Page 65 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Patricia glanced up at the commotion, convinced she hadn’t heard what she thought she heard. There. There it was again.

“There he is!”

“Hey. Where you been, man? Long time no see.”

Hoots and man-back-slaps were happening behind her. She twisted away from where she had adjusted a leave of basil perched atop a plate of pasta and looked fully at the scene behind her.

“Neanderthals.”

There was nothing like a small throng of men greeting each other with chest thumps and high-fives and knuckle-bumps.

“Cooper! Coop!”

Something icy trickled down her spine.

“Oh, my God in Heaven. No.”

Straightening to her full five-foot-eight inches—without the heels—she swallowed hard and pulled every bit of resolve she possessed about her, bolstering for what might come next.

She stared straight ahead at the man-throng and spied him.

“Ames Cooper, you bastard.”

The words slipped from her lips on a hiss.

“Who in the hell called you?”

He couldn’t hear her, of course, since he was in the midst of a testosterone tug-of-war. Men...

She glanced about. Suzie was in makeup and Patricia had been piddling with her plates. Where was the woman when she needed her? The crew had been messing with the lighting the past thirty minutes, readying the set for the photo shoot. There was no place to go, to hide, or to slip out of the scene. Planted square in the center of the set, with several of Suzie’s dishes parked on the island behind her, she willed herself not to panic and prayed she was invisible.

Instead of fading into oblivion like she wanted to do, however, she was on display. So, she did the only thing she could do—pulled back her shoulders, set her jaw and tilted her head, crossed her arms tight over her chest, and glared straight ahead.

Dammit, Ames Cooper, why do you have to look so damned good?

It felt like she was the only one in the room, watching the reunion between Coop and the crew from afar. His back was to her, but his voice was unmistakable. Deep, smooth, potent—like fine chocolate. Add slow and seductive to those descriptors. He laughed and his head shot back, his shaggy hair tossed out of his face. Her forefinger itched to curl around a lock, twisting and tugging. She had always loved the color, dark brown laced with a hint of blond—she was never certain whether it was natural or if he had it done that way on purpose. She wondered why she’d never asked him.

Probably because she was always too busy getting into his jeans.

Jeans. Tight ass. Her gaze lowered to his backside. “Yum.”

The word was barely audible.

It had been three years....

Ames Cooper was the last man she had ever expected to fall in love with. Her Irish Catholic parents had a fit when they found out she was dating a man with multi-ethnic heritages. Ames’ mother was white—his father was biracial, half African American and half Hispanic. He just wasn’t white, and that was that with her parents. And he wasn’t Catholic, either. Had even professed once during dinner with her parents that he didn’t claim any religion and saw himself as more spiritual than religious.

That didn’t go over well in the Plum household.

Plus, there was his job. The fact that Ames was without a 9-to-5 job ticked her father off royally.

“Freelancer?”

he said.

“That’s what people do when they are too lazy to find a real job.”

It was a real bone of contention between her and her blue-collar parents. Fortunately, since she was on the plus side of forty, she could tell her parents to mind their own business—in a kind way, of course. They’d never figured out that Ames was quite a few years younger than her. Still, their opinions mattered.

A lot.

In the end, her father had been semi-right about Ames, although she never told him that.

“Damned playboy.”

Her father was a very perceptive man and he had hit the real issue square on the head.

Patricia had cut off the relationship after he’d confessed to a tangle with a woman he met on a shoot, and it wasn’t a pretty scene. Yet, she had mourned the loss of the potential relationship for years.

Consequently, however, Ames Cooper was the last man she expected to walk into the studio this afternoon.

“Gotta get out of here,”

she whispered. Thing was, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.

“Mumbling to yourself?”

Patricia jumped at the words and realized Suzie stood beside her. “Oh!”

“What’s going on?”

Suzie looked in the same direction as Patricia.

“Men.”

“Yes, I see that.”

“Man.”

Suzie cocked her head to the side. “Oh?”

Patricia nodded.

