Chapter 7

7

F inley accompanied Holden to his truck, her legs wobbly. She was astonished that Wolf Ramirez found her work so good that he'd offered her a job with his production company.

"Careful," Holden said as she stumbled on a bump in the sidewalk, catching hold of her elbow and keeping his fingers firmly around it as he walked her the rest of the way to his truck.

He opened the door, and she got in. He didn't close it, though.

"Breathe," he said, taking her hands in his and breathing in slowly.

She imitated him, releasing a long breath as he did. Taking another deep one and once again letting it out. After three breaths, she nodded.

"I'm okay," she assured him. "Well, maybe a little thunderstruck by how quickly things are moving."

"We can talk about it on the way to the ranch." He squeezed her fingers and then closed the door, returning to the driver's seat.

"You don't have to drive me there. I don't want to take up anymore of your time. You've got a screenplay to write."

"Didn't I tell you I can write anytime? I put in some good pages yesterday. It's Sunday. I need to take some time off." He grinned. "Or I'll become like Jack Nicholson in The Shining and keep typing ‘All work and no play makes Holden a dull boy.' "

Finley laughed, the humor being exactly what she needed to relax her.

"Okay, you can chauffeur me to the Ramirez ranch. Is it far?"

"Not really," he told her, pulling out of the library's parking lot. "It's about ten minutes north of Boerne. I made it from the ranch to Lost Creek in about fifteen minutes yesterday. I wanted to find a place close so that I could meet with Wolf on short notice without too long a drive. Ana suggested a couple of towns, and Lost Creek felt like the right fit."

She shook her head in wonder. "And if you hadn't come here and seen my black and white series at the library, then none of this would be happening now."

"It's fate," he told her.

As he turned onto the highway, leaving Lost Creek and heading south toward Boerne, he said, "You also have to thank my love of coffee. I stopped at Java Junction and talked to Dax as I was driving around. He's the one who mentioned renting a cottage from Jean Bradley. He also suggested I stop by the library, saying it might be a good place for me to write. If I hadn't stopped in the library, I never would have seen your work."

"And neither would Wolf," she said, seeing how everything had been so connected. She hesitated a moment. "You know how you said you're scared about writing this script? I'm the same about quitting my teaching position. I'm good at my job. I have a real connection with my students."

He glanced briefly at her before turning his eyes back to the road. "Remember, you can always go back to teaching. You need to give photography a chance. Wolf will pay you a fair amount. You'll continue doing your portrait sittings and covering events at the winery. Not clocking in at school every day, though, will give you time to explore your craft more. Experiment. See what works and what doesn't. This could be a real eye-opening year for you, Finley.

"And I'd like to be a part of it."

His words jolted her further. Yes, she was incredibly attracted to Holden Scott. He was smart and funny. Easy on the eye. But she didn't know how long he'd be around.

"What, no response?" he asked, glancing at her again.

She bit her lip. "I'm bad at relationships."

"Why do you say that?"

It wasn't the question he asked. It was his tone. The way he said it, which caused Finley to tear up. She turned, facing away and looking out at the passing scenery, brushing her fingers beneath her eyes.

Holden Scott was famous. He might be renting a place in Lost Creek now, but he wouldn't stay in town forever.

And she had never wanted to live anywhere but Lost Creek.

"Finley?" he asked, reaching for her hand and threading their fingers together. "Talk to me."

"I thought I would marry my college boyfriend. We'd dated for three years, since we were sophomores. After graduation, he headed to Wharton to work on his MBA. I got so tired of hearing about Wharton this, Wharton that, and their elevate, innovate, collaborate. I tried to be a good long-distance girlfriend. I texted him every day. Sent him boxes of homemade cookies and long letters. Even went up to Penn twice so I could accompany him to a few important events."

She swallowed. "On his end, communication became sporadic. Then almost non-existent. Finally, he told me I just wasn't ambitious enough. I was too small-town for him. He needed someone more dynamic. A woman with more flair who knew how to dress and how to act in social situations. He told me he needed a partner who could run in the big leagues with him, not someone who wanted to talk about a fifth-grade talent show or field day."

