Read Online Secrets of You by Mary Campisi - Free Book Online Page B

man who would expect complete honesty this time around. Where would she even begin? She couldn’t think about it, so she squashed the idea and focused on the slide covering the huge television screen. She’d been immersed in these photos and his explanation of them for more than an hour as they sat on the cream leather couch, close enough to touch one another, but not touching. As the hour stretched from one to two and Arianna grew more entranced by the photos and Ash’s deep voice bringing them to life, she became more aware of his closeness. Oh, how she had missed that.
    The man knew how to cook, engage in casual and entertaining conversation, had a deep passion for his photography, and really seemed to care about the people in his pictures, many of whom he’d only met briefly. The old Ash might have acknowledged them but he wouldn’t have seen them. This one did, which made him that much more appealing…that much more dangerous to her heart…
    “What are you thinking?”
    That I could lose my heart to you again…that maybe I never stopped loving you…
    “Arianna?”
    She stifled the thought and turned to him. “These photos are brilliant. Ian would love them.”
    “For what?”
    “To sell. These are what you should hang in your offices and condos.” She envisioned the frames and matting. Ian would know how to tie in the various photographs to give them clarity and distinctiveness. “Did you get the names of the people you photographed?” He’d need release forms.
    “I did. I told them I’d send along the photos once I got them developed.” He frowned. “Why do you ask?”
    “You’ll need their permission to use their photo.” The old man rocking on the front porch, the young woman digging in a patch of petunias. And the boy, perched on a rock in the creek, eating long strands of licorice.
    “I’m not trying to make money off of these people.” He threw her a look that was awfully close to disgust. “Everything isn’t about making the next buck.”
    She matched his disgust. “Spoken from one who has never had to worry about making his first one.” He had no idea what it was like to have an empty wallet and no way to fill it.
    Ash flung a cushion aside and sprang off the couch as though he needed to get as far away from her idea as possible. Or maybe as far away from her as possible. “Having too much money is as much a hindrance as having none.”
    “Really? Well, I’m sure the man on the street corner with a sign that says ‘Will work for food’ will be pleased to know that.” Two years ago he’d had a casual disregard for money she’d found charming, but that was before she discovered he possessed an unlimited supply.
    He paced the room, hands shoved in his hair, brow furrowed—looking everywhere but at her. “I won’t exploit these people. Not even for you.”
    “Not even for me? What does that mean?” She stood and blocked his path. Why would he say such a thing?
    He stopped a few feet from her. When he met her gaze, she almost wished he hadn’t. Anger. Annoyance. Disgust. That’s what she saw in those eyes, all directed at her. “Since I’ve been back, I’ve begged, apologized, compromised, in hopes you’d give us another chance. I’m not used to doing any of those things, but I did them. For you. For the hope there could be an us .” His lips curled. “But I won’t use these innocent people for personal gains. They let me into their lives, and I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate knowing I’d cashed in on their hospitality.” He paused, shoved his hands in his back pockets. “Small towns are different from big cities.” He shrugged. “But I guess you wouldn’t know.”
    Oh, but she would know, she did know. All too well. Ash might find them charming and built on a handshake, but he didn’t know the underbelly of gossip and hurt that swirled the streets like a backed-up sewage supply until the stench drove you away, kept you away…but even then, you could