“What would be the fun inthat?”
Kira pinned her lips and stifled a grin. “You’re really going to make me work for this, aren’tyou?”
Anthony shook his head. “Nah, I won’t. Promise. Where would you like me?” He shuffled over to the two-foot ledge and climbed up, ducking as the extra height brought him close to theceiling.
“You’re taller than I realized,” shesaid.
“Yeah, I’ve grown a little since grade school,” hesaid.
Yes, he had. “Go ahead and sit on the floor with your back against the brick, and your legs stretched out before you.” She dashed over to where her tripod stood and unfastened the camera by twisting the small knob that secured it. Once it was free, Kira looped the sturdy strap around her neck and headed back toward thewindow.
She walked quickly at first, anxious to get to work, but as her gaze settled over the sight in the display window, she slowed. Her breathing did, too. When one stumbles onto a wild buck in its natural habitat, the last thing they want to do is scare it away and ruin the view. She stopped in place, lifted the camera, and looked at him through the viewfinder. With the slightest turn of the ribbed lens, he came into sharp, gloriousfocus.
The rustic brick wall at his back had nothing on his muscular arms and chest, the contours visible even through his tee. Head tipped back, eyes closed, chin lifted enough to reveal the outline of his well-defined jaw. He must have showered between his shift at the diner and coming here, because his black hair was damp, which—with its length and slight wave—added to his appeal all the more. And while one leg was stretched straight before him as she’d instructed, the other was bent at the knee, revealing a perfect tear in his jeans. If hallelujah choirs existed in her head, they were singing their praises in that moment. He was one of God’s creations, afterall.
She snapped a picture, zoomed in a bit more, and captured another one. Kira paused to look at the small digital screen.Dang,she’d cut off part of his leg in the full-body shot. That was a shame, seeing that he’d worn a rather good-looking pair of cowboy boots. She was rustier than she thought. Kira stepped back, widened the angle, and snapped a few more. The outdoor lighting was perfect, pouring in from the window to accent his features.Wow.Talk about magazineready.
She ducked behind the lens once more and zoomed in on his face as she took a few steps closer. He was one of those guys who gave five-o’clock shadow a good name. The short, dark scruff accented the masculine cut of his jaw and chin. The pendant was showing now—a small wooden cross, rough around the edges as if it’d been handcarved.
At once, Anthony’s eyes opened. He pulled his head away from the wall and set his eyes on her. “Tell me when you’re ready, I guess,” he said, his demeanorshifting.
“What do you mean?” sheasked.
“I mean, am I supposed to look at you and smile like a cheese ball, orwhat?”
Kira chuckled. “That wasn’t exactly the direction I planned to give you,” she said, glancing at the shots she’d taken so far. The frame on those offered a lot more wiggle room for cropping. “I was sneaking a few candid pictures in while your eyes were closed. I hope you don’tmind.”
“You were?” He brought a hand up to his chest. “I feelviolated.”
“Shut up,” she teased, encouraged by his playfulnature.
“So is this your lucky music or are you just trying toset the mood?” He’d lowered his voice for that lastpart.
“Oh,” Kira said, realizing she still had her phone going in the background. “My mind has the tendency to wander,” she explained. “I mean, really—some days it’s all over the place.Thisjust helps keep it under control. Like reins on a wildhorse.”
He grinned. And it was a shame she hadn’t had the camera poised, because it was brilliant. “A wild horse. I likethat.”
With the slow exhale of a very deep breath, Kira forced her mind back on the task before her. A wonderful one at that. She could spend hours taking pictures of a guy like Anthony. It was safe to say that—for the next little while—keeping her mind from wandering would be abreeze.