“Dangerous, dangerous, sexy, delicious man.”

“Tall and hot?”

About that time, the banter between the men stopped, and Ames turned to look behind him, straight at the women—like one of them had called his name, or something. Or willed him to turn around and look. Patricia watched his white-toothed smile straight-line and the twinkle go out of his eyes.

Momentarily.

Then they crinkled again, and the right corner of his mouth shot up into a half-grin.

“Shit,”

Patricia said through her teeth.

Her gaze didn’t leave his, even as he lazily strode toward them. One worn denim-clad leg forward then the other. Each honey-brown arm swinging in rhythm to his walk. Damn t-shirt tight over his muscled chest and biceps.

Did he own any other shirt but t-shirts? She didn’t think so.

His deep-set eyes grew more intent as he grew closer.

“Shit, shit, shit...”

Her stomach clutched into a curl of confusion. Each breath she took lay heavy on her chest. Her arms were still crossed—all ten fingers grasped an opposite bicep, more in an attempt to keep herself together than anything else.

He stopped not two feet from her. His gaze pierced, and if he didn’t break the connection soon, she was afraid she would keel over from lack of breath.

With a flick of his head, he averted his gaze to Suzie and put out his hand. Patricia exhaled.

“Ms. Hart,”

he said.

“so very nice to meet you. I’m Ames Cooper and I’ll be photographing those lovely dishes of yours this afternoon.”

He leaned closer.

“But if I am totally honest with both of us, it is your beauty I am secretly aching to capture with my camera.”

He grinned big, and Patricia could sense Suzie’s semi-swoon.

The homegrown chef from Harbor Falls, North Carolina squeaked a little and held out a limp hand.

“She’s married,”

Patricia bit out.

“And you keep your damn hands off her.”

Both Ames and Suzie turned and gaped. Suzie’s face was a big, fat question mark.

It was Ames, though, who spoke next, turning fully to face Patricia. His perusal started at the top of her head, made a slow trail down her body to the tip of her red heels, and then grazed all the way back up again to her face. She felt every inch as if he were skimming her body with his hands.

Beautiful, large hands, floating over her hot skin.

She shook herself.

“Obviously you still have issues, Plum. You need to get over them if we are going to work together.”

“Not my choice you are here. Who the hell called you, anyway?”

He shrugged.

“Your assistant, I think. Jonna?”

Jonna. Dammit. She’d only been on the job three weeks. Where did she find his name and number? She guessed Ames was still in the company contact files.

“Well, you can leave now. We don’t need you.”

Ames’ face broke into a saucy, sexy grin. Then, as if on a dare, he lifted a finger to trail it down the side of her cheek. Patricia stifled a shiver.

But oh, his touch...

Dammit!

“Sorry, Plummish, I signed the contract and sent it back in. I believe your signature was on the bottom line. Best check that.”

He turned to Suzie.

“Now, shall we get to work?”

He took Suzie’s arm and turned that wicked-bad charm of his on her new protege. Oh, she didn’t worry about Suzie getting caught up with the likes of Ames Cooper. Suzie was married with a capital M. That wasn’t her concern at all. What concerned her more was how she, herself, was going to keep her hands out of Ames Cooper’s pants.

Bad news. Ames Cooper was bad news. Remember that.

“Jonna!”

She turned and stalked off in the opposite direction.

“Has anyone seen that assistant of mine?”

The crew snickered as she rushed by.

****

“The camera loves you, sweetheart. Your dishes, too. You’re a natural.”

Ames smiled at Suzie and meant every single word. It wasn’t a come-on; it was the truth. Her fair and freckled skin was like a palate adorned with her strawberry blond hair and her stunning blue eyes.

“You are going to go far in this business.”

“You really think so?”

Ames adjusted a lock of her hair and stepped behind his camera again.

“There, hold that.”

He snapped the shot.

“Goddamn, you are beautiful. That was the shot of the day. We’re done.”

“What?”

Suzie looked at him with questioning eyes.

