Read Online Fear of Falling by Catherine Lanigan - Free Book Online Page A

“You certainly don’t seem to be afraid of horses. For most people, that’s half the battle.”
    â€œAfraid.” She said the word as if considering its meaning. “Not exactly.” She smiled at him, but it was forced. Her eyes were guarded; she was definitely holding something back.
    His own curiosity surprised him. He wanted to know what that something was. Olivia was a total stranger to him, yet he was responding to her as if he’d known her for some time. Maybe it was their shared love of horses. Maybe his grief-torn heart just wanted a distraction from the reality of his father’s death. If he was guilty of using her to ease his pain, he didn’t care. At this moment he felt better. He felt as if he was breaking out of prison.
    â€œIs it all right that I took a couple photos in here? I’m a photographer. An amateur. I mean, not professional by any means,” she equivocated.
    He took in the expensive-looking Pentax camera suspended from a strap around her neck. “I don’t know anything about cameras. But I’m guessing you didn’t buy that at Walmart.”
    Her ivory skin turned blotchy crimson-red. She touched the zoom lens daintily.
    He didn’t know what trigger he’d just pulled, but something had hit home. He was fascinated.
    â€œThis is my fourth trade-up since I finished high school. It’s a 645D and has forty megapixels, and I know it looks big compared to a lot of cameras these days, but it takes amazing pictures.” She glanced up at him and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I get carried away talking about my cameras and lenses. Equipment is critical to me. I’m constantly either adding to or improving my stash.”
    â€œReally? I just snap with my iPhone. That’s it. Moment captured. I’m done.”
    The look she flashed him was simultaneously empathetic and condescending. He didn’t know why he was trying to impress her, but he was. But he’d messed up on that one. He’d have to backpedal to cover up his mistake.
    â€œPhones are good for those everyday moments,” she conceded. “But if you’re pursuing photography as an art—like Edward Burtynsky or Sebastião Salgado, not that I’m comparing myself to them—you need cameras so sophisticated and accurate that the photos they take bring the viewer into a world they never knew existed. That’s what I’m striving for, anyway.”
    Rafe was speechless. She’d put him in his place. That didn’t happen often. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d cared what anyone thought about his opinions...aside from his dad. It had certainly been a long time since he’d wanted to impress a woman. Was that what was going on? He wasn’t exactly sure. His thoughts were such a jumble, he wouldn’t be surprised if he couldn’t remember his birthday. “That’s some kind of ambition,” he responded, shaking his head and shoving his hand in his back pocket. “Did you study them in college?”
    â€œI didn’t go to college.”
    He guessed from the growing flame in her cheeks he’d hit on a sore subject. Strike number two , he thought. He had to recover this. “Apparently, you didn’t need to. I’d say self-taught and self-motivated suits you.”
    â€œThank you,” she said, and the crimson in her cheeks faded to a blush. She lowered her eyes, and he could see the shadow of long, dark lashes against her skin. When she met his eyes again, he felt his breath catch. “I guess I do have high aspirations, but the way I see it, if I don’t shoot for the stars, I might never gain the moon.”
    â€œAnd what moon would that be?” He was delving into some intimate waters here. He didn’t care. He wanted to know more about her.
    â€œI’m hoping to become a photojournalist someday. I’ve been building my portfolio for years and