The Maverick's Holiday Surprise. Karen Rose Smith

She saw his eyes widen with surprise when he glimpsed at a photo he especially liked. She spied his mouth turn up at the corners as he went through a sequence of the triplets more than once. There was Katie with cereal all over her face... Henry with his thumb in his mouth... Jared crawling toward a favorite toy. She’d also caught Jamie standing in a window at dusk, his profile in shadow.

      Hudson suddenly lowered the camera. “Do you know how good these are?”

      She analyzed every crease on his face, the openness in his eyes. Was he feeding her a line?

      But his next words told her he wasn’t. “I can see you don’t know how good you are. Did you ever think about hiring out your services?”

      “It’s just a hobby.”

      “It’s a hobby that could take you someplace. What if I tell you I know someone who might like to hire you to take photos?”

      “Of what?” she asked suspiciously. After all, she’d learned to be suspicious of men and their motives.

      “Do you know Brooks Smith?”

      The name sounded familiar, and all at once she placed it. “He’s a veterinarian. I’ve never met him. His dad usually comes out to Short Hills when we need a vet.”

      “Brooks and his dad have separate practices but cover for each other. His dad is cutting back his hours. Anyway, Brooks and his wife, Jazzy, run a horse rescue ranch out at the edge of town. The ranch is a passion with them, and they’re going to have pamphlets printed about the facility. Jazzy mentioned she just hasn’t had time to put it all together. Do you think you’d be interested in taking photos of the horses on the ranch?”

      She was so busy now that she didn’t know what to say. Between work and the triplets, she sometimes didn’t have time to breathe. But the idea of taking photographs and making extra money was downright inviting.

      “When would I have to do this?”

      “Pretty soon, I guess. They mentioned handing out the pamphlets at their holiday open house.”

      “I don’t have much spare time,” she admitted.

      “I know you don’t, but this would probably only take a few hours.”

      “You don’t know if Brooks and his wife would really want me.”

      “I can set up a meeting.”

      “Let me think about it. If Jamie has enough help, it would be a possibility.”

      Hudson motioned to the photos of the babies on the bulletin board. Then he pointed to her camera. “You have a gift, Bella. You see with your camera what most folks can’t see with their eyes. You really should share that.”

      She thought about that, then asked, “Why? I mean, everyone sees what they want to see for the most part.”

      “But what if you can broaden someone’s outlook? What if you could give them a positive spin instead of a negative one? What if you can make a difference?”

      “We’re talking about shooting a few photos.” She couldn’t keep the amusement from her voice because she thought maybe he was joking.

      “No, not just a few shots. Each of your photos is a study of your subject that you’ve captured for eternity. That’s not something to treat lightly.”

      She never expected something so deep to come out of Hudson. That just proved she didn’t know him very well. And he certainly didn’t know her.

      “I’ll check with Brooks and Jazzy,” he said. “You think about it. I’m going to take a walk and get some lunch. Would you like some fresh air, too? You’re welcome to join me.”

      She could hear the sound of children’s laughter coming from one of the rooms. When she looked up at Hudson, she saw interest in his eyes. The children were safety. Hudson was danger.

      As she had for the past few years, she chose safety. “I’d better stay here in case anybody needs me.”

      “You like to feel needed, don’t you?”

      “I do. It gives my life purpose.”

      He shrugged. “I’ve never had that kind of purpose. I’m not exactly sure what it feels like.”

      “Walker needed you here. Isn’t that why you took over supervising Just Us Kids?”

      “I never looked at it that way,” he conceded. “I guess you’re right.” He motioned to the bulletin board. “It looks good. It will capture people’s attention. Soon we’ll have to decorate for the holidays.”

      “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.”

      “Not so far off,” he reminded her as he moved toward the door. He opened it and looked back over his shoulder at her. “I won’t be long. If anything comes up, you have my cell number.”

      She nodded. She did have his cell number. But she doubted she’d ever use it.