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Chapter One
Riley O’Sullivan hadher camera ready. She was happy with all the pictures she’d taken so far, but as she’d learned over the years as a fashion photographer, the best photos were often taken in unguarded moments. As she watched through her camera lens, the groom put out a hand and gently touched his bride’s face, his obvious adoration for the woman in front of him clear for all to see.
Click-click.Smiling, Riley dropped her arm. This would be the best one, her gut was telling her.
It was a glorious day, the first Saturday in August, the air filled with the crisp promise of fall. As the wedding photographer for her cousin Craig and his bride Annie’s wedding, she’d been taking pictures since early this morning—first of the bride and her bridesmaids—she’d had to ask her godmother, Aunt Janice, to help with some of them, seeing she was also a bridesmaid—and later of the groom and his groomsmen.
Her happy place was behind the camera lens—always had been—and taking photographs of the happy couple against the backdrop of orange and brown trees was a profoundly beautiful experience.
Taking wedding photos wasn’t her usual gig, but when Craig and Annie had asked if she’d be able to be here for the wedding to take the pictures, she’d changed her plans immediately. For her cousin, she’d walk over hot coals if need be. Craig had always been there for her when she’d needed him. To be able to do this for him and Annie was her small way of thanking him for the way he’d always had her back.
She was tired, but it was a good tired. Capturing happy moments for these two people, who so obviously belonged together, was such a privilege and great fun.
And bonus, being busy had one other big advantage—she didn’t have to talk to people. As a textbook introvert, she was energized when she was alone. People drained her, but if she was busy doing what she loved, she was able to ignore the near panicky feeling she got when she was in a crowd.
Back in Portland, she had one friend, Elana. They’d met in second grade and had been friends since then. The two of them had always tried to meet up at least once a month, but since Elana had married her college sweetheart, an editor at a well-known publisher, they hardly saw one another these days. Two were as big a crowd as she could handle.
With her camera still in her hand, she walked toward the table where her godmother, Aunt Janice, was sitting. She was not hard to miss. Dressed from top to toe in bright red, a pair of huge silver earrings dangling from her ears, she made a definite statement. Age was just a number, she would always say.
“Dylan still okay?” Riley asked as she crouched down to lift the long tablecloth covering the table. Her three-year-old son was sleeping peacefully on a small mattress. He was growing up way too fast; next month he’d be four. Pulling the blanket over him, she got up. “Thanks, Aunt Janice. Don’t you want to go and dance?”
Aunt Janice smiled. “I am enjoying myself from here. I can’t believe Craig and Annie have actually invited Carol Bingley to the wedding. She will now have material to keep her gossiping machine going for months.” Her eyes twinkled. “And I see Barry Davis is trying his level best to get you to dance with him. I don’t even think he’s been invited to the wedding.”
Putting her camera down, Riley grimaced. “He’s just plain scary. He tells me he’s sixty.”
Janice snorted. “He’s probably eighty, but that doesn’t seem to stop him from trying to get a young gal to dance with him tonight.” Aunt Alice chuckled.
“I don’t want to be rude, but if he grabs my arm one more time, I won’t be responsible for what I do. I’m going to get something to eat. What about you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks, sweetie.” She motioned toward the dancing bridal couple. “I’m so, so happy for Craig and Annie.”
Riley grinned. “Clearly besotted with each other. Sure you don’t want anything?”
“I’m sure. Go get something to eat. You’ve been on your feet all day.”
With another quick look under the table to make sure Dylan was fine, Riley headed toward the table with food. Eating had been the last thing on her mind all day, she’d been so busy.
Fortunately, most people already had their food, so she could leisurely look around and decide on what she wanted.
“You’ve been busy today,” a smooth voice said next to Riley.
Warily, she turned her head. It was Mitch. Theyelling brotheras she’d dubbed him. His older sister, Vivian, had married Riley’s brother, Aiden, in May and now Annie, his younger sister, was marrying Riley’s cousin, Craig. The few times she’d seen Mitch during the past year, he’d either been yelling or threatening to beat up either her brother or her cousin. In fact, Mitch had actually punched Aiden. Mitch had been furious because Vivian was upset and had been crying.
He probably had good reasons why he’d behaved that way. Normally, she’d study someone’s face to try and understood a person’s behavior. But for some or other strange reason, she’d never been able to get herself to really take a good look at Mitch Miller’s face.
“You about to yell at me?” she asked.
Chuckling, he also took a plate and helped himself to the food. “No yelling tonight, you have my word. Both my sisters are married. For the moment, at least, I’m doing okay. But both Aiden and Craig should know I have my eye on them.”
“I’m sure they’re shuddering in their boots knowing that.” She didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm. Mitch Miller was so not her cup of tea.
“You! Camera Girl!” a voice called from behind Riley.
Groaning, she glanced over her shoulder. Yup, the old guy was drunkenly making his way over to her. Again.
Quickly, she put her plate down and grabbed Mitch’s hand. “Come on, dance with me. If Harry or Barry or whatever his name is, grabs me one more time tonight… come on!”
But Mitch didn’t move. “Maybe if you ask nicely…”
