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“Yes,” Arran replied, eyeing the book. “And the aspect of these is spectacular.” He glanced up to where Henry was depositing their coffee cups on the table. “Did you use a drone for some of them?”
Henry smiled. “That’s right. I started using it fairly recently. It provides some fantastic aerial shots.”
Jayce flipped his folder shut. “Urgh. These people are kissing.” He stuck his tongue out in a gag.
“Yes,” Henry said with a patient nod. “These wedding couples are a darned nuisance, kissing all the time.”
“Kissing is stupid,” Jayce said, wandering over to play with one of the cushions.
“I love this one,” Arran told Henry as he pointed to a picture. “I painted this loch recently.”
Henry’s eyes lit up. “You’re an artist?”
Arran nodded, a modest smile on his face. “I set up my own business last year.”
Henry began to ask Arran various questions about his enterprise, offering sage advice along the way. Liv moved over to follow Jayce, whose eye had been caught by the white space across from them.
Arran glanced up from his conversation with Henry, making to get to his feet when he realized Jayce was straying toward the studio space and a pile of off-white beanbags.
“That’s okay,” Henry said. “He can play on those. I use them during my family shoots.”
“Thanks,” Arran said, walking toward her and Jayce as if to supervise Jayce’s play.
Liv touched his arm. “You chat to Henry some more. I’ll play with Jayce.”
His eyes were soft. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” Liv took Jayce’s hand and they headed for the beanbags; Jayce launched himself onto one of them, laughing as hemade his soft landing. Liv took the opportunity to remove his shoes, just in case they sullied Henry’s stuff.
Arran and Henry’s conversation moved on to Sam and Maya and the kind of shots they wanted.
“They love this kind of outdoor scenery,” Arran was telling him. “These backdrops are right up their street. And the views from the castle will look amazing.”
“I have some shots at the castle here,” Henry said, lifting another book.
Liv tickled Jayce as he lay in the beanbag, the wee one letting out a squeal.
Arran and Henry looked at more photos together, Arran describing the couple’s wish to have photos from the evening reception as well as daytime, preferably with some outdoor nighttime shots because Maya loved the moon and stars. It occurred to Liv how it was fortuitous that Arran was here even though that hadn’t been the original intention, because his artist’s brain was perfectly placed to relay to Henry exactly what the brief was. She felt a strong sense of pride at his handling of the situation, and with a start she realized that it was the kind of pride someone might feel about a partner, rather than a friend.
She tried to tune out of their conversation as she and Jayce played on the beanbags, taking it in turns to fall onto them in a variety of comical ways and make each other laugh. Then Liv got kind of stuck in a beanbag and couldn’t get out, Jayce giggling and clambering on top of her.
She became aware that the conversation at the other end of the room had ceased and that Henry and Arran were on their feet by one of the cameras, Henry showing Arran the equipment as he trained it on Liv and Jayce. Henry smiled. “Is it okay to take some shots of you and the wee one? You’re both naturals.”
“Fine by me,” Liv replied, glancing at Arran.
He smiled. “Me too.”
Henry began clicking away as Liv and Jayce played, every now and again giving a small suggestion for a shot but largely shooting organically. Eventually he shifted back to speak to Arran. “Can we get some with you in as well?”
“Sure,” Arran said, coming over to the two of them. He joined in their game with aplomb, launching himself onto the beanbags and making both her and Jayce laugh out loud. Then he pulled Liv down next to him and grabbed Jayce, tickling him until the room filled with the delightful tinkle of childish giggles.
Henry snapped away.
The beanbags shifted under them and Liv found herself lying right up against Arran’s side, looking into his eyes as Jayce cuddled into his chest. For a moment she forgot that Henry was there as she breathed Arran’s warm scent and admired the shape of his mouth, turned up at the corners in a soft smile that traveled right up to his eyes and infused them with a sparkle.
Her heart flipped as he glanced down at her lips and she realized that her want of him had evolved even further over the past few weeks. It felt…more than physical.
Henry’s voice cut into the moment, almost making her jump. “You really are the most photogenic family. I don’t normally herd visitors into a photo shoot, but I’m afraid I just couldn’t resist.”
