Love Out of Focus

by Rebecca Connolly

  “Oh yeah?” Dan asked, fidgeting with his collar.

  “Quite possibly my new favorite person ever,” Mal said without hesitation. Then she turned to face them. “How did the rest of the day go?”

  Hunter didn’t think they would ever get away. He’d done his part by getting to the farthest corner of the room, the one closest to the door, but that was as far as he’d gotten. If it wasn’t because of Mal snapping random pictures, it was because just about every person in the room would notice if they left. He could hardly toss Mal over his shoulder and say, “Well, we’re leaving now!” without causing some serious problems. He wouldn’t make it three steps before someone else or Mal herself would make going anywhere impossible.

  He wanted to know what she and Tom had been talking about. He wanted to know what she thought of the house. He wanted to know whether anything had changed in the last hour.

  He wanted to be alone with her. Because that was the only way he could have her. In public, he was the best man, and she was the photographer, and it seemed that those roles were some insurmountable obstacle. Only in private could they be together.

  “Hey, Mal!” Jenna called, breaking through the various conversations. “Didn’t you want to get a sunset shoot before the week is out?”

  Mal looked confused for just a moment, wrinkling up her nose. “Yeah … ,” she said slowly, not comprehending.

  She was cute when she did that.

  Jenna had a knowing look on her face. “Well, tonight is probably your best bet. Y’all better take off now before you miss it.”

  Mal still looked confused, but she and her assistants got up and gathered their things.

  Jenna was now Hunter’s favorite person ever. He liked her possibly even more than he liked her fiancé, and he was indebted to her. He was able to slip out the door since no one had spoken to him in at least five minutes. Hopefully, it would be ten more before his absence was remarked on. Maybe someone else would leave, and then it wouldn’t even be a thing.

  He waited for them out by the carts, crossing and uncrossing his arms like an anxious teenager, looking at his watch, and wondering what in the world was taking so long for them to get down there. Finally, they appeared, and Mal was talking to her assistants, not looking ahead.

  “Honestly, you guys go back to the house. I’ll take some quick shots and be done in a jiffy. Then we can edit together tonight, and it’ll be great.”

  Dan opened his mouth to respond, but he saw Hunter, and his mouth curved into a smile. He nudged Taryn, and she, too, caught sight of Hunter. Her eyes lit up, and she fought to keep from laughing.

  “Know what, Mal? That’s a great idea,” Taryn said, clearing her throat. “We’ll head to the house while you go shoot. But we don’t need to edit tonight. There’s plenty of time. Just take your time. Relax. Enjoy.”

  “What?” Mal said, looking at her. “What are you … ?” She followed Taryn’s gaze and saw Hunter, then stopped dead in her tracks. “Aha.”

  Hunter sighed and looked at the others. “She says that like it’s a bad thing.”

  Mal rolled her eyes. “I take it you’re going on the sunset shoot with me?” she asked him.

  “Am I invited?”

  “Yes,” the assistants said together.

  He nodded. “Thought so.”

  “Isn’t that up to me?” Mal asked, looking around.

  “No,” all three answered at the same time.

  She threw her hands up in the air, but smiled. “Fine. Care to drop them off at their place?”

  “Sure thing.” He started toward the parking lot. “We’ll take the truck. You guys mind riding in back?”

  They didn’t mind at all.

  Hunter put his arm around Mal’s shoulders. “I like these two,” he murmured. “Very smart kids.”

  “Shut up,” she muttered as she pushed at him.

  Soon enough, they were alone, and the moment they were, he took her hand, sighing at the relief of being able to touch her again. He was getting more pathetic by the minute. But despite Mal’s cynical expression, she was holding his hand just as tightly.

  If that wasn’t enough to make him rightfully pathetic, he didn’t know what was.

  She gave him no direction, letting him drive them around however he wanted. He took her to one of his favorite spots, the place they had gone the previous morning on their first sunrise shoot. It would be better in the evening, and he couldn’t wait for her to see it. Hand in hand, they walked from the road up to the spot, and he heard Mal’s soft “oh” of appreciation.

