Chapter 17

17

I f Finley didn't get her act together, she was going to ruin the Anderson/Peters wedding.

She had actually left the house without her two cameras. One, her go-to, was a top-of-the-line Canon which provided pristine images and was ridiculously easy to use. It had cost her almost four thousand dollars— and had been worth every penny. Thank goodness, it had been a tax write-off. The other, a Nikon, which had great resolution and a rapid shooting speed, was her back-up.

What photographer would head to a wedding without their cameras?

Her head was in the clouds today. Because of Holden. It made her angry when she should be celebrating her feelings for him. Sex with Holden had been off the charts. She'd found a man who could be tender and yet full of passion and wild abandon. One who was definitely the most thoughtful lover she'd ever had. He was the dream package.

She wondered if she should have admitted to her mother that she was in love. Mom would definitely tell Dad. Finley had even said it was okay to do so. She only hoped the two of them would keep things to themselves. She didn't want that particular cat released from the bag until she had told Holden of her feelings toward him. Finley could only imagine her brother's teasing if he found out.

Back in the car, cameras in tow, she called her Mom and got voicemail. She waited for the beep and said, "If you only told Dad I'm dating Holden, that's great. If you told him I'm in love, please promise me you'll keep this between the two of you. Don't tell Ches and Sally. Don't tell anyone else. Please. Holden needs to hear it first from me. When I'm ready to tell him. Thanks. And delete this message!"

She reached the winery and turned down the road, passing the tasting room, which had a nice little crowd, based upon the cars in front of it. Looking ahead, she saw Holden's truck and pulled in beside it. He climbed out and literally took her breath away. While she all about the casual look, there was absolutely nothing as fine as a hot guy in a white dress shirt and dark suit.

He opened her door and held out his hand, helping her from the vehicle before he brushed his lips against her cheek.

"You look amazing," he told her.

"I was thinking the same about you."

"I was surprised no cars are here yet."

"They will be. I like to get to the venue before everyone arrives. I've got a shot list in my head, and some of those need to be snapped when no one else is around."

Finley claimed her two cameras, handing him the Nikon. "If you'll keep up with this one for me, I'd appreciate it. I only use it occasionally. I'm wedded to this baby," she said, holding up the Canon.

"What's so special about it?" he asked.

"Crystal-clear images. The best AF around."

"AF?"

"Auto focus. And not only is it incredibly easy to move between photography and videography, the video is just as flawless as the photos themselves. Even better, I can pull stills from the videos I shoot."

Holden accompanied her to the event center.

"I already have stills of the outside that I use for every bride. I shoot a few each season in order to get the landscaping at different times of the year. Inside, though, is always different. Harper is a genius in helping brides select the layout they want and how to maximize their dollars when it comes to the flowers and candles used to decorate the venue."

They entered the building, and Finley took several shots of the area where the wedding would occur. The florist Harper used usually delivered the flowers and finished decorating just before Finley arrived. She also left the various bouquets and boutonnieres in the dressing rooms for the bridal party.

"You mentioned a shot list. Is that the photos you want to take each time?" Holden asked.

"Yes," she said, snapping pictures of the decorated tables. "I break it down into different parts of the day. Getting ready photos for both bride and groom and their attendants. First look photos, which are all about capturing the emotion of various firsts. The groom waiting for his bride. The first married kiss. Then there are ceremony shots. Group pictures after the ceremony when the guests are consuming appetizers and drinks. The hardest to capture are reception photos. I do the traditional ones. Speeches. Cake cutting. Father-daughter dance. But I circulate constantly during the reception, looking for those little gems."

"This is fascinating. Maybe I need to write a wedding photographer."

She laughed. "Knowing you, he or she would be murdered during the reception. Or be a murderer and kill someone at the wedding. Or be a CIA agent pretending to be a wedding photographer and causing all kind of havoc."

"Hey, you're giving me all kinds of plot ideas," he teased. "Okay. I'll be quiet. Stay out of your way but stay close in case you need this camera." He indicated the Nikon he held. "Is there a videographer?"

"Not a professional one. Harper hired a teacher at the high school who teaches photography to be the center's videographer. Obviously, I can't do both. I do shoot some videos as I go along, but this guy simply films the ceremony in its entirety, from the groom waiting for his bride until they come down the aisle together as Mr. and Mrs."

The bride arrived, giggling and teary-eyed at the same time. Magically, Harper appeared, along with her assistants who had already set up the center for the wedding. Her friend had weddings down to a science, being able to comfort the weeping, laugh with the jolly, and make certain everything ran like clockwork. Harper's efficiency made Finley's job a smooth one.

She moved about surreptitiously, snapping shots of the invitation, program, and welcome bags. Moving about, she caught small moments between the bride and her mother and grandmother, as well as the bridesmaids. She took a photo of the wedding dress suspended from a hangar. A close-up of the bride's shoes and the bottle of perfume she used. She would the same with the groom's cufflinks and his pocket square, as well as the bouquets and boutonnieres.

Finley got the bride in a chair, having her hair and makeup done, along with her attendants. They were drinking champagne as they did so, everyone having a wonderful time. She smiled as she took a sweet snap of the flower girls and their baskets as they sat on each side of their grandmother, holding her hands and talking animatedly.

When she had all she needed, she slipped from the room. Holden waited outside.

"You can come in and watch as I photograph the guys," she told him.

Repeating some of the photos from before, she got the groom's tuxedo hanging and his shoes. Took shots of the groom and best man, who held the box with the wedding ring in it. She would also make certain to get close-ups of the bride and groom's hands with their new rings displayed.

