“Oh...” Mia felt heat flood her cheeks. “I was muttering to myself.”
“Ah.” The man nodded, his smile widening. “I do that all the time.” He glanced out toward the ocean, where the afternoon was slowly giving way to evening, painting the water in shades of gold and pink. “It’s beautiful at this time of day, isn’t it?”
Mia turned and looked at the sea, her embarrassment fading as the view caught her attention. “Yes. It is.”
She leaned against the railing, letting the sight settle over her. The man moved beside her, keeping a respectable distance, and lifted his camera. The shutter clicked, quiet and precise.
“Is this your hobby?” Mia asked.
“No,” he said, lowering the camera and turning to her with a grin. “I’m a professional photographer. I’m here doing a spread on the New Year celebrations in St. Augustine and Anastasia Island.” He gestured back toward the Inn. “I’m staying there too. I noticed you at lunch earlier.” He extended his hand. “I’m Nolan Pierce.”
Mia shook it. His grip was warm and confident. “Mia Gray-Duncan.”
“How long are you staying?” Nolan asked, leaning against the railing beside her.
“A couple of weeks,” Mia said.
“Me too,” Nolan told her. “I’m from Miami, and you?”
“We’re from Los Angeles,” Mia answered.
Nolan’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re a long way from home. Are you here for a family function or just a vacation?”
“A bit of both.” Mia looked back at the water, not wanting to explain the complicated truth of why she was here. “I’m visiting my uncle and taking a much-needed vacation.”
“I heard the gentleman at lunch, William, I think it was, introduce you as a doctor,” Nolan said.
Mia nodded. “Yes. I’m a trauma surgeon.”
Nolan gave a low whistle, his eyes filling with a teasing light. “Impressive. And here I was going to try and impress you with my photography skills.”
Mia laughed, the sound surprising her with its genuine feel. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like that.
“Can I see some of the pictures you’ve taken?” she asked, surprising herself again as she found she didn’t want their conversation to end just yet.
Nolan’s eyes lit up instantly. “Sure.”
He lifted the expensive-looking camera from around his neck and moved closer, angling the screen so she could see. He scrolled through the images, each one more stunning than the last. The Inn at golden hour, light spilling across the porch. The boardwalk stretching into the distance, empty and haunting. A close-up of a weathered dock post with a gull perched on top, its feathers ruffled by the wind.
“You’re really good,” Mia said, meaning every word.
“Thanks.” Nolan’s smile was genuine, pleased but not arrogant.
“Do you show your work or just do spreads for magazines?” Mia asked him.
“I have a lot of photographs from all over the world,” Nolan admitted. “I’ve thought about showing my work…” He pulled a face. “But… I’m not sure how to explain this.” He glanced out over the sea. “But the photos I take, for me…” His eyes caught and held hers. “They’re kind of personal. I feel like I’m exposing my soul to the world if I show them.”
“I can understand that,” Mia admitted. “I’ve written quite a few medical books…” She couldn’t believe she just said that out loudto a stranger. She hadn’t even told her late mother, Eve, or Lila. “A publisher read them and wanted to publish them, but I chickened out.”
“What kind of medical books?” Nolan asked. His eyes filled with interest.
It had been a long time since someone had looked at her like that. Like they truly wanted to hear what she had to say.
“Oh, fiction and non-fiction,” Mia told him.
“Just how many books have you written?” Nolan asked, looking impressed once again. “And when did you find the time between your career and having a child?” His eyes narrowed. “Or do you have a very supportive husband?”
“No husband,” Mia told him. “Tom and I divorced years ago. We got married too young and realized we were better off being best friends.”
