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The next couple of hours are really busy. I’m trying to keep up with everything, setting the lights in the right way and getting refreshments for the players. I can take pictures - I am now a licensed photographer - but when we have something this big, Diane is in charge and I’m the one doing the odd jobs. I don’t mind at all; I like being on the go. Keeping busy is good for me. It gives me less time to think on things that I don’t want to think about for a while.
Of course, it stops once I slow down, but that won’t happen for some time today.
After two hours of rushing around, dodging very large bodies and brushing off the flirtatious remarks that came my way, it is finally over. We’re down to the last player, the quarterback. As Diane takes the final shots and I’m standing back to take a moment to breathe, I’m aware of new people into the room. It’s a large studio floor, but it feels a little crapped with the football team and their management present. A couple more people makes it like we’re stuck in an elevator.
“Okay, we’re done!” Diane lowers her camera and looks over her shoulder, her gaze going past me. “Looks like we finished on time as well.”
I turn, and see two men in suits standing by the door. They look to be closer to forty. One is on the shorter side, jet black hair that looks like it’s been caught by the wind, his suit not hiding the muscular frame he carried. I can see him playing football himself. The other is taller, at least six feet, light brown hair with a trimmer frame, He looks good in a suit.
Why does he look familiar? I’m sure I’ve seen him before.
Then he looks at me, and I realize that I have seen him before. Several years ago, and he’s got some gray hairs showing, but it’s still the same person I met that one night six years ago.
Luke, my one-night stand, is staring at me. And I can tell from the way he is looking at me that he knows exactly who I am.
Chapter 8 Luke
I cannot believe it. Elle is here. She’s here, and she looks even prettier than I remember. Her hair is shorter, and her figure is curvier than before, but it’s her. And I cannot take my eyes off her.
Of course the last time we encountered each other was here in Cleveland, but she had vanished. I thought she had left town and gone elsewhere. And she had been here the whole time?
I want to talk to her, find out what’s been going on. I want to see what she’s been up to. Six years is a long time to not see someone, and we barely spoke the last time. We did a lot of things, but it wasn’t talking.
But I don’t have a chance to speak to her. She sees me, goes pale before spinning away and getting busy with her work. The next thing I know, I’m being whisked off to my interview in another room. That takes up a lot of time, and I have to concentrate when answering the questions. While Marcus can take charge, I need to look like I know what I’m talking about when all I want to do is talk to Elle.
She’s looking well. I wonder what’s been happening with her. Is she married now? Has she settled down?
The thought of her being with another man just fills me with jealousy. I don’t want anyone else to be with her. That is not happening. But then I have to remind myself that Elle is not my woman. I’m not qualified to have any claim to her.
I want to have a claim on her, though. Badly.
As soon as the interview is over, I’m up and out of the room, going back to the studio. The players have already gone, although Coach Winter was still present. He was leaning on the desk talking to Diane, giving her one of those charming smiles that made me guess that he was trying to chat up the photographer. She was pretty, certainly.
Not as pretty as Elle, though. Who is currently taking the lights down and sorting out the back screen. She has her back to me.
I approach her.
“Elle?”
She stiffens, but she doesn’t turn around. She barely misses a beat as she takes down the lights.
“I am a little busy right now, sir. If you have any questions, could you direct them towards Diane?”
“What if I want to talk to you?” I hesitate. “I mean, it’s been six years. And you did disappear without any warning.”
Elle pauses, yet she still doesn’t turn to look at me. I want to reach out and make her turn around, but I keep my hands to myself.
“Six years is a long time.” She sounds nervous. I can hear her voice trembling. “People have reasons. And I had mine.”
“And what were they for disappearing on me during that night?”
“It’s none of your business.”
I am a little annoyed by that.
“You do realize that you spent the night in my apartment. That means it is my business.”
“I’m not having this conversation, Mr Ward.”
