The Photographer (Seductive Sands Book 4)

by Sammi Franks

  I nodded. It was safer to let him believe that than to explain how much these simple gestures meant to a woman like me. I put the phone on speaker so Alex could listen in.

  “Max, can you pick up Penelope today?” Victoria asked. “I need to go to Seattle to help Alex and Charlie.”

  That was the first time I’d heard our names used together. Again, I was embarrassed by how much I liked it. Damn. This guy was getting under my skin.

  “Absolutely. Want us to meet you there for dinner?” Max asked in the background.

  “What if I let you know early afternoon?” I could hear the smile in her voice.

  “Works for me. Love you, Tori. I’m going to the bar project now.”

  Alex and I exchanged a look when we heard them kiss. I stared at his lips, ready to kiss him too. Before I could fight the urge, Alex had pressed his lips to mine. “You’re amazing. I’m going to go check on Lily, okay?”

  “Of course. I’ll be in as soon as I’m done talking to Victoria.” I took a sip from my mug, my eyes closed as I savored the perfect cup of coffee. “Nailed it,” I told him. Then I lifted my mug. “Thank you.”

  “Okay, I’ll be on my way as soon as I pack up a few things from the office.”

  “What do we do first?” I asked. “We have zero time to waste. What do you suggest?”

  I heard Victoria inhale deeply. “Honestly, probably get a storage unit or a Pod. Move everything out. The rest of the remodel will go faster. I’m going to email you a list of contacts to call in the Seattle area.”

  My phone chimed and when I glanced at the screen, I realized she’d already sent it. “Thank you. I’ll work on this right away.” Our phone call ended and I wandered back into the house while placing the first call. I hired packers and reserved a storage unit nearby.

  “You don’t play,” Alex murmured. “So what’s up?”

  “The house needs to be packed up. Anything Lily and your mom need should be in suitcases. She’ll have to stay in a hotel. I’ll find one near the hospital. We’re getting this house overhauled. I’m guessing we can have it ready to go on the market next weekend.” I pursed my lips and surveyed the room. “I’d love to talk, but I have a lot more to do before I leave.”

  “Wait. You’re leaving? You just arrived.” He tensed.

  I shook my head. “I can only stay for two days. After that, I have some huge shipments to go out and I need to handle business stuff that can only be done there. I hope you understand.”

  Alex sighed. “Okay.”

  “I’m going to have Enterprise pick me up so I have a vehicle to run errands.” I studied the list Victoria had sent me.

  Lily returned to the kitchen. “Alex told me what you two are doing. Thank you.” She threw herself in my arms. Then she stepped back and asked, “How long have you two been dating?”

  I stiffened. “We’re not. It’s complicated…” I glanced at Alex for support but found none.

  “We’re going to go to the hospital now. I’ll call you when I know more,” he mumbled as he stood and exited the room.

  The door shut behind them as he herded Lily out to the car. I stood for a moment and watched them drive away. My chest ached for some reason. And if I allowed myself to feel for a moment, I’d have to admit I knew why. Blinking back tears, I tried to focus on the task at hand, but all I wanted to do was talk to Alex. Surely he understood. We’d had one date, one night of passion, and as much as I enjoyed being with him, I found it equally terrifying.

  By the time Victoria arrived a little more than an hour later, I’d thrown myself into the project and accomplished nearly everything on the list. She took one look at me and shook her head. “I recognize that look,” she murmured. “What happened?”

  I swallowed hard. “It was an accident,” I grumbled.

  Victoria frowned. “His mother?”

  I shook my head. “No, Alex. I fell for him.” Then I burst into tears.

  19

  Alex

  * * *

  I could barely think. I was grateful Lily offered to drive. I didn’t deserve her as a sister. She kept her head together when I was losing mine. Why did it feel as though my entire life was crumbling around me? And if it was, why did I feel so incredibly alive every time Charlie looked at me? I didn’t understand this contradiction. It felt as though I was being tugged in two directions and it was difficult to figure out what I really felt about, well, anything.

