Free Capture Me: Alpha Billionaire Romance (Hollywood Dreams) by C.J. Thomas Page A

to share with her how I found photography.
    I stood and walked to Tessa, wanting to be beside her. “My dad wanted me to get into something that had less potential of sending me to the hospital. I always enjoyed the rush of extreme sports.”
    That made her turn to me. “So, let me guess, broken arm? Neck?”
    “Face.” I shook my head. “You should have seen me before.”
    She squinted at me playfully, examining every detail, then pressed her lips together to keep herself from smiling.
    Just her gaze got me hard. I wanted to take her over my shoulder and show her what kind of rush I really enjoyed—something to really make her smile.
    With her mock study of my face now complete, she finally shook her head. “Hmm. Maybe you should have gotten a second opinion.”
    “Hey!” With that knock, I took the chance to put my arm around her. When she didn’t pull away, I gave her a little squeeze and figured I better set the record straight. “Broke my femur. Had to do something while it healed. During one of her visits, my mom left her camera at the hospital.”
    Tessa raised a finely tweezed eyebrow. “And what, exactly, did you do?”
    “I wheeled myself around and took pics of people sleeping . . . who may or may not have been sporting new fashion statements.”
    “Like . . .”
    “I thought for sure bedpan hats would catch on.” I shrugged. “Hey, I was ten.”
    She laughed—a sound I’d never get tired of.
    “More wine?” I asked, then noticed the empty bottle.
    “Guess your doorman will have to go without.”
    I chuckled and put an arm around her. Her hair smelled of vanilla and lavender, and damn if I didn’t feel soothed. “I’ll probably bring him one at the end of his shift.”
    “For putting up with you? Better bring him two.”
    I dipped my face to hers, put on my best serious face, and nodded. “You’re probably right.”
    Tessa tilted her chin up to nip my bottom lip. She tasted like the wine and I wanted another drink.
    I cupped my hand around the back of her head, ready to pull her against me, but stopped. I didn’t want it to happen like this. She meant more to me than that and I wanted to be more than just her escape from what was sure to have been the worst week of her life.
    “Is there anything I can do for you?” I knew even before I asked the question that the trance of the evening would be gone. She needed something.
    Three years ago, I’d been in her shoes and even if she didn’t want to admit it, there was something I could do for her. More than this.
    Without looking away, she said, “Will you come with me to the funeral tomorrow?”
    “Of course.” The words came out before I’d thought them through. I’d made it a point not to go to funerals since my parents died. They were uncomfortable, difficult . . . all good reasons I should be there with her.
    But I also couldn’t help but think that this might be one huge mistake, too.
     

CHAPTER 15
     
    Tessa
     
    “Can the caskets be moved closer together?” I asked the funeral director, then leaned against Liam and sighed when the guy didn’t acknowledge I’d said anything. “Do you think he heard me?” I asked Liam and couldn’t help but smile when he peered down at me. We’d only been on one real date, and yet, he’d really been there for me.
    Liam frowned at the man, seemingly as surprised as I was about his inattentiveness. “Who knows.”
    Earlier this week, Dani and I had decided a combined funeral for Mom and Dad would be best, but as I’d been trying to tell the director for the last ten minutes, having the caskets at the corners of the room didn’t feel right. They should be together. Just like Mom and Dad always had been.
    Even in the end.
    “Excuse me—”
    Instead of giving me a response, the director bent down behind the stage to do God knows what. Before today, if anyone had asked me to picture a funeral director, I’d describe someone calm and helpful to families as they grieved. This man had