The Wedding Contract

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.

Nick doesn’t move. “I’m sorry about last night and I’m glad you weren’t hurt. I never thought you’d go out the window.”

I turn and look first at him and then back at Sophie. “There are some people who are worth jumping for.”

He offers a weak smile. “I suppose there are.” He stands, dusts off his pants, and adds, “And I’m done with pranks. Again, I’m sorry.”

No! What is he doing? He can’t act sweet one second and stoic the next. I’m starting to gnash my teeth, but Sophie grabs my arm. “Come on, Sky.”

I nod and follow her out, ranting non-stop about Nick. I must have said his name forty times by the time we reach the cove. “Sophie.” I whine her name like I’m twelve again. “What do I do with him?”

She smiles in a very un-Sophie-like manner, all sultry, and says, “Kick his ass and then take it from there.” Sophie’s dark hair hangs down her back and looks black against her pale skin. “So, should I dive in or what?”

Grinning, I reply, “I have a few ideas. How much skin do you want to show?”

“Whatever you think works. Let’s go. I’m freezing.”

“All the better for sexy pictures, my dear.”

We shoot in the early morning light. I expect Nick to come, but he doesn’t. I promised I wouldn’t shoot without him. I’m wondering if that makes the bet messed up. If he doesn’t shoot boudoir pictures of Sophie, then, while judging, she’d know these were all mine. I say what I’m thinking and she puts her hands on her hips and gives me the duh face. “So, we’re cheating?”

“No, just bending things in your favor—just a little bit.” I raise a brow at her. “Okay, a lot. You’re going to win. Period. I’m picking one of these.”


“You realize you have to display the winning picture in the lobby, right?”

Sophie’s brows come together. “What? When did you say that?”

“I didn’t. Your ass faced cousin did.” Sophie’s smile falls. “Well, then these might be a little revealing for that.”

“I’d do it just to piss off my mom.”

Sophie laughs, “You totally would, but I don’t think I could. Mr. Stevens—uh, Dad—will never look at me the same way again.” My face burns and I look away before she notices.

“So, do you want to do this last part or not?”

“I don’t do halfsies.” Sophie slips off the rock and into the water. Her gown sticks to her porcelain skin and becomes completely transparent.

I tell her what to do and she does it. Sophie hugs the rock, climbs on the rock, lays on the rock, and then floats by me with a serene smile on her face. The red lips, black hair, blue water, and golden sunlight make it completely perfect. And that piece of lingerie, being totally sheer, makes the shot sexy as hell. I wish I had a picture of me like this. Sophie looks like a goddess—I’ll have to ask Amy which one. That’s the picture, though, the best one I’ll take, and no one will see it because of what water does to white. But that’s what makes it sensual. If she hadn’t been clothed, it wouldn’t have the same effect. The image is sublime and totally perfect.

I pull my friend out of the cold water and wrap her in towels. She hands me her wet nightgown and asks me to have the hotel have it cleaned and back in her room by tonight. “Done.”

As we walk up to the path together, Sophie says, “Don’t sleep with him. It’s one thing if you lose the bet—which was the stupidest bet ever—but it’s another to give him your heart, you know? Don’t do it, Sky.” She’s worried about me. I can see it in her eyes and I don’t want today to be about me at all. I’ve been selfish as it is. She’s getting married tonight and I’ve been blathering about me all morning.

“I won’t.” I give her a hug and hurry her inside, but the lie burns my tongue. I didn’t mean to fib, but it’s one of those things that you realize is false only after you say it. Nick already has my heart. He took it when he gave me that kiss.