Page 8 of Building Courage

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Tucker stood as Brynn approached. She was at least five foot six, reed-thin and narrow-hipped. Her long legs closed the distance between them in a slow stroll that kicked up his heartbeat. She had a dancer’s grace to the way she moved. As she got closer, he noticed how her large, sherry-brown eyes dominated her heart-shaped face and contrasted with her pale, butterscotch-streaked hair. The lush shape of her lips snagged his attention for a second or two. The light dusting of freckles across her nose made her seem younger than he’d expected. But there was nothing young in the wariness he read in her features.

Despite the look in her eyes, he felt the heavy punch of attraction to the bottoms of his feet. Her body was sleek and toned. While watching her, he’d seen her twist, turn, bend, and squat to get the needed shots. He’d never realized how physical taking photos could be.

When she was a few feet closer, he said, “Tucker Giles.” And extended his hand.

She nodded. “Brynn Barrington.” Her handshake was all business. Her voice held a sexy rasp that upped his level of interest.

“Natalie didn’t call you to clear this meeting, did she?” he guessed.

“No.” Despite her flat tone, her voice held some heat.

Shit! “If this is a bad time, I can move along, and you can call me when it’s not.”

She studied him for a moment, taking him in with a slow, thorough assessment. Some of the tension eased from her features. “No. It’s okay. I have time to talk.” She moved to the bench and sat down on the edge.

Something in her posture, the bow-tight tension in her body, told him not to crowd her. He left space between them when he sat down.

After a few seconds of silence, he said, “How long do you have before the shoot in Australia, Brynn?”

“Five months.”

That was a reasonable time frame for her to learn to scuba—depending on how dedicated she was to it. But the sport wasn’t for everyone.

“Do you want to learn to scuba? Or is this something Natalie pushed you into?”

A quick, wry smile curved her lips, and then she was gone. “I make my living photographing ads for magazines, doing stock photos, and some private shoots, but mostly commercial stuff. I also do some graphic design for websites. It’s steadier, and the pay is better. I’ve been doing this since I graduated college. Two years ago, I created a travel blog and a podcast that I do about embracing new experiences. Natalie saw it, saw my photos, and decided to hire me to do some photography for the magazine. The podcast has boosted magazine sales, and recently, she’s been pushing me to do more and more things. Scuba is one of them.”

“But you don’t really have an interest in scuba?”

“I haven’t tried it yet. I don’t know if I’ll like it or not.”

He’d always liked a challenge. Everything about Brynn Barrington screamed challenge in big, bold letters.

She looked toward the jungle gym briefly, then back at him. “I surf a little. That was one of the things I took up last year. I feel comfortable in the water. I’ve been swimming since I was four.” Sharing that small bit of information seemed difficult for her.

She was built like a swimmer, and she’d look great in a wetsuit. He jerked his thoughts back to business. “Learning to scuba and learning how to shoot photos underwater are two separate challenges. You can’t be distracted when you’re fifty feet or more below the surface. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, stay on top of the amount of time you spend on the bottom, and know how to handle things if your equipment malfunctions. It’s a fun sport, but it can be challenging and dangerous as well.”

“Did you explain that to Natalie?” she asked.

“Yes, I did.”

She fell silent for a moment. “She wants the magazine to succeed above anything else.”

“And you?” he asked.

“I won’t be pushed into doing anything I’m uncomfortable with. I don’t depend on her or the magazine for my income.”

“Good, because that lady’s pushy as hell.”

A small smile shot across her features. She was beginning to relax with him.

“How do you know Natalie?” she asked.

“We met when she was doing freelance work for another publication. It’s been a while since she interviewed me. Maybe four years.” He turned toward her. “Look. Natalie isn’t the one traveling halfway around the globe, diving in unfamiliar waters, and using equipment that doesn’t come as naturally to you as the camera you used today. You’ll be wise not to let her influence you too much.”

She looked up, and her gaze settled on him. “Did you watch me while I was working?”