"You think that makes you bad at relationships?" He smiled wryly at her. "Well, I suppose it does if all you dated was an asshole like him."

Finley snorted. "He really was, wasn't he?"

"He really was," Holden agreed cheerfully.

"I've dated a little since I've lived in Lost Creek. A fireman. A plumber. A coach at the high school. The fireman was sweet but without much upstairs. The plumber was divorced and still hung up on his ex-wife. In fact, they actually got back together last year. As for the football coach? He was a real player— and I'm not into games." She sighed. "I just don't know how to date."

"And you think I do?"

"Well, yes," she told him. "I'm mean, look at you. You've got cheekbones that would slice glass. Rugged good looks. The intellectual thing going on, with those GQ glasses."

He burst out laughing.

"What? What did I say? I'm complimenting you, Holden. You're a fit, hot guy."

"Who's crap at relationships myself." He sighed. "I've only had one long-term girlfriend, Finley. I met her at the writers' workshop in Iowa. We moved to New York and lived together. For five years. And you know what? After five years, I still didn't really know who she was. What she liked. What she thought. We had good sex for the first part of those years and then hardly any. And less than zero communication. I don't think either of us loved one another. We merely stayed together out of… habit, I suppose."

He put on his turn signal and made a right, going through the open gates of sign proclaiming Meadow Creek Ranch.

"Besides Madison, I only dated sporadically. I grew up poor so I couldn't afford to take girls out in high school. Every dime I made went toward college, and I kept to myself there. I taught high school English for two years and never asked a single woman out that entire time. So I have one, long-term, failed relationship behind me. I'm not looking backward, though. I'm living in the present— and have eyes on the future."

Holden slowed the truck and then put it in park. "I sense something between us, Finley. I can't promise what'll come of it, but I'd like to pursue this connection. So, I'll ask again."

His gaze pinned hers "I'd like to be a part of your life, Finley. No promises. No guarantees. Just a take it day-by-day and see where things lead. Are you game?"

Her thoughts swirled. It sounded as if he'd recently ended things with this Madison. That alone made him suspect. Finley had no intention of being Holden Scott's rebound fling.

Then she thought about the regret that would fill her if she told him she wasn't interested in seeing him. He had encouraged her to chase a dream that she had thought was too far-fetched. No, Finley had decided to do that very thing. Shouldn't she give Holden a chance, too?

"All right. We can try. I'll admit that I'm a little leery because you're coming off a live-together relationship."

"Don't be. In the last twenty-four hours, I've found more to talk about with you and found you more interesting than the entire time I spent with Madison."

"Is she a writer, too? You said you met her at your writing workshop?"

"She's trying to be. I've always let her read my work, but she stopped letting me see hers a couple of years ago. I paid all the bills. She didn't even bother to get a part-time job. Madison comes from money, and I don't think she ever really thought about contributing financially to anything. I do know her dad gave her money. How much, I never asked. But I don't want you to worry about her, Finley. Madison is my past. I hope I've learned something about how not to be. I hope I'm a better person— and better potential boyfriend —because of what I learned being with her."

His words put her fears to rest. "We can start seeing each other. But I want to take things slowly."

He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. "I tried my best to do that last night when I was kissing you."

"I appreciate that," she told him, wishing she could kiss him now.

He glanced in the rearview mirror. "Looks like Wolf is behind us."

Holden let his friend's truck pass them and then fell in line behind it, following it all the way to a large, two-story farmhouse.

They got out and Ana asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Finley thought she'd lost her earring," Holden said easily. "We stopped to look for it. She found it."

They followed the Ramirez family inside, Finley toting her camera, and she whispered, "Why did you tell Ana that?"

"Was I supposed to tell her we were having a discussion about relationships and how we'd decided to start one? Or how I pulled over, wanting to make out with you like two high schoolers after a school dance?"

