Page 43

Lachlan carried Maisie’s camera equipment to the gardens, and they met Grant and Colleen there. She looked lovely. The garden was bathed in light as the sun began setting. Maisie chose the red rose garden, Colleen’s red hair and green eyes complemented by a soft green, medieval-style dress, the ancient stone walls behind them fitting with the style. She also had a MacQuarrie tartan throw draped over her shoulders. She was beautiful. Grant was wearing a kiltand shirt, his sword hanging at his waist as if he were protecting his ladylove. It was just perfect. Maisie hoped that Heather and Enrick had a similar setup.

“Now that’s what I want too when we do ours,” Edeen said to Lachlan. “Just like that.”

“Heather wants to come here to have her photo shoot with Enrick tomorrow. She said you made her a beautiful gown,” Maisie said.

“Yes,” Colleen said, before Edeen could respond. “Edeen made mine also.”

“It’s just lovely,” Maisie said. The whole experience was beautiful. They were truly wolves in love. When Maisie finished up with them, she smiled to see Lachlan’s arms around Edeen, both of them smiling.

“Thanks for doing the photo shoot for me on such short notice,” Colleen said. “I can’t wait to see the photos. And we’ll want baby pictures too.”

“Of course.”

Lachlan helped carry Maisie’s camera equipment back to the car, and Edeen hugged Lachlan again. “See you tonight, honey.”

“I’ll see you later, and be sure to rest,” Lachlan said to his mate.

“I will.” Edeen drove Maisie to Robert’s house so she could take pictures of Mittens. “I’m so sorry you had to go through what you had to on the dive today. If you need me for anything, just call me.”

“Thanks. It truly was a shock, but it helped to take photographs of everyone’s animals, and the maternity shoot was so beautiful, which totally got my mind off it.”

“I know. I want one just like that when it’s time for me. I’ll see you later.”

“See you.”

Maisie took her camera equipment out of Edeen’s car and walked to the front door of Robert’s home as Edeen drove off. Before Maisie could knock, Robert threw it open. He was standing there with a towel around his waist, his hair wet and water droplets clinging all over his gorgeous body—chest, arms, legs. She laughed. He was so hot. And definitely sexy. She’d never envisioned this, but truly, he was a welcome sight.

He smiled, taking her camera bag from her. “I heard Edeen’s car as I was getting out of the shower. I didn’t want you to have to carry all that camera equipment in by yourself.”

“I’m used to it. Not that I mind you coming to my rescue like this at all.” She ran her finger over some of the water drops on his chest, and he smiled, took her hand, and kissed it. “Where’s Mittens?” she asked.

“She’s around here somewhere.” The cat came out as if summoned using her name and wound around his legs and then Maisie’s.

“You are adorable.” She crouched down to pet Mittens. “Did you know that it’s rumored that the first cat to reach Mount Everest was a tuxedo cat?”

“I’m surprised the cat could make it up to that altitude. Mittens is really playful. I’m going to dress, and I’ll help you set her up for pictures.” He settled his hands on Maisie’s shoulders, leaned down, and kissed her lips briefly. “I’ll be right back.” Then he hurried off to his bedroom to get dressed.

They’d avoided talking about Gus’s body, but after photographing Mittens, if Robert didn’t mention it, Maisie would ask him how he thought Gus had died.

She found the right place to set up her camera, the perfect natural light coming through the windows, and added some additional artificial light. Now she just needed to get kitty to sit still.

When Robert came out of his bedroom, fully dressed, Mittens ran straight for him.

“She’s so cute. Just like a little puppy dog.” Maisie had never had a cat, so she was surprised that Mittens was so affectionate and not aloof, like she thought she would be.

“She is.” He scooped her up and cuddled her. Maisie felt warm all over seeing him loving on his cat.

“Okay, Mittens, you have a job to do.” He set her on a black-and-white polka-dot pillow, and she looked up at him. “What do you want me to do to help her show her best side, Maisie?”

“Do you have a cat toy? You could dangle it over her head, and I’ll take pictures of her looking up at it or trying to catch it.”

“That would be cute.” He retrieved a stuffed pink mouse on a string, Mittens observing him, her tail twitching.

Then he dangled the mouse above Mitten’s head and her big green eyes were focusing on it first, and then she began trying to grab it with her claws while Maisie was taking pictures of her. “These are so cute.” She’d even taken pictures of Mittens watching Robert before he reached her with the toy mouse.

After she took several photos, Maisie said, “Those should be good. When we’re making dinner, I can take a couple of photos of her when she’s just sleeping or resting.” Mittens hopped off the pillow and onto a windowsill, where she sat to watch the birds outside. Maisie snapped some more pictures of her.

“How does pizza sound for dinner?” Robert asked, peering into the freezer.