“Not a chance,” she uttered.
In her eyes, her job was perfect already. She swiped her tongue along her lower lip as—like usual—her mind drifted toward the all-too-handsome and enigmatic Reeve Leighton.
The night with him had been off-the-charts amazing. Even now, her body flushed and grew damp at the simple thought of his touch. He’d given her an experience she’d not forget.
Her brother would kill him for simply touching her. Hell, even for taking her to his place. Much less, what happened after.
Aidrian.
The satisfied smile slid from her face as she thought him. She closed her eyes against the sting of tears. She’d almost lost her brother.
Thank you, for keeping him safe.
Maverick had called her on the train, letting her know he was okay—still in Antarctica but safe.
When she started this trip, she’d had bare minimum information other than his plane had gone down. Luckily, now, she knew he was all right.
The theme for Hawaii Five-O filtered through her thoughts grabbing it. Wiping the tears, she leaned to the bedside table and answered her new phone without checking the screen.
“O’Shea.”
“Miss me, sweetness?”
The deep rasp of his voice raised goose bumps all over her skin. She dug her toes into the bedspread and fought the smile which threatened. The fact he’d gotten her number didn’t surprise her in the least or worry her. Still, she asked.
“Nae. How did ya get this number?”
“Godric.”
She frowned. “He gave it to ya?”
“Nope. I went to his office and looked you up. The number on your card goes to a message service.”
Could be who called her earlier, the buzz she’d ignored. “So you stole it.”
“You say steal, I prefer the term liberate.”
Her laugh slid free before she could contain it. “It wasna a prisoner. You canna liberate a phone number.”
“Semantics.”
She swung her legs to the floor and padded to the sliding door to step out onto the balcony.
“So what can I do for the one and only Reeve Leighton?”
He chuckled, decadent and darkly sexual. “So many responses, sweetcheeks.”
“And yet, I may just say no.”
“You didn’t that night.”
“The past.” She stepped back in to avoid the wind off the ocean that had increased.
“Am I keeping you from something?”
“I was hoping to get dressed to avoid eating without a stitch on.”
The sound of something falling echoed by his curse came through the phone. “Not fair, sweetcheeks.”
“If you dinna want mah answer, you shouldna asked the question.”
“Trust me, I would love to know all about your…um…lack of dress but my mother is here. Which brings me to the other reason I called.”
Other? He never mentioned a first, and she told him so.
“To hear your voice, of course.”
Despite her not being a young chit easily impressed by a smooth line, even she had to acknowledge the tremors his admission sent though her. Forcing back the starry-eyed haze which was rapidly overtaking her, she snorted.
“Right. What did ya call for?”
“You don’t seem to believe me.”
She didn’t but wasn’t about to get into an argument over something which was pointless anyway. “The reason?” she reiterated.
His sigh was loud and she rolled her eyes. “I want to hire you.”
Immediately, her mind drifted back to when he gave her the indecent proposal in Godric’s office, and she stiffened.
He must have understood her silence for he spoke quickly. “It is legit. My parents are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary, and we’d like you to take the pictures.”
She breathed deeply, relaxing, then walked to her calendar. “When is the event?”
“End of next month, the twenty-eighth. I know it’s not much time, but if you could do it, we’d be grateful.”
The day was clear—three days after the award ceremony. She tapped her pen against the paper and ran through the reasons why she should and those as to why she shouldn’t.
“You still with me, sweetcheeks?”
“Why me?” she asked. “There are plenty of professional photographers in your area.”
“Besides the obvious I want to see you again? I’ll tell you. And before you think it’s just me, it’s not; my brothers agree. So does my sister. There is something extra in the photos you take. You find that perfect image and bring the best out of those in it. You discover something that other people miss.”
“I’m nae sure I can swing it,” she answered honestly.
“Are you hiding from me?”
“Nae. I’ll be in Perth three days prior. I have to escort someone back to Oregon and… Well, I can try mah hardest to get there, but I wouldn’t want you to solely depend on mah arrival and not be there.”
