Angela, Carla - Full Exposure (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read Free Page B

Relaxed. So chilled he didn’t even feel the need for footwear.
    She dared to look up again, steeling herself against Hunter’s hypnotic gaze, fervently imagining an invisible shield sliding up between them, like an electric car window. Aside from his shabby attire, she was starting to have a hard time believing he would have any trouble in the love stakes at all.
    ‘So tell me a little about yourself,’ she pressed on. ‘It will help with, uh, how to frame the photo—to be true to who you are.’
    ‘Well, what do you want to know?’
    Lake waved her pen about, as though it would somehow help to explain herself better. ‘I don’t know. What you do for work, your personality, what your passions are.’ Urgh. There she went again. This time, though, she had a better time extinguishing the embers threatening to fully lick her cheeks with flames.
    Hunter cleared his throat. ‘Well, work-wise, I guess you could call me an entrepreneur. I have various… business interests. Investments.’
    Which would explain the palatial pad. So it wasn’t Daddy’s after all .
    ‘Personality-wise? Relaxed, but determined maybe? I don’t know. I guess you’d have to ask those who know me best.’ He gestured at the Labrador still perched at Lake’s feet. ‘Unfortunately, Scraps isn’t much of a conversationalist, though. As for my… passions ?’ He seemed to hold Lake’s gaze a little longer than necessary here. Immediately, she flicked her eyes down to her notepad, scribbling something nonsensical as a distraction. The silence stretched out like bubblegum. Lake peeked up again.
    Hunter was looking into the distance now, seeming to consider this last part of her question with deep thought. ‘I’m passionate about art. Design. Anything that signals a degree of creativity, a unique frame of mind. A respite from the dog-eat-dog business world.’
    Lake suddenly blew out her breath, not realising she’d been holding it in. She busied herself with taking another sip of wine, even though she’d sworn herself off it just minutes earlier. It filled her with a false confidence momentarily. She leaned forward, pen poised again. ‘And what are you looking for…in a partner ?’
    Hunter’s tongue flickered over his bottom lip, leaving it slick with moisture. He cracked his knuckles. ‘Similar to the last question, I’m after someone passionate. And creative. And I don’t mind a bit of feistiness.’ Hunter could well have been describing Lake herself. He pushed on. ‘Just so long as she’s passionate about whatever she’s doing, whatever dream she’s pursuing. A rare rose really. Someone who’s after my heart and not just my… success .’
    Poor little rich boy . But she could understand he would be the type to attract undesirables in the same way Fenella did, though equally for his dripping wealth as his drop-dead good looks. It was a lethally alluring combination.
    ‘Is that what made you turn to online dating?’ Lake pressed. ‘Women throwing themselves at you for all the wrong reasons?’
    ‘ Throwing themselves at me?’ Hunter’s eyes lit up teasingly. He chuckled. ‘Why would you ever think that?’
    Lake squirmed in her seat, unsure how to answer. She didn’t want to spell out the fact of just how gorgeous he was, that he was an uberhandsome wolf in sheep’s clothing. Finally, she simply just shrugged.
    For once, though, Hunter let her off the hook he was dangling her on. And now there was seriousness in his eyes, which sent a shiver through her. ‘I’ve played the field, but now I feel it’s time—to find The One. And I didn’t want to put off any women who might feel intimidated to approach me in real life. The cyber world seemed the perfect way to put everyone on an equal footing.’ Then, he slapped his track-pant-clad knee and, just as quickly, the mood changed. Lightened. ‘So, got enough? Should we get started on the photos? Take a few test shots?’
    Lake nodded, setting her clipboard aside. It