The Sweetest Picture, page 3
She tried to be so careful, pulling on the old adage that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure, but…Mikaela sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Apparently, I wasn’t careful enough.
Having children was amazingly expensive and for a woman with no formal training, Mikaela was lucky to have the job she did. There were definitely people worse off than her, but that didn’t help Mikaela right now. It wouldn’t make a difference when the eventual dental visit and invoice came.
“I guess I’ll just have to make payments,” Mikaela muttered to herself. “There won’t be any other way.”
“What was that?” one of the front secretaries asked.
Mikaela’s head jerked up and she automatically smiled. The one she’d practiced to help keep others from asking too many questions. “Nothing. Sorry. Just chatting with myself.”
Mrs. Brooks chuckled. “I suppose we all do that sometimes.”
Mikaela nodded, fake smile still in place. “Yep.” She began to walk away just as she heard the front door open. It was time to get back to work. Maybe if they put the bill on the credit card, Mikaela would pay it off gradually. If the card wasn’t already maxed out already.
“I’m sorry,” Mrs. Brooks’ firm voice said. “But we don’t give away that kind of information.”
“Psssst…”
Mikaela ignored the words, but the voice persisted.
“Mikaela. Hey!”
Frowning, Mikaela looked around. One of the attendance workers was poking her head out of her office and caught Mikaela’s eye. The woman pointed to the front of the office. “There’s a guy here looking for you.”
Mikaela’s frown deepened. “What?”
The older woman rolled her eyes. “He’s asking about Emma. Wants to know who her mother is. You know…the photographer.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Mikaela muttered, turning around and walking toward the front again. She paused near the windows, peering carefully so as not to be seen lurking.
“Again…I understand what you’re asking, but we don’t give out that kind of information,” Mrs. Brooks said, her voice tight. “Our students’ safety is our highest priority.”
“I just want to speak to the mother,” the photographer said with an easy smile.
Mikaela grunted. Guys that easy on the eyes always thought people would bend to their will. “Unfortunately…” Mikaela muttered as she watched Mrs. Brooks soften. “They’re usually right.”
“Listen, honey,” Mrs. Brooks said. “You know I can’t do that. Emmaline’s information is protected.”
The photographer leaned onto the counter, that smile never leaving his face. “Mrs. Brooks,” he cooed. “You’ve known me since I was climbing under the fence during recess.”
Mrs. Brooks chuckled.
“So you know that I’m not some nefarious villain out to kidnap pretty, little girls.” His smile widened. “Isn’t there anything you can do to help me? I’ve got a business opportunity for Emmaline and I don’t think following her home from school would be the best way to bring it up with her parents.”
Mrs. Brooks shook her head, but even from the back Mikaela could tell the woman was smiling. “Jayden Gordon…one of these days you’re gonna have to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around you. No matter how pretty you are.”
“Darn right,” Mikaela muttered. She ignored the tugging in her stomach. Mrs. Brooks was right. The man was pretty, but it didn’t matter.
The man named Jayden laughed and the sound was like the most delicious dessert, but a forbidden one.
Mikaela shook her head, frustrated at her attraction to the egotistical man. It didn’t matter how much Emmaline had smiled at him a couple days ago or how handsome Mikaela thought he was. She knew his kind. The kind who thought they owned the world and could charm anyone in it.
She’d been charmed once before and wasn’t going to fall for it again. But from the looks of what was going on at the front desk, Mikaela wasn’t sure that Mrs. Brooks was going to hold strong much longer. It was clear the secretary knew the photographer and if their conversation was anything to go by, the older woman would eventually give in.
Throwing back her shoulders and holding onto her determination with both hands, Mikaela marched out the door and into the desk area. “Can I help you?” she asked, coming up behind Mrs. Brooks. “I hear you’re inquiring after my daughter.”
The man…Jayden…looked at her with wide eyes, his jaw flapping in the wind for a moment before his perfectly sculpted lips pulled into a wide smile and he laughed. Softly, at first, then louder, until he was leaning over the counter. “Serves me right,” he muttered at the end of his performance. He sighed and wiped at his eyes.
