to the crew about what we need.”

  “You mean I’ll send word.”

  “Naturally. Where would I be without you to keep things in line?” Alejandro looked at her with his half smirk that indicated he knew she would get the job done. “As always, I put all my trust in you.”

  Something twisted low in Mika’s stomach with that. She thought about bringing up the subject of Stylist now, but couldn’t. She told herself she didn’t want the argument. She could tell him later. Now she just wanted this moment with him.

  She was the first to turn away and break the connection. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to take some shots of my own and then compile a list of what we need.”

  “No problem,” she heard him say as she tried to come to grips with her cowardly decision. By the time she turned back around, Alejandro was deep in concentration, camera in hand, shooting furiously.

  She watched as he covered the scene from all angles. It was as if the world disappeared for him, existing only through his lens. Her arms lifted— she just couldn’t help picking up her own camera and focusing it on him. Ale was one with the location. Man in the wild. He moved with the quickness of a jungle cat. Dark eyes darting left to right as his head moved swiftly, missing nothing. His muscular thighs made easy work of the rocky area. As he lay down on his back to get a tough shot, his shirt rode up and she caught a peek at his well-toned abs. Mika had no control over the rush of pleasure that flowed straight to her center, and barely managed to resist the urge to lie down with him.

  But control was something she had to have. Silently, she took a few more shots. If only he could see her as she saw him. If only he could look at her with the same passion as he exhibited for the things he viewed as beautiful through his lens—maybe, just maybe, she would give into this fervor taking hold of her. And she’d give herself to him. Live out that fantasy. Just once.

  Then Ale stretched, using his thigh muscles to push up, and aimed the camera at a hard-to-reach spot. Mika swallowed back a gasp. Just once? She arched a brow. Why shouldn’t she?

  Mika dropped her camera at her side and turned away as the idea hit her and her blood rushed. She couldn’t. She came on this trip with the intention of having one last successful shoot with Alejandro and ending her career with him on a high note. Ending. The word formed a lump in her throat. She swallowed it down and blinked back the tears pricking behind her eyes. There was no space for this type of emotion in her life right now. She had to stick to the plan. She would give her notice, do this job and start her life as a New York photographer on her own. Make a clean cut. Finally, things were running as they should. There was no way she would ruin it by trying to live out a silly fantasy.

  But again, she glanced Ale’s way, as if by some magnetic pull, and took in all of his raw strength. He took off his shirt and went to the nearby pool of water, splashing his finely honed body.

  “Isn’t this place perfect?” he asked, giving her an easy grin. “It’s a fantasy brought to life.”

  She nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. A fantasy. And she knew. In that exact moment, with that nod, she’d decided. She would let go for once and have Alejandro for one night.

  And then she would be gone.

/>   Onto her new job and her new life. It would be fine. She’d get Alejandro the Great out of her system and move on with no fuss for either of them, as he had done countless times with countless women. It was a foolproof idea.

  Chapter 3

  “Okay, so you really want to do this?” Mika asked, sauntering over to Alejandro—or at least, she hoped it was a saunter. She tried to sound calm and self-assured despite her new plan, which was causing flutters where they really had no business being.

  “Of course I do. I’ve made up my mind.”

  “And I know exactly what that means.”

  Alejandro whirled on her, eyes narrowed, giving her a quick up and down that sent any last bit of saunter flitting away. “Tell me, Ms. Easygoing, what does it mean?”

  Mika planted her feet and stood to her full height, just making it to the top of his broad, wet chest. She looked up, meeting his eyes, not backing away an inch when he moved closer. “You know that I know that once you make up your mind about something, there’s no stopping you. You’ll have this place tricked out with wires in three days and models zipping through the air like some sort of mad circus act.”

  Ale’s expression softened, his voice cooled. “Not like a circus act. Something more like nature is what I’m going for. And don’t worry, I’m not going to ruin the forest. I plan on leaving this place just as we found it. There will be no lawsuits to follow us.”

  She gave him an uncompromising stare. “I sure hope not. It’ll be my name on all the documents, you know.”

  “I know it. Thanks, boss,” he said, lightening the mood. “Just imagine Karina in the Volire on that tree. It will be amazing.”

  Karina. There it was again, and with that name, like a cold splash of water, suddenly her bravado over hatching a seductive plan was squelched. She followed where he pointed and, even though she didn’t want to, she could easily imagine the beautiful Karina in the couture dress and knew he was right. She would be an exotic bird, wrapped in mystery and intrigue. It would make an amazing shot. And just like that, Mika’s fantasy plan seemed like a foolish daydream.