Page 61 of It Started at the Lake

The mood of our afternoon shifted with the heavy question I asked. I want to get us back on friendly terms. “Thank you for telling me. I’m ready to try this Bennett delicacy in front of me.”

“I’m starving too, but I think your stomach is way more vocal than mine.” He grins.

“Now you know. I need to be fed, or an angry bear gets released.”

Bennett laughs. “I’ll get a fanny pack and start carrying snacks around for you.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you.” I pick up my sandwich and toast him. “Here’s to me getting more advice from you on dating.” If my dreams won’t come true, I have to focus on what I’m getting out of this.

CHAPTER 29

Bennett

How offended will Mils get if I walk away? She’s snapped at least a thousand photos in the hour we’ve been taking pictures. I’ve posed by almost every tree doing the most ridiculous things. Like turning my head over my shoulder and staring at the acorn with a longing for my mate.

I’ve hugged a tree.

That’s not in the book. Why the heck am I snuggling with scratchy bark? Millie claimed she had a reason, but I’m starting to think she’s messing with me.

“Millie?” I call out from my current position, which is this: feet shoulder distance apart, arms raised to the sky, fingers extended, my head tilting back like I’m looking at the sun, my expression ‘open and ready to be time-warped’ from present day to the late 1800s where the love of my life lives.

Thinking back to when Mils asked me to do this, I’m fairly confident I specified no shots of my face. Why then do I need to act?

“Yes, Schnookums?" she says teasingly.

“I’m expecting a pretty big payment for this, considering you’re breaking the rules of our agreement.”

Her camera clicks a dozen times in quick succession. “Whatever do you mean?” she asks coyly.

“Photos of my face?”

“Ah. Sorry. A photographer must capture beauty when she sees it. What do you have in mind as payback?”

“Go hiking with me tomorrow.”

“Hmm,” she hums. “What type of hike are we talking about here? A three to five mile with a slight incline or ten to twelve miles with a two-thousand-foot elevation gain?”

“Would it matter which one I said?”

Her laugh is carefree. “No. You could tell me we’re jumping out of a plane, and I’d do it. We made a deal, and your family needs to keep seeing us together.”

I drop my arms and turn over my shoulder to look at her. “Maybe I’ll think of something more… adventurous for us to do instead?” Just kidding. I’m not into extreme sports after Jen’s accident.

“Stay like that.” She puts the camera up to her eye and clicks a few more times, then checks the digital display. Millie walks toward me, keeping eye contact the entire time, a sneaky smile on her face.

Instantly, I’m on guard.

She stops right in front of me, her hands clasping behind her back. “Bennett?” she says, sweet as honey.

I quirk a brow. “Yes, Mils?”

“Have you ever considered being a model?”

“Never.”

She clicks her tongue as she shakes her head. “That’s too darn bad. You’d be good. Guess I’ll save the best photos for myself.”

I smile flirtatiously, something that’s becoming easier and easier around Mils. “Want me to take my shirt off? You seem to like me best that way.” Reaching for the hem of my shirt, I slowly pull upward.

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