“This has to do with the thing you found in Australia?”
“Aye.”
“And who are you flying back to Oregon with?”
“The ma o’ the man who started to discover this.” A moment’s pause. “If she comes. She said she would but she’s nae a youngun.”
“And you feel responsible for her.”
She bristled. “She is a dearie and has been through hell, having lost both her husband and son. They want to award me with what should go to her child. Yes, I feel responsible.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. That sounded not how I wanted it to.”
Holding up her hands, she shook her head. “I should apologize. The day has been a long one.”
“If I have a way to get you and your friend back to Oregon in time, would you do it?”
She rolled her lower lip in her teeth. It had been five days since she’d been in his arms, and she wanted to experience it again. Why should she deprive herself of what she wanted? She held no illusions of what it was between them.
“Aye. But I would have ta know before I make our plans.”
“I’ll be calling often, sweetcheeks. Get some rest, you sound tired.”
“Okay.” She had no energy to argue. So, with a quick goodbye, she ended the call.
I can eat later.
She yawned and closed her eyes.
It was dark when she awoke. For a few moments, she debated on closing her eyes and drifting back to sleep before she left the bed. Opting to rise, she got up, turned on some light, and dressed.
Within the next hour, she sat at the desk, her laptop open with some photos on it and a cheeseburger with fries beside her. Coke to drink. She ate and placed orders for more items she needed, film especially. Normally, she would do digital shots when working with people since most were impatient and it was easier to give a CD with the shots on it.
Another reason I prefer shooting wildlife.
There was just something more with real film in her eyes. Black and whites were amazing. After her expedition back to Virginia and Reeve, she would be going to Africa.
She worked well past finishing her food and answered emails as well as returning calls. Once content all was caught up, she opened up a file she’d recently uploaded and began sifting through the images. The shots were of some flora, and she sought to find the right ones to sell.
The night progressed, bringing with it a storm. She shoved her hair into a ponytail, grabbed her camera, and went out on the balcony. Through the wind and rain, she snapped pictures of the lightning over the water. The rolling clouds and the feel of the storm.
Three and a half hours later, she snagged “the shot” she’d been waiting for and walked, soaking wet, back into her room. After another shower, she slid exhausted into bed.
Her wake-up call came at the requested time, and she rolled from bed with a weary groan. Dressed, she packed her items and double-checked to ensure she had it all. A habit of hers, even though she had a lot of confidence of having everything packed. She stayed in a great many places and pretty much lived out of her canvas duffle.
Shouldering the strap, she headed downstairs. An older white man waited behind the counter and she approached him with a wave and greeting.
“The taxi has been called, Ms. O’Shea.”
“Wonderful,” she said, giving him the keycard and signing the bill.
“Forgive me, but I wanted to tell you it’s amazing what you went through to get that photo evidence back to the authorities.”
Her hand froze in the middle of her signature. She met his gaze.
“You recognized me?”
His smile was kind. “You and your name, Ms. O’Shea.”
“Thanks for the kind words but the thanks should go to Davy. He uncovered it first.” She finished her signature and slid the paper with pen back to him.
“I think you both do.” He gave her the receipt.
They shared a look and she nodded. “Goodbye.”
Affrica strode for the door and climbed in the waiting taxi. “Bus station, please.”
It didn’t take too long, and soon, she was climbing on her bus to Sea-Tac airport. Her business concluded for a while in the United States. She reclined in the seat and smiled at the thought of seeing Reeve again.
* * * *
Perth, Australia
Reeve adjusted the bowtie on his tuxedo and shifted in the seat at the table he’d purchased a spot at. He drained his champagne and immediately looked around for more. While he was no stranger to black tie affairs, tonight he was nervous. For tonight, he got to see Affrica again.
He did another scan of the room and frowned for he didn’t see her.
Did she decide not to come?
He saw some celebrity A-listers there who were big into humanitarian efforts.
“Don’t believe I’ve seen you before,” the gentleman beside him said.
Like you know everyone here, man.
