Just The Way You Are(32)

"I was going to ask you the same question. Why are you taking Tessa's picture? Are you planning to sell it to some cheap supermarket paper?"

"I'd rather die than have one of my photographs in a rag sheet." He held out his right hand. "I'm Jimmy Duggan."

She ignored his hand. "You still haven't answered my question."

His eyes narrowed on her face. "You look familiar. In fact…" He rubbed his chin. "You look like Tessa."

"I'm her sister, and I look nothing like her."

"I didn't know she had a sister," he mused, his gaze swinging from her to Tessa, who had stepped out of Sam's arms but was still in deep conversation with him. "Who's the guy?"

"More importantly, who are you?"

"I told you."

"Your name, not why you're following my sister."

"I'm a photographer. I work with Tessa."

"I don't think Tessa is here to work."

"You're really her sister? Although I'm not surprised. There is something in your bone structure, your expression. It's astonishing, really. Have you modeled?"

"Oh, please, don't try to butter me up. I know what I look like. I have a mirror, and when I used to ask who is the fairest of them all, there was only one answer, and it was Tessa."

"Well, she is beautiful," Jimmy agreed matter-of-factly. "So who's the guy?"

"Sam Tucker."

"And he is…"

"He's my husband."





* * *





Chapter 9



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Jimmy looked taken aback. "Your husband?"

"Yes."

"And he's close to Tessa?"

"He used to be."

"Looks like he still is," Jimmy said dryly. "Hey, Tessa, babe, sweetheart." He waved as Tessa turned and saw them standing there.

"Jimmy? Jimmy, is that you?" Tessa cried, coming up the road to meet them. "Oh, my God, what are you doing here?"

"Trying to keep an appointment with you."

"How did you find me?"

"Your assistant gave me the address. And when you didn't call me back, I figured I'd have a better chance of talking to you if I came here."#p#分页标题#e#

"I've been so busy."

"With your—grandmother?" Jimmy asked, casting Sam a suspicious look as he moved up behind Tessa.

Tessa cleared her throat. "Among other people. I see you met my sister. And this is Sam Tucker, an old friend."

"And your brother-in-law," Jimmy said.

"Right," Tessa said, clearing her throat. "How long have you been standing here?"

"Long enough, I'd say," Jimmy replied. "For a woman who claimed to have no family, you seem to be acquiring relatives by the minute."

"Yes, well, it's a long story."

"I bet it's a good one. I think I'll stick around to hear it."

"Really? You can stay for a few hours?"

"I can stay for a few days. We still have that assignment to complete—a day in the life of a supermodel."

"We can't do that here. This isn't my life."

"Oh, I don't know. You're breathing, you're alive, and this is a day in your life."

"Not one I'd like to have recorded. Why don't we get some lunch and talk about it?" Tessa suggested. "There's a great little clam chowder place at the end of the pier."

"Sounds good."

Tessa looked at Sam. "I'll see you later?"

"Sure," Sam replied, digging his hands into his pockets.

"Good."

Alli watched as Tessa slipped her hand through Jimmy's arm and they walked down the road together, two strikingly attractive people. It was like watching the Red Sea part, she thought. The crowd seemed to naturally move aside for them, some taking a second look after they'd passed. When she glanced back at Sam, she caught him studying her with curiosity.

"What?" she asked.

"Were you following Tessa?"

"No. I was standing in front of the store, and I saw that guy taking Tessa's photograph. I didn't know who he was, so I thought I'd warn her, but you got to her first," Alli explained, remembering their passionate embrace. "That was quite a hug."

"Well, believe it or not, the reason I was walking up this way was to see you."

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes. I wanted an update on Phoebe's condition."

"She's better. They're going to do a CT scan this afternoon. When I was there this morning Grams mouthed a few short words—my name, William's, stuff like that. You couldn't really call it talking. She seems able to move her right arm and leg just fine, but the left side is more sluggish. It's hard to see her like that."