His One and Only Bride by Tara Randel

Author:Tara Randel [Randel, Tara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-16T15:32:04+00:00

Chapter Ten

“SURPRISE,” ZOE SANG out after she’d unlocked the front door of a downtown building just a few days later. Leo, nestled on her hip, chattered in a language only he understood. She juggled their son and diaper bag with practiced ease while she flicked on light switches after leading her husband inside.

Mitch moved slowly. Curiously glanced around.

Today, he’d met her at the old photography studio on Main Street dressed in a navy polo shirt and a pair of jeans, most notably without the cane. Was he finally on the mend? It was all Zoe could do not to ask. With reason. He’d been much too quiet the last time he’d stopped by the house to visit Leo. She wasn’t sure if he was preoccupied or having trouble with his therapy. She ought to be thrilled by the lack of a cane, but the stronger he became, the less sure she was about their future. Either way, she couldn’t miss the back-off vibes radiating from him whenever he sensed she was going to question him.

“It’s a portrait studio.” Zoe stated the obvious after trying to control her nervousness.

“I can see that.” He tucked his sunglasses into the neck of his shirt and walked to an area set up with a backdrop screen and a stool placed on a large square of carpet. Lighting equipment lined a wall. A large reflective umbrella took up another corner. “Why are we here?”

“Mr. Haynes is retiring.”

The only in-town photographer, the older man was eighty if he was a day. While his mind was still sharp, his body had slowed. His retirement had given Zoe a perfect opportunity to help get Mitch back on his feet.

“That’s nice for him but doesn’t explain the field trip.”

Zoe bit her lower lip. Oh, boy. This was going to be tricky. She really should have planned this better, but when she’d come up with the idea while driving home from the fund-raiser, it had seemed solid.

“You worked here a couple of summers when we were growing up.”

“Sure. It was a great experience.” His voice carried over his shoulder as he checked out the equipment.

She took a breath. Hugged Leo closer. He let out a squeak and she loosened her hold. “I talked to him about the possibility of you taking over.”

“Taking over what?”

“His business.”

Mitch turned on his heel to face her, shock etched on his face. “You did what?”

“You seemed to be making progress by taking pictures at the beach, then at the fund-raiser. Why not take it a step further and run this place?”

“Because I’m not a portrait photographer.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand. You take pictures of people everywhere you go.”

The shock slowly turned to irritation. His tone, when he finally spoke, was exasperated. “Yes, to tell a story. That’s what a photojournalist does.”

“You don’t have to talk to me like I’m in the first grade.”

“And you know the difference between working in a studio and out in the field.”

Leo squirmed, picking up on the tension. Zoe lowered him to the floor, using the break in the conversation to come up with another tactic.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.