The Reluctant Bride. Anne Duquette Marie

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СКАЧАТЬ really mean it?” Anita asked. “You might be losing a roommate.”

      Karinne nodded. “Of course.”

      “Wouldn’t it be great if you could work in the Grand Canyon area yourself?”

      “There aren’t any jobs for sports photographers and I don’t want to freelance doing nature pictures. Too much competition and not enough money. There’s no sense wishing for the impossible.”

      Even if she wanted things to be different.

      Grand Canyon Village parking area

      LEANING AGAINST his car, Max eagerly watched the incoming traffic for Karinne. He and Cory had taken a single vehicle to meet the women. Lodging vacancies were scarce and traffic was heavy, despite the overcast sky and “sometimes-yes, sometimes-no” sun. The Grand Canyon was open all year, and according to the visitor count, one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Thousands swarmed to see one of nature’s true great wonders. The temperatures inside the canyon desert were warm year-round, even when desert tundra winter cold enveloped the land at rim level. But summertime in Arizona was peak season for tourists and locals alike to experience the rainbow of colors the Colorado River had etched through rocks a mile high. The South Rim parking lots overflowed with trolling cars and frustrated drivers. The Hunter brothers fortunately had employee parking passes.

      “I want to visit with Karinne, too,” Cory reminded his brother. “Try not to hog her too much.”

      “Can’t promise anything,” Max said with a grin. “Besides, I expect you and Anita to be holed up in your tents getting reacquainted. Like Karinne and I will.”

      “That should be them,” Cory said.

      “Where?” Max asked, excited about seeing his lover and fiancée for the first time in months.

      Cory jerked his chin toward the arrivals area. Two women climbed out of a parked vehicle, but Max only had eyes for Karinne. He’d recognize her anywhere, and his pulse quickened at the sight. She traveled light—no camera slung over her shoulder—and was clad in a worn pair of denims and her gray sweatshirt. The blond hair he remembered from childhood had long ago deepened to a darker blond, although her green eyes remained the same. Bare toes peeped out from casual summer sandals, and the sweatshirt didn’t hide the curves beneath. But his eyes lingered on her face.

      He didn’t call out her name. He enjoyed anticipating her beautiful smile of recognition. When she finally caught his gaze, that smile always rewarded him.

      “Max!” Karinne shouted. The four gathered together. Max hugged Karinne, loving the feel of her against his body. Then Karinne hugged Cory.

      “Isn’t this great?” Karinne said. “The four of us together again.”

      Cory kissed Anita on the mouth, then both cheeks. Glossy black hair around a bronze face with dark eyes and high cheekbones reminded Max of Spanish nobility in the early days of Mexico. Anita was exquisitely beautiful. Max appreciated beauty and was the first to acknowledge it—but his sister-in-law had never tickled his hormones like Karinne.

      “Karinne, why don’t you ride with me in the Jeep? Cory, you and Anita can follow, okay?”

      Max hugged Karinne’s shoulders with one arm as the other pair split off. They sauntered toward his vehicle, and got in.

      “How was your drive up?” Max asked, his hand resting on her thigh, her fingers entwined with his.

      “Too long and too wet. I’m glad I’m here.” She squeezed his fingers.

      “So am I.” Max stopped at the intersection light. He took the opportunity to kiss her before the light turned green.

      “I’ve missed you,” he said, watching the traffic as he gradually accelerated. “How’s your father?”

      “Fine.”

      “And you?”

      “Okay.”

      “Sounds like something’s not okay.” He always knew when Karinne was troubled. He had when they were children, and still did. “What’s up?”

      “I thought it was strange that Cory invited Anita rafting,” Karinne replied. “I thought this trip was supposed to be just for us.”

      Max shrugged. “He wanted to save on the food stuff. We can only freeze so much of it. But the main reason is that he misses her.”

      “Well, she has plenty of time to visit now,” Karinne said. “Anita just lost her job.”

      “Yeah, Cory told me.” Max stopped at a four-way stop sign. “I’m sorry to hear it.”

      “Anita wants to get a job up here. Wish I could.” Karinne sighed.

      “I just thought you’d be tired of sports by now.”

      “Hey, I was the girl’s softball champ, remember? I love sports.” Karinne adjusted her sunglasses.

      “Don’t you get tired of traveling?”

      “Sometimes.”

      “That won’t change after we’re married, either… Not with me living here and you working in Phoenix. You could always switch to landscapes—plenty of scenery.”

      “Dad’s older and he isn’t well. He can’t really move. And when it comes to postcard and calendar shots, they don’t pay enough. Still, I’d love to be able to earn a living with material like this.” Karinne gestured at her open window. The wooded area of northern Arizona and the Coconino Forest shone a brilliant green from the night’s rain. It was the “earn a living” part that posed a problem.

      “Can’t blame you there.” Max pointed to the left.

      A doe and her fawn browsed the tender young leaves on a shrub, unconcerned with habitual park traffic. Karinne followed the pair with her eyes until the Jeep’s path around a winding curve put the deer out of sight.

      “It sure beats a sweaty athlete with a bat or ball in his hands,” Max said.

      “Well, maybe if you’re the model,” Karinne hedged. Cute shots of fawns in the forest were a dime a dozen. Her action shots with professional athletes were unique. “One of these days you’ll pose for me, Max.”

      “In a suit at our wedding,” he told her.

      “What about during our honeymoon?”

      “Just scenery stuff. No jock shots,” he insisted. Her wicked smile at his unintentional pun prompted Max to add, “You know what I mean.”

      “I have other plans for our honeymoon,” she promised.

      “Have you talked to your dad about those assisted living homes?”

      Karinne bit her lip. “I—uh—haven’t got to that yet.”

      “Checking out the homes or telling Jeff it’s what his doctor recommends?”

      “Neither,” СКАЧАТЬ