Page 38 of Freefall

“I have,” she says. “But he was in quite the hurry last time, so we didn’t get to walk around the area. I thought I would show you some of the different spots, and we can talk about lighting and poses. Should we wait for Emory?”

That last part is said with hope lining her voice.

Ready to crush that hope with a few words, I open my mouth, but Luke beats me to it. “I’m so sorry. Our little guy got sick again, and she had to pick him up from daycare. I promise you two will connect at some point before the wedding. She is real, I swear.”

Harper giggles—fucking giggles at his lame-ass joke. “No worries. I’ve been there. My daughter is eight now, but when she was younger, we used to call her Sniffles because she pretty much always had a cold.”

Luke laughs, and my ex-girlfriend’s eyes widen as she realizes her mistake, or rather, multiple mistakes.

Her daughter? And who the fuck is “we”?

“Anyway, are you ready?”

She gestures to the sand-lined path toward the beach, and Luke nods.

“The wedding starts at five p.m. Is that right?” Harper asks as the three of us trudge over toward the shore.

“Yep.”

“Great. I think the lighting will be best around three o’clock in November. It’s what we in the biz call the golden hour. You and Emory can just sort of hang out on the beach, and I’ll shoot some candids, but I have a few fun ideas for poses if you’re up for it.”

“Whatever you say. You’re the expert.”

Jesus Christ. I’ve never wanted to punch my best friend in the face more than I do right now, and that’s saying a lot because he slept with my sister.

Although I guess I did punch him for that.

“Is it going to be just the two of you here, or will you want pictures with the bridal party as well?”

“Just us. We’ll take pictures with the others at the inn.”

“Great, then we can⁠—”

Harper’s words are cut off when I bump up against her from behind. Her breath hitches, and as angry as I am at her, my cock doesn’t seem to get the memo because it thickens from that little noise alone.

Moving her braid to the other shoulder, I whisper, “Keep talking.”

Luke isn’t paying attention. He’s suddenly mesmerized by the crashing waves and is no doubt picturing my sister standing beside them in a wedding dress, which is why I choose this moment to make my move.

She clears her throat. “We can talk about…um…poses.”

Her voice is so soft that it gets caught in the wind, and he doesn’t seem to hear her.

“Louder,” I coax, moving my hand to the small of her back.

“Are there any specific poses you had in mind?” she calls out.

He turns around, and I take two steps back. “I’d like one where I’m picking her up, and we’re kissing. I saw something like that in your portfolio.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s a…um, popular one.”

Luke nods, turning back to the ocean, and I’m already back in her ear. “Tell him to check out the rock wall.”

“Oh, the rock wall!” she nearly yells this time. “We could get some great shots there if you want to check it out.”

Luke turns again, suspicion darkening his eyes, but to my relief, he walks over to the rock wall anyway.

“We need to talk,” I tell Harper as soon as he’s out of earshot.