Camera Never Lies (28 page)

Though the long weekend had started on a bad foot, even Mom had good news: Her lawyer assured her she would get her money back. And if I were reading Mom’s sudden happy mood correctly, there might be romance in the air where her lawyer was concerned.

With plans to head back to the coast after the wedding celebration, I still needed to check out of my room. Mom and Emily had already gone back inside the lodge. Spencer stood next to me and sighed. I hated for my time with him to end. What did this mean for us?

Three state police cruisers, sirens whining, screeched into the parking lot. Spencer grabbed me, pulling me out of the way, next to a tree. Several officers, Ranger Jennings included, shuffled a handcuffed man from the lodge. He looked like the Brawny paper towel man. Emily followed close behind. They stuffed the man into the back of a vehicle as she sobbed into an officer’s shoulder.

Spencer and I shared a bewildered look.

“Maybe the drug dealing caught up with him.” Spencer took my hand and pulled me close.

“I suppose, but what is Emily going to do?”

“At this minute, I only care about what you’re going to do.” He pressed his lips against mine.

Elation infused me all the way to my toes, making me feel like I was floating. The kiss ended too soon.

“Well, are you going to visit me at Bradford Court, my parents’ estate?”

“That depends on if you’re asking me to come see you, or you’re just offering me another old house to photograph.”

He held me even tighter. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”

As my head rested against his shoulder, I sighed. I could stay there forever. “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough,” theme song to the movie
The Goonies
, resounded from my jacket. I’d long forgotten my cell phone in the pocket.

“It’s working now? How weird is that?” The number was a New York prefix. I hated ending the quiet moment with Spencer, but I took the call.

Spencer’s eyes brightened when I hung up. “You look happy. Who was that?”

“A magazine editor. I e-mailed some photos of the lodge along with an article idea.”

“Sounds like you might have a new career.”

“Uh-huh. And sounds like Bradford Court might be just what the editor ordered.”

Spencer winked. “Jolly good.”

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