  “We’ve been here,” she said, glancing at him.

  He nodded. “It’s better in the evenings, so I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  She turned and looked over the expanse before them, sighing. “I don’t.”

  “Do your thing,” he encouraged, letting go of her hand and sitting down to watch.

  She surprised him by only taking a few pictures and then coming to sit by him. His look made her duck her chin bashfully and shrug. “I’ll get what I need.”

  They sat without speaking for several minutes, and Hunter spent most of that time looking at Mal, who purposefully stared ahead at the view. She was stunning, just like this place. The golden glow of the fading sun on her skin, the warm evening breeze sending stray tendrils of hair dancing, the green in her eyes dancing with flecks of gold … He was transfixed by her, heart and soul.

  “What are you looking at?” she finally asked, still facing forward, though the hitch in her voice told him she knew exactly where he was looking.

  He smiled at her defensive tone and the very telling catch in her voice. “You,” he said simply. “In the evening light. It’s beautiful.”

  She swallowed. “Stop it.”

  “Stop what?” he asked as he reached out to replace a strand of hair the breeze had dislodged, keeping his fingers on her jaw.

  “I can’t think,” she whispered.

  “Then don’t.”

  He turned her face toward him, caught her eyes with his own, and felt his breathing match her own uneven pace. His hand moved, and he gently parted her full lower lip from her upper with his thumb. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers for a sweet, soft kiss.

  Surprisingly, he was shaken by such a simple connection and instantly wanted more, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her. He broke off gently, touching his forehead to hers, and felt satisfied at her small sigh. He started to pull away, but her hands came to either side of his stubbled jaw, and she pulled him back to her.

  “You’re going to miss it,” he whispered, teasing her, barely keeping his lips from touching hers.

  “Miss what?” she replied, her eyes still closed.

  He smiled against her lips and then kissed her again, taking all the time in the world to do it properly.

  Chapter 9

  Hunter was exhausted, and the ungodly hour of this sunrise shoot was brutal. Thinking of Mal, reliving her kiss over and over, had made sleep impossible, and as much as he wanted to enjoy this quiet time with her, he also really wanted to sleep.

  But he wasn’t going to. He would just deal with it and catch a nap after he dropped her back off at her place. The group tour of the resort wasn’t until after lunch, so that was plenty of time.

  Mal wasn’t chatty this morning, and he was grateful for that. She’d smiled shyly when he’d picked her up, but after that, nothing had been said. It was uncomfortable between them this morning, more than it had been the night before, but it was the ticklish kind of uncomfortable that made him smile—or would have made him smile if he had the energy to. Thankfully, the site for the sunrise shoot wasn’t far. All he had to do was get her there without crashing and then sit for a while until she was done.

  They almost matched this morning in their hoodies and jeans, and she’d gone further by wearing a hat as well. For someone who had just rolled out of bed, she looked far too attractive like this. Something about Mal always looked good. But she wasn’t stop
-dead-in-your-tracks attractive. No one would ask to take pictures of her; she wouldn’t draw comments, and people probably forgot her face if they weren’t paying attention. Maybe that was why Hunter loved looking at her so much.

  He could see her.

  “Come on, sleepyhead,” Mal teased from beside him. “I’ll be quick, and then you can go back to bed.”

  It took him a minute to realize that they were stopped and he’d been staring out the windshield for a while. “Sorry,” he mumbled, clambering out of the truck and heading toward the site, holding his hand out for her.

  Mal chuckled as she took his hand, squeezing it. “Go sit down. I’ll be right there.”

  He gave her a tired smile and did so, leaning against a rock, his arms and head resting on his knees.

  Either he fell asleep, or only a few moments passed—and not very many camera clicks—before there was a hand on his knee. He looked up and saw Mal shaking her head at him, smiling. He started to scoot over for her, but she gently moved his knee aside instead.

