The Photographer (Seductive Sands Book 4) Page 2

  She smirked and sashayed to her front door. I couldn’t help but allow my eyes to linger on her backside. She moved with a confidence the majority of women I knew didn’t have and I felt my desire for her grow. “Well?” She stood in her doorway, giving me an expectant look. “Are you going to come in?”

  I picked my jaw up off the floor and jogged - I fucking jogged - to her. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I was distracted.”

  “Clearly,” she murmured, closing the door behind us.

  I didn’t get a chance to even admire my surroundings before she turned me to face her and pressed her mouth to mine. Jesus, she could kiss. I felt myself get hard in a matter of seconds and judging by the way I felt her lips curl into a smirk as she kissed me, I knew she felt what she did to me.

  Her fingernails lightly grazed my scalp as I tilted her head back and deepened the kiss. I had to have her. I had to taste her. I had to know her. I wanted it all. One taste and I was addicted. One taste and I couldn’t let this be just a one night stand. I started walking over to her couch, keeping her in my arms. I wanted to be on top of her. She was used to being in control. I wanted to take that away from her. At that moment, my phone rang. I ignored it.

  The back of her knees hit the couch and she sank down. Just as I was about to crawl over her, my phone rang one more. Again, I ignored it.

  She laid back and I proceeded to crawl on top of her, not breaking the kiss. My phone rang even more insistently. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the caller ID, all while keeping my lips locked with hers...until I saw my sister’s name on it. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, pulling away from her. “It’s my sister. I have to take this.” And then, after only thirty seconds, I did the last thing I wanted to do in that moment: I offered an apology, then I stood up and left.

  4

  Charlie

  * * *

  Alex raced from the house. From my spot on the couch I was able to watch him race down the sidewalk, fumble with his keys in front of his car, and then speed off without so much as a wave, without hesitation. He didn’t even look back. Who did that? One minute we were kissing passionately. I was actually looking forward to our little tryst. The excitement had been building nicely. I could feel his erection pressing against me in all the best places. He kissed just right…not too much tongue, not too slimy. I didn’t feel like wiping my mouth or pushing him away. This was all pretty new to me.

  Ever since the divorce, I’d had no desire to have anyone near me. I’d sworn off men and decided I’d never be dependent on one again. After all the years it had taken me to recover financially from Chad, I couldn’t imagine ever risking my heart or my home. I wrapped my arms around my body as I remembered what it was like driving back here from Seattle to live with my elderly mother. I swallowed hard as I pictured a seven years younger me struggling up the sidewalk with my bulging suitcase. All my belongings crammed into one piece of luggage. Chad had kept everything.

  In truth, it was my fault. I’d agreed to the pre-nup. I suppose that should’ve been my first sign that the asshole wasn’t the guy for me, but I was blinded by my love for a man who had treated me like a princess and made me his trophy wife. Then I hit twenty-eight, which was apparently too old for him. We’d only been married eight years. I didn’t earn a cut of our life until we’d been married for ten. He’d started coming home later and later, often with lipstick on his collar and a smug look on his face.

  I knew precisely who he was seeing behind my back, or right in front of my face, depending on how I looked at the situation. “She only wants you for your money,” I announced as I sat up in the living room waiting for him one night.

  “You only wanted me for my money,” Chad accused.

  I shook my head, my then long hair whipping around my face. “No. I actually love you. At least I did. And maybe if you stopped treating the cheating like a sport, I could love you again. We could have the life you promised me. Try,” I pleaded. Even then, I knew I was more afraid of having to go back to Westport than I was of suffering the quiet humiliation of being married to Chad while he dated his personal assistant.

  “Why don’t you pack up and make room for the next Mrs. Ellerby,” he urged. “You can’t possibly be happy. You’re only hoping to stick it out long enough for a payout.”

  I swallowed hard. “You wouldn’t let me work.”

  Chad shrugged. “You didn’t need to. I paid for everything.”

