"And the fact that you’re so much older than my daughter, only eight years younger than me, doesn't bother you?"
My parents were high school sweethearts and got married only a few months after they graduated. I was a honeymoon baby and born before their first anniversary. They were both nineteen.
"Honestly, I think it bothers everyone else more than us. When I'm with Rylee, I don't feel an age gap except for her taste in music. She’s always been mature and wise beyond her years."
"It's true. I think it's because she spends so much time behind her camera watching everyone else," my mom agrees while my dad stares Jase down.
"Speaking of, I need to get with Sasha and go over the final wedding photo locations," I say, trying to end the conversation.
We still have some time before I’m due to meet up with my assistant, Sasha, but Mom and Dad don't know that, and I want to get out of here before things go too far south.
"Okay, baby, we’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner," Mom says as she stands to hug me. Dad hugs me as well but says nothing as we head out of the room.
"I'm sorry about them. I didn't get time to prepare them."
"It's okay. It's good they’re protective of you, as parents should be." Wrapping an arm around my waist, he guides me as we go back to my room to grab my camera gear.
Since I’m in the wedding, I’m relying on Sasha for the photography during the ceremony. She is good at what she does. I wouldn't trust her with this if she weren't. But letting go of that much control on such a big project is stressing me out.
We meet Sasha at the wedding venue and jump right into angle ideas and the best places to take photos. We do some test shots with the lighting. All the while, Jase is a good sport.
Whatever we ask Jase to do, he does cheerfully. In order for Sasha to get some practice shots, he poses with me, and we walk down the aisle together. He’s so easygoing and jumps right in to help.
Every time I look at him, I find him gazing at me. It’s as if he’s my protector, watching over me, and I love it.
Sasha proves I have nothing to worry about, and we wrap up early.
"Seems I have a whole afternoon free. Know anyone who wants to go hang out on the beach?" I joke with Jase after Sasha finishes packing up.
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into him. I look up into his eyes, seeing something close to love there. But that can't be. We only met in person a few days ago, and there’s no way that's where his feelings are. It must be all the Florida humidity getting to me.
"I'd love to take you to the beach, though I can't promise to keep my hands off you while we’re there." He smiles and leans down for a quick kiss.
"I'd be upset if you did promise such a thing." I wink and turn to go back to my room.
Being this flirty is not me, but I’m finding I love it, and with Jase, it’s easy. He has this hard exterior with everyone else. But with me, he's all smiles and is playful. I love this side of him.
When I get into my room, I head to the bathroom to change into my bathing suit and pause. It's silly since he's seen me naked, but something about a swimsuit is different.
I don't wear anything skimpy. But I'm a big girl, and I'm not as confident as others. My bathing suit is really cute. It's a pin-up style one-piece with what looks like shorts, so it covers more.
"Stop overthinking and get out here, baby girl," Jase says.
How he knew I was standing here, lost in my own head, I don’t know. Hesitantly I step out of the bathroom, and Jase lets out a string of curses under his breath. If it weren't for the tent in his pants, I’d think he hated my swimsuit.
"We’re going to have a very short trip to the beach because I won't last long before I'm dragging you back up here to slowly peel off that suit."
"You don't like it?" I tease because how can I not with the hunger in his eyes and the way he watches me?
"I fucking love it. What I hate is that every other guy on the beach will be looking at you in it as well."
"Well, good thing I’ll only be looking at you."
"Let's get this over with because afterward, we aren't leaving the room tonight," he growls and all but drags me out the door.
Chapter 8
Jase
