Blurred Lines

"That's exactly what I want," she confirmed and returned to her original sitting position. She flipped through a few other pages and commented, "You're very talented from what I see."

"Uh, thank you," I told her and pulled out my pen and notebook and jotted down a few notes. "And did you wanna shoot it here at the house or we could do something outdoorsy if you want to."

"Here is fine. It doesn't need to be overly fancy or anything, I wanna keep it very basic and natural." We continued the conversation for another hour and a half to finalize the remaining details until Cameron wandered in, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Hey champ, you feeling better?" Vanessa asked as he climbed onto her lap.

He nodded and rested his little dark-haired head against her chest. "I'm hungry, momma."

His mom wrapped her arms around him and cuddled him close, "How about some chicken n' noodle soup?"

"Can I have Jell-O with it?"

She kissed the top of his head affectionately. "Sure buddy, you can have all the Jell-O you want."

I took that as my cue to leave. "Well I'm gonna get going and let you guys eat lunch," I reached for my portfolio. "I'm pretty sure that I have everything that I need, but if I have any more questions, I'll just call or shoot you a text before Saturday since I have your number now."

"You're not staying for lunch?" she asked. "Cam and I sure would love the company. Isn't that right buddy?"

"That's sweet of you to offer but I wouldn't want to impose."

Vanessa shook her head, "You're not imposing. We'd love to have you and my homemade chicken noodle soup is pretty damn good if I do say so myself."

I laughed. "You are making it increasingly hard for me to say no. I absolutely love chicken noodle soup."

She slapped the table. "It's settled then, you're staying."

"Okay Ms. Bossy Pants. Can I at least help you fix it?"

She shot me an incredulous look. "No way, you're a guest. You two go find something to do and I'll call you when it's ready. Go play videogames or something."

"We could play on the Wii," Cameron suggested and lifted up his head to look at me. "Do you know how to bowl?"

"Of course. I used to have my own bowling ball I'll have you know."

He shook his head, "Not real bowling, silly. It's on the Wii."

"I'm sure I can handle it," I assured him. "How hard can it be?"

Nearly an hour later, I sat barefoot at Vanessa's kitchen table trying to talk her six year old into giving me a rematch. I'd ended up getting my inexperienced ass thoroughly kicked in Wii bowling. "I think something was wrong with my controller," I argued in between spoonful of delicious homemade chicken noodle soup and buttery grilled cheese sandwiches.

Cameron giggled, "That's what momma always says when I beat her." He finished drinking the rest of his soup and sat his bowl down on the kitchen table. "Can I go watch TV now? I'm feeling a lot better."

She nodded, "Sure baby, just don't turn it up too loud to wake your sister up."

"This isn't over," I warned him. "I still want my rematch," I told him as he raced into the living room laughing at me.

"Are you sure that you don't have any kids or nieces and nephews?" Vanessa asked once we were alone. "My kids really like you."

"It just comes naturally I guess," I told her with a shrug. "I'm such a big kid at heart."

"Have you ever been married?" she questioned.

"Nope. I have yet to meet a woman, who makes me even want to seriously consider the whole marriage and kids thing." I watched shock followed by surprise dance in her eyes and I had to laugh out loud. "I guess that I should've mentioned it sooner but I'm a lesbian. Does that bother you?"

She blinked rapidly. "No ummm. . .not at all. I have a great aunt who is a lesbian too. You just don't look like one; you're so beautiful and feminine," She quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God, I did not just say that. I am so sorry. That came out completely wrong."

I drew my eyebrows together. "So you don't think I'm beautiful and feminine?" I teased her.

"No, no. . .I . . .I- mean yes you are," she blushed suddenly and stammered over her next few words. "Y-yes I-I think you're very beautiful and feminine for a, um, l-lesbian."

"I'm not entirely sure if I believe you or not." I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes. "We don't all have haircuts like Justin Bieber and wear men's clothing, ya know?"

"I know. . . .I just meant that. . . ." she paused completely flabbergasted. "This is coming out all wrong. I should just close my big mouth and shut up. I am so sorry, I really didn't mean to offend you."

I continued on as if I didn't hear her, "Though there is this website called lesbians who look like Justin Bieber." I again laughed out loud at her expression and patted her wrist. "Relax, I'm just teasing you. People tell me all the time that I look too pretty to be a lesbian, I'm not sure if it's meant to be an insult or a compliment."

"Again I apologize. I'm normally not that narrow minded."

"Don't sweat it, it takes a lot more than that to offend me," I told her honestly. "And the fact that you think I'm beautiful completely makes up for it."

She breathed a sigh of relief, "How does your family feel about it?"

I shrugged, "I came out my junior year of high school and my mom just figured that it was a phase that I'd eventually grow out of. But once she realized that it wasn't, that this was who I was, she was fine and accepted it."

"What about the rest of your family? Did they also feel the same way?"

"Well for one, I'm an only child. And my parents got divorced when I was really young so I never really had the chance to come out to my dad," I explained.

