Page 10 of Revenge Honeymoon

After fifteen awkward minutes of posing in different lovey-dovey couple-y poses, their time with the hunky photographer was up.

“All right, ladies, it’s been a pleasure,” Maxwell said with the most heart-stopping beautiful smile. “Unless you wanted to do that kiss photo after all. I think it could be really cute.” He closed one eye and splayed his hands out. “I can see it hanging over your fireplace. Walnut frame. Some can lights spotlighting it.”

Ruby had a look in her eye. A look Emily had to shut down that very second before she crossed over to the ‘other side’ like her freshman year college roommate hoped she might. “No, thanks, Maxwell.”

“It’s Max,” he corrected.

“I’m sorry, yes, Max.” Didn’t he know Maxwell sounded so much more sophisticated...and hot? “You did say we could call you that, right?”

“Yes, you asked me several times.” He set his camera on a nearby chair they’d used a few minutes earlier for a pose—lovely Ruby seated with Barbie doll legs crossed perfectly, Emily standing behind her, hands on her friend’s shoulders.

They’d only taken a single shot in that arrangement. Must’ve looked awful. But was it Emily who ruined it or the pose? Or something else? Hard to know.

“Right. Good. Yes.” Emily fumbled with the buttons on his jacket. “Oh, I need to give this back.”

He gestured at the equipment set up. “These lights are so hot. Not sure why I bothered wearing it.”

Yes, exactly. He shouldn’t have bothered wearing anything at all. So, so hot.

Emily’s gaze roved over the tall, hard body of Maxwell—Max. When she reached his perfect face, their gazes met.

Oh, God.

Emily sneezed. A pretend sneeze, but she didn’t know what else to do. He’d caught her staring. He could see right through her. Every attempt she’d made to hide the fact she thought he was simply the most attractive man she’d seen in her life possibly had been ruined with that one glance.

Crap.

“Bless you,” Ruby said.

“Thanks,” Emily muttered. “Here, let me give it back. Even if it’s too hot.”

“Oh, that’s all right.” He waved her off. “You can bring it by another night. I do photo sessions every afternoon until the last dinner seating.”

She could see him again? Talk to him again? Even if he thought she wasn’t interested in men, she didn’t care. He’d been sweet and funny during their whole photo session. He even made Star Wars jokes.

For one pose he had the two friends stand holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes with fake adoration. Ruby stood as still as a statue and froze. Emily worked hard to hold back a laugh. The whole set up made her giggle.

He’d quipped, “Why couldn’t Luke Skywalker find love?”

“Why?” asked Ruby out of the corner of her mouth so as not to ruin their serious pose.

“He was looking in Alderaan places.”

Both women had burst into laughter.

* * *

Martina with her clipboard didn’t seem too happy with all the frivolity and chattiness going on at their end of the room. Possibly as punishment, she called out, “Five more minutes, Maxwell. The line’s not getting any shorter.”

“It’s Max,” Emily said in her loudest voice.

Max’s full and sexy lips pulled into a bemused smile.

“Let’s go, babe.”

Ruby had started to call her babe.

That better not stick. Cruise Nickname only. She’d make Ruby promise.

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