  I was worried about my mother, but I was elated at Charlie’s generosity.

  The drive to the hospital was short. Or maybe I was thinking too much to realize how much time had passed. Either way, I hadn’t realized much of anything until Lily and I were walking through the sliding glass doorways of Seattle General.

  Lily went to talk to the receptionist while I hung behind. I wasn’t good at talking to people at all unless I had a camera between us, much less when I was feeling a variety of emotions I didn’t understand. Guilt started swimming inside of me at having felt happy about Charlie even after finding out my mother had fallen.

  I was going to Hell.

  “This way,” Lily called to me. She nodded her head in the direction of the elevator and I followed her. “Sixth floor. Recovering. The doctor will tell us more when we get there.”

  “She’s not in the ER?” I asked.

  “Moved her because of her condition,” she explained. She reached out and pressed the up button. “Wanted to keep her a few days for observation.”

  “So she might not come home for a couple of days?” I asked. “That might buy us time to get the house in order.”

  Lily said nothing but nodded her head once.

  We stepped into the cold elevator, silent and pensive. I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know how to prepare myself, whatever it was. When we stepped out, I took Lily’s hand. She looked at me in surprise, but she didn’t shake it off.

  The sixth floor had a nurse station right next to the elevators. A nurse picked her head up and offered us a smile.

  “Are you here for Martha Collins?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Lily said. I squeezed her hand when I heard her voice shake. I hadn’t realized how close she and my mom were, even when my mom was at a distance.

  “Room six fifteen, straight down and to the right,” the nurse said. “She’s expecting you.”

  Both Lily and I gave each other odd looks but we said nothing. Instead, we proceeded to head down the long hallway, taking the nurse’s advice. It made no sense to us that our mother was expecting us. She hardly remembered she had children in the first place. However, we were not going to question the nurse and we just wanted to ensure that our mother was okay.

  The first thing we noticed was the television was on. Besides her favorite telenovelas, my mother did not watch television and preferred reading when her eyes were up for it. At first, Lily and I both thought we had the wrong room or that the nurse sent us to the wrong place. We still walked in, on the off chance that our mother was in here, and we were surprised to find that she was. When we walked in, she beamed at both of us.

  “Lily,” she said. “Alex. I feel as though I haven’t seen you in ages!”

  To say we were both floored would be an understatement.

  My mother knowing one of our names was a small miracle. Knowing both of us, looking at us like we were hers and she missed us, was not something I expected to see ever again. I was so pissed I didn’t think to bring my camera, but luckily, I had my phone and I snapped a picture of her just so I had evidence that she remembered me.

  “What’s happening?” I asked Lily.

  “Maybe the fall?” Lily guessed.

  I didn’t know. Maybe I didn’t care. All that I could see was I had my mom back, at least temporarily, and I did not want to waste this time. Lily and I sat on the foot of her bed. It was small and uncomfortable for both of us but we managed to squeeze together tightly. We didn’t care. We just wanted to bask in Mom. To remember the moment.

  “A
lex,” she explained when I slid my phone back into my pocket. “Will you ever stop taking pictures and enjoy the moment?”

  I chuckled. “Yes, Mom,” I told her.

  “Good.” She glanced at Lily before resting her eyes on me. “Do you have any women who might one day bear my future grandchild?”

  This time, I laughed. I told her all about Charlie. Everything I could think of. I wanted Mom to remember her as well as I did. I told her about her blonde hair and blue eyes, her slender body, her long legs, how when she wore heels she was taller than I was. I told her I was falling for her. I told her I couldn’t stop taking pictures of her. I told her she was older and she kept me in line. I told her I could see us having children at some point. I told her I knew it was early, but I wanted to marry her. At the end of my long speech, my mother was crying tears of happiness, her hand clutching my own.

