Page 60 of Only If You Dare

“I’m ready whenever you are,” he said.

“Um, I’m not sure if I’m ready.”

Julian’s deep voice crooned from behind him. “What seems to be the problem?”

Both men watched me fiddle with the material then I sighed.

“This gown is too form fitting. Would you happen to have something bigger?”

“Bigger?” Julian said.

“Yes, puffier,” I said, “Like the one I had on yesterday.”

“No, no,” the cameraman said adamantly. “That one was for a different scene. You must wear this one today.”

Julian placed a hand on the cameraman’s shoulder. “Take five,” he ordered but not without taking the camera off the photographer’s hands.

“Bella,” he said stepping closer to me. “You don’t need a change of clothes. This fits perfectly.”

I looked down at the gown then back to him.

“Are we seeing the same thing?” I asked.

There was a glimmer in his eyes that told me we did indeed saw the same things, but didn’t have the same worries.

“Of course, I see a radiant beauty that’s perfect in the queen’s gown.” He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. “Would you be more comfortable if I took your shots in this scene?”

I’d become comfortable with just about anything involving Julian. That was part of my problem. I swallowed and lowered myself back onto the bed. Julian stepped back and held the lens to eye level. The flashes were consistent, one behind the other. He stalked me, going from one side of the bed frame to the other. Julian worked as if he’d done this a million times. He was content and exact. I don’t think he knew, but his calm nature relaxed me as we finished up the shots.

“Was it good, can I see?” I asked afterward.

“They’re perfect,” he said.

“What is up with you and the word perfect? I’m not perfect so the pictures couldn’t be.” I bit down on my lip.

“Bella,” Julian reached out and pulled me in. “Do you think I’d lie to you?”

I hesitated. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

I groaned. “Julian…”

“You know how much this spread means to me, right?”

“Of course, but what does that have to do with—”

“Then you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”

That shut my mouth.

“I need to take a ride somewhere; would you accompany me, Bella?”

“Sure.”

Julian and I climbed in a Jeep that took us ten miles down the road before coming to a garage. He pulled inside and took us up a ramp then parked the vehicle in the middle of the cemented garage. When the ground beneath us moved, it startled me, and I reached out to hold on to Julian’s hand. He slid his gaze to me.

“I got you.” His hand threaded my fingers and held mine in a snug fist.

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