Page 8 of Entwined Hearts

Jake’s jaw flexes. “I don’t trust him.”

“Why?” I ask. “Ketil was a long time ago. He told me that he had family stuff going on. Maybe you should give him a break.”

Jake glares at me.

“What? We need his help on this climb, right?”

Jake grunts in exasperation.

I get that same sense there’s more going on here, but I’m not about to try to dig it out in the middle of a photo shoot.

Angelo calls for Jake. As they pass, Jake bumps Colby’s shoulder. Colby’s surprise quickly turns into a grimace.

“Let it go, man,” Colby says easily.

“Don’t think for one minute I’m going to let you fuck this up,” Jake says, his fists clenched.

They stare each other down before Colby subtly rolls his shoulders, like a dog shaking his coat. He covers the last few feet to join me. “You just keep up your end of the bargain,” he says. “And I’ll keep mine.”

“You bastard,” Jake says, so quiet that I barely catch him.

“Everything okay here?” Angelo asks, watching them with sudden concern.

Colby spins around. “Not sure, here I was thinking we’re going to have a lot of fun on this project, but Jake seems hell-bent on spoiling it.” The energy coming off him practically sizzles the air. “C’mon, Jake.” He raises an eyebrow, his face filling with soft warmth. “Let’s make Anya look good.”

It’s weird to stand here with them staring at me—Jake with narrow eyes, and Colby with that all-consuming glow.

“Not that she needs any help,” he adds, his voice so low I don’t think anyone else hears it.

A blush runs straight up to my hair follicles.

“I’ll reserve my change of heart for when you show up in Norway,” Jake says.

“Whatever works for you, partner,” Colby replies, crossing his arms.

When it’s my turn against the back wall, I notice how far apart they stand while they wait.

“Okay, now you three,” Angelo calls, gesturing Colby and Jake toward the wall.

He positions Jake on my left and Colby on my right. I feel like I’m strung tight between two small bombs. Angelo moves us this way and that, stepping back and forth from the camera to get the shot.

Angelo pauses before making eye contact. “Okay, deep breath, everyone,” he says. “You’re not giving me team harmony here.” I release a breath, trying not to show the tension pinning my stomach to the back of my spine.

Colby says, “How about a joke?”

“Yes, please,” I say.

Angelo goes on shooting.Snap, snap, snap.

“Though it’s a little off-color,” Colby adds.

“Of course it is,” Jake mutters.

“Why did the ketchup blush?” Colby asks.

Snap, snap, snap.

I shrug, keeping my gaze on Angelo’s camera.

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