Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Not because they aren’t amazing,” he added. “They are! She deserves a Pulitzer Prize for these images.”
“From your lips to the Pulitzer Prize committee,” a male voice said from behind them. “Glad you are enjoying the images. They are meant to provoke a lot of feelings, including anger.”
His words calmed the people around them and they all nodded, moving away to give them some space.
The man was older, impeccably dressed and had a younger, beautiful woman standing next to him.
Travis’s scowl deepened. The girl’s eyes widened.
The man sighed. “She’s not my girlfriend, she’s my niece. You don’t know me and you’re judging me?”
Shit. He was acting like a complete prick.
Prick? Now he was starting to sound like Caren.
“Sorry,” he said gruffly. “I’m on edge.”
“Yes, I can see that. Caren’s work can do that to people. I’m Oliver Wells, her agent. And you all are?” He eyed them like he didn’t quite believe they were in the right place.
Which was probably a fair assessment.
“I’m Rory Mathers.” Rory stepped forward and held out her hand. “I know Caren.”
“Oh, Rory, yes.”
His niece whispered something to him and he nodded, his tension easing. “Yes, you’re Lacey’s sister-in-law, right?”
“You know Lacey?” she asked.
“Caren’s spoken about her so much, I feel like I do,” he said smoothly. “And these are your companions?”
“Yeah, we actually grew up with Caren,” Jace said when Travis didn’t reply.
“Oh, really.” Something strange filled the other man’s face. “Then I’m glad you could make it. Caren will be pleased to have some friendly faces. She gets a bit . . . nervous during these sorts of things. Now, I must go check on her, she should have been here by now.”
Tension filled him. “Caren’s missing?”
“No, of course not. She’s just late. Come, Isabel.”
The niece sent them a tight smile and hurried after her uncle.
“I don’t like him,” Travis stated.
“You never like anyone,” Jace said dryly.
Not true. He liked Caren.
Shit.
Where was she? And what the hell was she thinking putting herself in danger to get magnificent photos like this?
It wasn’t happening anymore.
At least, not without him there to protect her.
“I’m losing my fucking mind. I can’t believe I thought that she was safely taking wedding photos and here she is . . . going into the most dangerous places on Earth and taking images like these.”
“To be fair, I think being a wedding photographer would come with its own dangers,” Rory said. “I’m so glad that Lacey wasn’t a bridezilla. Could you imagine if you messed up someone’s photos for their big day, though? What if you left the lens cap on? That would be a nightmare.”
There was a lot of noise from across the room and he turned.
Christ.
There she was.
She was toned down. Well, for her. She still stood out in a sea of muted tones, wearing a pink jumpsuit with a tie around the waist and long sleeves. Her hair was pulled back off her face and had been curled. She even wore makeup.
God.
She was incredible.
His heart actually sped up as he watched her talking to the people around her. They were all gathering close, each one of them trying to speak to her.
He frowned. She was starting to look panicked. Her cheeks were growing pale.
Her agent was next to her. But instead of protecting her from the horde, he appeared to be pushing her into them.
“Can’t he see that she’s uncomfortable?” he grumbled as he took a step toward her. If that asshole wasn’t going to take care of her . . . well, Travis would have to step in.
Of course, her agent probably wouldn’t like how he did that. Neither would Caren.
“Whoa, what is he doing? Where is he going?” Rory asked. “Is he just going over there?”
“Yeah, I think so. Caren looks really uncomfortable, like she needs some help.”
Travis pushed his way through the crowd, people hurrying to get out of his way when they caught a glimpse of him, the irritated response dying on their lips. He stood behind a man who was getting right into her space. To the point that in an effort to get some space, she was about to overbalance and fall.
“You’re in her personal space. Back up.”
“Excuse me?” The man turned with a sneer. “Who the hell are you? Wait your turn. I’m talking to Ms. Stanford.”
“Well, Ms. Stanford is actually my girlfriend. So you’re the one who is going to have to wait their turn.”
The guy started spluttering, but Travis simply ignored him as he reached around and took hold of Caren’s hand, pulling her toward him.
Her mouth opened then shut as he drew her into his side, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Do you want some help with this crowd? Do you want them out of your face?”
They were risky questions. She might say no that she was enjoying herself. But that would be a lie. She was extremely tense and he’d seen the pure discomfort on her face.