Burning for You by Michele Dunaway Read Free Book Online Page B

fabulous.
    “It’s in my blood,” he said, putting chips on his plate. “My dad was one. My brother-in-law is one. My grandfather.”
    “You have a large family?”
    She’d given him the opportunity he needed. “Yes. There are six of us kids. I’m the oldest. My sister Susie is a burn survivor. She’s the one married to a firefighter. Not many people can see past her scars, but he could.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    He waved her comment aside, as if brushing away a mosquito that dared get through the perimeter. “It was a long time ago. She’s why I’m so passionate about the book I’m doing for burn survivors.”
    He wiped the sweat off the glass. His leg had come into contact with hers; the denim rubbing against her bare calf. “See, I made my sister a promise, long ago. She’s part of the Burns Recovered Support Group. The book will be portraits of burn survivors and their stories. A celebration of triumph. After what I saw tonight, I know you’re the photographer I want.”
    “Oh.” Taylor washed down the cheese-covered chips with more wine.
    He drummed his fingers on the metal table. “It’ll be a great opportunity, but we can’t pay you anything. But the exposure will be great.” He gave a harsh laugh. “You probably hear that a lot.”
    “A time or two.” Taylor realized her wine was almost empty, so she drank the last sip. “I make tons of cold calls trying to drum up business and trying to get invitations to bid. It’s how I landed the calendar project. A lot of blind luck and the fact I work cheap. They couldn’t afford anyone else. I was the lowest bidder. But it paid off. So I get it. You had to ask.”
    “How much do you charge? Like, what was the price for the calendar shoot?”
    Taylor named the figure. “And that includes all the postproduction work. That takes tons of time. I’m still Photoshopping the calendar-shoot pictures.”
    Joe shook his head. “I can’t afford that. Neither can the group.”
    She could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I can help you find someone.”
    “I’d rather have you.”
    The words washed over her, making Taylor wish he meant them in another context. She’d connected with him on a level she didn’t understand. Frankly, her attraction scared her. She’d let him climb into her car, taken him on tonight’s emotional shoot. She’d never shared that experience with anyone. After what had happened with Owen, the fact she’d immediately trusted him spoke volumes.
    Joe reached for a chip, dipped it in rarebit, and placed the cheesy morsel in his mouth. Perfect lips wrapped around the bite. He was temptation personified—she had the urge to see him open those blue-gray-greens on the pillow next to hers. And what would it be like to run her fingers through that luscious hair while she made love to him?
    She hiccupped, so she took a deep breath then reached for her water. After a long drink, she calmed. Just one hiccup this time, not more.
Whew
. “You’ll find the right photographer.”
    “I have. Your empathy makes you the right person for this project. I realized that when I saw you behind the lens during the calendar shoot. Now, after what I just saw, I’m positive. This book is going to get a lot of publicity. Would that help sway your decision?”
    “So will the calendar,” she pointed out.
    He arched his eyebrows. “You can’t use more?”
    She wavered. “Of course I can, but …”
    He pressed on, sensing her indecision. “Many of the participants are civic leaders. You’d be amazed at the list of who’s who and you’d make some extremely valuable connections. One man is the leader of the St. Louis Film Commission. He works with every movie that’s made in the bi-state area.”
    “Which haven’t been a lot,” Taylor felt compelled to point out.
    “True.” He popped another chip into his mouth. “But he was involved in
Gone Girl
when it filmed down in Cape. You have to start somewhere.”
    She sighed. “I’ve been