I smirked. She’d felt it too, but she was trying to ignore it. Well, if I couldn’t ignore how I already felt about her, there was no way I was going to let her get away with it. I was going to take my slice of happiness. It might be a bad idea, but I wanted to spend some uncomplicated time with her. Before I had to expose all my secrets.

Abbie…

“So why photography?”

I glanced up and gave Lex a quick smile before returning my attention to the printer. Bit by bit, pixel by pixel, the image of a grinning krumper appeared. “I was pretty shy as a kid. One of my aunts gave me a camera for my seventh birthday, hoping it would help me cope with being around people and unfamiliar situations. I pretty much never put it down after that.”

“From what I’m seeing so far, it paid off. You’re extremely talented.”

“You should see some of the photographs in Xander’s class. All those guys are good. This one guy has landscapes to rival Ansel Adams. I mean they’re just so vivid and rich. When Xander said his name in class, it sounded familiar, so I looked him up. He’s had actual gallery openings. I’m a newbie in comparison.”

“Well, I think you’ll do great. Just remember it’s about getting Xander to connect with the images, and you’ll be fine. It’s all about knowing what makes him tick.”

I grinned. “And what? You’re offering to give me the inside track on your brother? I bet there’s a hefty price to pay for that.”

His gaze flickered to my lips, and he cleared his throat. “Understanding my brother is easy. Xan says what he means and means what he says. Just show him something honest.”

Oh, was that all it took? I ignored the twinge of guilt. This wasn’t cheating, it was learning how to reach my teacher. Besides, I was a photographer. My lens always told the truth.

“Can I ask you something?”

He sat on the edge of the light table and turned the full brilliance of his silver gaze on me.

Nervously, I tucked more loose braids behind my ears. “Why did Xander tell me to stay away from you?”

He stiffened, and immediately I wished I hadn’t asked.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know why. But it looks like you’re not listening to him.”

I wasn’t, was I? Or rather, Alexi had given me no choice. “Well, you are stalking me.”

“Back to that again. Yesterday, you wandered into my hood, and today, I was just in the neighbourhood.”

I rolled my eyes then chewed on my bottom lip.

“What’s bugging you?” he asked, a light frown causing his brows to pucker.

“I—Nothing.”

“Liar. You always chew on your lip when something’s bothering you.”