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

restroom. Three beers equal I have to pee…bad! When I come back, I ask how he found this place. “It was gutted and abandoned. I had met Jaxon through Pierce and he and his dad did the remodel.” He chuckles, “I was so damn nervous when my first client walked in. I kept turning the air down in the studio so I didn’t sweat all over the equipment.”
    “I can’t imagine you nervous Ty. You must have done something right. Your schedule is crazy busy.”
    “Yeah, I learned quickly to use “the pretty people” in pictures for my website. I think that anyone that comes in the studio believes I will make them look gorgeous. And honestly, Stella, I try to give them the best product I can give. I pride myself on happy clients.”
    Ty doesn’t make me feel like I am intruding on his night, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome. “I’m gonna go, so I can get some sleep and meet you here in the morning.”
    “Thank you for taking the job. I appreciate everything you did today.” He pulls me into a hug, and holy shit, I have to hide my gasp as my breast press against his chest. Those big, strong arms wrap around my back. He makes me feel so small. Thank God, for the slightly padded bra, because my nipples are rock hard and are begging for his attention. I pull away from the hug and breathe him in as we separate. He smells amazing.
    “No, thank you. It’s going to be a nice change. I’m so used to plugging numbers in a computer. I can’t wait to see a location shoot tomorrow.”
    “We’ll have a good day together, Stella.” And those eyes pierce into mine like he sees my inappropriate excitement brought on by his touch. I am very sure he has someone to spend tonight with. Sadly, it’s not me and I feel ridiculous at how much that bothers me.
    Our condo is empty and there is no sign of Zoey or Pierce. Those beers were just enough to make me relax, so I just strip and jump in bed. The sheets feel good on my naked body. That’s when it hits me…I am very tired. Tired eyelids…sleep.

I DRIVE OVER TO THE STUDIO well rested for a Sunday morning. I may be a little overly anxious to see Ty. He’s adorable with his, I just woke up look. He helps me pack up what is needed for the engagement shoot. As we haul the loot down to Ty’s sweet black Cadillac Escalade I ask, “You’re a single guy, so why such a big vehicle?”
    His answer is one word, “Equipment.”
    “Now that makes sense.” I smile because his bright grin is wide as he puts the large SUV in drive. “Coffee is a necessity for me in the morning, Stella. Do you care if we stop along the way?”
    “I too require caffeine in the morning.”
    “I knew we’d be good partners.”
    While we wait for our order, I stand by Ty and pretend just for a moment that he is really here with me. Like ‘here’ with me, as in …mine. I beam with pride for a moment, which leads to me giggling inside that I’m such a freaking dork. Ty catches my crazy look and it’s funny he doesn’t question me. He just goes with the flow, which is nice. Being around him is turning enjoyable versus nervously tolerable. I say tolerable because my body doesn’t listen to my brain when he is around. It wants what it wants…which is him…but that is not an option.
    The shoot is going great. The park is so tranquil. Ty and the engaged couple agreed on a city park where the oak trees are so old and huge that they have branches that have swooped down, touched the earth, and resumed growing up toward the sky. The clients are so in love my heart aches a bit watching them. Ty, of course, is flawless. He engages with them and asks them about the wedding date, the venue, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, DJ, and the food. They lavish us with every prideful detail.
    I almost can’t keep professional Stella in check at one point as they walk ahead of us hand in hand. They tell us the story of how they became engaged. Ty makes an obscene gesture behind their backs with his hand to show me how