Now, twenty-two-year-old Sabrina was not a virgin. Kate knew that because Sabrina the motormouth told her everything. But Kate also knew that the girl’s few sexual encounters hadn’t prepared her for Greg.
Kate opened her mouth to tell Greg to back off, but Sabrina found her footing.
Planting her hands on her hips, she fluttered her lashes and pouted as she stared straight up at Greg. “I think I can manage. Why don’t you take a few steps back and let me show you?”
“Let’s see what you got then.” Greg retreated about five feet then held up the camera. “Do it.”
Sabrina stood still for several more seconds as Greg snapped pictures. But finally, she moved.
And damn but the girl could smolder.
It would’ve made Kate smile if she hadn’t had so much on her mind.
The photos would be great. She knew she was qualified for the job.
But would she be losing a more important part of her life if she left?
As Sabrina began to loosen up in front of the camera, Tyler felt every muscle in his body tighten.
New York City. Kate was moving to New York City.
He had no doubt she was fully qualified for the position. The producers would be fools not to hire her, especially after they saw her portfolio.
This could be a career maker for her.
But it meant she’d leave him. She’d be busy creating a new life for herself. Carving out a career, settling into a new city.
Hell, he’d be just as busy if he agreed to take the chairmanship of the hotel board.
“Tyler.” Kate had pitched her voice low enough so only he could hear. “Is everything okay?”
He turned to smile at her. “I’m fine. Is something wrong?”
Her eyes narrowed, focused intently on him. Dissecting his response. “No, nothing’s wrong. You’re . . . awfully quiet.”
Go ahead. Tell her you love her. She’ll stay.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
Her smile was bittersweet. “I know what you mean. So what’s at the top of your pile?”
Damn it. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he didn’t want to sway her decision on this job in any way. He didn’t have the right. And he didn’t want to mess with her head while she had to make such an important decision.
“Hotel stuff.”
She waited for him to say more, to open up. Share.
But he already felt his walls going up.
Damn it, he wanted her to sign the contract Jed had given her for the boutique. Wanted a binding legal document between them so she couldn’t leave.
Hell, maybe you should just put a collar on her and make her stay.
Shit. That’s the last thing he wanted to do to her.
After what she told him about her parents, she’d hate him for trying to manipulate her life. Which is exactly what he’d be doing.
No, she had to want to stay with him or the relationship would be meaningless.
“Hey, Kate. Come look at these. Greg must be a damn good photographer because I actually look good in these.”
Sabrina’s summons broke their connection and Kate turned toward her and Greg.
“I had no doubt you would look fantastic.” Kate gave the girl a bright smile. “I really appreciate you both taking the time to do this for me.”
Sabrina’s answering grin could light up an entire room. The girl had energy to spare. Then again, she was probably all of twenty years old.
“You know I’ll do anything for you, Kate.” Then she pulled out a frown that could rival any two-year-old. “I am so going to miss you when you leave.”
As Sabrina wrapped her arms around Kate’s shoulders and gave her a hug, Kate glanced at Tyler with an expression he couldn’t decipher.
What the hell should he do? The only time he’d been thrown for a loop like this had been when Mia died.
He’d reached the anger stage and pretty much stayed with that until he hit acceptance. He’d never really gotten to denial or bargaining. A year after they’d buried his former fiancée, he’d decided he was done mourning, and he’d managed to live without emotion since.
No grief. No longing. No love.
He’d stuffed them all away in a deep corner somewhere inside.
Then he’d met Kate, and those emotions had started to creep back into his life.
He didn’t want to lose her. But he didn’t want her to stay and later regret her decision.
Greg stepped in front of him, drawing him out of his thoughts. One look at his friend’s face and Tyler frowned. He looked visibly tense.
“What’s wrong?”
Greg shook his head and his expression became the one he usually reserved for dealing with the press.
“Not a thing.”
Which was complete bullshit. Tyler knew something was up. What the hell was he missing here?
“Are we still shooting, Kate?” Greg asked.
“I assume so. Greg—”
“Then I think we should get started. I need to head back to Philly. I’ve got some work I need to finish.”
Yeah, right. Greg had told him he had tonight and tomorrow open. What the hell had changed?
The girls were still talking. Well, Sabrina was talking. Kate was nodding and adding words here and there, but he could see the signs of her distraction in her half-hearted smile and the way she kept biting on her bottom lip.
When Tyler nodded and said “Sure,” Greg turned to the girls. “Hey, kid. Great job. Nice to meet you. Kate, why don’t you get changed so we can wrap this up.”
Sabrina’s mouth had dropped open the second Greg had called her a kid.
Her hands went to her hips again and she drew herself up to her full five-two height and stared straight at Greg. “I don’t think twenty-two is still considered a kid in this country. Then again, maybe it’s the generation gap.”
The side of Greg’s mouth twitched, and Tyler wasn’t sure if Greg was ready to laugh or grimace.
He did neither. “When you hit my age, anyone under thirty is still a kid.” Then Greg turned and nodded at Kate, completely dismissing Sabrina. “Why don’t you go get changed, hon. I’m not gonna have much time to process these before I have to print them out.”
Kate nodded and took a scowling Sabrina by the arm. “Give me a few minutes to change.”
With one last scowl at Greg, who was studiously changing the lens on his camera, Sabrina let Kate lead her back to the dressing room.
When the girls were gone, Tyler walked over to Greg. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”
Greg shook his head but didn’t look up. “Nothing’s going on. There’re a few things I need to take care of. The pictures shouldn’t need more than a quick touch-up.”
Tyler looked down and saw Greg flashing through the pictures of Sabrina.
“They look great.” And he meant it. Greg hadn’t lost touch of his artistic side since becoming a producer. He knew how to frame a shot for maximum impact.
Tyler had no idea why Greg no longer directed. Damn shame that he didn’t, because the guy had a gift. Especially in the close-up shots. Sabrina looked—
Ah.
Tyler looked up at Greg, who stared straight back, as if daring Tyler to say something.
Tyler knew now wasn’t the time. But later . . .
“Thanks for doing this for Kate. I know she appreciates it.”
Greg nodded, knowing Tyler had given him a break. “Have you told her how you feel about her yet?”
A break Greg apparently didn’t intend to offer Tyler.
“I don’t want to influence her decision.”
Greg’s gaze narrowed. “But you don’t want her to go, do you?”
He was saved from answering the question by the girls’ return. Sabrina had changed back into her jeans and T-shirt while Kate wore one of the more demure role-playing costumes she’d brought.