Picture Perfect (2 page)

“Hello? Hello!” She waved her arms high in the air.  “Excuse me; I could use a little help. I’ve cut my foot and I’m bleeding like a stuck pig.”  The blob didn’t move. Did she mistake an outdoor statue for a person? She hoped not. She felt poorly at this point.  Gathering her energy, Hope drew in a deep breath and projected her voice. “Excuse me! Can you help me, please? Hello? Oh….”

The world according to Hope whirled around her and spun out of control. Her body crumbled and rolled down the dune toward the house. And abruptly her world went dark.

***

She was moving. Actually, she felt someone carrying her and moving her. But who? Her brain swam like when she’d twirled a hundred times on the grass as a child. Opening her eyes, she looked up at her savior and thought she must still be in “la la Land”. A strong jawline, a straight nose, and five o’clock shadow graced the profile of a Greek god. A hairband captured dark brown hair at the base of his neck. Her foot twitched and she groaned.

“Easy now, I’ve got you. My name is James White and I’m just gonna bring you onto my porch to see to that foot of yours.”

“Oh, thank you, James. Thank you so much. I don’t feel so well. I stepped on a shell. My name is Hope Evans.”

“Hi there, Hope. Don’t worry. I’m first aid certified.” He laid her gently on a chaise lounge, grabbed a few pillows from some other chairs and placed them under her foot. “I’ll be right back. I need to get my first aid kit, and I think a cup of OJ for you to drink might help, too.” His smile reassured her that all would be well. He ducked inside giving her a chance to look around. She’d missed most of the sun rise, but she didn’t care anymore. Due to a kindhearted fellow, she’d found an angel at dawn instead.

He returned in no time with the glass of juice and quickly attended to her nasty cut. She smiled as she willingly took the cup from his grasp. “Drink that up. It’ll help get you feeling better. You really did a number on your foot here, missy. I can patch you up temporarily, but I think you’re gonna need stitches. Is your car nearby? Wait it’s on your right foot. You couldn’t drive anyway.” 

“Great, just great. No, my car’s in the garage at home. I walked the beach to watch the sun rise for my birthday. Happy freakin’ birthday to me,” she muttered and leaned her head back on the headrest.

“I’ve got nothing doing until much later. I can take you. And happy birthday.” He smiled again.

Damn, that’s one mighty fine smile, and his eyes! Holy bejeebers, hazel never looked so sexy. He sure as hell rivals the cover models I use on my covers. Well,
had
used anyway. Stupid economy! Okay, no depressing thoughts on my birthday. None. Think happy thoughts, and not about the lengthy stay in an urgent care facility.

“You are one very kind man, James. It is James, isn’t it? I was a bit loopy when you told me.”

“Yes, but it’s no big deal taking you to the Urgent Care, and if it is, no matter. I couldn’t very well let your foot fester and rot, now could I? If I did, the doctors would have to amputate, and it wouldn’t be pretty.”

“Handsome, smart, and funny, too. I believe I’m hallucinating all of this.” Hope laughed and then screamed. “Ow! Shit! What the hell are you doing? That hurts like a mmm….”

“Sorry! Cleaning the wound. There’s a lot of sand stuck in the cut. Gotta make sure to get it all out.”

Hope breathed deeply in and out until he finished preparing her for travel. She’d never experienced so much pain in her life. When were her bad times going to turn around?
The only bright spot in this whole debacle is James
.
What a sweet man.
She didn’t see any ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean anything. He obviously took care of himself, given how well defined his muscles were.
You don’t pour junk down the throat of that sexy body.
 
And he’s smart.
What guy these days takes the time to get first aid certified?

“So what do you do for a living?” she asked, needing to focus on something other than the pain.

“I have my own modeling business. I offer solo and couple stock photos for romance covers.”

“Get out!” She whacked his arm.

“Uh, if I do, you’re on your own with your foot here.”

“Ask me what I do. Go ahead.” She nudged him.

He chuckled and cleared his throat. “Ahem. Hope, what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a cover artist! Well, a recently unemployed cover artist. Damn economy. I got laid-off from my publisher.”

“No shit? Man, I’m so sorry about the lay-off.  But what a coincidence, huh?” He laughed. It made Hope tingle from her head straight through her belly and down to her pounding toes.

 
Oh, he needs to do that again, and then some.

 “Why don’t we finish this conversation on the way over to the Urgent Care? I bet we could talk for hours comparing notes, and your foot is now ready for transport.”

“Sounds like a plan. Thank you so much.” She rested a hand on his. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you for your kindness and taking such good care of me.”

“Don’t give it a second thought.  Wait here while I open the car door. Don’t move. I don’t want you disturbing my masterful first aid.” He winked and left Hope melting on the chaise.

Oh, he’s just too good to be true. Honestly. Something’s got to be wrong with him.

He returned and scooped her up in his arms as though she weighed but a feather. A feather, Hope was not. She had womanly curves to her, courtesy of her mother, but she kept herself fit. “Your chariot awaits, Madame.”

“That would be mademoiselle, thank you very much. I earned that title back about seven years ago. These have been the best seven years of my life, relatively speaking.” She laughed and found herself whisked away to his car. He eased her into the passenger seat of his Audi TT, walked around and got in the driver’s side, closing the door beside him.

