“Hey, Mal!” Jenna called, breaking through the various conversations. “Didn’t you want to get a sunset shoot before the week is out?”
Mal looked confused for just a moment, wrinkling up her nose. “Yeah…” she said slowly, not quite comprehending.
She was really cute when she did that.
Jenna suddenly had a very knowing look on her face. “Well, tonight is probably your best bet. Y’all better take off now before you miss it.”
Mal still looked confused, but she and her assistants got up and gathered their things.
Jenna was Hunter’s favorite person ever, possibly even more than her fiancé, and he was indebted to her. He slipped out the door, having not been addressed by anyone in at least five minutes. Hopefully, it would be ten more before his absence was remarked on. Maybe someone else would leave, and then it wouldn’t even be a thing.
He waited for them out by the carts, crossing and uncrossing his arms like an anxious teenager, looking at his watch, and wondering what in the world was taking so long for them to get down here. Finally, they appeared, and Mal wasn’t looking ahead, just talking to her assistants.
“Honestly, you guys just go back to the house. I’ll take some quick shots and be done in a jiffy. Then we can edit together tonight, and it’ll be great.”
Dan opened his mouth to respond when he saw Hunter, and his mouth curved into a smile. He nudged Taryn, and she, too, caught sight of Hunter. Her eyes lit up, and she fought to keep from laughing.
“Know what, Mal? That’s a great idea,” Taryn said, clearing her throat. “We’ll head to the house while you go shoot. But we don’t need to edit tonight. There’s plenty of time. Just take your time. Relax. Enjoy.”
“What?” Mal said, looking at her. “What are you…?” She followed her gaze and saw Hunter, then stopped dead in her tracks. “Ah-ha.”
Hunter sighed and looked at the others. “She says that like it’s a bad thing.”
Mal rolled her eyes. “I take it you’re going on the sunset shoot with me?” she asked him pointedly.
He shrugged one shoulder. “Am I invited?”
“Yes,” the assistants said together.
He nodded. “Thought so.”
“Isn’t that up to me?” Mal asked, looking around.
“No,” all three answered at the same time.
She threw her hands up in the air, but smiled. “Fine. Care to drop them off at their place?”
“Sure thing.” He started toward the parking lot. “We’ll take the truck. You guys mind riding in back?”
“Nope!” they replied in chorus.
Hunter put his arm around Mal’s shoulders. “I like these two,” he murmured. “Very smart kids.”
“Shut up,” she muttered as she pushed at him.
Soon enough, they were alone, and the moment they were, he took her hand again, faintly sighing at the relief of being able to touch her again. He was getting more pathetic by the minute. But, despite Mal’s cynical expression, she was holding his hand just as tightly.
If that wasn’t enough to make him rightfully pathetic, he didn’t know what was.
She gave him no direction, letting him drive them around however he wanted. He took her to one of his favorite spots, the place they had gone just yesterday morning on their first sunrise shoot. It would be that much better in the evening, and he couldn’t wait for her to see it. Hand in hand, they walked from the road up to the spot, and he heard Mal’s soft “oh” of appreciation.
“We’ve been here,” she said, glancing at him.
He nodded. “It’s better in the evenings, so I didn’t think you’d mind.”
She turned and looked over the expanse before them, sighing. “I don’t.”
“Do your thing,” he encouraged, letting go of her hand and sitting down to watch.