Strangely, I loved that he was so protective of me. Nobody had ever cared so much that they’d refused to allow me to try something.
“What if I knelt on the table and stretched the camera up over my head?”
He stood back, considering the distances and making mental calculations. “It might work. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Of course.” I’ve never had a problem with heights, and my balance was reasonably steady.
Owen positioned the table, with a chair beside it, helping me kneel carefully. Because it only had one leg that flared into the base, it was a bit shaky, but he held the table firmly.
Taking his camera, he hit record and then handed it to me, and I stretched up to get the spinning vinyl shot against the wall.
“That’s likely perfect,” he said.
Now that I was in position, I could see the angle he really wanted. Carefully stretching up, I managed to reach another inch or so, staying as still as possible.
The overhead lights flickered, making me jump slightly.
In a flash, I was in Owen’s arms as he pulled me off the table to set me on my feet, his camera swinging dangerously from the strap wrapped around my wrist.
“Careful – the camera,” I squealed.
But Owen just held me against his chest. “Screw the camera. I’m not having you crack your skull open.”
The lights flickered again, even harder.
“The storm must be getting worse,” he said, stroking my hair as he held me still for another few moments. “I think we have enough shots. Let me take you home.”
It was amazing how efficient Owen was as he packed up the equipment, and we put the room back in order. As we went out to the parking lot, the sky was nearly black as the rain came down in sheets.
“Wait here,” he said. Balancing the umbrella over the equipment, he stashed everything in the backseat. He returned to escort me to the passenger seat, somehow barely letting a drop of rain hit me.
I appreciated that he drove us quite slowly as he headed to my apartment, but as the streets became slick, I suddenly grabbed his arm. “Please don’t take the bridge,” I blurted, surprised at how hard I was trembling.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“There was an accident on the bridge last year. I can’t…”
Owen pulled into a parking lot, stopped the car, and wrapped an arm around me. “Talk to me, Brynn. What can I do?”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I just…I’ve never seen it rain this hard, and storms always upset me a little at the best of times. I’m sure it’s fine. Just ignore me.”
“No, sweetheart,” he murmured, taking my hand. “I’ll never ignore you. But the only other way to your house is driving south, all the way down to the highway. Do you want me to do that?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. The highway would be even worse with all the transports and large trucks.
“My house is about three minutes north of where we are right now. Do you want to come to my place for the night?”
I knew that I should try to be brave, and get over my slight phobia of that old bridge. But I would much rather be indoors as quickly as possible.
A bolt of lightning slashed across the sky, followed five seconds later by a rumble of thunder so deep it made the back of my neck prickle in fear.
“I’m going to decide for you,” Owen said softly, running his thumb along the edge of my cheek. “Let’s take you to my house and get you indoors as fast as possible. All right?”
I nodded as another bolt of lightning nearly burned out my retinas. He gave my hand a squeeze, then leaned back into his seat, smoothly pulling out of the parking lot and heading north.
Even through my fear, I felt my body become aroused by how he was taking care of me.
The rain came in waves, bouncing so hard off the car it was getting uncomfortably loud. We drove into a nice neighborhood filled with large houses, but all I could see were dark silhouettes and a few porch lights through the falling water.