Burning for You (23 page)
Authors: Michele Dunaway
The immediate Marino clan, including Nana, numbered eighteen. Add in Marvin’s brother and a bunch of cousins, and Taylor jostled give or take forty people for the family photo.
To make sure everyone would be visible, she and Judy had chosen the ball field bleachers at a local park. With the open ground behind them, the risers would work perfectly.
Taylor set up her tripod, adjusted the lens, and began to direct people.
A small crowd of onlookers had set up some lawn chairs—she wasn’t quite sure who they were, although one guy looked somewhat familiar. He kept talking to Elaina, but Taylor couldn’t place him.
She checked the light. Checked the battery. Group photos were hard. Something always happened to make the photo useless. As the shutter snapped, someone would always have his eyes closed. Or someone would have a goofy smile. Another would be looking anywhere but at the camera. And people always kept touching their hair, even after she’d told them to put their hands in their lap if seated, or at their sides if standing.
Currently, the holdup was that Joe and Susie were missing. Parker had arrived with Winnie, who was having a hard time staying out of the dirt. She’d already grabbed two handfuls from the dugout and thrown it into the air. Parker was currently trying to dust off her dress.
The crowd on the bleachers grew slightly restless. At least they’d all followed her instructions to wear a similar color. The group all wore various shades of blue, making them color-coordinated.
“Ah, here comes Joe,” his mother called.
Taylor’s heart leapt into her throat as he approached wearing a long-sleeve blue shirt and darker blue dress pants. His sunglasses hid his beautiful eyes, and she noticed he’d cut his hair. She’d thought the slightly longer locks looked sexy, but the shorter length only heightened his appeal.
A cheer came from the mostly male onlookers, who raised various soda cans in salute. “About time. Let’s get on with this show.”
“Look at that sexy hair cut!”
“Who knew you’d clean up so well?”
Who were those people? Taylor tore her gaze away as Joe and Susie stepped onto the bleachers and into their assigned positions. Given Nana’s age, Judy had wanted the family to sit for the photos.
Taylor gave everyone final directions, stood on the wooden stepladder she’d brought so the camera could be high up, and placed her eye to the viewfinder. Everyone was in the shot. “Okay, everyone. Big smiles. One … two … three—”
“Stop!”
She jerked her head up. On the end, Joe was standing and climbing down the bleachers. “This isn’t going to work. Let me see.”
He approached the camera. Tall enough, he simply looked through the viewfinder without using the stepladder. “Nope. If we shoot this now we’ll have to redo it later. I even cut my hair for this. Like it?”
Oh she did, but she bristled. Wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She’d fretted the entire day after she’d left him. Not one word. Not one text. Even Susie hadn’t answered her calls. Marci, out with Thad, had also been unavailable.
The sun was getting higher in the sky, the July day starting to get hot. “We need to get this done. Everyone’s face is visible. They are all perfect.”
“No, it’s still wrong.”
“Look again. You’re the one who’s wrong,” she insisted. “I’m the photographer, remember?”
“How could I forget? You are a damn good one, as I could see for myself when I looked at the CD. But we’re missing someone.”
There were around forty people on the bleachers, the rest on the sidelines, all avidly watching the conversation. Taylor’s nerves frayed. “Fine. Who are we waiting for?”
“You.”
He’d taken off his sunglasses and smiled at her. “Can’t have a photo if we’re only going to have to retake it.”
“I’m not a part of your family. Why would you need to retake it?”
He sighed. Reached into his pocket for something small and shiny. “Because if you love me, really, really love me like you insisted yesterday, you’re going to marry me and be part of this family because I love you too. And I can’t live without you.”
She stared as he held the ring out. A diamond glittered. “It was Nana’s engagement ring. Goes to the oldest grandson. That’s me.” He gestured to the crowd. “Ignore them. They’re just jealous.”
She didn’t even glance at the bleachers, her entire focus on Joe. His gaze held hers. “I know I can be an ass, but as Elaina pointed out yesterday, you know how to handle me. I want to grow old with you. What do you say?”
He dropped onto one knee, which immediately got a little dusty. “With my whole family as witnesses, I love you. You going to marry me?”
He held up the ring, which glittered in the morning sun. She placed her hand on her mouth and burst into tears.
“You’re supposed to say yes,” someone called.
“Put on my lucky ring and marry my boy,” Nana called.
“Yes!” Taylor shouted, finding her voice. “Yes.”
Everyone clapped, including the onlookers, whoever they were. (She’d later find out they were Joe’s crew who had to come witness the proposal.) Joe stood up, twirled her around, and put the most gorgeous antique ring on her finger.
Marci and her mother appeared from somewhere, and there were hugs all around until Judy called from the bleachers. “Can we take this photo now? I want a hug too and we’ve been forbidden to move until it’s done.”
“And I’m hot,” Nana called. “Get on over here, Taylor.”
“Yes,” Taylor called back, laughing. “Let’s do this thing.”
So Taylor looked through the viewfinder, and told Marci to get on the stepladder.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Marci protested.
“You count to three and press the button. I’ve set it up. Anyone can do it. Take at least three, and then I’ll come check.”
“Okay, I’ll try. No guarantees.” Marci gazed through the viewfinder as Joe held Taylor’s hand and led her to their spot on the bleachers. Susie sat to Taylor’s left.
“Welcome to the family,” she said, giving Taylor’s hand a squeeze.
Marci leaned back, looked at everyone. “Okay. Smile. Hands down in your laps. Hey, that means you.” She stared them down. “Perfect. Hold that.”
Joe grabbed Taylor’s hand. Held it out of sight.
“Ready?” Marci called. “Say cheese on one, two, three.”
“Cheese!” everyone shouted, and as the shutter opened and closed. Taylor added her wide, happy smile next to the grin of the man she loved, and the camera froze their love for all eternity—as they were looking into each other’s eyes.
Don’t miss the next Man of the Month book from
Michele Dunaway
!
Coming August 2015 from St. Martin’s Press
Describing herself as a woman who does way too much and never wants to stop,
Michele Dunaway
is a bestselling author and award-winning high school teacher. In addition to teaching English III, Michele advises the student newspaper and yearbook. She is a JEA Distinguished Yearbook Adviser, a Dow Jones News Fund Special Recognition Adviser, and a Missouri High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. Proud mother of two daughters, Michele is an avid pet lover who shares her home with far too many rescued cats, who of course completely rule the roost.
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
BURNING FOR YOU © 2015 by Michele Dunaway.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Author photo © Lifetouch
Cover Design by Crystal Ben
Cover Photograph© Keshia Kastl/Photos by Keshia
eISBN: 978-1-250-07235-1
First eBook Edition: April 2015
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