They’d been cleaning the first cabin for several hours when Chelsea’s phone rang.Glad for a break, she pulled it out and then grinned as she saw the caller’s name.“Hey, Kylie.”
“One minute it’s Aria-shaped panic stations and the next minute you’ve moved across the country and have sixteen acres of land?”The incredulity in her colleague’s tone made Chelsea smile.
“Yeah, it was unexpected for me too.”She explained what had happened and how she wanted to record the restoration of Lilydale.Aside from video editing, Kylie was a documentary film maker and knew how to make the topic she was filming into a story.
“The trick is taking a lot of footage,” Kylie told her.“The more you have, the better the story you can tell when you edit it together.You also need to decide what story you want to tell.”
Chelsea put the phone on speaker and took notes as she spoke.
“Do you have a decent video camera?”Kylie asked.
“Aunt Maggie bought one a couple of years ago, but I don’t know how great it is.”
“If you’re using it for internet promotion, it should be fine.”She sighed.“I kind of wish I could come over and film it myself, but I’m in the middle of a project.”
“I wish you could too.”This was right up Kylie’s alley.Though she’d done a lot of marketing work to pay the bills, the documentaries she filmed were all related to the way big companies thought they were above the law.“If you get a chance, you’re always welcome to visit.There’s plenty of room in the house for guests.”
She hadn’t spent a lot of time with Kylie, but she enjoyed working with her, and had always figured they would be friends if they could ever make their schedules work together.
“Thanks.I might need a break after I finish filming this documentary.”
Chelsea didn’t ask her what it was, knowing Kylie didn’t like to share what she was working on.She hung up and a minute later, Ethan came out from where he was cleaning the bathroom.“Your friend gave you some good tips.”
“She’s a documentary maker.”It was almost lunch time.“I might go find the video camera.I should record some footage of us cleaning.”
Ethan hesitated.“I can do the filming.”He shrugged.“I can’t be all over the internet.”
It took a second for Chelsea to understand why.“Because you’re Special Forces?”
He nodded.
That made sense.“Then you might need to be chief cameraman.”Or she would buy a tripod and set it up to film her working.
“Happy to be.”
They wandered back to the house to clean up.Funny how she hadn’t even needed to mention they should take a lunch break.He seemed to know instinctively.
Remembered routines of their summer together.
Her heart clenched.Being with him felt incredibly right and natural.
She had to remember he had walked away.His gaze didn’t hold the desire she thought it did.He’d moved on in his life and didn’t need her in it.
Anything else she imagined was wishful thinking.
After they washed up, she went to the linen cupboard to search for the video camera while Ethan got out the makings for sandwiches.The camera was on the top shelf and she couldn’t quite reach it.She jumped and inched it towards herself.She jumped again, but it was still out of reach.
“Let me.”Ethan appeared next to her and reached over her, trapping her between his hard, warm body and the door as he pulled the video camera bag down from the top shelf.
She inhaled deeply as every sense in her body woke up and celebrated.She clenched her hands to stop herself from sliding them around his waist and pulling him closer.
He paused, camera in one hand, his body still pressed against hers, his eyes on her.Awareness flashed over his face.Slowly he lowered his head.
He was going to kiss her.
No, she couldn’t do this.A kiss would kick start her heart and it had no business getting excited here.
It was hard enough keeping the rest of her body under control.
