Chapter Six
Opal
Even the loud music couldn’t distract her mind from Dominic Kingston. He made her want to forget every lesson her mother ever taught her. If he looked as good as he did in a t-shirt, he would absolutely slay it dressed in a suit. Better than Daniel Craig ever dreamed. What was it about this horse that drew her to him?
Sitting at a red light allowed her mind to wonder. His warm smile and deep eyes were so inviting. He had a different air about him from most of the guys she dated. Even casually dressed, he was different, classier, sophisticated. She went out with beer guys, but Dominic was a fine whiskey or scotch kind of guy.
She slapped the steering wheel. Scotch. That’s how she knew him. He was Ronnie’s friend from that awful photoshoot a year ago. That was all the proof she needed to accept that he was way out of her league. It wouldn’t hurt to daydream, though. He certainly gave her plenty to see in her mind’s eye.
The driver behind her honked a horn. She lifted her head, saw the green light, and held up her hand to apologize.
She pulled into the parking lot for The Bus Stop Diner. The diner was a historic place for Rio City. One of Flo’s milkshakes would cure everything.
There were only a few people inside, and she was pleasantly surprised to see Saffron sitting at the counter.
“Hey, can I sit next to you?” she asked.
Saffron nodded with a big smile on her face. “I would love that. I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name.”
Opie sat next to her and took a menu from the holder. “I get that there are so many people in this town. Everyone wants to get to know you. My name is Opal Ibarra. People call me Opie.”
“I remember you from last week. I feel like I should apologize to everyone for bringing all my family drama here.”
“Yeah, that was pretty epic. I’ve never seen a dragon army, much less a female dragon army. It must have been crazy for you to live on that island.”
“What can I get you, Sugar?” Flo asked Opie.
“How about a Cookies ‘n’ Cream milkshake?”
“You want thick or concrete?”
“Concrete. And can I have extra cookies?”
Flo winked. “You bet.”
They watched her walk away.
Saffron said, “Draconia is nothing like it is here.”
“Has your mom tried to contact you since, you know…” She paused, not knowing for sure what to call it.
“You mean that big fight where the entire town showed up and everyone could have died?”
Opie gave her a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, that.”
“She hasn’t contacted me, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
Flo brought her milkshake, and they sat talking about life in Rio City.
Saffron checked her watch. “I’m afraid I need to go. I’m helping at a barbecue for the resort.”
“I am too. I’ll see you there.”
They settled their bills. Saffron was stiff when Opie hugged her goodbye. Opie liked Saffron. She was easy to talk to. It was good she came here, and it was obvious she belonged.
Two hours later, Opie walked onto the deck behind the resort restaurant. A lot of people were already there, which didn’t help her confidence. Her jeans were tight, and her shirt was too short. She could neither bend over or reach up too high. That should make for a comfortable evening.
“Do you ever take selfies?”
She focused on a couple dancing when a voice behind her startled her. Her camera moved down as she pressed the button. It would make an impressive picture of the ground.
She turned. Her mouth went dry, and her mind stopped working. “Selfies thing no good.”
Dominic looked good enough to put on a popsicle stick and lick him off before he melted.
He smiled. “Excuse me.”
Her face grew hot. “I mean, I don’t like being on the other side of the camera.”
“Why not? Your pictures would be beautiful.”
She studied her feet. Better than seeing into his eyes. “We’ve met before, you know. Well, not met, but I saw you when you were visiting Ronnie Leeland.”
“I remembered after you left today. I’m sorry I didn’t remember before.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m sure you see a lot of people in your life. That was such a bad shoot. Not something I want to remember.”
He harrumphed. “Yeah, Ronnie told me what an asshat the client was. I’ve come across enough of them to let them be and move on.”
“I suppose, but it pissed me off because I took good pictures that day.”
“Did the client pay?” He put his hand on Opie’s back to move her slightly as a server with a full tray squeezed behind her.
Opie felt lightheaded.
“No, he paid me anyways. Ronnie’s good like that. He told me later some sucker bought my pictures, so Ronnie sent me a portion of that sale too.”
Dominic arched an eyebrow. “Oh, he did. That was good.”
They glanced around anywhere but at each other.
A giggling, cute girl in pigtails ran between them, turned, and stuck out her tongue toward the young man chasing after her.
“Cami, Mom will kill me if you get in trouble,” the young man said.
“Wyatt, you’re a poo poo head.” She stuck out her tongue then ran off.
“You better get after her, young man,” Dominic said.
The kid’s shoulders sagged in defeat. He mumbled something and took off after the little girl.
Opie studied Dominic’s eyes as he watched the two run away. It was hard to know if there was genuine emotion in those eyes or if she imagined it.
“Well, I guess I should get back to work.” Opie held up her camera.
“What’s it like being a photographer?”
He walked next to her as she stepped away.
“It’s like being a voyeur.”
He furrowed his forehead.
“Not in a bad way.” She held out her camera to him.
