Her jaw slid sideways but she didn’t respond.
“And I didn’t mean to make it sound as if…”
She tilted her head sideways. “Like I ride a stripper pole in my spare time?”
The words dripped off her tongue like acid, in stark contrast to the woman in the photo, so languidly comfortable with her body, her nakedness. Her sensuality.
Ethan wondered what had turned the carefree Carrie of that photo into the uptight woman in front of him.
And what it would take to release that sensual goddess again.
Bells and whistles started going off in his head. Abort, abort, screamed an alarm. Do not go there.
Yet he had a bad feeling that this was an alarm too easily disarmed for his own good.
He lifted his hands in a placating motion. “I insulted you.”
“Damn right you did.”
“I apologize. Again.”
Seemed that’s all he was doing, lately.
She looked up at him. “Okay then. So?”
They stared at each other across the wide expanse of his desk, both breathing hard.
There was an undercurrent running between them that he could no more resist than he could define. He was attracted to her. Big time.
The pretty, proper, town photographer with the seductive past.
“Sure,” he said, finally, cursing himself inwardly. “Why not?”
Chapter Four
‡
Carrie was putting the finishing touches on the first set of proofs for the Kauffman family when the business line rang. Technically, it was after hours, but she answered it anyway.
“Forever Yours Photography, Carrie Logan speaking,” she said, scrolling through to the next batch of photos. The relief she felt over having Ethan Nash agree to work on her website was enormous. He’d already managed to deactivate the links, how, she had no idea and didn’t care.
He would be coming over tomorrow to start mucking around inside the inner workings of her main computer, and she was trying to get as much as possible done before he arrived.
“Yes, hello,” said the caller. “It’s Bethany Kyle. We hired you to do my wedding photos this fall.” She cleared her throat and gave the date.
Of course Carrie remembered. It was the kind of booking every photographer drooled over: a full-day event, everything from the bridal preparations to the reception. She pulled it up on her calendar, hoping the girl wasn’t as stressed as she sounded.
“I’m looking forward to it. How are the preparations going?”
“That’s the thing.” Bethany paused, then continued on in a rush. “I need to cancel. I’m so, so sorry.”
No.
Carrie sat back in her chair. High school sweethearts, Bethany and Elliot had been engaged for what seemed like forever. They were practically mascots for the happily ever after. This would be devastating for everyone involved, but none so much as the bride. “Oh, Bethany. What happened?” Then she caught herself. “Gosh, I’m sorry, it’s none of my business. Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“It’s not… I’m fine. I just… I feel terrible. I hope you understand.” Her voice was thick with tears and Carrie’s heart went out to her.
“Of course. Don’t think about me at all, Bethany. And don’t worry about the deposit, I’ll refund you that. This isn’t your fault.” And there went a month’s profit, not to mention the bookings she’d turned down to remain available that day.
Bright bubbles of worry started simmering at the back of her mind again. Her summer and fall schedule was already down, compared to the same time last year. But her worries about her business paled next to the trauma of a broken engagement.
“No, absolutely not,” said the girl. “I can’t possibly do that to you, Carrie.”
They went back and forth a bit until the girl agreed to take back the deposit. Carrie knew that not all the vendors would be so agreeable. It was the least she could do. She genuinely felt bad for Bethany but also, if the wrong person landed on her links before Ethan got to them, she’d need the good karma.
“You take care of yourself, okay? You’ll get through this.”
By this time, the girl was barely able to speak for tears, and she ended the conversation.