Holding out his hand, he reached for Mikaela. “Nice to meet you, Emmaline’s mom. I’m Jayden Gordon.”
Mikaela eyed his hand, but didn’t move. It took him a moment to get the hint, but he caught on fairly quickly, all things considered. “What do you want with Emma?”
Jayden’s smile barely faltered at her coldness. “I have a business proposition for you.” He glanced toward the door. “Perhaps we could discuss this over lunch or dinner? You and your husband?”
“No.” Turning around, Mikaela began to walk away.
“Wait! No to the dinner or no to the business idea?”
“Yes,” Mikaela threw over her shoulder. She tugged on the door that led to the back, ready to be done with this whole thing. She didn’t like how Jayden made her feel. She didn’t like that Emmaline had obviously been enamored with him. Mikaela didn’t like that her own stomach turned somersaults when she got close to him. And she definitely didn’t like the idea of working with someone that charming no matter what the business was.
The last time she’d fallen for a charmer, she’d ended up a single mother. But I’ve learned from my mistakes, Mikaela reminded herself. And I won’t make the same mistake twice.
Jayden ignored the gasps of Mrs. Brooks and her calls to stop as he leapt over the waist-high door that kept the kids from wandering behind the desks and caught up to the beautiful teacher. Wasn’t it just his luck that the woman who had caught his eye and given him a couple of sleepless nights was the very woman he needed to talk to?
Jayden had yet to decide if that was good or bad, but it was something for sure.
He grabbed the door she threw behind her and smiled when she jerked to look at him. “I’d really appreciate a chance to talk to you,” he said, his voice a little huskier than he meant it to be.
But who could blame him? The woman was absolutely gorgeous and the fire flashing through what he could now tell were greenish-blue eyes, was enough to keep Jayden warm all winter long. But there was something else there and it intrigued him. Jayden absolutely wanted to find out what made this woman tick.
He’d come to talk about using Emmaline for a model, but now he wanted to stay and learn about the mother. She had a strength about her, but it seemed…brittle. Like a strong wind would break down the wall she had built, but Jayden wanted to know why she had the wall up in the first place.
She’s probably married, he reminded himself. After all, the woman had a child. There had to be a father somewhere and any man who would walk away from someone as intriguing and beautiful as Emmaline’s mother wasn’t in their right head.
“We already talked,” the woman said, her teeth clenched together. “My answer is no, Mr. Gordon. Now leave me alone.”
“You haven’t even given me a chance,” Jayden argued.
“Jayden…” Mrs. Brooks warned. “Don’t make me call security on you.”
Jayden smiled over his shoulder, still holding the door for the teacher. “I’ll be done in just a moment, Mrs. Brooks. I promise.”
The older woman huffed and rolled her eyes. “If you don’t hurry, I’ll make sure it’s your daddy who comes to escort you out.”
“He’d love that,” Jayden joked back. “He’s been wanting to throw me behind bars since I chose an art school over the academy.”
Mrs. Brooks laughed. “Don’t push, honey. You really do need to go.”
Jayden nodded, then went back to the woman, who was starting to slink away. “So…dinner with you and your husband?” That fire flashed again and Jayden wished he had his camera. Those eyes needed to be documented. They were incredibly expressive.
“Not that it’s any of your business, Mr. Gordon, but there is no husband and there will most definitely not be a dinner, a lunch or anything else. Leave my daughter and I alone, or I’ll report you to the authorities for real.” The teacher turned to glare at Mrs. Brooks, who pretended not to be listening.
Jayden held up his free hand. Really, he should walk away. Beautiful as she was, this woman wasn’t interested in hearing him out, but Jayden found he couldn’t quite do it. He hadn’t had this kind of challenge in ages and he found his curiosity getting the better of him. “I promise this isn’t anything weird or nefarious. Just give me a chance to explain it to you.”