“Yes, I think you are going to go far. And sweetheart? That last head shot will be the one Patricia will pick for your publicity photo. I guarantee it.”

He moved toward her and took her hand to pull her to feet.

“You’ve been great, Ames. Thank you for being so nice,”

she said.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, and you make me feel so relaxed.”

“I never would have guessed you weren’t a pro.”

He smiled.

“You’re too kind.”

“I’ll have something for Patricia to look at in a couple of days. I know you are taping again tomorrow. I’d love to shoot tomorrow’s dishes, too, but I’m not sure it is in Patricia’s plan.”

They meandered away from the set. Suzie asked.

“Do you do cookbooks?”

He stopped and stared.

“Cookbooks?”

Suzie nodded.

“Yes. I’m working on my next cookbook. My publisher is looking for a photographer. The last one didn’t work out so well.”

No one had said anything to him about a cookbook. His contract only specified promo shots for the show and her PR kit.

“I would love to work on your cookbook, Suzie, if I were given the chance. Is Channeling Food publishing it?”

“Oh no. It’s a different company, er, publisher.”

Her brow knit.

“I like working with you, though. Are you coming back tomorrow?”

Bingo. The last thing he wanted to do today was walk away from the set without a chance to come back tomorrow. And even though he selfishly did want to work with Suzie—she was just a gem—something had uncoiled inside him earlier when he’d ambled toward Patricia.

This thing between the two of them—it wasn’t over, that was obvious. Working with Suzie would not only be fun and satisfying but give him a chance to test the waters a bit with Patricia.

“Maybe you could put in a good word for me.”

In more ways than one.

Suzie stopped and looked him straight in the eye.

“So, Ames Cooper, what’s going on between you and Patricia, hm?”

She arched a deep brown, penciled eyebrow and her eyes twinkled beneath.

He dipped his head to hold her stare.

“Not a thing, Ms. Suzie Matthews. Not a thing.”

“Not now,”

she countered.

“No.”

“But in the past?”

Lifting his chin, he studied her.

“A past. Yes. Let’s just say we share one.”

Could he dare hope for a future? Had he truly learned his lesson?

****

From behind a desk, Patricia looked up and through the door to see Ames bend to hug Suzie, and then head out the back of the studio. She’d been given this space to work in while they were filming the show. At first, she thought she wouldn’t need it but now she was glad she’d had a spot to escape to. She watched Ames stalk across the floor and then imagined she heard the door click as he left. Simultaneously she released a long, slow breath.

“Thank God.”

Ames was gone.

Even though she didn’t want to be there watching, she knew the shoot went well. She had peeked at their progress from her perch most of the afternoon.

Ames was good. Damn good. One of the best photographers in the city. Part of the appeal in hiring him was that he wasn’t tied to a network or publisher, and she didn’t have to worry about dealing with higher ups—she only had to deal with Ames. At least, that’s how it had always worked in the past. But she had torn up his contact information and his file long ago. How in the hell had Jonna ended up with it?

Suzie caught her gaze as she walked directly toward her office door. Patricia rose and met her just outside.

“How did it go?”

Suzie grinned and jumped up and down.

“Fabulous. I love working with Ames!”

“He is good.”

Oh yes, he is.

“What a nice young man,”

Suzie went on.

“He made me feel so beautiful and relaxed. It went so fast! You don’t know how I was dreading this.”

Patricia had to concur. She knew Suzie was nervous, and if there was anyone in the business that could put a body at ease, it was Ames.

“I’m glad it worked out.”

“Is he coming back tomorrow?”

Suddenly her head hurt. Shit. She had let Jonna go a couple of hours ago. She supposed she should read that contract they had both signed.

“Not sure if we need him, Suzie.”

“I really, really like him. Can I request him as my photographer all the time?”

“Now Suzie, that’s my call...”

“But I must feel comfortable.”

“He may be booked.”

“No, he’s open. I asked.”

“Not sure if we need stills tomorrow.”

