“No, Soph. It’s a real life problem. How do you fall in love with someone you barely know, a person who’s hardly there anymore?”
Sophie’s big eyes are filled with remorse. She shakes her head and her dark hair falls over her shoulder. “I don’t know, Sky.”
“He told me that he’s here to crush me. He’s not going to stop stealing my customers until he drives me out of business.” I glance up at her. “But he didn’t do your lingerie shoot?”
“No. On that note, I think we better make sure you win that bet and take some pictures before everyone wakes up.” Sophie smiles and grabs her wedding night lingerie.
“Really?” I try not to smile.
“Yeah, anything you want. You have to win this bet. I assume you get something worthwhile if you win.”
“He closes his shop and jumps off the bridge of his choice.” I grin and glance out the window. The sun is rising.
Sophie laughs, “And you’ll be there to take a picture.”
“Exactly.”
CHAPTER 24
The light is perfect and Sophie is cooperating more freely than I’d ever dreamed. We get the typical bedroom shots out of the way in no time. When she agrees to go outside, I know I’ll nail this. I’m a little bit worried about using the older camera body and lens, but my better one is trash.
Sophie looks beautiful in her white wedding lingerie. She had a real corset imported from England with steel boning. In other words, think Golden Age of Hollywood, knock out, stunningly beautiful. I lit the room that way even though old-fashioned lighting is considered harsh now. One light in a dim room, highlighting Sophie in that cream-colored corset, lace-topped thigh-highs, satin heels, and a sheer robe that trails the floor. I have her hold onto the bedpost and walk around the room like I’m not there. When she’s looking at the bed, I call her name, and her dark eyes go wide as she glances up at me. “Yeah?”
It’s a photographer’s trick. Saying someone’s name makes their eyes widen and the direct light showcases her pretty irises. I’m going to make some of the images black and white. She looks like a movie star from the forties.
“Okay, that’s about it, unless there’s something else you wanted.”
“Actually, I do. I want you to win. We are heading to the cove now. Just give me a second to change.” Sophie tries to pull the metal tabs on the front of the corset, but it’s too tight.
“Hold on.” I unlace her and she disappears into the bathroom. When she comes back out she’s wearing a silky cream-colored piece of lingerie. The front dips down low, like to her belly button, and there’s no back – just pieces of string. The satin on the bodice flares into a skirt with a slit that goes way up to the top of her thigh where I can see a single garter. She’s removed the rest of her stuff—no stockings, no heels, and from what it looks like, no bottoms. She offers an awkward smile. “I know you wanted moonlight, but the sun isn’t very high yet. Will this work?”
“Yes!” I’m so excited that I literally squeal. It’s contagious because Sophie responds with giggles. She grabs her coat and I take a few towels before we leave the room. It’s still early and hardly anyone is moving around yet. The halls are empty, but we don’t want to risk running into anyone in the elevator. We sneak to the stairwell, trying to reach the shore unnoticed.
That’s when I hear his voice, Nick’s. He’s on the landing below. The carpeting muffles the sound, so he doesn’t know we’re there.
“I know and I am.” He speaks firmly, but I have the clear distinction that someone is talking down to him. Silence and then, “Nothing will change and it’s already done, just make sure she doesn’t find out.” He sighs and I peer over the railing. He’s wearing the clothes he had on last night. They’re rumpled like he slept in them. Nick runs one hand over his head and growls into his phone, “I said I can do this and I have. This is the final nail. I told you I could do it, so you better hold up your end of the deal.” I back away from the railing when he ends the call.
Nick is sitting on a step and staring at the wall. It seems like this is the last place he wants to be, and right now, this is the last place Sophie wants to be, but it’s too late. Nick stretches, sighs and looks straight up—our eyes lock.
He was talking about me. He had to be. Even so, I can’t shake this feeling that something’s off. Nick is all business and always has been. I decide that I’m going to act like nothing’s happening. I take Sophie’s hand and drag her reluctantly past him. I expect him to pelt me with questions, but he doesn’t.
When I brush past him, Nick is still sitting on the step. He reaches for my hand, stopping me. “Sophie, can you give us a minute?”
“No, she can’t.” I pull away and all the magical qualities of his touch fade. It’s the worst feeling in the world.