  “It’s so good to hear you speak so passionately, Alex,” she said. “The only time I’ve heard you talk like that was about your photos.” She smiled, taking me in, as though she knew she was going to forget me soon and wanted to make sure she remembered me for as long as she could. “Here.” She fiddled with something on her hand and before I knew what she was doing, she took her engagement ring and dropped it in the palm of my hand. “Your grandfather’s mother gave this to him as a way to show him he had his blessing marrying me. When you’re ready, I want you to give this to Charlie.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my face if I tried. “Thanks, Mom,” I murmured. “I will.” Hopefully soon.

  20

  Charlie

  * * *

  After I returned to Westport, my day was plenty busy, but somehow, with Alex out of town, my night dragged. Everything I used to do alone and find enjoyable seemed less interesting. Reading a book with a glass of wine was no longer my idea of a fantastic way to unwind. I was bored. And suddenly I’d become a slave to my phone. I even planned to sleep with it on my pillow so I’d know if he sent a text after I went to bed.

  Later in the night, we spoke on the phone. He sounded so excited. “Mom’s good,” he announced. “And the house is amazing. I’ll take pictures…”

  I laughed. “Of course you will.”

  He chuckled. “Right. I get it. Yes. Still, in this case, you need to see the place. Today was demo and packing day. Tomorrow, the painters plan to blow through the house, except for the kitchen. Flooring will be done tomorrow too. My head is spinning at what you accomplished.”

  I leaned back on the pillows. “I made a few phone calls. You should be thanking Victoria. She’s the magician.”

  “Charlie, this was your idea. Own it. You’re incredible.” I heard him sigh happily into the phone. Then he caught me in a yawn. “Oh, baby, get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “It’s okay,” I objected. “Let’s talk more. Tell me everything.” I curled up under the blankets, still dressed. Then as I laid there listening to his voice, I fell asleep. I felt terrible when something startled me awake, until I realized it was Alex, snoring softly on his end. I started to end the call, but then I remembered he’d left the phone on while I was passed out. The sound of his breathing made him feel closer and I simply hit the speaker button, plugged the phone in, and laid it near my head. To my surprise, I found it to be incredibly comforting.

  The next day, we woke up together. “Morning, Charlie,” he murmured into the phone.

  “Good morning, Alex,” I whispered. And for once, I meant it. The day felt full of promise. “So, I looked at my schedule. After some juggling, I think I can get back up there day after tomorrow, if you’d like.” I bit my lip nervously while I waited for his response.

  “I was actually going to come home after hospital hours today,” he explained. “I figured…we could talk.”

  “Talk?” Alarm bells rang insistently in my head. “Is something bothering you?”

  “Everything’s good, Charlie,” he insisted. “I just…I miss you. Okay?”

  I sighed. “Yes. I get it. I miss you too,” I admitted.

  I heard him inhale sharply. “Good. I’d hate to think I was suffering alone.”

  “When should I expect you?” I asked eagerly.

  “I’m not sure. Depends on how the day goes, but I’ll be sure to send you text messages and call when I can. Sound like a plan?”

  My face hurt from smiling. “Yes, a great plan.”

  We ended our call soon after that, but all day I fluctuated between checking for missed calls, unopened texts, and the time. At seven in the evening, he announced via text that he was on his way back. He promised to call as he neared.

  I sent a quick response with some stupid kissy face emojis that I regretted as soon as I hit send. Then I decided to rush to take a quick shower. I’d had a particularly exhausting and dirty day. For some reason, I wasn’t thinking and when I emerged from the shower, I was startled to hear sounds in my house.

  Cinching my bathrobe, I peeked out into the bedroom only to find Alex reclining on my bed. I could’ve killed him. “What the hell were you thinking?” I spluttered as I neared him, unsure if I’d hit him or hug him.

  “I was thinking…damn, I’m tired after the long drive and maybe if I lie here quietly enough, Charlie will emerge naked.” Alex grinned.