She felt her face flame. "Just stick to the facts in the future."

Ana had gone into the kitchen, preparing a snack for her children. As they ate, she asked Finley, "What clothes should they wear?"

"I like the colorful top and dark pants that Eva is wearing. They'll photograph nicely. Bear's shirt is a little pale, though. Does he have anything in navy? Or a deep red? Either would look good on him."

"Both. I'll have him change once they're done with their bananas and goldfish."

"How about I get some candids of you and Wolf with them?"

Ana touched her hair. "Maybe I should go do something to my makeup and hair."

"No. You look perfect. Natural. If you like what I take today, we can talk about something more formal."

"You don't mind denim and boots?" Ana asked, glancing down at her emerald tunic sweater and faded jeans.

"It's you. That's what photographs should be all about, capturing who a person is. Not someone they're pretending to be when they dress up."

"Okay. But Wolf should shave."

"No," she said, laughing. "I like his stubble. It actually brings out the color of his eyes better."

Ana relented. "Well, he does look pretty sexy with it."

Once the kids finished eating, their mother had them brush their teeth. She pulled a crew neck sweater over Bear's head and combed his hair, but he still had an adorable cowlick sticking up.

When Ana tried to smooth it down, Finley shook her head. "No. It's him. It's how you'll want to remember him at this age. He'll be a teenager before you know it, using product to hold it down. Let him be a little boy today."

She took some pictures of Bear playing in his rooms, first with Legos and then dump trucks. Holden joined in the fun, going to a tea party with Eva. She made certain he was in a few of the shots, but for the most part, Finley took close-ups of Eva. She also had Eva play with her stuffed animals and dolls, and then she had the two children sit on the floor together, with Eva reading to Bear. Flipping through what she had taken, Finley already knew she had gotten some great shots and hoped the parents would be pleased.

The children took her outside and introduced her to their horses. She took photographs of them petting their horses. Hugging them. Grooming them. Then Wolf set them atop each pony, and she was able to get some incredible action shots.

Once they finished with the horses, Bear wanted pictures of him feeding the pigs. Finley got those and others of Eva scattering feed for the chickens. She made certain that Ana and Wolf had been in several of these pictures with the animals.

"Okay. We need to get some shots of you walking. Hold hands, everyone. Turn your backs and walk away from me. Good. Keep going. Now, look over your shoulder. Nice. Okay, turn around and start toward me."

They walked a moment, and then Bear took off running, laughing. Wolf chased him, picking up his son, tossing him in the air. Finley knew those would make for wonderful candids.

Ana smoothed Eva's hair, and again she snapped away, having them walk. Sit. Stand. She motioned them to the corral and had the four sit on the fence side-by-side before having the parents stand as their children continued sitting. Bear wanted to ride Wolf's shoulders, and she took those shots, with Eva trading and also being carried around.

Finally, Finley took a few of Wolf and Ana alone, walking with their arms about one another as they headed toward the house.

Holden joined her as they followed the couple. "It looked like you got some nice shots. Playful. Serious. A good mix."

She nodded. "I think they'll be pleased."

Inside the kitchen, she said, "I'll work on these tonight and send a few preview shots to you."

They traded cell numbers, and she asked for them to text her the email address to send the photos to.

"This was fun," Bear told Finley, hugging her leg. "I like having my picture made."

Wolf ruffled his son's hair. "Says the boy who made terrible faces in his preschool pictures this year."

"Bear crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue," Eva tattled. "He looked terrible."

"Well, I'll bet I got a few that your mom and dad won't mind putting up," Finley told the girl. She looked to Holden. "I need to get back if I'm going to work on this tonight and get some papers graded."

Ana embraced her. "Thank you so much, Finley. I enjoyed seeing your work at the library." She smiled. "And I hope I have made a friend."

The couple walked them out to Holden's truck, where he said, "I appreciate the loan of the truck, Wolf. I'm planning to buy something of my own soon." He paused, looking in her direction. "I think I'll be staying in the Hill Country."