“I already said no.”
“And while I understand that, I don’t feel you’re giving me a fair chance.” Jayden gave her his best smile, but she didn’t soften…at all. It was a new experience for him and his determination to win doubled. “Please,” he said softly. “I don’t want to make a scene here, we’ve already got a pretty good sized audience. Just give me five minutes of your time after school and then I’ll be out of your hair, forever if you want.”
The woman glanced around, her cheeks turning a bright pink at the realization that they were indeed going to be the topic of water cooler gossip for the next several days. “I give you five minutes and you’ll stay away for good?”
Jayden put up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
The woman scoffed. “Fine. Meet us out front at three-fifteen.”
“Done.” Jayden stepped back, breaking the simmering tension between them, and gave her a teasing bow. “I look forward to seeing you then.”
The woman rolled her eyes and stomped down the hallway and out of sight.
Jayden stared into the hallway until someone cleared their throat. Realizing his error, he let go of the door and spun on his heel, his smile already in place. “Thanks, Mrs. Brooks! I knew I could count on you.” He grinned extra widely, laughing a little when she waved him away like a naughty boy.
“You be careful with her,” the secretary warned.
Jayden’s steps slowed. “Yeah? Is there something I should know?”
Mrs. Brooks pursed her lips and her eyes went to her computer.
Jayden hesitated, but ultimately decided not to pry. He’d already broken too many boundaries today. “Thanks!” he said, tapping the countertop. “I promise to be on my best behavior.”
“Mm-hm,” Mrs. Brooks said, giving him a raised eyebrow.
Jayden smiled again. “Come on, Mrs. B. You know me!”
“Exactly,” she shot back.
Jayden tsked his tongue. “Such disapproval! What did I ever do to deserve it?”
“Don’t get me started,” she muttered, tilting her head back to look through her reading glasses.
“I like the sassy side of you, Mrs. B. Keep it coming!” Jayden waved as she gave him another look, but this one was laced with laughter. Pushing open the office door, he headed outside, the warm sun hitting his cheeks.
For just a moment, Jayden paused, enjoying the weather. Summer temperatures on the Oregon Coast were usually warm, but the sun wasn’t always a direct participant. Clouds were a common occurrence in their area of the country and Jayden, a nature admirer to his core, loved it when the light broke free. The shadows and contrasts that shifted from the position of the sun gave him material to work with for hours.
But not today. Opening his eyes, he headed back to his car, his steps light. He had a couple of hours to kill before coming back to the school. Perhaps he’d see if Aspen needed any help at the bakery. As much as his mother lamented his lack of desire to settle down, Jayden really tried not to be a burden.
He helped at the inn, he helped at the bakery, he spent time with his Uncle Tony who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. His free time allowed him to go anywhere and everywhere and it kept Jayden from getting too bored.
He unlocked his car and got inside, pushing the button to turn on the engine. But if everything went well with little Miss Emmaline, all that free time might actually up and disappear. “Won’t Mom be surprised,” Jayden said to himself with a chuckle.
Over the last few days as he’d been editing pictures and getting them sent back to the school, his mind had been churning with two things.
One…who was the beautiful teacher who was scowling at him? And two…what would happen if he put together a portfolio and sent it to a major magazine? Could he possibly get hired to go on an assignment somewhere? Africa? The Middle East? Could he follow a reporter and take pictures of war zones or dangerous strikes in struggling countries?
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Jayden muttered, pulling out into the light noon time traffic. His first photography love was nature, but he wanted to create a portfolio that showed his talents in multiple ways. And that was where Princess Emmaline would come in.
Jayden had just earned himself five minutes with the little beauty’s mother…now he’d have to make sure he didn’t waste it.
Chapter 4
Mikaela peeked through the windows in the front doors of the school and groaned.
Emmaline tugged on her hand. “What’s wrong?”
Mikaela forced a smile and shook her head. “Nothing, sweetie. We need to stop for just a moment and talk to someone on our way home, okay?”
