Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,74
to lead him on when she had no idea how she felt... She was happy to have him back in her life, but she wasn’t sure what that meant. Obviously a physical relationship wasn’t possible when she returned to LA, so did they go back to being friends? Was that even possible after being so intimate with someone? And was friendship enough?
The loud crack of a tree branch made her jump and she turned in a slow circle. There was nothing out there for miles. Levi and Chad wouldn’t be back so soon and Levi had assured her that no one else would be stopping by the station.
She scanned through the trees all around her, but didn’t see anything or anyone.
Must have been wildlife. Hopefully not a bear...or a moose. She wasn’t exactly equipped to fend off an animal attack.
“Those pictures would be nicer with someone in them.”
Selena snuck up behind her and Leslie sighed. So much for her peaceful, contemplative alone time. “I told you I don’t take pictures of people.” Anymore. Scenery shots couldn’t break her heart. The ones with people in them remained after the people were gone and she had enough of those for one lifetime.
“You could try. Believe me, if some of the photographers I’ve worked with in LA can get work...”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t do it.” Suddenly, she didn’t want to seem incompetent. She did have skills. Other than keeping people safe, photography had been her only other passion, the only other thing she was proud to say she was good at.
“So, let’s do it,” Selena said. “Come on, Leslie. I’m bored stupid in that cabin.”
“I thought you were watching those rom-coms Chad downloaded for you.” Before Selena had locked her out of the cabin the evening before, she’d caught Chad watching them as well.
“I’ve seen them all a million times. They’re no different than the stuff I’m always receiving from my agent.” She scanned the surroundings. “It’s because of how I’ve been perceived up until now...the jobs I’ve accepted. But maybe with new headshots, I could convince producers that I don’t always have to play the sidekick to the leading man. Dramatic photos showing a different side to my personality might be a start...”
Selena placed a hand on her hip. “You’re saying I need makeup and hair products to look good?”
“No. I’m saying I thought you’d want those things.”
Selena shook her head. “No, I told you. I don’t want posed, fabricated photos with a thousand filters. I want real, fresh-faced and authentic.”
That she could do. “Okay. Why don’t you head down the trail a little ways to where those bigger trees are...?” She pointed and Selena actually followed her direction. “Great, right there,” she said.
“You sure this lighting is good? It’s kinda overcast,” Selena said, glancing at the clouds in the sky.
“Trust me. It’s perfect.” Leslie set up the camera, adjusting the lens, one eye to the sky. She knew these thick clouds, the way they passed over these mountains and illuminated the trail through the breaks in the trees. Timed perfectly, she’d get the shot she was aiming for.
Selena posed and Leslie snapped a few photos, scanned them, and adjusted the lens filter.
The clouds acted just as she’d predicted they would and she was ready when the break happened and a beam of sunlight streamed through, surrounded by the shadows. She took the photo and then smiled as she reviewed it. Perfect.
Selena jogged toward her. “Let me see.”
Leslie turned the camera toward her.
“Oh my God, this shot is amazing. You totally lied to me. Hobby, my ass. You could be a professional photographer.”
The praise made her feel better than she thought it would. “Thanks. Let’s move farther along the trail and set up a few more.” This wasn’t so bad and she’d never admit it, but Selena was right—the pictures did look better with people in them.
“So, where did you learn how to take pictures like that?” Selena asked. “From your dad, right?” She looked pleased with herself to have been paying attention.
“Yeah, I mean, I took a few courses when I was younger too, but my dad was really into it. He was the one to introduce me to all kinds of art.”
Selena eyed her. “So, you share a passion with your father, the way I do.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I wanted to be an actor before I could even read a script and I know that intense passion had to come from watching my dad