The Sweetest Picture, page 6
She pinched her lips together, her eyes showing Jayden just where Emmaline had gotten her spark from. “And which one do you think I am?”
“A beautiful woman with an equally beautiful daughter, who just happens to show up in a tiny, little town and hide out in the local elementary school?” Jayden shook his head, leaned back and slapped the table. “It’s got law refugee all over it.”
“Law refugee?” Mikaela laughed softly. “I didn’t know that was a word.”
“It’s two words, actually,” Jayden said proudly. He gave her a pointed look. “See? I had someone help me with my reading when I was a kid too.”
Her unexpected laughter was enough to encourage Jayden that he had two jobs now. One, convincing a large company to take a chance on his photography skills, and two…help Miss Greer see that life had the possibility of more than just survival. Laughter made everything better and he was going to make it his personal mission to see that Mikaela had more of it in hers.
Chapter 7
Mikaela stuffed her hands in her pockets, trying to keep from wringing them. She’d been pulling on them so hard her knuckles were beginning to ache. Why was this so hard? It shouldn’t be. They were simply a group of people out in the middle of a field, taking pictures. Nothing about this was odd or weird, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was simmering just below the surface.
The lunch at the cafe had been…fun. There wasn’t really another good way to describe it, though Mikaela was reluctant to admit she had enjoyed herself. At least, she had after finally letting go of the payment thing.
She still struggled with it a little, feeling like she somehow owed Jayden for the meal, but she was working on putting it aside. He had said it was a business lunch and despite a few mild flirtations, that’s exactly what it had been.
He hadn’t pried too deeply into her past, he hadn’t asked questions about Emmaline’s father, he’d simply talked about Seagull Cove, and her job. And he hadn’t just talked about her job, he’d gushed over it. Like she was some kind of hero.
Mikaela snorted quietly to herself. “I’m no hero,” she whispered, needing to remind herself out loud about the impossibility of such a thing. She was simply a single mother doing her best to make up for her idiocy in the past. No child should have to suffer because of their parent.
“Okay, now walk this way!” Jayden called out to Emmaline.
Mikaela watched the two of them with a critical eye. With Jayden’s bright blue eyes and light brown hair, he blended in with her family a little too well. It bothered Mikaela, though she couldn’t nail down why. Why did it matter to her if Jayden had similar coloring to her and Emmaline? It didn’t mean anything. Just that lighter hair and blue eyes were alive and well in the world.
“You’re a total natural!” Jayden said with a wink at her daughter. “I’m not sure I’ve ever captured a more beautiful girl.”
Mikaela’s ears were perked now. Emmaline’s smile was so wide she could have challenged the sun in its brightness. The mother might not be falling for Jayden’s charms, but the daughter was gone, hook, line and sinker.
“Look to the left…perfect!” Jayden said, his camera clicking furiously. “Your hair is like a golden halo.” He paused, frowning as if concerned. “Are you sure you weren’t an angel before you came here?”
Emmaline giggled.
Mikaela cleared her throat.
Jayden glanced her way, his smile dimming ever so slightly.
A trickle of shame went down her spine. When had she become such a downer? Like the cranky, old lady neighbor everyone had to tiptoe past on their way to school. Mikaela suddenly felt weary and old. She was only in her twenties. Why did she feel like an eighty-year-old?
“Okay…blow!”
She looked up to see Emmaline blowing on a dandelion. The wispy, white stems burst into the air, floating away in a visible representation of Emmaline’s laughter.
“So perfect!” Jayden said, his camera snapping like crazy. After a moment, he stood and walked toward the little girl. Reaching out, he took her hand and helped Emmaline spin in a circle.
Her laughter grew and Mikaela couldn’t move. The world moved into slow motion as she watched Emmaline’s dress open and create a tutu around her tiny body. Her head fell back as she laughed and Emmaline’s wild curls hung with abandon, following her movements.
