Free Skin by Dale Mayer Page B

they weren’t all good, but she had to have something to start with.
    He came to the end and studied the last one, the picture where he’d completed his workout, the pain, the suffering, but also the gain he’d achieved on so many levels.
    “You’re very intuitive.”
    She started. That’s the last thing she’d expected. “Pardon?”
    He waved at the pictures. “In fact, I’d have to say you’re very gifted.”
    He’d surprised her, too. “I’m good, but not that good.”
    He snorted. “You see more behind a lens than you give yourself credit for.” He clicked back a couple of pictures. “While you were taking pictures, I couldn’t think of what you’d possibly find interesting when I was repeating the same movements over and over again. But you weren’t taking pictures of the movements, but of me as I went through them.”
    She stared at him. “So? What else was I to take pictures of?”
    He grinned. “That’s what I was trying to figure out. You captured more of me in these images than I thought was there to see.”
    He stood up. “On top of it all, the play of light and dark is interesting.”
    “We’re supposed to do a theme of some kind, a journey.” She studied the thumbnail pictures lined up in neat rows on the folder and twisted her lips. “There’s not much there to go on.”
    “No,” he said in a deep voice. “But I suspect there’s enough.”
    He walked to the door.
    She trailed behind him. “Does that mean you understand the instructions Jenna gave us? About a theme?”
    “It means that I think I’m beginning to.” He looked down at her. “Get some sleep, Tinkerbelle. You’re going to need it.”
    Then he was gone.

Chapter 9

    T he next morning dawned bright and early. Tania woke up with Kane on her mind, which was to be expected, although the dreams had bordered on erotic but in a fantasy way. Not realistic, and that was also to be expected. The man wasn’t for her, and a relationship wasn’t likely to happen, therefore her subconscious had kept it in fantasy. But she could still dream.
    Throwing back the covers, she remembered her early morning meeting with Jenna, and damn if she wasn’t going to be late. She threw on clothes and ran.
    At the coffee shop, Jenna sat with a pot of tea at her side, an open notebook in front of her and a look of concentration on her face.
    Tania almost hated to interrupt.
    As if sensing her presence, Jenna lifted her head and caught sight of Tania. A smile broke across her face.
    Tania admitted that a smile from her stunning professor was like being brushed by a ray of sunshine. Tania didn’t know Jenna’s story, but somehow she’d arrived at a beautiful place in her life, and it showed.
    Tania took a seat at Jenna’s table. “Sorry I’m late.”
    Jenna shrugged. “If being late meant you had a good night’s sleep, then there’s no loss. It’s not as if I’ve been waiting long.”
    The waiter arrived then, giving Tania a chance to order coffee and something to eat. She had an appetite, she realized with surprise. She’d expected to be so overwrought this morning that food wouldn’t sit well, but instead she felt fine. Great, in fact.
    “You look well this morning,” Jenna said, a look of pleased surprise on her face. “Obviously, this week isn’t stressing you out too badly.”
    Tania gave her a quirky smile. “Actually, it is, but in ways I hadn’t expected. I also hadn’t expected to feel so upbeat this morning, but there you have it.”
    With that, the two women started a discussion of yesterday’s homework. When done, Tania understood a discussion of Kane and the project would likely be next. That sent a tremor through her. She had so much to say, yet she wasn’t ready to say anything.
    “How did yesterday afternoon go?”
    “It was good.” Tania grinned. “I enjoyed having a camera in my hand again. Kane is a great subject,” she said, warming to the topic. “Some of the pictures are really