He gave her a questioning glance.
She pushed it out further. “No, it’s okay. Take it.”
He brought it to his face and looked through the lens.
“Now, look around the area and see what speaks to you.”
“Huh?” Dominic held the camera away from his face.
She gently pushed his hand holding the camera. “Focus on how the world feels through the lens. It will be smaller and more intimate. Find the people who are being themselves. Push the button and take their picture.”
After thirty seconds, she said, “You aren’t focusing.”
He pulled the camera away again. “I am. I haven’t seen anything that speaks to me. Tell me again what to look for?”
“Find that person who’s being completely themselves.”
He continued to move the camera around without stopping long enough to see anything.
She harrumphed and pointed to a table with an older couple. They sat facing each other, talking as if no one else mattered. Dominic pointed the camera and took a picture.
“Good, now move the lens and take a different picture.”
He moved the camera, and she stopped him with a hand to his arm.
“No, go back to them. See if you can zoom in enough to take everything else out of the picture.”
Dominic nodded and did as she said.
Opie stood on tiptoe and moved closer to him. “They are talking about something important to them. We can’t hear it, but we want to. See if you can explain their conversation through your pictures.”
Dominic licked his lips and adjusted the focus and the angle of the camera.
The heat radiating from him swirled around Opie, caressing her skin. She closed her eyes and opened herself. The horse inside her soul wanted to run close with the horse she saw. There was yearning from her animal, unlike any Opie experienced before.
His horse answered her desire as Dominic’s heat shot through her core and warmed
her all over, especially between her legs. A subtle ache grew as her body opened to the man standing next to her.
“Oh.” Dominic stopped clicking and turned to her.
His movement startled her back to reality. “Um, excuse me?”
He nodded to the couple at the table. The man held out his hand for the woman, and they walked to the dance floor.
“They’re leaving,” he said.
“Mm, yeah.”
Dominic glanced down to the ground. The young pixie from before pulled on his pants.
“Mister, can you take my picture?”
He glanced at Opie.
“You’re the one holding the camera. Give it a shot.”
He told her to step back and smile.
She held the sides of her dress and swished side to side.
“You need to hold still,” he said.
The girl frowned.
Dominic took her picture.
Opie sighed. “I’m sure that was a good picture but let me try.” She held out her hand for the camera. “Cami, I love your dress. It makes you like a princess.”
The girl brightened. “I know that’s why I picked it.”
“Is it a twirly dress?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Perfect. Let me see it.”
Cami twirled, and Opie took picture after picture.
“Cami, I have an idea.” She turned to Dominic. “Can you get me a chair, please.”
He nodded and brought over a chair.
“Cami,” Opie started, “I’m going to stand on this chair and take some pictures of you from a higher angle.”
The girl twirled while Opie clicked her camera. Cami’s giggles were infectious, and soon, Opie couldn’t help but giggle too.
She sneaked a glance at Dominic and saw the affectionate smile on his face.
Click.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to be taking my picture,” he told her.
She shrugged. “You didn’t tell me I couldn’t.”
“Cami,” the young man from before called.
Cami hurried behind Dominic’s legs. “You have to hide me from the Wyatt Monster.”
“The Wyatt Monster?” Dominic twisted his head around to talk to her.
“He’s not a real monster. He’s just my brother.”
Wyatt stopped in front of Dominic. “I’m sorry my sister keeps bugging you. She wasn’t supposed to be here, but the babysitter canceled at the last minute.”
Dominic winked to Opie as he puffed out his chest and put his hands on his hips. “I understand that you are the infamous and most dangerous Wyatt Monster.”
Cami giggled.
Opie stepped to Dominic’s side and copied his stance. “We are sworn to protect the Princess Cami with our lives if necessary. Be gone with you, fiend.”
Wyatt tilted his head. “Huh?”
Dominic bent his head and whispered something to Wyatt then said, “I will be forced to take matters to the next level if you do not cease to torment M’Lady.”
Wyatt hunched his back and growled. “I will get the Princess Cami if it’s the last thing I do. There was no time for the feast, and I’m hungry.”
More giggles.
Opie pulled out an imaginary sword from her belt. She turned her head to Dominic, who did the same. “To the death Sir Dominic?”
He nodded. “To the death Lady Opal.”
They pretended to battle Wyatt until he faked his death and dropped to the ground.
Cami ran over to him. “Oh no, Wyatt. I never meant for you to get hurt. You are a good monster.”
Wyatt lifted his head. “Then you’d better stay with me for the rest of the night, or these two meanies may come back wanting more.”
Cami threw her small arms around Wyatt. “I will never leave you.”
He mouthed “thank you” to Dominic and Opie. He struggled to get off the ground with Cami glued to him.
Dominic bowed at the waist. “May I escort the Lady Opal to the bar for a drink to quench her thirst after such a strenuous battle?”
Opie curtsied. “I’m much obliged, Sir Dominic. Monster battles are so hard.”
