7
Look but don’t touch
An hour later, Zanderstood on the sidewalk dressed in blue jeans, a wrinkled white shirt—because the salesman had assured him that “crinkled” was in—and cowboy boots. He hadn’t worn denim in over a decade, nor had heeverconsidered owning genuine cowhide boots. But he was a man of his word. If his stepsister wanted him to look like a ranch hand, then, by God, he would.
From what he could tell, she liked bossing him around. Surprisingly, he liked it, too. In the end, he bought a couple of pairs of jeans and a few shirts. In exchange for his cooperation, she heaped her undivided attention on him. That alone was worth every penny spent. When it came to his striking, all-business stepsister, he was hooked.
After tossing the shopping bags in the Jeep, he spied a coffee shop. “As muchfunas that shopping excursion was, it’s time to get to work. Are we ready now?”
Stepping back, she hitched her hands on her curvaceous hips, and nodded. “Now, you look like a photographer’s assistant. And yes, I am ready.”
So am I, in every way imaginable.
“How about we grab some joe and review your client’s email?” he suggested.
While standing in line, she fiddled with her new phone, one that could hold a charge for days. Though she’d resisted, he bought her several accessories. Going forward, she might not remember to use them, but she had them at her disposal.
Zander’s thoughts returned to his earlier conversation with Tilly. She’d explained that Savannah hadn’t had an assistant in over eight months and scouting new places alone stressed her out, especially when challenged with a tight timeframe and a new client.
In light of those issues, he’d shelve any conversation about Starry Cove until Savannah was better prepared for her shoot. He respected that, in spite of the obvious hurdles, she’d accepted the booking.
Timing couldn’t have been worse. With Kent in the hospital, Zander had asked his Operations VP to be on point for any weekend emergencies. Then, he told his shocked assistant he’d be out of pocket until Monday. Megan promised to call if there were any changes in Kent’s health.
Though Zander had silenced his phone’s ringer, his thigh vibrated with every new email and text. Never before had Zander relinquished control of King Development, and he fought the continual urge to see what was going on.
If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, he was having one hell of a time abiding by their no-touch rule. Despite how fantastic Savannah looked in her ass-hugging jeans and that bright-pink tank top, he wasn’t going to lay a finger on her. God help him. He was not.
With iced coffee drinks in hand, they found a cozy table tucked in the corner.
As Savannah read him her client’s email, her shoulders tensed at the long list of possible locations she’d been asked to visit. They’d provided seven in Albuquerque and tacked on several more in Santa Fe. He doubted they’d be able to visit all of them in a day and a half. But that wouldn’t deter him from trying.
Never having done anything like this, he asked, “Are you familiar with either city?”
“No,” she replied. “I’ve never been here before.”
“Help me understand why it’s important to scope out a spot before shooting it.”
She fiddled with her ear cuff. “In this case, the client doesn’t want me to show up at a location sight unseen. Scouting helps with prep. I’ll be able to visualize what might work best. For example, if the area is crowded with tourists, I’ll need to know that in advance, especially if the client’s production team can’t clear them. Lighting is another issue. If the area is shaded, I’ll have to light it myself.”
“Understood.”
If Zander had a knack for anything, it was charting a master plan, ticking off accomplishments, and moving to the next task. After reviewing each of the potential destinations and prioritizing them, he formulated a route using his phone’s map app. In the twenty minutes they’d been sitting there, more than a dozen emails and text alerts had popped onto his screen.
“I’ll wait while you handle those,” she said.
“Absolutely not. I’ve got people covering for me so I can focus on you.” Pausing, he stared into her eyes. “I’m all yours.”
Her expression softened and the lines between her brows faded. “I’m concerned the quality of my work will suffer if I rush. I don’t want the client to be disappointed. I always fear my current job will be my last.”
Her vulnerability struck a chord. Though he wanted to press his palm to hers and offer a reassuring squeeze, he clutched his phone instead. “I will do everything possible to ensure you have a successful shoot.”
And damn if she didn’t reward him with a stunning smile. Then, she stroked his arm. Perhaps her slow, gentle caress was meant to show her appreciation, but his body tensed with need.
“Thank you, Zander.” She gave his triceps a little squeeze before letting go. “Oops, my bad.”
“You’re fine.”Damn fine.He’d craved her from the moment they’d agreed never to touch each other again.
With a plan in place, they slid on their sunglasses and headed outside.
