Maggie was twisting her hands together, a familiar tell for when she was feeling strain.
“What is it, Maggie?” Val’s stomach clenched. “You can tell me anything.”
“I know. Well. The thing is…Phillip has asked me to move in with him.”
Shock struck Val dumb. She loved the flat. It was her sanctuary, her refuge. But she couldn’t consider keeping it without someone else splitting the rent. Pushing her selfish thoughts aside, Val breathed in, and forced a smile. “And you’d like to?”
“I would.” She smiled the dreamy smile of those speared by love. “I know it’s crazy. I know I should wait, should get to know him better, but being with him is so great, I miss him when he’s not around.” Maggie stared into Val’s eyes. “But I won’t leave you in the lurch. I’ll stay till the end of the month, and find someone else to take over my room.”
Val placed her hand on her friend’s. Friendship meant more than money. The last thing she wanted was for Maggie to find a replacement. Living with someone was difficult enough even when you knew them. “Don’t worry about getting someone else, Maggie, I’m sure I’ll find someone.” She lifted the bottle of wine, and poured the remaining liquid into their glasses. “I’m happy for you.”
She drowned her fears with the last mouthful of wine.
Chapter Twelve
Finn was going through his emails when Anna buzzed him. “You have a visitor, your brother Matthew.”
Matthew? “Send him in please, Anna.” He got to his feet.
The door opened, and Matthew walked in. “Surprise.”
“Damn right!” Finn strode over and engulfed his brother in a hug. “When did you get in to town?”
“Last night.” Matthew grinned. “Ma was hassling us to visit, so…”
“You had to give in. I get it.” He pressed the intercom on his desk. “Anna, could you bring us a couple of coffees?”
At her affirmative response, he pointed at the sofas arranged in the corner of the room. “Take a load off. How’s everything?”
“Work is good. And you’re not doing too badly either, from what I hear.”
“Ma again.”
“Yeah.” Matthew rubbed his hands over his jean-clad thighs. “She’s the all-seeing eye. I left April getting the third degree and hot-footed it out to see you.”
“Coward.”
“Ma’s determined we should have a wedding in Brookbridge, which for obvious reasons, neither April or I want.”
Matthew had been engaged to April’s sister June a lifetime ago, and as both families lived in the village, Finn could understand their point. “So, getting married.” He never thought he’d see Matthew tie the knot. Not after what had happened last time around. “What’s your plan?”
“We’re getting hitched quietly in the registry office in London. Needless to say, Ma and April’s mother have banded together to try and change our minds. April’s not for turning on this one though. Neither am I. Getting married is something we both want to do, but it’s for us. Not for anyone else. They’ll just have to accept it.”
“So my invite isn’t in the mail,” Finn teased.
“We can’t invite one family member without putting everyone else’s nose out of joint, so no.”
Ma would be devastated. So far, she hadn’t managed to successfully marry off any of her children. Her desire for a wedding was only exceeded by the urge to become a grandmother. “I pity April, Ma’s difficult to say no to.”
Anna came in with a tray of coffees, and put them on the table.
“Thanks, Anna.”
She nodded. “I’ve received the last submission from the photographers. I’ll give them to Connor, will I?”
“Yes, I’ll look at them later.”
When she left, Finn turned to Matthew again. “So, how long are you over for?”
“We’d planned on just being here three or four days, but Ma’s throwing us a party. It will be on Saturday week, so we’re flying out the day after.”
“A party?” Ma’s parties were legendary affairs.
“She had Sorcha taking notes.” Matthew spooned four spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee.
“How is Sorcha holding up?” He hadn’t spoken to his cousin since he deposited her at their parents’ house. “I guess Mum explained everything?”
“She’s doing okay. Ma has been doing the whole mother hen thing. Apparently Steven had been calling, and she didn’t want to talk to him, but Ma encouraged her to come clean about the whole thing. They’re trying to work through it.”
“He’s a nice guy.” Admiration for Steven filled Finn. “It takes a big man to stay the course.”
“An even more courageous one to come to the party, and he’s coming,” Matthew said. “Ma told me to tell you that it will be Saturday night, seven till late, and you have to come in costume.” Matthew pulled a face. “I told her we didn’t want fancy dress, but you know Ma.”
If Steven could go… “Tell her I’ll be there.”
God, it was good to see his brother again. Matthew lived in London, and they had precious little chance of getting together. Finn wouldn’t miss the opportunity to meet April again either. “I haven’t seen April since she was a kid.”
Matthew wiggled his eyebrows. “She’s grown up.”
“I still can’t believe you’re settling down.” Matthew had seemed wedded to his work up until April had come back into his life, and their families tangled histories had been a huge barrier to romance.
“I’ll have to live vicariously through you, bro,” Matthew said. “Still playing the field?”
“Not so much.” Any of his other brothers would tease him for going soft on a woman. heck, Matthew would have a year ago. “I’ve started seeing someone.”
“You’re always seeing someone.” Matthew crossed his arms. “Usually more than one someone.”
“Yes, well this time, I’m just seeing one.”