“I’m Ms. O’Shea’s friend. Name’s Reeve, Reeve Leighton.”
The black brows rose. “Really? You know Affrica? How well do you know her?”
Tamping back his arrogant instinctive response, he merely shrugged, despite being completely unhappy with this man calling her by her first name. “Our relationship isn’t any of your business.”
The smug look on the man’s face told Reeve he didn’t believe Reeve even knew her. Whatever smartass comment he’d been about to make was halted, for a silver-haired man approached the podium. Everyone gave him their attention, quieting immediately.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, we are honoring a woman who played an integral part in bringing an end to a horrific genocide event. After getting the images, she then had to run for her life and survive long enough to get rescued. Some of us are lucky to have her as a friend and the world is grateful to her for her selfless actions. Miss Affrica O’Shea.”
While people clapped, Reeve’s gaze had honed in on a woman who had stood and made her way toward the stage. His breath left him in a rush. Holy shit!
He’d passed over this woman, expecting Affrica to be…well, Affrica. And the woman he remembered. Not this. His mouth went totally dry, and it was like sucking on cotton. He half rose to go to her before regaining his senses.
Affrica wore a floor-length, form-fitting sequined evening dress. It showed everything and yet nothing. The sapphire blue hue highlighted the beauty of her smooth skin. The gown was amazingly elegant in its simplicity. It had a high neckline, fitted waist, and was sleeveless. A diamond back opening combined with a slit up to her knee allowed him to see hints of flesh when she moved.
Her hair had been gathered up into some kind of fancy twisty style which left two ringlets to hang on either side of her face. He’d lost his breath. She accepted the plaque with the same grace she did everything then stepped to the microphone.
“Thank you,” she said, her accent thick with emotion. “A heartfelt
thank you
to the men who rescued me, for doing what I didn’t think would ever happen, bringing me home. I may have been the one to bring the photos out but I was, by no means, the one who discovered the atrocities.” Her fingers smoothed over the item. “A young man named Davy Marshall is the one who should be accepting this. Unfortunately,” she paused. Pictures of a man with a camera around his neck and a grin on his face appeared on the wall behind her.
“Unfortunately, those behind the genocide took his life as well. I regret not knowing Davy very well and will miss him. So while I thank everyone for this honor, there’s another who deserves it more, Davy’s mother. Mrs. Irene Marshall.”
Reeve didn’t take his eyes off Affrica as Mrs. Marshall joined her on the stage. The women hugged, and Mrs. Marshall, who was of diminutive statue, spoke. Reeve sort of tuned her out. He wanted to be with Affrica up there. Be her support.
He’d searched online for the story and had been horrified at what he’d learned. No wonder Scott had rolled his eyes when he’d mentioned he knew nothing about what she’d gone through. It was in that moment Reeve realized how arrogant and spoiled he truly was. How out of touch with the world.
He and Affrica were on opposite sides of the spectrum. Not merely money but humanitarian. It was no wonder his brother was impressed with her. She had several charities she donated money and time to. Himself? He’d never been able to be bothered before.
The room erupted in applause, and he blinked a few times before joining in. The man clad in a black tuxedo with a tie glanced at him.
“I would love an introduction since you know her.”
There was no disguising the challenge in that arrogant tone.
“Sure, I think we should have sometime before we fly out on my jet.”
The man’s eyes widened before narrowing. “So you know her that well?” Waggling eyebrows conveyed the unasked question.
Ignoring his desire to punch him in the nose, Reeve merely smoothed his hand down his jacket and turned to face Affrica who made her way through the crowd.
“I bet you don’t even know her,” the obnoxious man said, close behind him.
Affrica headed in their direction, Reeve didn’t think she saw him but he remained fixated upon her. A growl formed in his throat when the man stepped around him and reached for her.
“Miss O’Shea, I can’t tell you how glad I am to know you are safe from your horrendous ordeal.”
She paused. “Mr. Price, right?” He nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Price.”
“Please call me Edward. I would love to sit down and talk about this. Do you have some free time soon?”