Free Captured Secret (The Captured Series) by April Raynne Page A

you about Elizabeth, I don’t know. She left when I was a baby. Found some guy to take care of her. She’s always blown in and out of my life and wanted to play mom when the time was convenient for her. Several marriages later, and now she’s a dependent mess.” I want to know so much more, but don’t push. Hell, I want to know everything about him. I wish he wanted to sit and play twenty questions all night. Okay, my turn.
    “I’m all too familiar with that kind of mom. I have one of those, too. My dad raised my sister and me from about age eight. My dad never made enough money to make her happy, so she left and found someone that could give her the life she wanted.” I take in a big swallow of my beer. My stare is flat. “I can’t imagine making the decisions she did. I think you live and learn, and know that is not the type of parent you want to be. I know when I have my kids, they are going to know in their core that I love them with no doubts.”
    “Damn, I’m sorry to hear that. I would think a girl needs her mom growing up. That had to be tough growing up without her.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and searches my face, maybe to see how this affects me? My mom doesn’t affect me, Ty…your touch does.
    “It was difficult. I always wonder if I’m girly enough, since I missed out on a woman’s touch, you know.”
    “You’re doing just fine looking like a woman, Stella. You pull off the part perfectly.”
    I blush and don’t know what to say to his compliments. “Well, you should know. You needed a mom too. Just because you were a boy didn’t mean you didn’t need her.” We stand there quietly for a couple minutes.
    “It sounds like I don’t have enough beer if we are going to talk about family issues between the two of us.”
    “No, I don’t think you do. So, tell me, were you a bad boy in high school? Did you play sports?”
    He chuckles and bows his chest like Mr. Big man. “Of course, I played sports. Damn good at baseball and football.”
    “You? Mr. Artistic, good-looking, with tattoos?” I over exaggerate my surprise.
    “Being an athlete got me all the cheerleaders, Stella.” He makes the gesture like he licks his thumb to straighten both eyebrows.
    Giggling as I speak, I say, “Oh, my God…you did not just do that. You will not get the chicks with that corny move.”
    “Yeah, probably not, but now, I know you think I’m an artsy hottie with awesome muscles and tattoos.”
    I laugh out loud. “I like the way you interpret what I say.” His smile is blinding. “Or, on second thought, I guess I need to closely watch what I say.” The beer hits me on my empty stomach, so here comes bold Stella. “Ty?”
    “Yeah?” His face softens as he looks into my eyes. I love the way he stares at each feature. I pray he likes what he sees.
    “Do the majority of your clients throw themselves at you like Barbie boobs did? I know it’s so none of my business, but I, well…I kinda just want to be prepared so I can stay out of the way.”
    He thinks for a moment and stares at the fountain. Another beer down, he opens his third. “Yeah, some do. They usually want something casual. Sometimes, they think they want more. I know Jaxon made it sound like I do everything that walks in my studio, but that’s not the case. You’ll find most are here for the right reasons. But, well…I do have a lot of clients that are interested in more than my photography skills, just like Barbie boobs.” He looks down. Is that shame on his face?
    On that note, I start my third beer. “Well, if they were smart, they would see that they are getting the best of both worlds. You are extremely gifted on the photo side, and they should feel lucky to date a great guy who happens to be very attractive. What a bonus.” Now it’s my turn to dart my eyes away. I can’t believe I just said that .
    “It’s always casual, Stel, nothing more.” We stay quiet. I break the silence by excusing myself to go the