  My fingers turned white from my tight grip on the arms of the chair. “So, how am I supposed to survive on nothing? How am I supposed to even leave?”

  “Fine.” He sighed. “I’ll buy you a bus ticket. Anywhere you want to go.” He grinned like he was giving me some big bonus. In his mind, I’m sure he thought he was, since legally, he could kick me to the curb without warning at any time…much like this. “Take your things. Take your jewelry even.” Chad moved to the stairs and rested his hand on the banister. “I’ll leave you money, but only if you’re gone by the time I return from work tomorrow.”

  My brow furrowed and tears flowed down my face. “How am I supposed to accomplish that?” I stood and moved toward him, hoping my sorrow and fear might strike some chord in him and I could get an extension. “One week,” I begged. “Please. If you ever loved me, give me a chance to properly pack and make arrangements for where to go.”

  Chad tugged at his chin. Maybe he was trying to decide if he’d ever loved me. Finally, his shoulders sagged and he grimaced. “So, I’ll pack a bag and take Misty away for the weekend. When I return after work on Monday, you better be out because she’ll be moving in.” Then he rushed up the stairs, returning minutes later with a bag he must’ve had packed for just this occasion. He passed me without so much as a second look, pausing at the side table in the foyer to drop an envelope on the cold stone surface.

  When the door closed, I sank to the floor, regretting I’d even confronted him. If I’d have left it alone, I might’ve bought myself more time. I might’ve lasted the whole year and ten months I needed for the big million-dollar payout.

  I’d spent the next two days selling off all the stuff I’d no longer need for the lifestyle I no longer had. I’d taken pennies on the dollar for fancy handbags, designer shoes and clothes, and all my jewelry. Through it all, I’d kept my chin up, until our driver spoke to me while dropping me at the Greyhound station.

  “I’ve been with Mr. Ellerby for many years,” he reminded me quietly. “You’re not the first I’ve seen him do this to, but you’re the best, the nicest. I’m terribly sorry.”

  I barely hid a sob as I stared at him in shock. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

  He shook his head. “I thought you were actually going to make it until he started noticing a few strands of gray hair in his beard and began talking about a few laugh lines you’d developed beside your eyes.”

  Slowly, I’d peeled myself out of the back seat of the Mercedes as I tried to pull it together. There’d be plenty of time to cry once I’d reached my old bedroom in the house I’d grown up in.

  When I arrived on my mother’s doorstep, she wasn’t thrilled to see me. “I can’t afford to feed another mouth right now, Charlotte,” she explained quietly. “I’m not doing well.”

  Her words were an understatement. My mother was dying from lung cancer at the age of forty-seven. She’d been subjected to secondhand smoke the entire time she was growing up. Then, she’d been a bartender at a place on the outskirts of town and endured more. By the time they discovered what was wrong with her, the tumor was inoperable and she was struggling with walking pneumonia. Two weeks later, she died, leaving me a mountain of medical bills to settle from her life insurance, and the house.

  Victoria helped me sell it and find this place. She’d found the struggling vineyard and helped me cut a deal. I owed her everything and I was finally in a position to pay her back. Unfortunately for Alex, I wasn’t willing to put myself in a position to hurt like that ever again. And in the instant after he’d left, I’d rea
lized that was all that could come from being with him.

  5

  Alex

  * * *

  I knew I was an idiot the minute I left Charlie’s place, but it was my sister. I never said ‘no’ to my sister, even if it meant getting cockblocked by the most beautiful woman I had ever set eyes on.

  “This better be good, Lily, because I was incredibly busy with - “

  “Nearly getting your rocks off?” she interrupted, cutting me off. I didn’t see her but I could tell she had a doubtful brow and a sassy look on her face. “Mom wanted to talk to you.”

  I felt all traces of humor leave my system and I straightened up. “Does she remember?” I rushed over to my car and slid into my driver’s seat, pulling it closed.

