Page 44 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

“Too bad,” I say, refusing to let him off the hook. “This moment is too perfect not to capture. Besides, I’ve got a talent for making people look good.”

He rolls his eyes but sits up anyway, his shoulders tense as he stares at me. “Fine. Just one.”

“Relax,” I say, adjusting the camera. “You look like you’re about to get your mugshot taken.”

“That’s probably more accurate than you think,” he mutters, but he doesn’t stop me.

I snap the picture, the soft click of the camera accompanied by the fluttering sound of the film sliding out. I set it next to the other photo to develop, my grin widening as I look back at him. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

He shakes his head, muttering something under his breath, but his lips curl into a reluctant smile. “You’re relentless.”

“You have no idea,” I reply, adjusting the camera again. “One more.”

“I thought we said just one,” he protests.

“Yeah, well, you’re stuck with me,” I tease, snapping another photo before he can argue. This time, his mouth quirks in what looks like an almost-laugh, and the expression softens the sharp edges of his face.

I glance at the film, pleased with the way the shot turned out, but when I look up, Colt is leaning forward, his hand brushing against mine as he reaches for the developing photos.

“You really keep these?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I admit, feeling a little self-conscious under his gaze. “I have an album back home. It’s nice to look back and remember things—places, people. Moments.”

His fingers brush against mine again as he hands the photos back, and the touch lingers just a second too long. My breath catches, the warmth of his hand sending a jolt of awareness through me.

“You’re different, Magnolia,” he says, his voice low, his eyes locking on mine.

“Different how?” I ask, my pulse quickening.

“Just…different,” he says, his tone thoughtful. His gaze drops to my lips for a fraction of a second before he looks away, leaning back on his hands again. “In a good way.”

I swallow hard, the air between us thick and heated. Desperate for a distraction, I lift the camera again. “Alright, your turn.”

“My turn for what?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“To take a picture of me,” I say, holding out the camera.

He hesitates, his brows furrowing. “I’ve never used one of these.”

“It’s easy,” I say, moving closer to show him. “Just look through the viewfinder, line it up, and press this button.”

Colt takes the camera reluctantly, his large hands nearly swallowing it. He lifts it to his eye, adjusting the angle as he looks at me through the viewfinder. “Like this?”

“Perfect,” I say, smiling. “Now press the button.”

The camera clicks, and I laugh as the film slides out. Colt pulls it from the slot, inspecting it like it’s some kind of alien artifact.

“You’re a natural,” I tease, taking the photo from him and setting it with the others to develop.

He shakes his head, but his lips twitch in a faint smile. “You’re trouble, you know that?”

“Maybe,” I say, leaning back on my hands and letting the sun warm my skin. “But you’re stuck with me for the rest of the day.”

Colt chuckles, the sound low and rich, and for the first time in forever, I let myself relax. The tension between us is still there, humming just beneath the surface, but for now, it feels like enough to just exist in this moment. There’s no kids who need attention, no parents passing judgment, no community members putting me on a pedestal.

Just Colt…teasing me, dragging me further into his orbit.

Making me feel like there’s a version of me that exists outside of everything I’ve tried so hard to be.

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