Find Me Alastar(69)

He smiles broadly and kisses me. “Hello, my Emmaline.” I smile into his big lips as I run my hand through his strong two-day growth. “Hello, my beautiful Irish man.”

We stay still, excited to finally be together after a long day apart. I am pushing the countdown of the time we have together to the very back of my mind. I am just going to enjoy every inch of him as long as I can. Screw the future. Seize the day is my moto for this week. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it anyway. Sounds good in theory, right?

I look into the backseat as he pulls into the traffic. “Where is all your stuff?”

“It’s in the truck with my assistants.”

“You have assistants?” I frown. This is news.

He nods and picks up my hand to kiss the back of it. My brain temporarily fries as I watch him. He’s just so...

“You have assistants?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“How many?”

“I have five people who work for me.”

“Five?” I raise my eyebrows in question.

“Yes.” He smirks.

I look out the front window in wonder. Jeez. “What do they all do? Where do they all work from?” I reply. I thought he just took pretty photos. Guess not?

“I have an office in town and I have two fulltime girls, Rosemary and Sasha.”

My eyes watch his face. “What do they do?” I ask.

“Rosemary does the accounts and bookings. And Sasha does odd jobs, whatever needs doing.”

I frown. “Odd jobs?”

“She’s my assistant on shoots and organizes locations and research for projects, stuff like that.”

“Oh.” I continue watching him. “So, will she be here tonight?”

He nods as his eyes stay fixed on the road.

“Who are the other three?’

“I have two lighting assistants and one proof editor. She negotiates with the magazines for the styling etc.”

“This sounds in depth.”

He smiles as his eyes find me again. “It is.”

He lifts my hand and kisses it once more, silencing my thoughts. I can’t think when his lips are touching my skin.

“Oh. I bought the paper and you were right, that missing girl does look like the girl I sat with on Friday night.’

My eyes widen. “Shit, I told you.”

“I thought about what you said and ended up calling the police. I told them I talked to her for an hour at the bar.”

“What did they say?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “It wasn’t even her. We have the wrong girl. The girl who went missing was at a wedding on the Friday night, out of town.”

Relief fills me. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“I know.” He smiles and kisses my hand once more, and an hour later we are finally there.

I sit in the car and frown at my surroundings. We are at a fancy farm by the looks of it. Huge sandstone buildings and rolling hills surround us. There are five trucks, and cars everywhere. People are buzzing around like ants.

Suddenly, I feel like I may be intruding and I feel a little out of place.

“Come,” Alastar says gently, sensing my trepidation.

“You just do your thing and I will hang around. Don’t go to any trouble for me,” I murmur.

He smiles warmly. “Let me introduce you and then you can do as you wish. I have bought a blanket.” He opens the trunk, retrieves a large woolen blanket, and throws it into the backseat. “In case you want to sleep in the car.”

I smile. “Do you think I’m a baby?”

He winks sexily. “This can get boring to watch. Trust me.”

We walk toward the large hall and he takes my hand in his. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.

“Oh, finally! He’s here.” A bossy blonde sighs as we walk through the large double doors. “Took your time.”

The group of people all turn to look at us. “Yes, I’m here,” he replies as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“This is Emmaline.” He presents me to his colleagues and I smile nervously.

They all smile.

“This is Rita, Nova, Sasha.” He hesitates and I know he’s forgotten someone’s name. They start to shake my hand. “Mick, Len, and Trudy.” He continues.

“Hello.” I smile awkwardly.

Trudy’s eyes linger on me a little longer than everyone else’s. She must be his proof editor. I catch her scanning me up and down.

“Sasha, can you look after Em for me tonight, please,” Alastar asks.

The young girl smiles warmly. “Of course, I have ordered dinner and we have seats over here for you,” she replies kindly as she takes my hand and leads me over to the wall.

I fall into the seat and she passes me a large woolen blanket. “Would you like a tea or coffee?” she asks.

“Tea, please. White and one sugar.” I smile gratefully as she disappears.

Alastar is soon deep in discussion as he walks around the large barn with Trudy.

The barn has stone walls and high timber beams with straw strewn all over the floor, although I think that it is definitely a prop. There is no way this barn is used for animals. It’s too beautiful. Alastar is holding his arms up and showing them something in the roofing, directing things at the two men before they disappear out of the front door.