  There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “She asked for you,” came Lily’s slow reply. “I’m not quite sure what that means, exactly. But she asked for you.”

  I cleared my throat, my hands clammy as my phone switched over to Bluetooth. I gripped the steering wheel tight even though I had yet to start the car.

  “How, uh.” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “How’s she doing?”

  My sister made a grunting sound. “Not better,” she admitted. “But not worse, either. It’s the best that we can hope for, to be honest.” A beat. “Do you want to talk to her?”

  I bought myself time by backing out of the driveway. When I turned around, I nodded and then remembered she couldn’t see me.

  “Sure,” I said, my voice cracking.

  I heard a muffled conversation, then Lily used a voice that she only used for Mom, meaning it was sweet and patient. After a few moments, I heard the familiar voice of my mother.

  “Hello?”

  My heart cracked. I hadn’t heard my mother’s voice in months. My sister called me every few days to keep me updated and I always sent her money. Lily had to quit her job to take care of our mother full-time. Luckily, Mom’s estate paid her a decent wage, but I always sent back what I could just to be on the safe side. Lily deserved it. It wasn’t as though I was around to help her. She was doing everything on her own. If I could give her some pocket money to go toward books on Amazon, I would be more than happy to do so.

  “Hi.” My voice cracked again. It was like I was reliving my junior high days.

  “Alexander?”

  Nobody called me Alexander except my mother. When she remembered me.

  “Mom?” I couldn’t help it when my eyes teared up. This never happened. The last time I talked to my mom and she knew who I was happened when I visited last Christmas. That was months ago. I didn’t know what triggered her sudden memory of me, but everything else dropped from the forefront of my mind so I could bask in this. “How are you? I miss you.”

  “Alexander, is that you?” my mother asked. I remembered her voice being fuller, livelier, not weak and broken. “Could you send me some more of your pictures? I love your pictures, especially the ones with the puppies.”

  “I’ll, uh.” I had to cut myself off. I didn’t want to cry in front of her. “I’ll make sure to send you more, okay? Especially the Dalmatians. I’ll take lots of those.”

  There was a moment. It was a second that lasted too long. And even before I spoke, I knew her presence of mind had gone.

  “Take what?” she asked. “Who is this? What will you be taking? Shall I call the police?” Another beat. “Help! Help!”

  There was a muffling sound. “Hey.” Lily was back on the line and Mom seemed to be calming down in the background. “Sorry. She was good for the last ten minutes.”

  “No, I uh, I’m glad I got to talk to her like she’s my mom, you know?” I didn’t want Lily to hear me tearing up. Even though it was an appropriate moment and she would completely understand, I wanted to be the strong older brother she needed me to be. She already had to be strong for Mom. The least I could do was be the strong one for her.

  “No, I get it.” There was a pause as Lily continued to calm our mother down. “I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

  I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “Let me know if you need anything,” I told her. “Honest, Lily. If you need anything, just ask.”

  “Pictures,” she murmured, her voice quiet. I knew it was hard for her to even ask. “The kind she likes. You know. The Dalmatians.”

  “I will.”

  My mother was another reason why I became a photographer. When I was younger, she’d merely encouraged the hobby which became my whole life. After her diagnosis, she loved looking at pictures and I thought that if I kept showing her different pictures, she would remember. Remember me, or remember Lily, or remember Dad. I felt like if I caught the perfect shot, everything would be better. She would remember everything and everyone, and Lily would be able to live a normal life.

  Maybe that was why I pushed myself so hard to be the best. Ultimately, I knew it was impossible. I knew my mother would never be cured and there would be a time when she wouldn’t come back, when she wouldn’t remember me ever again.

  I didn’t want to think about that. Lily always tried to prepare me for that moment that had yet to happen, but I refused to talk about it. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to think about it. I threw myself into work.