  “You lose,” I teased. “But if you ask me nicely, you could win…”

  He rolled off my bed and hauled me into his arms. “Just being here, I already have,” he whispered. “Oh, but I’m the kind of guy who likes to push his luck.”

  I sat hard on the bed. “What are you saying?”

  Alex stood in front of me and held both my hands. “I love you, Charlie.”

  I knew I should say something, but I could only swallow hard and try to hear him over the sound of my blood rushing through my ears and I tried to concentrate on something other than my heart pounding madly in chest. Somehow, I managed a nod, my eyes wide with fear.

  “I’ve learned a lot the last few years,” he began quietly. “I’ve learned how precious memories are as I watched my mother lose all of hers. I learned that happiness can be fleeting. I’ve learned to hold onto what’s good with both hands.” He looked pointedly at ours, which were still joined together.

  “I get it. I know these things too. I learned them from a bad marriage.” I released the saddest laugh I’d ever heard.

  “Well, I think we could both learn a lot from a happy marriage,” he suggested seriously.

  “We probably could.” I shrugged in a non-committal way.

  Alex cleared his throat. “I think we should start working on that happy marriage soon.”

  I stopped breathing. I know I did because my lungs began to burn and I thought I was going to pass out.

  Leaning in, he kissed me. “Relax, Charlie. I’m only asking you to marry me.” Then he pulled a ring out of his pocket and held it up for me to examine.

  I swallowed hard. “No…” I shook my head and watched him shrink back like I’d hit him. Alex began to back away, but I held on with both hands. “Wait,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

  He nodded, but remained silent. The pain I caused him was evident in every bit of his being.

  “I shouldn’t have said ‘no.’” I murmured.

  His shoulders sagged from relief. “So, you’ll marry me?”

  “Probably,” I began.

  He groaned.

  “Just listen. Please.” I watched him frown. Patting the bed beside me, I tugged him closer. Once he acquiesced, I scooted nearer until I was practically in his lap. “After Chad, I never thought I’d even consider it. Then you showed up.”

  Alex finally met my gaze.

  “See, the first time around, I let Chad sweep me off my feet with his money and his charm. I vowed to never do that again.” I blew out a breath. “Just once in my life, I want to do it right, Alex. I’m sure to you it sounds stupid and even juvenile, but I want the dream.”

  His head tilted. “You want me to court you?”

&nb
sp; “Yes. I want you to date the shit out of me.” I bounced slightly in the bed.

  “I can do that,” he murmured with a grin. “So, this really isn’t a no, is it?”

  I shook my head and smiled. “Not even close. This is a not yet.” I licked my lips. “I guess I’m asking you to treat me like I’m worth the wait, like I’m worth the effort.”

  Leaning in, he caught my lips. When he pulled back, he murmured, “You’re worth all of it.” Then Alex studied me. “How slow do you want to go?”

  “You know…like we go out, we stay in, we have ridiculous amounts of sex, and…you ask me again in six months.” I bit my cheek, hoping he’d accept my conditions.

  “I can live with that.” He kissed me again and my heart filled with happiness, hope, and love.

  I gasped at the powerful emotions coursing through me. “One more thing.” I raised a finger.

  He sighed. “Of course there is.”

  “And you move in three months from now.” I grinned shyly. “I’m going to hate being apart.”

  “Agreed,” he responded in a low sexy voice. “So this agreement…do we shake on it, kiss on it? Do we have to post it, make it Facebook official?”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Oh, I think we can cement this deal way better than that.”

  “Can I add my own conditions?” He smirked. “I want to be able to snap pictures whenever I want.”

  “I can live with that,” I replied, “because I don’t want to live without you.”

  Opening my robe, Alex chuckled. “Then we should get right to cementing things.”

  About Sammi Franks

  Sammi loves to travel all around the US, exploring both cities and small towns, searching out inspiration for her next writing project. When she isn’t on the road, she calls Yreka home.

  Life has made her a combination of sass and snark, but she still believes everyone deserves a happy ending.