  “Let me in,” she murmured, avoiding his eyes.

  His eyebrows shot up as he realized what she meant, but his legs moved of their own accord as Mal situated herself between them, leaning back against his chest.

  “This is a pleasant surprise,” he whispered as he nudged her head, resting his chin on her shoulder.

  She laughed low in her throat. “You think after yesterday I’m supposed to be shy, Mr. You’re Going to Miss It?”

  He smiled and nuzzled her ear, just enough to make her squirm. “You didn’t seem to mind.”

  “Mind?” She laughed again. “The way you were staring at me, my brain was working in reverse, and then that kiss? You were right; you have got skills. That had so many Mississippis for me, you wouldn’t believe it.”

  He hummed and ducked his head against her. “I’d believe it, but I blame you. You drive me crazy, and I’m not responsible for my behavior, skills or no skills.”

  She tensed, then pulled his arms around her, and he was more than happy to comply.

  “Either way,” she said in a carefully indifferent tone that didn’t fool him, “your pickup lines need work.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, come on. You had to know that was cheesy.”

  He shrugged against her and held her tightly, burying his head more securely between her neck and shoulder. “Yeah. But in my experience, women like cheese.”

  “This time,” she replied as she leaned more fully into him. “Now shut up. The sun is about to come up.”

  Hunter didn’t move from his position and felt his breathing slow and deepen. His body relaxed fully against hers, more comfortable than he had been in years.

  “You’re missing it,” Mal whispered, and he could hear the smile in her voice.

  “No,” he mumbled sleepily against her. “I’m not.”

  She let him doze for a while, then, as the morning began to warm, stirred and got to her feet. “Come on, let’s get back. Lots to do today.”

  He grumbled and reached for her, but she only laughed and kept carefully away. She grabbed his hand and hauled him to his feet.

  “Cruel woman,” he muttered, rubbing at his eyes and shoving his hands into his pockets.

  She smiled and nudged him with a shoulder. “Not gonna hold my hand?”

  He glared at her. “No. You’re being mean.”

  She laughed and slung her camera over her shoulder as they headed back to the truck. “What are you, seven?”

  He sighed and allowed himself to smile back. “If I touch you, Mal, you might not go anywhere all day. I’m feeling very possessive today.”

  Her eyes widened, and she pursed her lips, then took a measured step away from him.

  He nodded once, looking at the truck even as his hands fisted in his pockets. “Good idea.”

  “We have got to work on your intensity,” Mal muttered, shaking her head.

  Hunter opened the truck door for her, then got in on his own side. Nothing was said as they drove back down to Mal’s cottage, and Mal was fidgety. When he was more coherent and alert, he would have to talk to her about that. If she was really put off by his intensity, he could back off … At least he could try. He hadn’t been lying; she did drive him crazy, and he almost didn’t recognize himself.

  Almost.

  They pulled up to the cottage, and he threw the truck in park, glancing over at her on her side of the truck.

  “This is your stop,” he said, leaning to poke her thigh with a finger.

  Her lips quirked, and she looked up at him with an unreadable expression that stopped his heart. Before he could think, she reached over, slid a hand around the back of his neck, and tugged his lips to hers for a soft, thorough dismantling of every single brain cell he had. She broke off and took advantage of his stunned silence by giving him a crooked smile and a suggestive lift of her brows, then she scrambled out of the truck and went into the house.

  Once sanity, sense, and sensation returned to him, he managed to put the truck into drive and get back on the road.

  That little minx …

  He shook his head. “One Mississippi, two Mississippi …”

  It wasn’t working.

  So much for sleeping.

  It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and Mal was ready to come out of her skin. She should have been in complete control here, in her zone, with assistants at her side, and a multitude of amazing photo ops at her fingertips. But her fingers were twitchy, her palms were sweating, and pretty much every word being said sounded like buzzing in her ears. She had enough focus to take quality shots, but conversation and smiles were completely beyond her.