Emmaline shrugged, completely unconcerned with the errand. “Do you think we’ll see the picture guy again?” she asked.
Mikaela’s heart dropped into her stomach. She didn’t want Emmaline interested in meeting the picture guy. She didn’t want to be interested in the picture guy. The fact that she found him attractive was the biggest red flag that could happen to Mikaela, so how exactly had she become roped into meeting with him after school?
Because you hated the entire office watching your exchange.
Pride. It all boiled down to pride. A sin as old as Cain and Abel, and yet Mikaela was as guilty of it in today’s world. Considering her past, this situation should be so easy to ignore that she didn’t even blink, but instead it was like a blinding light that she couldn’t look away from.
Mikaela jolted when she realized there was movement outside. Jayden had apparently gotten tired of waiting and was heading for the door.
“Dang it,” she whispered. Tightening her hold on Emmaline’s hand, Mikaela opened the door, firming her resolve when she did so. She was hard as steel. Those light, baby blues meant nothing to her. They weren’t worthy of her notice. Neither was the brown hair that flopped over his brow slightly, or the happy, joyful smile on his face, or the athletically lean build he was sporting.
Nope. Nothing about Jayden Gordon was worthy of her notice at all.
Liar.
Mikaela shoved the little voice in the back of her head into a strong box with a heavy, metal lock and determined that she would never let it out again. “Mr. Gordon,” she said, by way of greeting.
“It’s you!” Emmaline cried, tugging on her mother’s hand.
It was far harder to seem in control and detached with a little body yanking at her limb, but Mikaela didn’t want to let go of Emmaline. They were already in dangerous territory.
“It’s me!” Jayden responded just as enthusiastically. He squatted down and held out his knuckles for Emmaline to tap. “Guess what I did today?” he asked the little girl.
Emmaline bounced on her toes. “What?”
“I went through the school pictures and…” Jayden gave her a significant look. “Your picture was my absolute favorite!”
“Really?” Emmaline twisted around, knocking into Mikaela’s side. “Out of everyone?”
“Really,” Jayden said solemnly. “Out of everyone.”
Emmaline smiled and kept twisting from side to side, making her backpack thump against Mikaela’s leg with every turn.
The bruise forming on her thigh served to keep Mikaela grounded, for which she was grateful, but she winced at the pain she was going to experience later. “Your five minutes are quickly ticking away, Mr. Gordon.”
He stood, reminding Mikaela just how much taller he was than her. “Call me Jayden. Or Jay.” That smile came again, threatening Mikaela’s peace of mind.
Instead of responding, she forced her tongue into silence and raised her eyebrows.
Jayden stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets and gave her a sheepish shrug. “So…the offer is simple. I’m trying to become a full-time photographer and need to build a portfolio. I’d like to use Emmaline as one of my models.”
Mikaela felt her eyes flare for a second. Would he be willing to pay for Emmaline’s pictures? It didn’t sound like something that would be that hard. An hour maybe? Tops?
“Does that mean you’ll take more pictures of me?” Emmaline asked breathlessly.
“It does!” Jayden said, turning his attention back to the little girl. “We’d set up a couple of appointments and go around to different places in our area. After a few days, maybe a week…then bam! I’d have an amazing set of pictures to show magazines and stuff.”
Mikaela’s thoughts all crashed. An hour she could handle. Probably. A week? Not a chance. “Thank you,” she said tightly. “But no.”
Jayden’s smile fell and he stood. “Do I need to speak with her father as well? I don’t mind doing another meeting if you’re worried about what he’ll think.”
“Mom!” Emmaline cried, her cheeks automatically flushing red. “I want to!” She stomped her tiny foot and Mikaela noticed the seam starting to come out of one side of the sneaker.
She groaned internally and added another pair of shoes to the too-long list of needs. “This isn’t a good idea for us,” Mikaela said to her daughter. After a quick, short nod at Jayden, she turned and began to walk away.