“Yeah, got me one of those under my belt, too.  Strap in, please. It’s been five years now for me. I’m definitely better off.” He turned and looked at her, she looked at him. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready to cut off my foot, so yes, let’s go.”

James drove the convertible like Hope was about to give birth, fast and furious. He pulled right up to the front doors.

“I think we need to go back to your place.”

“Huh?” He looked perplexed. “What do you mean?”

“Yeah, I believe my guts are lying somewhere between your house and the entrance here. I’d really like to gather them up. They may be useful to me someday.”

They both broke out in laughter and he leaned over to open her door. Her breath caught as his glorious face passed, inches from her own. He looked at her briefly, intently, as he eased back to his side and proceeded to get out. He came around the car and lifted her once again in his mammoth arms. She clasped her hands around his thick neck, enjoying the feel of his muscles moving beneath them. He carried her into the medical building and still held her as he talked to the office clerk. A few moments later, the technician led them to an examination room, where James laid her gently on a table. He sat next to her on a chair.

“James?” She bit her lower lip, nerves creeping their way in.

“Hmm?”

“I’m scared.”

He scooted his chair forward. “What are scared about?” He played with a lock of her hair that had fallen over the edge of the table.

“Whatever they’re gonna do, it’s gonna hurt. I don’t like pain.”

He flashed his pearly whites and grabbed ahold of her hand. “I’ll be right here. And if there are any scary needles or other implements of torture, I’ll tell you to turn your head. Deal?”

That made everything so much better. “Deal. Are you an uncle? I think you’d make a terrific uncle.”

He laughed. “Thank you. And yes, in fact, I am, to a pair of monkeys otherwise known as my sister’s kids. I love ‘em, but they don’t stop until they are lying in bed. And for some reason they think I’m their personal jungle gym.”

At that moment, the doctor came in to examine her. She would need twenty stitches, and her foot bandaged. No walking on it until it healed. After nearly fainting again from getting sewn up, Hope hobbled out of the Urgent Care with crutches, a bottle of antibiotics, and James by her side.

“So, now that you’re all patched up, where can I take you?” He helped her get into the car and leaned against the doorframe.

“Well, how about home? I’m exhausted from this whole ordeal. My birthday is screwed up anyhow. Yeah, home sounds good.”

“Home it is. Just point me in the right direction. And I’ll drive slower this time.”

“Why thank you. That would be delightful.”

Hope directed him back the way they had come and had him drive past his home. Three houses away sat hers. He grabbed ahold of her arm as she prepared to get out of the car.

“For old time’s sake, let me carry you to the door, okay?”

“You must be exhausted from all of this, James. Why don’t you let me just take it from here? I’ll be fine now that I’m all sewn up like Frankenstein and have these handy-dandy crutches.” She got up and out of her seat and started to ease her way up the sidewalk. She turned and hoped that her smile conveyed the warm feelings she had for him. “Thanks for everything. You are one incredible person, rare in this day and age. Especially in your field, I’ve met so many guys that have no thought for others and wear facades everywhere they go. You, my dear, are as genuine as they come and I appreciate it greatly. Maybe I’ll see you around some time.” She gave him one last smile and opened the door, praying no one had ransacked the place. She hadn’t planned to be out this long and had left the house unlocked.

“Hey, Hope!” She turned back around and leaned against the door jam. Raising an eyebrow at the wonderful man, she noted how hot and right he looked in his car. “I’ll see ya around the neighborhood.” He gave a broad grin and waved. She waved back and closed the door.

Leaning up against the door, she heard his car pull away.
Oh, my word, Mr. Perfect lives three doors down.

Chapter Three

Jamie drove right by his house. He didn’t mean to. Thoughts of Hope preoccupied his mind so that he wound up driving a full three blocks past. Turning around, he shook his head in embarrassment and thanked God he had no witnesses at his boyish display. When was the last time he’d been so taken by a woman? Not even with his first wife. This could be the first time he’d fallen this hard, this fast for a woman in his entire life.

The events of the morning were all a huge blur, but he did his damnedest to remember each and every detail, in order, so he could savor the feelings that came along with them. When he first heard a voice from beyond his house, he thought he’d been dreaming. When he saw the shape of a woman collapse and roll down the dune, landing virtually at his back door, unconscious, instincts took over. He’d run over and checked out her vitals before gathering the mystery woman up in his arms.

He’d gotten a good look at her and immediately fell smitten. Long, brunette-colored hair shone with red highlights as the morning sun touched a few strands. Her face reminded him of Liv Tyler in Lord of the Rings, with her ruby-red plump lips and slight overbite.  Better still, she actually had meat on her bones! Most of the models he worked with, his hands could fit around their waists. Nothing to them but bones and air, and silicone boobs. This woman looked like a woman, blessed with all the luscious curves a real woman should have. And he could tell her breasts were of the all-natural persuasion. He would have stared at her all day long, returning to his caveman roots, were it not for the fact that she’d been injured and needed help. Plus, she had awakened and he had to be a good boy scout.

When they spoke at last, he knew there was something special about this woman who’d literally rolled into his life. She had a great sense of humor and they were in the same business, basically. She had seen and worked on her share of romance photos to know what he does, and it didn’t seem to faze her at all.
It didn’t bother the other women at first either, remember. Eventually, the bottom dropped out and the women turned all freaky on you. I bet she’s different. She just seems different, more down to earth, grounded.