“You retired the harem?” Matthew’s eyes widened. “Bro, you’re shattering all my illusions.” His grin stretched. “Have you been hit by love’s arrow? Finally been hooked?”
Have I? All he knew was he hadn’t been able to put Val out of his mind since he met her.
“Earth to Finn.” Matthew clicked his fingers in front of Finn’s nose. “You have to bring her to the party. I can’t wait to see the woman who’s put that look on your face.”
“She’s special.”
Matthew sobered. “I’m glad. I was beginning to wonder if my experiences with love had totally soured you on the whole thing.”
Matthew had been in his teens when he’d proposed to June. Not many people knew the whole story of how that had played out, but he and Finn had always been close, and Finn had known exactly what happened. He hadn’t consciously made the decision never to get serious about a woman as a result, but unconsciously the fear of being used as his brother had been had made him avoid commitment like the plague.
“I never thought I’d say this,” Matthew said, “but love is possible, with the right woman.”
*****
Val had to hand it to Susan McDonald of Love Shots. She knew what she was doing when it came to dudeoir photography. It was a field that Simon had shied away from, and with good reason.
Val stood in the client’s basement, which had been transformed by acres of red satin drapes and the careful placement of props. The client, Ken, sat in a swivel chair in the corner, having make-up smoothed over his chest.
“Okay, Val,” Susan said. “Ken has never done this before, and he’s nervous. I’ve talked through a number of poses with him, and I’ll be directing the photo-shoot so as to get the best possible angles.”
“Right,” Val said.
“Now, some of these might seem a little unusual…” She waved a hand at an exercise bike set up in the corner. “But the thing here is that he knows what turns his fiancée on, and our job is to make sure he looks sexy in every pose.”
Val nodded.
“Th
ere won’t be full nudity, but Ken is keen to show off his bottom.”
How Susan kept her face straight, Val didn’t know. She was struggling not to surrender to terminal lip-twitch. “His bottom. Right.”
“Just the top. Not the full globes.”
Val pressed her lips together. “What shot are we starting with?”
“This one.” Susan walked across the room to a chaise longue. “Ken is going to lie face down and look sultry. He’ll just be wearing jeans in this shot, and would like to make sure that his feet get in shot too, his fiancée has a thing about his feet.”
Val set up the lights and the camera tripod as the make-up artist slicked back Ken’s hair. Then he walked over.
“Good to meet you, Ken,” Val said, coming out from behind the camera to shake his hand. He was pulling in his stomach, and looking nervous. “Don’t worry. This is going to be fun.”
“I sure hope so,” Ken said. “It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I’m afraid I’m going to look like an idiot.”
Val shook her head. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. Try not to think of being photographed. Try to think of connecting with your fiancée through the camera lens. She’s the only person who’s going to see these shots, right?”
“I guess she might show them around.” A flash of panic widened Ken’s eyes. “Jeez, I hope she doesn’t show them to all her friends.”
“Let’s take the pictures, and then you can decide which ones you want to give her.”
Val walked him to the chaise, and Sharon dashed over.
Professional models could strike a pose on demand, and make it look sexy. An untrained subject usually found this more difficult, so Val always took a lot of warm up shots. Susan positioned Ken on the chaise, stomach down. The make-up artist smoothed baby oil over his shoulders and back, to give his skin a gleam. Val watched through the viewfinder. “Okay, Ken, can you angle your left shoulder up a little? That’s perfect.”
She fired off a few test shots. “Now, how about a smile?”
His grin was closer to a grimace.
“Lovely,” Val reassured. “What’s your fiancée’s name?”
“Betsy.”
“Okay, now think of Betsy. Imagine she’s looking at you.” Ken’s expression shifted to serious. “What are you telling her through this shot? Show me.” A slow half smile transformed his face. Val fired off a few more shots. “Tilt your head down a fraction—that’s good. Now bring the sexy.”
Ken smoldered like Gandy, and the hair stood up on Val’s arms as she captured the moment on film. He wasn’t her type, but she had no doubt that Ken’s fiancée would love the shots.
“That’s fantastic, Ken. Hold that look, and push back your hair.”
Ken pushed his hair back with one tanned hand, Sharon had revealed that they had organized a session or two on a tanning bed in the week previous, to banish the pasty winter pale. He tilted his head to the side, and closed his eyes.
“Wow, Ken wait till you see these shots.” Val snapped away. “You look hot.”
Sharon agreed. “Great, Ken.” She glanced at Val and her eyebrows rose. “I think we’re ready for the shots on your back, do you agree, Val?”
She’d taken hundreds of photographs already, and was sure she had what she needed. “Yes, go ahead and set up.”
Ken sat up. “Can I see?”
“Let’s take the next series, then you can look at them before you change into the next outfit,” Sharon said.
Val rearranged the lights as Ken slipped off his jeans and lay on his back on the velvet chaise longue. Sharon artfully draped a sheet over Ken’s crotch, bringing it high enough to hide his slight paunch. She tilted his hip up a little, and angled his body to create shadow and definition.
She looked up at the make-up artist. “Bridget, could you just emphasis Ken’s abs a little for me?”
