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He furrowed his brow as his eyes flicked toward the phone. “Do I get to see it?”
I wasn’t sure why I hesitated. Because I was afraid the photo would give something away? I was an idiot. Face inexplicably burning, I pulled up the photo and showed it to him.
He leaned in, oblivious to his body heat brushing against me, and he looked at the screen. “Oh. Man. Thatisa good picture.” Now he was the one blushing. “I, um… Maybe I’ll use that one.”
I smiled, hoping he took it as friendly and maybe a touch shy, and not even a little bit because I had some seriously mixed feelings about the possibility of this photo attracting the man of his dreams. I was happy to help him, but—
God, stop it, Cory. He’s not interested. Just help him find a man and then go find one for yourself.
That sounded like a great idea.
First things first…
I gestured at the hedge. “So, right here?”
“Sure. Yeah.” He stepped toward it. “Just, um right up against it? Or…?” He inclined his head and raised his eyebrows, clearly waiting for me to give him some instruction.
“There is good. Or… Hmm. Maybe a little to the…” I gestured to his left. He took a half step to the side, shifting out of the direct sunlight and letting a softer shadow slide over his face. “Perfect.” I brought up my phone. I debated stepping closer for a better composition, but I wasn’t so sure I could handle that right then. Instead, I stayed put and zoomed in a little.
Cowardice, thy name is Cory.
Matt watched me. Or, well, the camera. His expression was stoic—the kind of look I’d have expected in a portrait for his law firm’s website—but with an undercurrent of nerves. As if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his face.
“Maybe this would’ve been easier if we’d stayed in your apartment.” I looked at him over the phone and smirked. “With Andras yelling at you to look sluttier.”
That got exactly the effect I’d hoped for—a bright, unrestrained laugh.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
Christ, you’re beautiful.
Matt rolled his eyes, and even as he started to pull himself together, he was still smiling.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
The smile fell a little, and he cocked his head. “What?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re taking pictures already? We’re not even… like…” He gestured as if he couldn’t find the word.
“Hey, you want them to look natural, right? Nothing looks more natural than candid.”
He held my gaze, studying me as if he’d just learned something about me and wanted to tug at the new thread. “I didn’t know you were into photography.”
“I mean, I’m not, like—”Snap. Snap.“I’m okay at it, I guess? But I’ve never done much with it. I can just tell a stiff-looking, unnaturally posed photo, you know?”
He seemed to consider that. “Okay, I can see that. But I’ve seen what you post on social media. You’ve got a better eye than I ever will.”
Warmth rushed through me that I tried my damnedest to ignore even as I took a couple more photos of him looking relaxed but interested. “Thanks,” I said. “I’ve, um… I’ve done it as a hobby off and on over the years. Haven’t had anything printed in a long time, though.”Snap. “Maybe I should do that.”
The smile that brought out of him—oh, my God.Snap, snap, fucking snap.
“You should,” he said softly. “I’d love to see them if you do.”
I could only imagine the look on my own face right then. If the heat in my face and the flutter in my chest were anything to go by, I probably wasn’t being subtle about anything.
Shame he wouldn’t see it or do anything about it if I wroteMatt, I want youacross my forehead, but I shook that thought away, and we continued with our impromptu photo shoot.