She led the way to the bar with Dominic following so close he felt more like a shadow.
They ordered drinks and sat at a table.
She thought of several things to say but was worried that the only words out of her mouth would be, “I want to see you naked and run my tongue up your chest.” So, she stayed quiet and held up the wine glass to hide behind.
He finally asked, “Have you always been into photography?”
She nodded. “My grandfather was a photographer during World War Two.”
“I didn’t think they let shifters fight in the war during those days.”
“It was a lot easier to hide like a horse than say a wolf or a bear. I’m not sure how he did it, but he did. Many of his photos made it into major publications.”
“Did you learn from him?”
She nodded. “Most of what I do today comes from what I learned from him.”
Dominic stared at her. His eyes were hypnotic.
“What are you doing?” she asked him.
“I’m watching you.”
She ducked her face. “Why?”
He pulled his chair closer to hers. “I have a confession.”
Oh shit. He’s a serial killer, or he’s celibate. What if he’s a celibate serial killer?
“Years ago, I had to take an anger management class. Most of it was bonkers, but the one thing I gleaned was how to find a focus object. I have this set of pictures in one of my clubs, and I have stared at them for hours.”
“What do you feel when you see these pictures?” She set down her glass and rested an arm on the table.
His hand dropped on top of her arm and ran his finger alongside the edge. “I feel calm, transported away.”
“That’s what I tried to explain to you. When I see people or things through the lens, I search for what transports me away.”
“With every picture?”
“No, not everyone. Some pictures are just pictures. Like the shot I did today. I took pictures of a cool looking house for the local historical society, but it was hard to find images to move me.”
“So, what do you do at those times?” His hand covered hers now while he intertwined his fingers with hers.
“I pay more attention to the details.”
Dominic never stopped staring into her eyes as she talked. He leaned his head closer to her so slowly. She never noticed until he was inches away from her face.
“I’ve never asked a woman this question before, but you’re different.”
She bit her bottom lip. “What question is that?”
“May I kiss you?”
Her mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out except a squeak.
She nodded, and Dominic lowered his mouth onto hers. His lips were soft and cool while hers burned. She sat on her hands.
“We need to have all our wonderful volunteers for the auction tomorrow night come up on the stage,” Wednesday’s voice rang through the speakers.
Dominic pulled away. “That would be me.”
She nodded and watched him walk away.
Holy shit.
She sat back in her chair, downed the rest of her wine, and watched the man of her dreams prepare to go out with another woman.
Chapter Seven
Dominic
Wednesday shook hands and or hugged all the people gathered around her. Dominic searched the crowd for Opie. He wanted to watch her and how she moved in her world.
She sat with the older couple from before. They talked and laughed. Whoever they were, she enjoyed their company. When she finished speaking with them, she spent time with the DJ. The woman controlling the music used a potent glamor spell that burned his nose. Opie stopped and took pictures of people posing and sneaked shots that went unnoticed.
Watching her move relaxed him and quieted his mind. Her positive energy came through in e
very interaction. She must have known everyone there because she stopped and spoke to so many people. When she finished, each person received her full attention. And her smile. Even when she wasn’t smiling, her face showed her happiness.
Opal Ibarra was unlike any woman he’d ever met, and he only had a weekend to make her his.
“Are there any questions?” Wednesday’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
A tall woman with wheat-blonde hair asked, “What if we don’t like the person who bids on us and wins?”
“There’s always that chance. If you feel unsafe with anyone, please let us know. You must make plans before leaving tomorrow night. We want to know where you’ll be, not because we are rude or nosy, but so we can ensure a small measure of safety. If you veer from the plan you share with us, that is on you.”
Gerri held out her hand for the mic. “Wednesday introduced me earlier. Trust me when I say, you’ll end up with the right person.”
“And what makes you so sure?” the blonde asked.
Gerri put all her weight on one side and a hand on her hip. She narrowed her eyes, ruffled by the challenge. “I just do.”
Wednesday took back the mic. “Okay, we’ll see everyone at six tomorrow. And don’t forget about tonight’s Winter Fest in town. We have a courtesy van heading there if anyone wants to go. Thank you.”
As Dominic went in search of Opie, he walked by the blonde hair woman talking to Dottie.
“This is the lamest thing I’ve ever done. Why did I let you talk me into this?” she asked.
“It’s for a good cause,” Dottie said.
Dominic walked on and ignored the rest of the conversation. Opie wasn’t anywhere. He balled his hands as anger brewed inside. She’d be at the event tomorrow night, but he wanted her now, tonight.
“There you are.”
A gentle weight fell on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and inhaled. Her scent was honeysuckle and denim. His cock pushed against his pants.
Wait a minute.
Smells weren’t as disttinctive to him before, and now he knew the distinct smell of denim and the difference between honeysuckle and all other flowers? What was this woman doing to him?
Wild Horses in Love Page 6