All of Me, Leeanna Morgan [cheapest way to read ebooks .txt] 📗

Logan held two bottles of wine in his hand and knocked on Tess’ door. He could hear laughter coming from inside her apartment. The sound made him glad he’d come.

He could have done what he wanted to do on the phone. He could have called Molly, asked if she’d be happy to combine her photos with the story he wanted to write. If she’d agreed, it would have taken ten minutes to call everyone else. But instead he’d decided to come here and talk to Tess and her friends in person. And maybe, if he was lucky, their story would fill his mind instead of the nightmares keeping him awake at night.

Tess opened the door. His eyes traveled slowly down her body, appreciating the figure-hugging bright blue silk dress she was wearing. “I didn’t realize it was a black tie event.”

He didn’t need to look at her feet to know she was wearing high heels. At six-foot-five, he wasn’t short. Tess’ eyes were almost level with his. She was grinning at him as if he was a slice of the chocolate cake she’d been going to bake.

“We’re playing dress-up.”

Heat built in parts of his body that hadn’t been switched on in years. Tess must have read his mind, or the parts of him that were turned on.

Her smile grew wider and her eyes sparkled. “You’ll have to play nurses and doctors with someone else.”

Before he could begin to appreciate where that visual could take him, Tess pulled him into the room. Molly had her camera out, snapping photos of Annie as she posed beside the large picture window in the living room.

“Tilt your head a little toward the ceiling,” Molly said.

Annie moved her head and waited patiently while Molly got the shot. She turned left, then right, until Molly was happy with what she had. Annie looked good in the pink silk dress she was wearing and he wondered why she didn’t get dressed up more often.

Tess laughed when Annie poked her tongue out at Molly. “When Molly suggested taking photos of each of the dresses for a catalog, we didn’t think she meant this. She’s set up a full blown photo shoot.”

He took another look at Annie and noticed the makeup she was wearing. Her hair had been styled in a way that didn’t look as though a bird had made a nest on her head. She looked like a model. She moved like a model. This wasn’t the over-excited woman that served him coffee and pie in jeans and a T-shirt.

After Molly had finished taking the shots she needed, Annie smiled at him and patted her hair. “Do you like my new hairstyle? Tess convinced me that shabby chic belongs in a house, not on my head. I went for the Audrey Hepburn look. What do you think?”

She turned around. The swept up hairstyle was a vast improvement on the tumble of hair she normally held together with chopsticks and hair ties. “It looks good. Sophisticated and elegant.”

Annie grinned. “Carl won’t recognize me when I turn up at the bowling alley looking like a glamour puss. I’ll change into the next dress.”

Molly glanced at Tess. “You need to do your hair and makeup.”

“I don’t need makeup. You’re not including my face in the photos.”

“You wear a pretty dress, you put makeup on. It’s an unwritten law of nature.”

Tess frowned. “It sounds like an Irish rule of nature. I’m American.”

“And I’m the photographer and I’m Irish.” Molly ignored the growl coming from Tess and turned to Logan. “Did you bring a suit?”

“Don’t trust her,” Tess said as she walked across the room. “She’s got evil intentions.”

“I do not. There’s not an evil bone in my body, but I do have a good imagination.” Molly looked at the bottles in Logan’s hands. “You brought wine? You’d make a fine addition to The Bridesmaids Club.”

Logan laughed at the mischievous grin on Molly’s face. “I’m not here to be part of your club. I’ve got something I want you to consider.”

“I don’t date and I won’t marry you. Anything else is a possibility.”

Logan smiled as he took the wine across to the kitchen counter and opened a bottle. “I’d like to write a follow-up story about what you’re doing for Connie and Dave. Would you supply the photos if I did the writing?”

“Sure. As long as you credit the photos to me, I’d be happy to help.” She glanced toward the doorway that Tess had disappeared through. “I don’t know about Annie or Sally, but Tess won’t want her face or name in the story.”

“She’s already mentioned that. Do you know why?”

“You’ll have to ask her.” Molly took the glass of wine he handed her. “Sometimes you have to be careful where you step, and this is one of those times.”

“But you’re taking her photograph?”

“She trusts me. I’ll crop and edit my pictures to tell a different story. You’ll need to do the same with your words.”

Annie and Tess walked into the living room. He was glad he wasn’t holding the wine because the bottles would have dropped to the ground. Tess looked incredible. She’d pulled her hair out of the ponytail she’d been wearing. A blond curtain of silky hair fell to her shoulders. She’d done something to her eyes, made them bigger and bluer with a few strokes of eyeliner and shadow. Her cheeks were highlighted in a soft sweep of peach powder and her lips were tilted into a smile.

“I’ll take Tess’ photo first.” Molly picked up her light meter and took a reading. “Stand by the window. That’s it.”

Logan watched Tess twist and turn, stand in profile, then look straight into the lens of the camera. She’d zoned out, left what was happening in the rest of the room alone. She concentrated on Molly’s directions, found what Molly wanted, then worked the mood like a seasoned pro. He was beginning to think there was more to her than what she wanted everyone to believe.

Molly lowered her camera. “Logan, come over here and stand beside Tess.”

He looked at Tess, then back at Molly. “You don’t need me in the photo.”

“Sure we do. If you want to have a story to take to your editor, you’ll need a photo, something to show you’re part of the magic.”

He wasn’t looking for magic. He wanted a story.

“Think of it as an added bonus.” Molly walked toward him and grabbed his hand.

Tess looked as happy about Molly’s decision as he did.

“Stop getting all huffy, you two. It’s a photo. Nothing more, nothing less.” Molly didn’t let go of his hand.

“I’m wearing a T-shirt and jeans.” Even to his own ears he sounded desperate. Molly wasn’t listening.

“Stand beside Tess.”

Logan did as he was told.

“Not like that.” Molly sighed as she turned his shoulders. “Sideways.” She grabbed his hands and placed them on Tess’ hips. He felt her stiffen, pull away from his touch.

Molly looked at Tess and frowned. “These won’t be in the catalog. Five shots. That’s all I’ll need. I’ll give you and Logan copies so you can choose which one he uses. I’d like one of them for the book I’m compiling.”

He was sure Tess was about to argue, but something held her back. She stepped forward and put his hands back on her hips. “I owe Molly a favor. If we’ve got to do this, we might as well get it done quickly.”

Molly didn’t waste any time. “Tess, place your right hand on Logan’s shirt, just below his left shoulder. Look into each other’s eyes. That’s it. Tilt your head down, Tess. Look up through your lashes.”

The directions continued for what seemed like ages, but in reality was probably only ten minutes. Logan was sure Molly had snapped more than five shots, but he wasn’t going to complain. Tess had moved around him, devoured him with her gaze, made him wonder if she was acting or feeling as turned on as he was.

“Last shot,” Molly said from behind her camera. “You’re doing great. I’ll just check the light.”

As soon as Molly turned her back on them Tess leaned forward. “Can you cross your eyes?” Her words whispered in