It was like a movie and Mikaela was a captive audience. She hadn’t seen her daughter that exuberant in…well…ever. Mikaela had seen happy, she’d seen angry, she’d seen pouty, sick, frustrated, sneaky, mischievous, giggly and everything in between. But this wasn’t just happy, it was something new.
Pure, unadulterated joy.
Something tweaked in her chest and without conscious knowledge, Mikaela put a hand to her sternum. Tears sprang in her eyes and warmth spread through her chest. This…Mikaela wanted more of this. More of Emmaline’s laughter, more of this light absence of stress. More of everything.
The moment came to a screeching halt as Jayden’s laughter joined the mix, bringing a deep bass foundation to Emmaline’s soprano. Mikaela caught herself before walking forward, a movement she hadn’t realized she was about to take.
Instead, she grounded herself, watching Jayden revel with an abandon just as brightly as Emmaline’s. He was really just a large child. And it was amazing how attractive that was, but there was something else as well.
The warmth of the moment was slowly diminished and Mikaela’s tears changed from eagerness and excitement to that of jealousy and fear. Why did Jayden get to enjoy Emmaline’s happiness? How did he manage to bring the moment at all? Six years Mikaela had been taking care of her daughter and in one day, Jayden had shifted everything. The jealousy bubbling in Mikaela’s stomach tasted toxic and she hated it.
She hated how hard she had to work and hated how much Emmaline had to suffer for it. She hated that she struggled to put food on the table and clothes on their backs, two things that every person should have access to no matter what. She hated that her life was filled with hardship and Jayden knew only ease.
And yet, she couldn’t quite find it in herself to hate Jayden.
Mikaela wiped at her cheeks, hiding the evidence of her tormenting emotions. Jayden had done nothing wrong. She knew that, but it was still hard. He was kind, he was obviously stubborn, he was a happy, carefree individual and the thing she hated to admit the most was the fact that he was attractive.
His smile made her stomach flip and his light way of flirting brought out every feminine hormone left in Mikaela’s hardened heart.
“Mommy!”
Her head jerked up and Mikaela realized she had lost track of the moment. “Yes, baby?”
Emmaline waved her to come forward. “Come on! You too!”
Mikaela’s eyes went up to Jayden as he stood with Emmaline. His smile was slightly wary. “Would you like some mother-daughter shots?”
Mikaela cleared her throat and sniffed, still trying to get over the whirlwind inside of her. “Um…I don’t think anyone wants me in your folder stuff.”
His smile relaxed. “You mean my portfolio?”
Mikaela dropped his gaze. Why were clear blue eyes so strong? Why did it feel like he saw every dark, broken part of her? “Yeah. Your portfolio.” She didn’t hear anything for a moment and finally glanced sideways to see him walking her way, just before Emmaline ran into her legs, smiling and looking up.
“I don’t have to put this in the portfolio,” Jayden offered softly.
Mikaela couldn’t help but look at him, still feeling unsure.
“Every mother should have a picture of her with her daughter,” he continued.
The warmth in her chest grew again and with it came a burst of fear. She shouldn’t be doing this. Mikaela knew if she opened that door, she would be in for a world of hurt and this time she wouldn’t be the only one hurting. “I’m…not ready,” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t come prepared to have my picture taken.” Her hand went to her hair and she winced. There was no way she wanted a record of her messy ponytail. But she’d never done real pictures of her and Emmaline before and Mikaela couldn’t quite keep herself from wanting to give in.
She wanted to. Jayden could see it in those blue-green eyes. They were wary, but far from determined. He opened his mouth, almost stepping into his normal way of wheedling someone into doing his bidding, but he stopped himself just in time.
Mikaela Greer wasn’t like other women that Jayden knew. She ran scared if he flirted, so if he was going to convince her to join in the fun, it was going to take a gentler hand.
Which he was holding out to her right now. “Ms. Greer, pictures aren’t about doing hair or wearing the perfect clothes. They’re about memories and bringing the people we love together.” He gave her what he hoped was a soft, inviting smile and wiggled his fingers. “When Emmaline is older, she won’t care about anything except that you were in the picture with her.”
