Read Online Total Package by Cait London - Free Book Online

to set the ground rules. She picked up her camera and began shooting the women and children’s pictures, the wind tugging at their hair and clothes, a toddler sitting to sift sand through her fingers.
    When she finished, she said, “I’ll see that you get prints ofthese. I’m living with Danya, but don’t get any ideas about romance in the mix. He’s just offered me a place to rest. It gets hectic at the resort with all the models.”
    All three women agreed in a rush:
    “Oh, Danya has made that perfectly clear.”
    “Crystal clear.”
    “He’s already told us that you’re just friends.”
    “I’ll think about the family portraits and the brochures, but first I’ve got to finish this contract,” Sidney said. “There’s a big shindig at the resort tomorrow night, and I have to turn up—business, you know. But I’ve got to get something to wear. Is there a dress shop around here? I’ll need something.”
    “Not really. It’s mostly tourist stuff. I could maybe put something together for you—or alter it,” Ellie said thoughtfully as she considered Sidney. “Come by the house when you get a break.”
    “She’s a whiz with a sewing machine,” Leigh said.
    “Thanks. I may need to ask your help. I’m not much into clothes. I just need something that serves.” In an elegant group, the models were moving down the steps of the Amoteh. “I have to get to work. Catch you later. Maybe. I’ll get back to you about the portrait work.”
    As the women moved away, Sidney studied them. Clearly they were concerned for Danya.
    When the shoot was over, Sidney took her daily takes up to the resort and expressed them to New York for processing. In the luxurious hallway, she met Mikhail. After a short conversation on the progress of the shoot, Mikhail said, “My wife has already told you that I would like you to do some promotion shots for the resort. I hope you’re considering that. We need to update and my staff is comfortable with you.”
    “I’ll think about it. Your family has already asked me to do portraits.”
    “We are overdue for that. We would so appreciate your attention.”
    “They’re all so lovely. I’m considering it, but I don’t usually stay long in one location. I’m a freelancer which meansI move around a lot. I’ve moved for most of my life—my dad was in the service.”
    “But you are more comfortable staying with Danya, than here at the resort?”
    “The resort is really nice, very well run, Mikhail. But this particular gig has too many women in it and they’re crowding me.” After her exchange with the Stepanov women, Sidney’s impression that Mikhail and all of his family hadn’t cared about Danya had changed; she now saw that they were very concerned about him. “He’s a great guy. I know he’s mourning his wife. He’ll find someone someday.”
    “Of course.” With a brief smile Mikhail nodded and plucked the pager from his waist. He glanced at it. “I have to go. Some dilemma on the golf course. You are welcome in my home at any time.”
    Sidney decided to take more shots around Amoteh and wandered down to the docks. She took several of the tourist pier and children playing on the beach. She felt so much a part of everything she’d seen and done, and yet not a part of anything—as if she’d always been an observer, traveling on the perimeters of life.
    She hadn’t realized she was crying until she came to sit on the steps of Danya’s cabin, surveying the evening’s black rolling waves and thinking of the warmth and love of the Stepanov family. Sidney dashed away the tears and wrapped her arms around herself; the Stepanov women had their husbands and children and the images of the day skimmed through her mind. She had nothing in comparison.
    Danya seemed to come out of the night, looming over her. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. Everything.”
    He sat beside her and took her hand. He rubbed it between his warm ones. “What can I do?”
    She wanted to be