  It was all the fault of that ridiculously good-looking man currently in a blazer and T-shirt with just-tight-enough stonewashed jeans. He had been staring at her all flipping day, the same smoldering, patella-pulverizing look that made her wish she were wearing a muumuu. She was grateful he was the one giving the tour and thus had to be up front and speaking most of the time. His tone was perfectly professional and controlled.

  His eyes, however …

  He’d been an attractive man before she’d started to like him, before he’d started spending sunrises with her, and certainly before they’d kissed and he’d set her world aflame. Now it was like he was the entire dessert menu at the Cheesecake Factory and she had a gift card.

  “Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln,” she hissed as her eyes clashed with his again and her face and neck flushed.

  Taryn and Dan snickered, and she elbowed whoever was closest.

  “Honey, if I were getting looked at like that,” Taryn said as she checked her camera screen, “I would not be standing here taking pictures.”

  Mal glared at her and fumbled in her satchel for another lens as the group moved out of the house to the back patio to admire the view. This was one of the premier houses on the resort, and had some great and rich history, and the family who owned it had done a lot of work to make it both rustic and modern … and some other stuff that Mal had completely forgotten. But it was located above many of the others, so the view was spectacular.

  If only someone would let her appreciate it.

  Was this what it was going to be like all the time? She was going to die. A slow and painful and embarrassing death.

  She tried to remember what Sophie had told her, that he had an ex that wanted him back, that it was all very serious, and that Mal needed to back off.

  He’s getting back with his ex … He’s getting back with his ex …

  Her eyes clashed with Hunter’s again, and she couldn’t remember anything that would help her calm down.

  The girls headed off in one direction, the guys in another, all chatting aimlessly. Hunter had stopped his tour guide act and was talking with Caroline. Mal focused on the amazing view, wondering whether the homeowners would mind if she came back. She could only imagine how fantastic this view was at sunrise and sunset, with morning fog, with rain coming in … She wan
ted to see this view in every season and in every condition.

  “Taryn, can you get a focal point shot of that tree on the ledge?” she asked, clicking away madly. “I think you could get a spectacular aspect.”

  “She’s already doing that,” a distinctly non-Taryn voice murmured from behind her.

  Hot and cold shocks exploded up and down her back, and she gasped at the contact on her arm. Hunter gripped her tightly, pulling her away from the patio and the view.

  “What are you—?” she tried, resisting initially.

  “Stop talking,” Hunter ground out.

  Mal looked back toward the others, but no one paid any attention to her except Taryn and Dan, who waved. Then Caroline saw her and raised a brow.

  No one tried to stop them.

  “Hunter,” Mal said, trying to avoid stumbling on the walkway.

  He shook his head and opened the side door to the house, moved to the glorious state-of-the-art kitchen, then tossed Mal into a pantry to one side and followed. He closed the door quickly, her arm still in his grasp.

  She didn’t have time to say anything before he had her up against the wall. He took her camera off her neck, slid the satchel down her arm, and in the same motion managed to get a hand behind her ear while his thumb grazed her jaw.

  And then he waited.

  Mal looked up into his face, trying her level best to be mad at him. “You are ridiculous,” she scolded, her voice sounding harsh and rasping to her ears. “I thought you were going to be reserved. You said you could do that. Well, nothing about you is reserved, pal. You’re making a scene, which I specifically asked you not to do. I am going to get so much flak for this! What in the world has gotten into you?”

  Hunter didn’t hear a single word. He stared at her, his gaze flicking between her lips and her eyes. She held her breath, waiting, and then he kissed her. Softly at first, just once. Then his other hand came up behind her head, and his kiss became hard, insistent, and possessive. She was unable to move, to think, to breathe … She was suddenly and completely attuned to him.

  His lips were magical and wicked, and she had no idea how to match them, how to keep up, and she felt herself growl in impatience. He angled her face up, their difference in height more enhanced by the cramped pantry, but their forced proximity only made things hotter, more exciting, more … something.