Sweet on You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 4) by Leeanna Morgan Page A

won’t be taking any more photos until Monday at the earliest. If mother nature looks kindly on us, I should have the first images ready by Wednesday. Does that suit your time frame?”
    Jacob nodded. “We haven’t talked money. How much are you going to charge me to take these photos?” Molly named an amount that made his eyes narrow. “That’s not enough.”
    “Sure it is. I’d like to ask your permission to use the photos for other purposes. Emerald Lake would make a fine exhibition subject.”
    “You can use the photos however you like, but I’m not paying you what you want. I’ll work something out and put it in the contract.”
    Molly shrugged her shoulders. “You’ll do what you must, but for me it’s not about how much I earn. As long as I have enough money to get by, I’m happy.”
    “Have you always been that careless with your finances?”
    Molly’s eyes shone brightly. “I’m not careless by nature, Jacob Green. I’ve worked hard for what I’ve achieved. But money doesn’t buy happiness.”
    Jacob had already learned that lesson and he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
    “It takes a lot more than that to offend me. Besides, I’ve done enough of that with you to last a lifetime.” Molly held her cup toward him. “Here’s to working together. May we both find what we’re looking for.”
    Jacob clinked his mug against Molly’s tea cup. It should be an interesting week.
     
    ***
    The next day, Molly opened the door of her car and breathed in the clean, crisp morning air. She could see Emerald Lake in the distance, sitting below the early morning mist like a blanket of silk and satin. She pulled her backpack out of the trunk and checked that she had her water bottle and breakfast tucked securely in a side pocket.
    It was a fine morning to take some photographs. There were enough clouds in the sky to create majesty and splendor, but not enough to overwhelm the scene. As the sun rose higher, the lake would glisten; create magic and mystery, a need to know more.
    This would be the beginning of the story, the setting of the scene.
    She walked away from her car and headed toward a ridge she’d seen yesterday. She’d taken a chance on this location. After circling the property twice in Victor’s helicopter, she’d seen no better place to start her story.
    Jacob would be able to bring prospective clients to this spot, show them the reality of the images she was about to take. And the reality, she knew, was far more spectacular than anything she could capture on film.
    When she reached where she needed to be, Molly pulled a small waterproof blanket from her backpack. She might be wanting to create magic, but a wet bottom wasn’t fun. The dew on the grass would soak through her jeans, make the time on the mountain a little less comfortable. She had an hour to enjoy this landscape before she needed to leave, an hour she would put to good use.
    She pulled a tripod out of her backpack, unfurled its telescopic legs and thanked the good Lord for titanium. Her tripod had gone around the world many times with her. Its lightweight construction and ease of use made it as essential to her life as the camera that sat above it.
    When she was happy with the first shots, she pulled another camera out of her bag. This one was special. She’d worked after school and on Saturdays at the Montgomery Beauty Salon, sweeping hair off the floor, shampooing and conditioning thousands of heads, all to save for the camera that she wanted the most.
    Different camera models had come and gone, but Molly had known what she wanted, and no new features would change her mind. After a year of saving, she nearly had enough money put aside. Mr. O’Driscoll, the owner of the camera shop, offered her a discount. She was all set to buy her camera, when it disappeared off the shelf.
    She’d been heartbroken. She couldn’t find the same camera anywhere else, but two days later she learned