  For a moment, I remembered my time with Charlie. I didn’t regret leaving her but I wished I was still there. I wished I could hold her and lose myself in her and just forget that my own mother didn’t recognize my face.

  I had no idea where I was going, but I pulled over to the side of the car, made sure that no one was around, and let myself cry.

  6

  Charlie

  * * *

  “I’m so looking forward to the photoshoot,” I announced as I greeted Max and Victoria. Immediately, I regretted it. I wasn’t a liar and in all honesty, my objection to the plans had nothing to do with the two lovely people with whom I was speaking. Not in the least. My problem was pulling up in front of the winery and parking at the moment. I pasted a smile on my face and tried to forget about my bruised ego.

  “Well, well, well,” Max commented absently.

  “Hm?” I glanced at him curiously.

  “Oh, nothing. You seem a tad…distracted.” Max grinned like he knew some secret.

  “I’m just thinking about how I can’t wait to get my hands on those proofs. Once you pick your favorite, I can get to work on my part.” I shrugged and wandered toward my office. “Have fun. I’ll be around, but I need to return some phone calls. Deals and distribution. I’m sure you understand.” I started to wander away, but I clearly underestimated how quickly Alex could unpack a vehicle. I listened to him greeting his clients.

  “Hello again, Max. So nice to see you again, Victoria.” I heard the rustling of clothing I figured was the shaking of hands, a man hug, and possibly a quick cheek kiss.

  Still, I carried on with my plans, hoping to secret myself away, until Alex called out.

  “Charlie?”

  He sounded nervous and…sad. Thought I wanted to ignore him, I had to see his face. “Hello, Alex,” I replied coolly. “Did you need something?”

  He took a few tentative steps toward me. “Actually, yes. I need an assistant.”

  My brows arched at his audacity. One minute he’s running off and abandoning me in my time of need, and now he expected my help. I threw out a hip. “An assistant, huh?”

  “Yes. It would make my job much easier.” Alex rubbed his hands together nervously.

  I stood there, completely unmoved.

  He sighed. “With help, I could get out of here sooner.”

  “And we have a winner. What do you need, photographer?” I stared at him, determined to show no emotion, but my head was completely fucking with me. How could he leave? No. No. Forget about torturing yourself. This is for the best. It’s a sign. You promised yourself you’d watch all the signs from now on.

  “I can carry pretty much everything, but during the shoot, I’d love it if you could pass me the lenses I need, and help me
with the details. You’ll see what I mean when we start.” Alex stared at me with a pained look he struggled to hide.

  “You got it. Let’s get to work. Do you know where you’d like to set up, or do you need a tour of the grounds?” I gestured for him to follow me. “We even have a gift shop with plenty of props, if necessary.”

  Soon, I had shown them to the tasting room. “This is where we’ll be later.” I gestured to the wooden bar. “I’ll be standing back here, pouring wine, helping Max and Victoria decide what to put in those mini bottles.”

  He surveyed the area. “I love that huge picture window overlooking the vineyards. Really nice touch. I’d love to take some shots here and out there.”

  The group followed me past all the wooden barrels of wine, out toward the huge back barn doors. I planned to walk through, but Alex halted our progress. “Those doors would make a perfect prop.”

  I frowned, unable to see his vision. “I’ll trust you on this.” Then I gestured to the outdoors. “This is your best access to all that nature you seem eager to shoot.” I chuckled and crossed my arms over my body, while I leaned against the side of the barn door. I heard a noise and figured he was taking some practice pictures to test the lighting. I was pretty much determined to ignore him as much as possible. I focused on my vineyard, filled with three varieties of grapes for as far as the eye could see. And if I had my way, there’d be more. I’d come a long way since Seattle. I was never going to let anyone make me feel like less than I was ever again.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Alex circling me. I lazily turned to see what he was doing, only to discover, he was taking my picture. I groaned. “Dude, the bride and groom. Focus on the happy couple. Those are the pictures I need and they want.” I huffed. “No one wants pictures of me.”