had known what they wanted to do when they grew up, and who were succeeding in their chosen fields even beyond their wildest dreams, had left him feeling inadequate by comparison.
He only had Ry to share his insecurities with, though even his best friend also unintentionally showed him up. Ry’s blindness hadn’t kept him from pursuing his dreams or being a force to be reckoned with in the world. He was confident and secure in who he was, while Bennett still had moments of sometimes crippling self-doubt. He had learned how to show the right face to the world, though, even when he was feeling most insecure.
“Ready?”
Jordan’s question saved him from the comment he could almost see coming.
“Yeah, sure. Have a nice day, Mrs. Salvietti,” he said, smiling at her.
The knowing look in her shrewd eyes told him she knew what he was doing. She smiled back at him and said,
“Thank you. Bennett. You must show me your work some time. I’m sure I’ll enjoy looking at them.”
Bennett didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure it’d be smart of him to let the sharp old lady get close. She didn’t strike him as the kind of person who would keep her opinions to herself. And really, he supposed she had lived long enough not to have to apologize for being outspoken. He just wasn’t ready to hear what she might have to say.
Once in Jordan’s truck, he programmed their destination into the GPS map and fastened his seatbelt. The two dogs sat quietly in the back seat, their gazes trained out their respective windows. Bennett felt a curious excitement stirring in his chest. This wasn’t strictly a date, but the emotions swelling in him — contentment and exhilaration, accompanied by a continuing arousal — made him feel like they were onto something even more important than merely dating. And though a part of him felt like it was way too soon to be feeling all that, he still reveled in it. Being with the quiet man at his side was something he thought he could happily enjoy for a long time.
Chapter Eleven
The drive to the lookout point was beautiful once they left the town. Jordan had stopped there before once but it had been raining and he had only been there long enough to change a tire. He wondered what the spot meant to Bennett, though he assumed that it would have some gorgeous views, which would be appealing to a photographer.
He’d overheard the end of Bennett’s conversation with Mrs. Salvietti and as he drove along, he wondered why Bennett seemed so insecure about his work. He hadn’t seen much of it — he’d have to remedy that soon, if he wanted to get to know Bennett better — but the little he had seen was brilliant. The man had an eye for simplicity and elegance, but he also clearly understood clarity and composition.
Eventually, he glanced over at his passenger, noting the sharp jawline, the full bottom lip that he had loved the taste of, the way he sat relaxed, carrying his slender body with easy grace. He was beautiful, like the pictures he took. To distract himself before his body could take too keen an interest again, he asked,
“So, why did you choose photography?”
Bennett glanced at him before speaking, as though he wanted to make sure Jordan was actually interested in his answer.
“It was kind of happenstance, actually. I knew I had to go to college — my parents would have killed me otherwise — but even after my first two years doing general coursework, I still had no idea exactly what I wanted to do. It was Ry who gave me the idea, actually.”
Jordan shot him another quick glance. “How so?”
“We’ve known each other since we were little kids. I went to the same schools that he did and we went to the same college. We even took a couple of the same classes. He did an art history class with me, and that’s when he suggested that maybe I could make a career out of taking pictures. He had given me — well, his parents had — a fancy camera for my sixteenth birthday and they always liked the photos I took.”
“Do you like what you do?” Jordan already thought he knew the answer, but he wanted to be sure.
“Hell, yeah!” Bennett’s reply was immediate and as enthusiastic as Jordan expected it to be. “I know it was the right decision for me. I wouldn’t have done well taking