The make-up artist picked up a shadow pallet in shades of grey and brown, and a large brush. “No problem, Susan.” She walked over. “Now, Ken, I hope you aren’t ticklish.”
He was. And unfortunately the large brush made Ken laugh so much that his entire stomach quivered with each stroke. His laugh was so infectious, before long all three women were laughing along with him.
“Okay, come on. We have to get this done,” Sharon said. “Everyone, get a grip.”
“Be brave, Ken. I’m going back in.” Bridget picked up two small brushes. “I’ll be quick. Just hold it.”
Ken nodded. He pressed his lips together, and appeared to have stopped breathing as Bridget applied shadow to one area of his abs, and highlight to another.
“There. Done.”
All three women examined Ken’s torso critically.
“That’s amazing.” Val never would have believed the skillful application of the difference that a little make-up would make. “Good work, Bridget.”
Bridget grinned. “I used to work on movies. I’ve had plenty of practice. I worked on ‘Three Hundred’.”
“The movie with the Spartans?”
“That’s the one. Although by the time we’d finished defining all the abs, we’d renamed it ‘Eighteen Hundred’.”
Val downloaded photos to her laptop, and showed Ken some of the best shots before he went to change into his next outfit, which seemed to consist of a brief pair of shorts and a pair of runners.
“Apparently she likes him sweaty,” Sharon said. “So Bridget is going to spray him down before he gets on to the exercise bike.” She leaned forward. “Can I have a look?”
“Sure.” Val pushed out a chair from the table she had set up in the corner, and located some of the best photos.
“These are fantastic,” Sharon said. “You’ve got a great eye.” She glanced over to where Ken was explaining something to Bridget while she misted him with warm water from a plant sprayer. “Ken has really relaxed with you. I hope you can do some more work for us in the future.”
“I’d be delighted to.” Val handed over one of her newly printed business cards. “My cell phone number is on these.”
Sharon pocketed the card. Glanced at her watch. “We have another couple of hours and three more scenes. Better get to it!”
Val photographed Ken pumping muscles on the exercise bike. Showing off his back and a hint of bottom while lifting weights. Then finally dressed in a sharp black suit with an undone bow tie, lounging on his bed. They’d had to relocate upstairs for that one.
When the session was finished, Ken offered a glass of wine, but she had to decline. “I have to go back in to the studio. It’s been great working with you, Ken.”
“I’d like to thank you ladies for everything.” Relief that the photography was over was evident in Ken’s expression. “I was so nervous, but you made it fun.”
“Val has got some great shots—we’ll put together a portfolio of the best ones for you. I’ll call you when they’re ready,” Sharon said. “We should have them by…” She looked at Val.
“Wednesday next week,” Val said.
Sharon nodded. “That’s fine. So I’ll meet you Thursday or Friday, Ken—whichever suits, and you can make your selection.”
*****
When Finn returned after lunch with Matthew, Anna brought four files into his office and set them on the desk. “Connor has made his selection. Now it’s your turn.”
Finn hesitated. He was interested to see the photographs, but for the first time the implications of making the choice bit. “Thanks.” He made no move to open the files until Anna had left the room. One of these folders contained photographs taken by Val. The other photographers were established, with a strong body of work, while she was an unknown quantity. The likelihood of her photographs being the best was slim.
And if he rejected her, what effect would that have on their nascent relationship?
Finn breathed in deep and opened the first file. He couldn’t let personal feelings compromise his work. She might be disappointed, but he would just have to work harder than before
to ensure that it didn’t change things between them.
Ten minutes later, he’d rejected two. Another fifteen minutes, and he was still torn between the final two. Both were exceptional. One really emphasized the architectural elements; he could imagine them featured in a glossy architectural magazine. The other photographer had included some of the owners in their photographs. The humanizing element took the pictures from businesslike to extraordinary.
There could only be one winner. Finn selected the most suitable candidate. He piled the folders up and buzzed Connor. “I’ve made my choice.”
“Cool. I’ll be right in.”
When Connor came in to the office, Anna was with him. “I’ve got my favorite too,” she confessed. “I know my vote doesn’t count, because I know the identity of the photographers, but I’m so curious, I couldn’t stand to wait.”
Finn grinned. He fanned out the folders, all of which were marked with large red numbers.
“I chose number three,” Connor said.
“That’s a relief, because so did I.”
Anna pouted. “I chose number two, but I’m glad you guys agreed. Would you like to know who took the winning pictures?”
Chapter Thirteen
Val really wished she could just live in the moment. Forget her previous failed relationship, and stop overthinking everything. The habit was difficult to break. Finn had invited her for dinner, but already thoughts of tomorrow were making themselves heard. Will I stay over? Should I pack a bag?
Val pulled on a pair of jeans and a casual top and left the house.
He met her at the front door, dressed in an apron with Kiss Me Quick written on it.
“Is that an invitation?” Val went up on tiptoe and kissed him before he could answer.
“A present from my mother,” he murmured against her lips. In a smooth move, he shut the front door before backing her up against it and claiming her mouth in a longer kiss that sent shivers up her spine. “I’ve missed you.”
Logan 02 Three Minutes to Happiness Page 10