Page 14 of Obsessed

And he’d have more photos very soon because tonight was another wedding at The Pointe. Weirdly excited to add to his collage, he walked into the hall in high spirits but Rain was nowhere to be found. Snooping around gave him no further answers and he wasn’t about to ask, so he put his head down and went into work mode, hoping that Rain would eventually turn up.

For the next two hours, he swapped between suites, readying the brides for their first look in the foyer. After setting up one with her back to the room, Mason went downstairs to get her soon-to-be-wife and stopped in his tracks when he saw Rain.

Moving to the side so he wouldn’t be seen, Mason quickly snapped off a few photos before realizing that Rain looked tired, not only physically but mentally. Those mysterious eyes had become haunted and wary, and Rain’s demeanor reflected that, for he stayed distant throughout the day. However, once again he seemed to know when the camera focused on him because his shoulders would tighten a bit and his gaze would shift, but someone had dimmed his light.

For some reason it made Mason angrier, as if his mother had ignited a fire that Rain’s condition only added fuel to.

The party ended quickly, and once Mason said goodnight to the brides he found himself lingering in the foyer, taking quick peeks into the main room, where Rain cleared his tables.

“Talk to him. I think he’s into you,” Marci said, appearing next to Mason, and his childhood training kept him from jumping a mile in the air.

“No,” he barked, watching Rain walk into the kitchen with a stack of plates.

She gave him alook.

“Seriously, Mason, grow a pair,” she sighed before flouncing off.

The soft thuds of hiking boots against soil soothed Mason as he walked through the state forest. He needed this outing; it had been taking longer and longer to charge his social battery between weddings and he was starting to burn out. The remedy for that was a hike in the middle of the week where he could relax in the woods, grab some photos, and bealone.

Climbing a short ridge, Mason grunted at the weight of his backpack. A small tripod, a few lenses, and his drone weren’t light, but he’d only taken the essentials, keeping the camera around his neck, and once the land evened out so did his breath.

The ridge ran for another mile and Mason soaked in the silence, noting how the short trees grew more and more sparse until they broke apart for the view, and he came up behind the shelter, going straight to the edge and studying the landscape. Miles of farmland stretched out before him and a lake shimmered in the distance, ready to reflect the sunset. He shaded his eyes, staring up at the sky. There were just enough clouds; hopefully, the colors would be stunning.

Glad that he’d made it with time to spare, Mason turned, shrugging off his gear, but he froze halfway through because he wasn’t alone, and his pack hit the grass with a soft thump.

Curled up inside the shelter, Rain stared back at him with wide, shocked eyes.

Blinking, Mason shook his head and tried again. Nope, not a hallucination. Rain continued to sit there, looking just as confused as Mason felt, and while he appeared more rested, something about him seemed off.

“What are you doing here?” Rain squinted, his words laced with suspicion. “Are you going to kill me?”

Mason frowned at him, the odd question making him bold.

“I’m here to photograph the sunset. Why would I murder you.” He tried to raise his voice at the end, like his Gran had always taught him, but it still sounded like a statement.

“Because you just randomly showed up here.” Tilting his head, Rain’s long dark hair slipped over his shoulder, the strands slowly falling like a curtain. Mason had to concentrate to keep from snapping a picture. “It’s kind of a creepy coincidence.”

“I’m creepy?” That actually sounded like a question.

“I didn’t sayyouwere creepy. I said the situation was creepy. But you know what? Youarea little creepy.” Rain shuffled forward and stood, a teasing smirk on his face. “You take pictures of me.”

Mason didn’t rise to the bait. “I take pictures of everyone.”

Smirk still in place, Rain took a few leisurely steps toward him. “Really? Then how many pictures of Dylan do you have? Marci? Angelo? Owen?”

Mason couldn’t help himself; he frowned more deeply and Rain tossed his head back with a laugh.

“It’s okay. I know you do that because you like my face.” He winked and something in Mason’s core rumbled, coming to life. Although he’d wanted to be alone, if he had to choose, then Rain would be the only acceptable company. But why? He’d taken photos of countless people and had never been inspired by them, had never wanted to be around them any longer than necessary. Why was Rain so different?

“I do,” Mason replied factually, and Rain’s answering smile was dangerous.

“Are you flirting with me?”

Mason considered it. “I don’t think so.” Glancing past Rain, he took in the backpack and rumpled blanket on the shelter floor. “Are you camping?”

“Um, yeah,” Rain shrugged, his gaze shifting away. “My mom’s ex-boyfriend used to bring me here. He’s thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail right now and I missed him, so I figured I’d send him a view in return for the ones he’s sent me.” He gestured toward the cliff with elegant fingers. “Didn’t you say you came for the sunset?”

Turning, Mason realized that he’d lost track of time and now had barely a minute to get ready. Without another word, he knelt beside the backpack he’d dropped, glad that it was well-insulated, and took out his gear. Powering the camera on, Mason fine-tuned a few settings, feeling Rain’s eyes on him the entire time. It didn’t bother him; in fact, Rain’s presence only spurred him on, his creativity surging to maximum levels as he snapped the camera into the tripod head, framing his shot and sending the drone up just as the sky bloomed with color.

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