LITMIR.BIZ

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you were part of this from the start?’ he asked as the waitress brought their drinks. ‘This is, well, all your doing?’

      Lily shook her head, looking down at the glass in her hands. ‘A very small part of it. But the whole idea of the collective was that we all got to have some input into how it was set up. We pay rent, like we would anywhere, but we also help to run the place.’

      ‘It’s a great set-up.’ Alex sipped his drink while he found the courage for what he wanted to say next. Hearing Lily talk so enthusiastically about the Mill had made up his mind. What was the point in waiting when such a great opportunity had opened up before him? ‘Which is why I was hoping you could tell me a bit more about the studio space that’s opened up for rent.’

      A frown creased across Lily’s forehead. ‘The studio? Why? I mean, if you’re looking for office space, this really isn’t the right place.’

      ‘I’m not,’ Alex said, but Lily kept talking over him.

      ‘Although a few of the guys here would probably be interested in speaking to you – a lot of them used Mr Phillips as their accountant and he’s been trying to help us out since he retired, but he really does need to slow down now. The doctor says –’

      ‘Lily.’ Reaching across the table, Alex rested his hand on hers, his thumb brushing across the smooth skin of her palm before he even realized he was doing it. ‘I’m looking for a studio. Not an office.’

      ‘A studio?’ she echoed, bafflement shining across her face. ‘But why?’

      If she laughed, Alex would give up the whole idea, right now. But he had to tell somebody, sometime. So… ‘I’m setting up as a photographer. Not an accountant.’

      ‘Oh.’ Her eyes widened, but she didn’t laugh. ‘That’s… that’s wonderful, Alex.’

      The tightness in Alex’s lungs began to loosen, and he could breathe again. ‘It’s kind of a secret project for now, if you don’t mind. I mean, I talked it through with my dad, before he died. We planned it all out together, But… I want to get properly set up before I start telling people.’

      ‘And you need a studio. Of course.’ Glancing behind her, Lily caught the attention of their waitress and asked, with a smile, ‘Jess, is Max in today?’

      The girl nodded. ‘He’s in his office. Want me to call him down?’

      ‘Don’t worry. We’ll go up and see him when we’re finished.’

      ‘Max?’ Alex asked when the waitress walked away.

      ‘Mr Hughes,’ Lily clarified, and Alex nodded, recognizing the name from her story.

      ‘He owns the place, right? He’ll want to check me out, I suppose.’

      ‘Yeah.’ Lily looked hesitant for a moment. ‘He’ll probably want to see some of your work. I don’t know how far along you are with your plans…’

      Not far enough, Alex realized. He was jumping in head first, moving too fast. He should slow down… But as he looked around the Mill, saw what it had become, and as he stared into Lily’s eyes, full of belief in him… He couldn’t risk missing this chance.

      ‘I’m still in the early stages,’ he said honestly. ‘But I’ve got my equipment and student portfolios back at the cottage. I need to set up some shoots for more professional shots, and I’ll need to kit out a studio properly…’ He had lists, back home on his laptop, lists and plans and schedules. Why hadn’t he brought them with him? Because he hadn’t known this opportunity would present itself. Still, he should have been prepared.

      Lily clapped her hands together. ‘I know! You can photograph my new ring collection for my promo material and catalogue!’ Alex glanced up at her, surprised out of his self-recriminations. ‘If you wanted to, of course,’ she said, enthusiasm dimming.

      ‘No, no, I want to,’ he hurried to reassure her. ‘That would be great. Perfect, actually. And maybe a few of the other artists here would be interested in letting me photograph their stock. Help build a proper portfolio for me, and give them some shots to use on their websites and such.’

      ‘I think they would.’ That beautiful smile spread across Lily’s face again, and it caught at something in Alex’s chest. This was the life he’d left London for. Working at something he loved, with like-minded people. And a beautiful woman at his side.

      Except, Lily wasn’t his. And he still had to convince Max Hughes that he was a good bet for the collective.

      ‘Okay,’ he said, pulling out enough cash to cover their lunch and a decent tip. ‘Let’s go see if we can get your pal Max on board with the plan.’

      * * * *

      Pausing at the door to Max’s office, Lily glanced back at Alex. His expression remained blank, unconcerned, but she could see a tension to his shoulders, his jaw, that made Lily think this was a bigger deal to him than he wanted to let on. Who’d have thought it? Alex Harper, a photographer. And he’d given up that big career in the City that Cora’s parents were always boasting about just to pursue his dream.

      Lily had to admire that sort of determination.

      But then, Alex had always been good at proving people wrong. After a teenage phase of getting into trouble every Saturday night, being on first name terms with every policeman in Felinfach, and becoming a byword for every father’s worst nightmare when it came to dating their daughters, Alex had somehow managed to straighten up and fly right. While others – okay, she – still struggled every day with the reminders of the trouble they’d caused as children, Alex had escaped to London, made a fortune and his name, and been welcomed back by the town like the prodigal son.

      Not that she wasn’t happy for him, of course. A bit jealous, maybe. But now he had to try and convince Max, and that was a whole different ballgame.

      ‘Ready?’ she asked, and Alex nodded. ‘Okay then.’

      Max called them in almost before she’d knocked. Jess had probably phoned up to warn him, and you couldn’t walk up the creaking staircase at the centre of the old Mill building without Max hearing you coming. The look he gave her over his steepled fingers as he sat behind his desk like a Bond super villain confirmed what she’d already suspected. Jess had told him they were coming, filled him in on who Alex was, and now Max was going to use this opportunity to tease and embarrass Lily for his own amusement. Great.

      ‘Max? This is Alex Harper.’ Stepping into the office, she moved to one side to let Alex pass her and reach out a hand for Max to shake. Max hesitated just a moment too long before taking it. Lily bit her lip. This might be a hard sell.

      ‘I’ve heard about you,’ Max said, his gaze fixed to Alex’s face. Lily watched him too; Alex met Max’s eyes without hesitation, and his posture was loose and easy. ‘Prodigal son returns to hometown, right?’

      Alex smiled. ‘Something like that. A lot’s changed since I was gone. This place, for instance. I’m impressed with how you’ve managed to save so much of the old place.’

      The tension in Lily’s shoulders started to relax a little. That was the right thing to say. The Mill was Max’s baby, and with Max, a little flattery went a long way.

      ‘Lily had a lot to do with that,’ Max said, and Lily’s attention jumped back to him. It wasn’t a lie; she’d met Max almost his first day in town, when she’d been selling her jewellery at the market in the town square. He’d bought her a coffee and listened to her opinions about the town and the opportunities for almost an hour before he’d told her what he was planning. And once she’d heard his idea, there was no way she’d let him do it without her. The money was all Max’s, but a lot of the ideas, the dreams and the hard graft that made it happen were hers.

      ‘I’m not surprised.’ The smile Alex gave her was soft, caring, and surprised her even more than Max’s praise. ‘She’s always had great dreams.’

      ‘So

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