The Keeping(73)

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me.” He shifted uncomfortably, feeling like an ass. It was such a dumb answer but he really hadn’t been able to think of anything else.

“Yes, I did, but...what does that mean?”

“That my life before I started taking pictures was of no importance; just a vast wasteland of ill-spent years trying to find my real passion, my real reason for existence.”

“Are you pulling my leg?” Mel set her pad and pencil down in her lap and gave him a weird look that seemed to be half laughing disbelief and half fear that he really wasn’t joking.

“No. I am not. Next question.” He stared at her, allowing his wolf to show in his eyes, demanding she accept his word as law. There was a flicker of something in her eyes, an acknowledgement, or recognition of his position and then she dropped her gaze, even going so far as to slightly tilt her head as if offering her throat. Curious behaviour, Ryne thought. Most humans just looked away or cowered. Hmm. Brushing the little idiosyncrasy aside, he relaxed the force of his will.

Melody gave a sigh—it sounded like she was relieved to be released—and then cleared her throat. “All right. So no background information. Um...do you have any formal training in photography?”

“No. One day I was out running in the woods and when I stopped to rest, I just really started to look closely at my surroundings. The intricacies of nature’s designs, the variety of hues; they all captured my imagination. The next day I brought a camera with me and starting taking pictures.”

“Really?” Melody sat up straight, excitement washing over her face. “The same thing happened to me yesterday afternoon. I was out walking around the cabin, and trying to see the forest the way you might and it just hit me. I really wished I had a camera so I could try some different shots.”

The enthusiasm in her voice caught Ryne’s attention. He noted how her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks glowed. Before he realized it, he heard himself not only offering to lend her one of his digital cameras, but to take her on a hike and show her some photography techniques.

“Oh, that would be just awesome. When?”

“How about today?”

“Sure, though...” She paused and looked down at her feet.

Ryne stifled his laughter. Her boots were the same four inch heels that she’d worn sneaking onto his property that first day. “Definitely not the proper footwear. Tell you what. I’ll go home and get a couple of cameras and meet you at your cabin in an hour. That way you can change into some hiking clothes.” He flicked the tie on her top and watched how the bow relaxed slightly revealing just an inch more skin. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he recalled running his lips over the smooth slope of her shoulders.

“How do you do that?”

Melody’s question had him giving a start. He’d been so intent on her skin that— “Sorry. How do I do what?”

“That rumbly thing with your throat. I’ve never heard a man do that before.”

Ryne felt himself flushing slightly and tried to casually pass it off. “Oh, it’s just one of those weird habits people have. Some guys give a wolf whistle when they see a pretty girl. I...er...growl.”

“Oh.” She paused and seemed to be thinking over his answer, then brightened. “Then you think I’m pretty?”

He smiled, noting how nicely she blushed. It wasn’t an all over red, just a stain of pink along her cheek bones. “Yeah. I do.” Leaning forward he gave her a gentle kiss then stood abruptly. “I’ll just go get those cameras.”

“Sure. I’ll see you in a while.”

As he strode away, he glanced back. Melody was still sitting there with her fingers pressed to her lips. Damn! He’d done it again. What was wrong with him?

*****

Back at the cabin, Mel had pulled on a heavy sweater over her red cotton top, ditched the fashionable boots, and put on sneakers, complete with a pair of extra thick socks. She hesitated over a winter coat, but decided if she was walking, the denim coat would keep her sufficiently warm.

Sitting on the steps, she waited for Ryne to arrive, excited to try some nature photography and to see him again. She hadn’t been sure how their meeting would go, but she had forced herself to not think about their sexual encounter and to just treat him as a casual acquaintance. Despite what Lucy had said, Mel wasn’t so sure that Ryne saw her as anything more than a warm body to have sex with. A secret part of her hoped there was more, but logically she knew she shouldn’t hold her breath. Her main focus—as Aldrich had pointed out to her during her daily report—had to remain on getting this article done. Mr. Greyson was hoping for more than ‘I’m still waiting.’