I'm impressed. "Yeah? So, you want to get a good shot of the moon?"
"Not exactly. There's a small brook I want to get a shot of, while the moon is reflecting on it. I found it after the last full moon and I wanted to grab the opportunity, especially since it's a clear night tonight."
"Sounds interesting."
"Do you want to come along?" She lifts her brows, and her face doesn't say that she feels obligated to ask me.
"Sure." I frown. "When do you want to leave?"
"Any time. I just need about five minutes to finish with this photograph." She gestures with her chin to the laptop computer sitting on the antique desk.
"Let me guess. Buddy?" I tip my head over towards the oak piece of furniture.
"Of course. I found this desk and I couldn't resist. It's beautiful."
The way she says the word makes it even more appealing. I want to say, 'just like you', but I stop myself. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not going to be one of those dudes that knocks up every goddamn girl in the state. I'm with Shelly and that's that. I shouldn't even be over here with Lennie, but I just couldn't help myself. Something about her just makes me want to be around her. The air is lighter in her presence. I feel different when I'm around her. I know that sounds ridiculous, since I just met her yesterday, but I feel like being around her gives me good karma, good vibes, and I just feel better now that I'm here. Even all that talk about my daddy didn't upset me, because I knew that I was going to see Lennie right after that.
"Can I give you a hand with anything?"
"Um," She looks around. "Do you want to take my car or your truck?"
"We can take my truck if you want. I've got a few chairs in the back if y'all want to sit down while we wait for the moon to make its full appearance."
"Are you sure?" She checks innocently.
"Absolutely. Do you want me to take your camera equipment out to the truck?"
"As long as you think it'll be safe out there."
"I'll keep watch. I promise." She's very guarded about her things and I don't blame her one bit.
Ten minutes later, we're in my truck. My stomach flutters with excitement. "Tell me where y'all want to go."
"Promise you won't get mad?" She says, looking at me with this child-like expression that makes my heart melt.
"I promise. Is it at the ranch?"
She smiles. "It is. That little brook that lines the grass by the pasture."
"Oh, yeah, I know the one."
"Perfect. Now, I'm not sure if the shot is going to look too much like a postcard, but it's worth a try."
"I'm sure that anything you put a spin on will be beautiful." I thumb towards myself. "I've seen your work. I've bought your work. I own your work."
She chuckles. "Yes. Thanks to you and that lovely woman that was looking for a twentieth birthday present for her grandson, I made more money yesterday than I have all month."
"I'm glad to have helped with that."
"Did you decide where you're going to hang the picture?"
I think about my daddy, and the fact that he's going to be home from rehab in a couple of months. He'd stop at nothing to break that photo. "I'm hanging it at the ranch."
"Good. I'm glad."
We drive to the ranch and I'm careful to pull up close to the resort house, so that nobody sees us from the back. It's also a shorter walk to the pasture. "Do you want to ride a horse or walk there?"
Her face lights up. "Are you serious? We can ride there?"