He waited, and waited, aaaaaand waited.
The wheels in her head were turning and Jayden imagined he could see steam coming out of the beautiful woman’s ears. His curiosity about her story was growing by leaps and bounds, but he was still able to keep it in check. Someone had to help this woman learn to let go and enjoy life a little and Jayden was realizing more and more that he was the only person for the job.
Yes, he thought Mikaela was beautiful, but none of this was about his attraction to her. This was about a little girl who was desperate for her mom to smile, and he wanted to help.
Mikaela’s bottom lip trembled a little and Jayden worried he had pushed too far.
“Please, Mommy!” Emmaline shouted, hugging her mother’s thighs. “You’re my favorite!”
Jayden smiled again. “Come on, Favorite Mom. Take some pictures with us.” Since she was now staring at his hand as if it were a live snake, Jayden let it drop, then swung it up in the direction he and Emmaline had come from. “This way, Lovely Princess and Queen. This humble servant cannot offer you a throne, but Mother Nature has granted you her best array to choose from today. Dandelions, ocean grasses, spindly trees and of course, the ever present…” He winked at Emmaline. “Weeds.”
Mikaela snorted while her daughter laughed and Jayden put down a notch on his mental chalkboard for a win.
Sighing dramatically, Mikaela took her daughter’s hand. “Alright,” she said as if the whole situation were putting her out. “But only for a few minutes, okay? This is your day.”
Jayden watched her smile down at Emmaline and squeeze the little girl’s hand. The desire to take Emmaline’s other hand and walk all together hit Jayden in the chest hard and swift, and he gasped slightly at the pressure of it. It was so unexpected he wasn’t sure where it had come from.
He adored little Emmaline, and yes, Mikaela was beautiful, but Jayden was drawn to warm, funny, adventurous women and Mikaela was about as far from that as a woman got. There was no way he was going to let his surface attraction become anything more than a man noticing that a woman was nice to look at. Just here for the pictures, he reminded himself. And to help make a little girl happy. That’s it.
He followed Emmaline and Mikaela through the grasses, studying the landscape in order to find the exact spot he wanted, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from following Mikaela as well.
She was probably the most disagreeable woman Jayden had ever met, but she also intrigued him in a way no one had ever before. Emmaline was a doll, but her mother was…hard. Jayden had no other way to describe her.
“Okay…” Jayden said, widening his smile. “Let’s put you two right here.” He waved his arm toward an area. “I’m gonna go on this side.” He walked around so the sun was in the right position. “Alright.” Jayden tilted his head, studying them. “Mom, you stand right there.” Jayden walked toward them. “Little Princess, we’re going to put you here and you hug your mom around the waist, okay?”
Emmaline beamed at him and followed his directions like a champ. “Like this?”
Jayden smiled and squatted down. “Just right. Now…” He tucked a few strands of hair out of her face. Her curls were fabulously wild. It gave Emmaline the look of a fairy, straight from the Earth and barely tamed. But the shy blush that always crept into the little girl’s face when Jayden teased her kept Emmaline from being out of reach. She really was the most adorable combination he’d ever met.
Emmaline sighed and rested her head against her mom’s hip.
Jayden stood. “Just like that,” he said encouragingly. “Now, Favorite Mom…”
Mikaela raised an eyebrow at him. She still had that wary, but hopeful look and Jayden found himself determined not to let her down.
Let her down? About what?
He wasn’t sure where the protective feeling was coming from, nor did he know what he was trying to protect her from, but something was stirring and dang if it didn’t have him even more interested than before. If he wasn’t careful, he wasn’t going to be able to contain his intrigue much longer.
Deciding to be a little bold, Jayden reached out and touched her chin. Her skin was soft and warm and his fingers immediately itched with the desire to explore more of it. If she hadn’t flinched at his touch, Jayden might have given in.
