THIRTY
DARA
Knock! Knock!
I don’t hear the voices on the other side of Wade’s office door until it’s too late. As I step inside the room, the two men look at me.
Wade is sitting at his desk looking more relaxed than usual. A man I think is Coy, but wouldn’t swear to it, sits in the chair opposite him.
“Good morning,” I say, carrying a cup of coffee and my camera with me.
“Well, hey, there. I’m Coy. I know there were a lot of people to keep straight this weekend.” He smiles warmly at me. “Here. Take a seat. I’m just getting ready to leave.”
“Oh, stay. It’s fine. I can even come back.”
Wade feathers a finger over his bottom lip. His gaze is soft but curious.
I think he needs a hug.
“Sit,” Wade says, nodding to the chair.
Outwardly, I give them a show that I’m only capitulating to his demands because I choose to. Inwardly? I wish he was asking me to sit elsewhere.
I take the empty seat next to Coy.
“That is a fancy camera bag,” Coy says.
“I’m a photographer. I took some pictures last week and wanted to show them to Wade.”
Coy smirks. “Sounds kinky.”
Wade narrows his eyes. “I know you just told me that you have somewhere to be.”
“Yeah. Bellamy sent me out to get some formula.” Coy makes a face of helplessness. “The baby lost a little too much weight, and the doctor wants to supplement her breast milk to try to counter that.”
“Does she have a lactation consultant?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I think. I will ask her, though. Why? Do you have kids? Do you know anything about this because I’m all ears.”
I laugh. “No. I just hear a lot of things with new moms, and I know lactation consultants are very much a thing.”
“I’ll relay that information.” He grins cheekily. “And if she already knows it, I look like a genius, caring father, and husband. So thanks.”
I laugh as he gets to his feet.
“See ya at Mom’s this weekend, right?” Coy asks Wade.
Wade nods. Then, slowly, he glances at me before switching his attention back to his brother.
“Hey, Coy,” Wade says, shifting in his seat. “Dara takes baby pictures.”
Coy looks at me. “Seriously?”
There’s not enough oxygen in the room with both Mason brothers looking at me at the same time.
Forget firefighter calendars. I wonder if their family would be willing to pose?
“I do,” I say carefully. “Families. Babies. Weddings. Apparently, retirement parties.” I shrug. “I don’t do dogs, though. I have limits.”
Coy laughs. “Well …”
He glances at Wade and seems to see what he needs to see. What that is? I have no clue.
“How would you feel about taking some shots of Kel? Bells has been stressing because the pictures she had taken in the hospital didn’t turn out very good, and she thinks the baby will grow up and hate her because there are only ten million phone pictures of him in the first month of life.”
I laugh.
“You can send me home with lactation consultants and a baby photographer session already booked.” Coy wiggles his eyebrows. “You’ll definitely help me get laid … like six fucking weeks from now.”
I look at Wade. He grins at me, and I take that as approval.
“I’d be honored,” I say.
“You’re the best. I’ll have her get with you and make sure we can all hook up at the same time. I’ll get your number from Wade.”
Coy pats me on the top of my head like you would a younger sibling. It makes me smile. Wide.
“I owe you,” Coy says.
“You’re paying her,” Wade warns.
Coy turns at the door. “Yes. I know. I’m not an idiot.”
“That’s debatable,” Wade mumbles.
Coy looks at me. “Good luck with him. He’s extra grouchy today.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I say.
With a cheeky grin, Coy leaves and shuts the door behind him.
The energy in the room shifts as I twist in my seat to face Wade. He’s watching me in much the same position he’s been in since I arrived.
“Hi,” I say.
He drops his hand from his face. “Hi.”
We feel each other out, our lips forming slow smiles that are anything but professional.
“I didn’t think you were ever going to text me,” I say.
“I texted you Sunday night.”
“Yes. And today is Wednesday.”
“Were you not working?” he asks.
I sigh. “Yes.”
I wait for him to continue, to make his point. It doesn’t come.
“You know that it’s possible to work and text at the same time, right?” I ask. “Or is that why you texted me at five thirty today?”
He fights a grin. “You said you have something to discuss with me?”
“More like … show you.” Opening my bag, I pull out a folder and hand it to him. “Look at these.”
He takes the folder, sets it on his desktop, and opens it.
I hold my breath as he picks up the first picture of himself looking down the street in front of Judy’s. It’s my favorite. It’s not my favorite just because his jawline is showcased and his lips are parted in the way that I now know they are just before he orgasms. I love the softness around his eyes and the curiosity in his gaze. The way he looks as if he’s about to say something that will make me laugh.