Page 89 of Summer Love

"Did you tell me you loved me in there?" She gestured toward the tent.

I raised a brow, my fingers itched to touch her hip and pull her closer. "You have a problem with that?"

A smile played on her lips. "Not at all. It's just I didn't get a chance to respond."

"Perfect. I think he's good," the photographer said, startling me.

Elena moved away, and my heated gaze followed her as she went. She wore a white tank top and a short green skirt that fluttered around the tops of her thighs as she moved. She looked delicious.

"I love everything about that smolder. Just direct it this way."

I tried to keep that same intense expression as I swung my gaze in the direction of the camera. I pushed everything else out of my mind except for the expression on Elena's face when I said I was in love with her. I'd wanted to pull her closer, her palms resting on my bare chest, her lips pressed against mine.

"Perfect." The photographer moved around, and I followed the camera lens, never breaking my gaze. No one else was here. It was just me and Elena, and the memory of her standing between my legs. The soft expression on her face when she realized I was talking about her.

Had she been about to say that she loved me too?

It wasn't the best time to declare my love for her, but it felt right.

Now that I was doing whatever it was the photographer wanted, the shoot went a lot quicker. I was hyperaware that Elena hovered nearby, but I was thankfully able to block out the rest of the staff and my brothers' presence.

The photographer tilted her screen to Valerie, and she nodded. "That's a wrap."

I let out a sigh of relief and took the shirt that someone offered me. I had never felt like my body was on display for everyone to see before. If Dad hadn't insisted we go along with the article, I don't know that I could have done it.

Now that I was covered, I felt more like myself.

Elena appeared in front of me. "You were great."

I cocked my head. "Are you sure about that?"

"The second round was so much better. You got the hang of it eventually."

"That's because you were here."

"I have to stay and clean up, but I can stop by later." Her voice went up slightly.

I nodded, aware that we couldn't flaunt our relationship here, not when I was supposed to be the most eligible bachelor on the island.

"Thanks for going along with this. I know it's a lot."

Nothing was too much when it came to making Elena happy. "I want your article to be successful."

"I think it will be." Then she moved away, gathering things for the photographer.

Brady threw a hand over my shoulder. "We're going to head out. You good?"

I glanced over at Elena, who was talking to Valerie. "Yeah."

Shep grinned. "I can't wait to see how those pictures turned out. I'm fairly sure I'm going to be named the most eligible bachelor."

"What are you talking about?" I asked him.

"I heard someone talking about a reader poll for most eligible bachelor, and I'm obviously the most attractive."

Cooper pushed him on the shoulder. "You don't need a bigger ego."

Shep touched his chest. "I can't help that the ladies love me."