Page 112 of Steel

A cold chill swept through me as I moved behind the desk, managing to type a short email and sending it off to the team so they could weigh in on the choices. After that, I remained where I was. Yet I closed my eyes just to block out the world for a little bit longer.

Only when I felt an electric pulse did I open them again. Steel stood in the doorway, taking another quick glance over his shoulder.

“I’m sorry. Zorro belongs to them.”

CHAPTER 25

Violet

“Just a few more shots,” the official Brightworks photographer barked. Prince Dugan was more like a drill sergeant than a high fashion photographer given his military background. But his style left positive reviews with the smokejumpers.

Even the calendar star.

“He is perfect,” Sheila said as she joined me. She’d been one of two lucky people at the end of the straws in being allowed to join the assignment. Greg was the other, more of a liaison with the jumpers to ensure they had everything they needed. The two coordinated the daily shots with the team left in California to ensure we were moving forward.

So far, we were days ahead of schedule. There were two reasons.

The eagerness of the subjects, which still continued to shock the hell out of me, and the weather conditions surrounding the most perfect shooting locations in the world. I couldn’t ask for better.

At this rate, the project would be finished weeks in advance.

Which left a horrible knot in the pit of my stomach. What then? In a little over a week, I’d grown even closer to Steel, learning his nuances, likes, and dislikes. Given our work schedule, what relationship we’d developed was what most couples would call normal. Or traditional, although there seemed nothing traditional about the man.

“Perfect. I must agree.” I forgot who I was talking to. When I realized she was my employee, I turned away so she wouldn’t see the hard flush of sheer embarrassment.

“Sheila. I need you over here,” Greg called.

“Be right there,” she yelled back, starting to walk away. When she turned to face me, I felt a lecture coming on. “You know, it’s okay to have a personal life. It’s also okay to want something for yourself, something entirely your own. Sometimes we’re gifted two different choices, a fork in the road. But once you’ve made your choice you’ll be at peace.”

“A little profound for a late afternoon on a Thursday. Don’t you think?”

She laughed. “Dan Fogelberg’s music helped me a lot with that sort of thing. He was a genius and it’s true. You might have destiny knocking on your doorstep. Maybe it’s about time you listened.”

As she walked away, not only did I think about her words, I also felt them deep within my soul. They weren’t anything I hadn’t mulled over at least once or twice in the last few days. Being in Missoula not only had the effect of making me feel closer to my mother, but being here also had a calming effect. Not just the place or the people.

Steel.

Who was currently taking direction from Prince alongside his brother. The duo shot had been my suggestion for a reason. A reason yet to be mentioned out in the open. My God, he looked so damn handsome I felt myself swooning. What professional woman did that kind of thing with her subject?

Turning slightly, I had a private moment to myself, enjoying the rapid pulse and the way my skin felt as if it was on fire. As soon as I closed my eyes, visions of his face and his chiseled body popped into my mind. It wasn’t right to tingle all over when you were working.

The buzz of my phone indicating a call was more annoying than usual. However, with Brenda remaining in California to keep the project toeing the line, we conversed several times a day. That’s who I expected would be calling.

Seeing the unknown number flashing across the screen make my skin crawl and my stomach lurch. I answered only because given the notoriety of the calendar already, our team had been approached by various magazines and morning talk shows for possible booking. “Violet Livingston.”

“Violet. We talk at long last.” When I didn’t say anything, the bastard chuckled. “Now, why is it that you’re trying to avoid me at all costs? We were close once.”

Kenneth. Just hearing his voice made my skin crawl.

Was the motherfucker kidding me? I moved further away from the group, doing everything I could to calm my increasing temper. However, as usual, the bastard always managed to get a rise out of me.

“How did you get this number?” I moved away from the group, trying to keep my voice down. A full week of being in Missoula had passed. Five days of relative peace and quiet, if you could consider working morning until night on the photoshoot peaceful.

Maybe so because there’d been no emails. No phone calls.

From one person in particular.

“I can find anything I want, Violet. Since you wouldn’t return my calls, I had to use my resources.”