The guys were drinking beers and watching a basketball game as Finley moved about them, taking candids, other times asking them to group together for a more formal, posed picture.

She signaled Holden, and they left the dressing room.

"That was a terrific one of the mom pinning her son's boutonniere on," he remarked.

"Those are the money shots for parents. Those small, hidden moments. I like to capture them so they can pull out the photos and relive them for years to come. Okay. Off to the ceremony. This is really where the magic begins. It's the culmination of the couple's love story, so I try to take a ton of pictures during it."

She caught different guests arriving and being seated before the ceremony began and then followed up with photos of the couple's parents being seated. The rest went like clockwork. Flower girls and wedding attendants moving down the aisle. The groom's reaction to seeing his bride. Her being handed over to him by her father.

The ceremony itself was a short one. The exchanging of vows and rings passed quickly. Finley was poised for the kiss and recessional and even snapped a few shots of audience member's reactions to various moments.

Once the cocktail hour started, she was all business, knowing guests didn't like to be kept waiting long. The teacher in her really came out at these times, and she found she was good at managing the group shots, from bride with her parents and the groom with his to adding in both sets of parents with the couple and then immediate family. In-between she took candids of the couple as they held hands, gazing at each in wonder. She made certain she got some great photos of the couple with their children from previous marriages. She wanted them to have some great portraits to display, showing the night they had all come together for a first time as a family.

After the obligatory wedding party photos were finished, she had the couple stand alone at the glass, looking out over the grapevines before she took the pair outside for some wonderful shots.

All the while, she was aware of Holden watching. Assessing. Admiring.

Dismissing the couple, she then asked everyone to wait two minutes before they entered the reception. Harper organized everyone so parents would come in first, followed by attendants, and then finally the couple themselves. In that brief time, Finley raced to set up at the reception so she wouldn't miss a single thing.

She took candids of all the tables and their guests, as well as close-ups of the food during dinner. Harper always left Finley a small plate of appetizers with the DJ or near the band, easy things she could pop in her mouth. She did so now, fueling herself the rest of the night, giving Dax a wave. His band, the Lone Star Rebels, often played receptions at the winery. When they didn't, Dax frequently served as the night's DJ.

The rest went in a blur. Toasts. Cutting the cakes. Various dances. She got shots of the couple dancing on the floor, alone and with others, even dancing in a large group, their faces flushed with excitement.

Finally, it was time to bid the newlyweds goodbye, and these would be some of her best photos. It was a blessing to capture the joy of the happy couple and everyone who attended their wedding.

Once the newlyweds had driven off in their limousine, other guests began departing. As usual, she felt exhausted, going inside and collapsing in a nearby chair. The cleanup crew was already in motion. Emerson was boxing up what was left of each cake, giving them to the bride's parents and her maid of honor, who was her sister.

Holden came and sat beside her. "I'm tired— and all I did was watch you work. You must be ready to drop. You were in motion all night long."

Harper came and took a seat. "How do you think it went from your end?"

"Terrific," she said honestly. "They'll be pleased at what I got."

"The bride was already raving about everything. The food. The wines. The music." Harper sighed. "Another one in the books."

"You love it," Finley said. "You're so good at this."

Holden spoke up. "I was really impressed, Harper. Everything ran flawlessly. If anything went wrong, no one would have guessed."

"Tonight was on point," Harper said. "I need to check on a few things. You two go enjoy what's left of the night."

After Harper retreated, Holden asked, "Do you even have the energy to come home with me? I mean, if you want to go home and fall into bed, I'd definitely understand."

"No," she told him. "I'm looking forward to going home with you." She gave him a sexy smile. "Sleep is the last thing on my mind."

He leaped to his feet. "Energy levels amazingly restored, Miss Farrow. May I walk you to your car?"

Laughing, she took the hand he offered and went to the parking lot with him. He opened her car door, and she slid behind the wheel, placing her camera on the passenger seat and then accepting the second camera from him.

"I'll see you at home," he said, leaning down for a kiss.

He started to pull away, and Finley stopped him, pulling him back and extending the kiss. Finally she released him.

"I think we've got a long night ahead of us," he told her. "And I'm saying that in a good way." Holden smiled. "A very good way."

She watched him start up his truck and followed him from the winery back through town, her heart racing out of control by the time they pulled into The Inn on Lost Creek.

"Breathe, Finley," she told herself, parking beside Holden.

As she got out of the car, he met her, his arms going around her, their mouths fusing together in heat and desire. She wrapped hers around him, holding tight, wanting moments like this now and in the future.

Holden broke the kiss. "I love you," he blurted out.

FInley blinked. "What?"

"I love you," he repeated, his eyes searching her face. "I know it's way too soon and I'm an ass for even saying it because you might?—"

She cut him off, yanking him back to her, pouring heart and soul into the kiss.

Holden loved her…

Joy filled her. Pure, utter joy. She broke the kiss, beaming up at him.

"I love you. I was so afraid to tell you. I?—"

This time, his mouth came crashing down on hers. Every nerve in her body was now firing, her breasts tingling, her core tightening. She clung to him, drinking him in.

Finally, he pulled away. Just barely.

"You love me," he said softly. "I love you."

"Yes," she agreed, her breathing shallow, her head spinning.

His green eyes twinkled at her. "Then I say we go in and celebrate our love."

Sweeping her into his arms, he headed toward the door. Finley was laughing while crying at the same time, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. She loved Holden Scott—and he loved her back.

Nothing would ever be the same again.