Free Black & White (Picture Perfect #1) by Traci Hayden Page B

shot of Angel and brought it up on the screen of my camera, checking the quality. She was the key to lowering William's defenses, I was sure of it.
    "William?"
    "Hhhmmm." He was lost inside his head, barely conscious of anyone or anything other than this beautiful baby.
    "I want to show you something." Moving around him, I turned the camera for him to see.
    His eyes came up and focused on Angel's picture. The light slowly began to shine in his eyes. "She's so perfect."
    "Yes, she is. Hold on to that thought, William, hold that beauty in your eyes," I whispered as I backed away.
    His face relaxed and smoothed out, and the youth became visible in his features. He was beautiful, just like his daughter. The perfection surrounding them was astounding.
    I leaned in, fluffing up Angel's chestnut hair while snapping more shots. William ran his finger down her face, connecting us for a brief moment. The current between us was present again. But this time, there was a difference. William's body stiffened. I quickly pulled away convinced he had felt it too.
    Another idea occurred to me, leaving me positive these pictures would be unbelievable. Turning my head, I gave Jude the signal about the lights. Knowing me forever, she knew exactly what I was asking for. Continuing to take shots of William, the natural light from the windows began to flood the room. The artificial lights vanished, making the room feel open and refreshing.
    Quickly switching cameras, I took a test shot. After checking it on the digital screen, it was confirmed the idea would work. There was something about natural light which could never be artificially reproduced. It brought out the color in William, his eyes popped, the bronze in his hair sparkled against the dark blonde. What amazed me most was the kiss of sun shining through his tanned skin.
    "William, you are perfect, you're a natural," I complimented.
    He looked up slightly, surprised. "Really?"
    Snapping another shot, I responded. "God, yes, I haven't seen such natural beauty in a long time. You have the look every photographer prays for."
    "Trust me, William. She's a professional, but I haven't seen her excited like this in years," Jude said from the shadows. Her faith in me had always been inspiring.
    A smile ghosted his lips, allowing me to snap perfect photos now. The earlier ones seemed so staged and phony compared to these. I hit a button on my computer and changed the background of the set. The soft pink disappeared, replaced by a photo I had taken years ago.
    The photo was of a meadow I had found outside of Vancouver. The flowers had been in full bloom, the sun sending vibrant shades of red, gold and green sparkling around the air. I had tried on many occasions to produce the magic of the meadow since, but every picture had failed. I was very proud of this one. It was the first time I had ever used the photo, but this was a special shoot.
    "William, cradle Angel with her back against your chest and place your hand on her chest, feel her heartbeat, feel her love for you."
    William's face softened. The flood of emotions flowed through into his body language; his gentle touch, his sagging shoulders, the pure and innocent ecstasy in his eyes tugged at my heart. They made everything so simple and exciting. I hadn't felt so excited about taking photos in a long time. I just continued snapping. It was going to be hard choosing the perfect photo, since they all seemed astonishing on an initial appraisal.
    I set the camera on the table and started towards William. "I need you to do something for me." His head turned towards me but his eyes remained hypnotized on Angel. I was witnessing pure love and joy, and was humbled by it. "Remove her dress and lay her down in your arms."
    William did as I asked and instinctively leaned forward, still mesmerized by his daughter. Just as their noses touched I started snapping more shots. It was a simple gesture, but it brought out the feelings he had for his baby - love,