“I may get the publisher to use him for the cookbook.”

Her heart clutched. Crap.

“I didn’t know you were ready to contract that yet.”

“Maybe he could take pictures while we are doing the shoot, wouldn’t that make sense? I mean, once the dishes are created, he could shoot them after the taping is over. I could take them to the publisher and see if they like his work and then...”

“We don’t work it that way, Suzie.”

“But it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Perfect sense.

“Somewhat...”

“Then it’s settled.”

“What’s settled?”

“I want Ames to come in and take some pictures tomorrow.”

“Suzie, you don’t understand, you don’t get to choose things like that. I’m managing this process and there are procedures and unions and I...”

“And I suppose I could just get back on a plane to Harbor Falls. My family does need—”

Was little Suzie Hart blackmailing her? What the hell?

“Suzie, I have a headache. Can we talk about this later?”

“I want Ames here tomorrow, Patricia.”

“Oh, hell. All right.”

Hell’s bells. What had she just agreed to?

Suzie beamed.

“Thank you.”

She hesitated only a second and then pulled a square, folded piece of paper out of her pocket.

“Now, about this list.”

Patricia did an about face. The list.

“What are you talking about?”

“I want to go over a couple of things on this list.”

“Now?”

Grimacing, Suzie said.

“Why not now? It’s early.”

Stomping back into her office, Patricia plopped into her chair and laid a forearm over her forehead.

“I have one mother of a headache.”

Suzie followed her.

“This won’t take long.”

She ignored the whine and dove right in.

“Now, as I look over this list, I come to one conclusion.”

“And what’s that.”

“We need to tear it up.”

She sat up.

“No, that’s my list. That’s who I want.”

“I don’t think so.”

“And you are suddenly the expert on my love life?”

“I believe you asked me to be that, Ms. Plum.”

That, she did, dammit.

“So, let’s play a little game. Let’s go through the list and see how people you know measure up to the list. Let’s start with...um, let’s say, Ames Cooper.”

Patricia laughed. “No.”

“Humor me.”

“Why?”

Suzie grinned.

“Because I am asking you to. Okay, the first thing on your list is clean cut. How does that compare with Ames?”

His shaggy-haired, scruffy-faced, battered-denimed, faded black t-shirted body shot into her head.

“Of course not.”

“Older than thirty-five.”

“He’s barely thirty.”

“And you’re what, Patricia, thirty-eight?”

“I’m forty-two, dammit.”

Suzie grinned.

“Nothing wrong with having a younger man. Brad is a few years younger than me.”

“A dozen-years-younger man is a boy toy. I’m looking for a husband, Suzie.”

“Debatable.”

“What’s debatable? The boy toy or the husband?”

“Both.”

Suzie paused and studied the list.

“What about this next one. Must be ready to commit.”

“P-pht. We’re talking Ames here. He doesn’t commit.”

Suzie made a note. “Kids?”

“No, thank God.”

What kind of father would Ames make? The self-centered male that he is. Probably, he would make a great father...

“Can’t work in the food industry.”

“Scratch that.”

“Ick factors?”

“Not going there.”

“Drop dead gorgeous.”

“Enough said.”

“Has job? Money?”

“Freelances.”

She cringed inside at even saying the word.

“Catholic?”

“Definitely not.”

“Loves sushi?”

“Vegan.”

“Patricia?”

“Hm?”

“Seems like you went to a whole lot of trouble to make a list that would, beyond a shadow of a doubt, exclude the one man in your life who really needs to be on it.”

Patricia looked at Suzie and honestly had no clue how to respond to that, because at first blush, that statement took her totally by surprise. No. She’d not made that list to exclude Ames, she’d made that list because those were her husband requirements.

And Ames didn’t qualify.

Plain and simple.

Leaning forward, she hooked into Suzie’s challenging stare and said.

“Suzie Hart, don’t you dare go thinking that you are going to match-make me with Ames Cooper because that is not happening. Ames Cooper was a diversion. He is not husband material and never will be.”