Matt—The Callahan Brothers (Brazos Bend Book 2) by Emily March Page B
Authors: Emily March
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observed.
Torie lowered her Hasselblad. “I’m a professional photographer.”
“Oh? Jim Barker has added help at his studio?”
From that, Torie gathered that Jim Barker had the only studio in town. “No, I’m just visiting in the area. I work freelance.”
“That’s interesting.” Janice’s eyes lit with curiosity. “How does it work? Are you hired to take certain sorts of pictures or is it the other way around? You take pictures and then you sell them?”
“It’s usually a combination of both,” Torie explained. “Even when I’m on assignment, I’ll take photos that interest me. I have a list of regulars who often buy my stuff. In fact, I know of a travel magazine that would probably take one of these of your Ryan. Would you be willing to sign a release?”
“You mean, to get Ryan’s picture in a magazine?” his mother asked.
“What would it cost us?” his father added with a frown.
“Nothing.” Torie smiled her reassurance. “I’ll give you copies of the photos, of course.”
Janice Williams’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Our Ryan in a magazine? How exciting! We’ll be happy to sign a release.”
While Torie pulled the form from her bag, Janice peppered her with more questions. Torie basked in the woman’s admiration. It felt good to be appreciated for a change. Only when the woman asked what brought her to Brazos Bend did Torie hesitate.
She certainly couldn’t announce that she was hiding from a stalker. This was a small town. She’d already been asked the question twice. She’d faded it with the Dairy Princess woman and the manager at the B and B, but now she obviously needed some kind of cover for her time in Brazos Bend.
“It’s the bluebonnets,” she said, seizing on the first possibility that popped into her mind. “I’m putting together a coffee-table book of springtime in the Texas Hill Country.”
That’s all it took. The Williams suggested so many places for her to shoot that Torie actually began warming to the idea of a book.
David Williams read over the release and while he asked her a few questions about it, Janice shared her good news about Ryan’s magazine debut with one of the other couples. That mother made a beeline to Torie, saying, “Would you take my Amy’s picture, too, please? Not for a magazine or anything. Just for me? I’ll be happy to pay you. I need a photo to include in our Christmas cards next year, and I want one that shows just how beautiful Texas can be.”
She gestured toward the glorious sunset above the wildflower-blanketed field and added, “How people who are still buried in snowfall this time of year can climb on their snotty high horse about Texas being an ugly place is beyond me.”
When Torie agreed, the third mother repeated the request and before Torie quite knew what was happening, Janice Williams got on her cell phone. Torie soon found herself booked for half a dozen sittings the following morning and another five that afternoon. Three of the eleven requested Gigi’s participation, also.
It was dusk when she waved goodbye to her new friends. Torie decided the best thing about the bluebonnet interlude was that she spent a good forty-five minutes not thinking about either her stalker or Matt Callahan. She’d met six very nice people and played with four delightful little kids. The respite was welcome and relaxing and exactly what she needed.
Unfortunately, it ended when a dark blue pickup came tearing down the road. Brakes squealed; the truck shuddered to a stop. Matt Callahan climbed from the cab with frustration simmering in his eyes.
“At least this enemy I can see,” she told Gigi, who, having concluded her exploration of the bluebonnet field, trotted up to Torie and let out a demanding whimper. Torie scooped her baby up into her arms.
Gigi growled at Matt when he approached. He bared his teeth right back.
“You are a pain in the ass, lady,” he said by way of greeting.
He looked tense and
Torie lowered her Hasselblad. “I’m a professional photographer.”
“Oh? Jim Barker has added help at his studio?”
From that, Torie gathered that Jim Barker had the only studio in town. “No, I’m just visiting in the area. I work freelance.”
“That’s interesting.” Janice’s eyes lit with curiosity. “How does it work? Are you hired to take certain sorts of pictures or is it the other way around? You take pictures and then you sell them?”
“It’s usually a combination of both,” Torie explained. “Even when I’m on assignment, I’ll take photos that interest me. I have a list of regulars who often buy my stuff. In fact, I know of a travel magazine that would probably take one of these of your Ryan. Would you be willing to sign a release?”
“You mean, to get Ryan’s picture in a magazine?” his mother asked.
“What would it cost us?” his father added with a frown.
“Nothing.” Torie smiled her reassurance. “I’ll give you copies of the photos, of course.”
Janice Williams’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Our Ryan in a magazine? How exciting! We’ll be happy to sign a release.”
While Torie pulled the form from her bag, Janice peppered her with more questions. Torie basked in the woman’s admiration. It felt good to be appreciated for a change. Only when the woman asked what brought her to Brazos Bend did Torie hesitate.
She certainly couldn’t announce that she was hiding from a stalker. This was a small town. She’d already been asked the question twice. She’d faded it with the Dairy Princess woman and the manager at the B and B, but now she obviously needed some kind of cover for her time in Brazos Bend.
“It’s the bluebonnets,” she said, seizing on the first possibility that popped into her mind. “I’m putting together a coffee-table book of springtime in the Texas Hill Country.”
That’s all it took. The Williams suggested so many places for her to shoot that Torie actually began warming to the idea of a book.
David Williams read over the release and while he asked her a few questions about it, Janice shared her good news about Ryan’s magazine debut with one of the other couples. That mother made a beeline to Torie, saying, “Would you take my Amy’s picture, too, please? Not for a magazine or anything. Just for me? I’ll be happy to pay you. I need a photo to include in our Christmas cards next year, and I want one that shows just how beautiful Texas can be.”
She gestured toward the glorious sunset above the wildflower-blanketed field and added, “How people who are still buried in snowfall this time of year can climb on their snotty high horse about Texas being an ugly place is beyond me.”
When Torie agreed, the third mother repeated the request and before Torie quite knew what was happening, Janice Williams got on her cell phone. Torie soon found herself booked for half a dozen sittings the following morning and another five that afternoon. Three of the eleven requested Gigi’s participation, also.
It was dusk when she waved goodbye to her new friends. Torie decided the best thing about the bluebonnet interlude was that she spent a good forty-five minutes not thinking about either her stalker or Matt Callahan. She’d met six very nice people and played with four delightful little kids. The respite was welcome and relaxing and exactly what she needed.
Unfortunately, it ended when a dark blue pickup came tearing down the road. Brakes squealed; the truck shuddered to a stop. Matt Callahan climbed from the cab with frustration simmering in his eyes.
“At least this enemy I can see,” she told Gigi, who, having concluded her exploration of the bluebonnet field, trotted up to Torie and let out a demanding whimper. Torie scooped her baby up into her arms.
Gigi growled at Matt when he approached. He bared his teeth right back.
“You are a pain in the ass, lady,” he said by way of greeting.
He looked tense and
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