Instead, he held steady, not pushing the boundary, but not backing off either. He kept his face professional. “Let’s turn your head this way just a touch.” He moved her, then dropped his hand, hopefully conveying that there was nothing to fear from him. “Perfect.” He winked. “It isn’t often I get to photograph two lovely women in one day.”
“I’m not a woman!” Emmaline argued. “I’m a girl!”
Jayden chuckled as he walked away, adjusting the setting on his camera. “Ahh…but you’re a woman in training.” He squatted down and smiled at Emmaline from a distance. “And your mom sounds like the perfect person to be training you to be a lady.” He held the camera to his eye, ignoring Mikaela’s snort.
“Mama, are you a lady?” Emmaline asked, looking up.
Mikaela’s face turned down and the two looked at each other for a moment, Jayden’s finger flying. That shot. It was… Jayden didn’t have words for it, but it filled his chest with warmth and once again, the idea that he wanted to be part of the picture soared through him.
Mikaela opened her mouth, breaking the moment, and Jayden could see in her eyes that she was about to deliver a gentle, but cold truth to her daughter. He couldn’t let that happen.
“Of course she’s a lady!” Jayden cried, catching both of their attention. “Do you see how tall she stands?”
Emmaline squinted up, then nodded at Jayden.
“Do you see how pretty she is?”
Emmaline smiled and nodded again.
“Do you ever see her slurp her spaghetti?”
Emmaline laughed and shook her head.
Mikaela’s lips twitched, easing the pinching around her eyes.
One more success for me, Jayden crowed internally. “Does she ever walk around with messy hair?”
Emmaline put a hand over her mouth, looked up at her mom, then back at Jayden and nodded with wide eyes.
“Hmm…” Jayden scratched his chin. “Well…even ladies have to have some flaws, I suppose.” He pointed a finger at Emmaline. “Does she teach you to have good manners?”
Another nod.
“And how to brush your teeth?”
Emmaline’s hand fell to her side and she straightened. “Yep.”
“Then I think we’ve definitely got the proof we need that your mother is a lady.”
Her giggle only helped the heat in his chest build.
“I think your checklist is flawed,” Mikaela offered quietly. She studied him, still wary, but less hostile than before.
Jayden once again tempered his smile. “Any woman who would take on raising a child on her own is more than a lady, Ms. Greer,” he stated clearly. “She’s a heroine.” He paused, debating, but knew he had to give it a try. “And one that I would love to treat to dinner sometime.”
Chapter 8
“He’s so soft!” Emmaline gushed as she buried her face in the kitten’s fur.
Mikaela smiled and laughed a little before going back to scrubbing out the kennel. “Kitten hair is very soft, you’re right.”
“Maybe someday, when you have a house, your mom will let you take one home!” Riley sang out from the other room.
“Thanks, Riley!” Mikaela shot back, her sarcasm easy to hear.
Riley laughed and Emmaline smiled.
“Can we, Mommy? Buy a house and then a kitten?”
Mikaela leaned back on her heels and sighed. “Not right now,” she explained carefully. Finances were definitely not something she wanted her daughter worrying about, but she did need to understand that there were many things that weren’t an option for them. “Right now, we need to stay at the apartment.”
“But someday?” Emmaline’s eyes were wide and eager.
It made Mikaela’s gut clench. Oh, how she wanted to give that child everything! But right now, they were still working their way through the dental disaster. Even if pets were allowed at the apartment, which they weren’t, Mikaela wasn’t sure she could take on a pet along with the responsibility of a child. She was simply stretched too thin as it was. “We’ll see.”
Even growing up without a mother, Mikaela had easily come to understand exactly what that phrase stood for in “parent-speak”. I don’t have an answer and don’t have the energy to figure it out, so I’m just going to push that back until you forget.
At least she hoped Emmaline would forget. It probably didn’t help that they volunteered almost every Saturday at the shelter. Mikaela had started their little excursion not long after they had arrived in Seagull Cove. It had seemed like a good way to teach Emmaline how to give back, how to work and a little bit about caring for animals. It was backfiring though, now that her daughter was so desperate for an animal of her own.