"You and him don't have a relationship?" she asked.

I shook my head. "We've just never been a part of one another's lives and I've come to accept the fact that we probably never will be," I changed the subject. "You must've been pretty young when you had Cameron."

Vanessa smiled at the memory, "It was my freshmen year of college. Jay and I had just gotten together shortly before I found out so it was completely surprising. We got married a couple months after we had him."

"You mentioned that he had a work emergency earlier, what does your husband do exactly?"

"He's the CFO of a software company," she admitted.

"Anyone I might've heard of?" I asked.

"Probably not." She stood up and took our bowls to the sink to wash them and I let the conversation go. I clasped my hands in my lap because it took everything in me to resist reaching out to touch her. I wanted so badly to walk up behind her, wrap my arms around her waist, and press my body against hers. Her curves alone were driving me mad.

Would her hair feel as soft as it looked?

Ever since I'd first laid eyes on Vanessa that day in the park, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. I was so happy and truth be told, slightly intimidated when she finally did call to arrange our meeting. I couldn't explain it for the life of me but I wanted her more than I could ever recall wanting anyone. I rationalized that it was because she was the forbidden fruit. The fact that I could never realistically have her, made me want her that much more.

And that wasn't a good sign at all. I needed to get my libido under control before I made an ass out of myself and embarrassed us both.

"So what made you get into photography?" she asked interrupting my train of thought.

"I needed a way to pay for college and it was a match made in heaven. I love it, it's taken me to some great places and I've met some amazing people along the way."

"Where all have you traveled?"

"New Zealand, Japan, Montreal, I also lived in South America for a while."

She whistled. "Wow, you really do get around. Did you learn to speak their languages also?

"I picked up a little Portuguese from my time in São Paulo but that's about it." I walked over to the counter and grabbed a dry dish towel. If she wouldn't let me help her cook, the least I could do was help with the dishes.

She took that as a challenge, "Tell me something in Portuguese."

"Anything?" I asked.

"Anything," she repeated.

"Obrigado pela bela refeição." (Thanks for the lovely meal)

She turned to me with a slight smirk on her face, "Você é muito bem-vinda." (You are very welcome)

My eyes widened, "No way! You speak Portuguese?"

"Not exactly, my Great-Grandfather was born in Portugal and he tried like hell to teach me the language but I only know a few basic words like you," Vanessa explained.

"Damn, first your kid hustled me and now you. Is this something that you all do with the new girl in town?" I joked.

She laughed, "Nope just with you." She went to walk away from the sink but tripped on the rug in front of the sink and lost her footing.

My hands reached out instinctively to catch her and I cradled her soft body against mine. Time momentarily stood still as I stared down into those bewitching eyes of hers. I waited for her to pull away, knowing good and well that I could've broken the contact myself but selfishly I continued to hold onto her.

I wasn't sure if it was due to the wine that we'd both consumed or if it was due to the woman currently in my arms, but my heart hammered wildly in my chest and I was almost certain that she could hear it too. My eyes flickered briefly to her breasts as they slightly rose and fell with each breath she took. It may have been my wishful thinking on my part but it looked as if both her nipples were pressed against the soft material of her t-shirt. My panties got moist at the very thought of just touching them. I cleared my voice before quickly looking away ashamed at my perverted thought, "I should probably let you go now."

"Yeah you probably should," she told me but neither one of us made a move to separate from the other.

"You know, it's not every day that I get a beautiful woman to fall into my arms this easy," I joked hoping to lighten the mood because at that very moment, the sexual tension could've been cut with a knife.

Her response was barely above a whisper as her eyes nervously flickered to mine. "I feel very lucky then."

I licked my lips, wanting so desperately to kiss her. And based on how she was looking at me, I had a feeling that she wanted me to kiss her too. I looked away from her eyes down to the curve of her upper lip. How amazing would it feel to have those beautiful, sensual lips on mine?

Did I dare to find out?

I stroked her cheek with the pad of my thumb and moved by face closer to hers. "You shouldn't look at people like that you know," I warned her quietly.

She swallowed, "Like what?"

We were soon interrupted by what sounded like the front door open and close, followed by the unmistakable sound of their dogs barking. A very deep and masculine voice called out, "Vanessa? Honey we're home."

And just like that, our moment was over. Like a spell, it was abruptly broken.

"We're in the kitchen," she called out before quickly breaking all contact with me. She turned away in the blink of an eye and finished rinsing the remaining dishes without looking back at me.

I turned to look at the doorway just as a rather good looking, man whom I presumed to be her husband walked into the kitchen. I waved at him feeling awkward as all hell, "You must be Vanessa's husband."

Vanessa dried her hands on a dish towel and walked over to greet him with a kiss on the check. "Welcome home honey, this is Natalie Martin. She's the photographer that I was telling you about."

Recognition flashed in his dark, green eyes, "Oh yeah. We were supposed to meet today, right?" He held out his hand for me to shake. "Jason Westbrook, pleasure to meet you."

"Same to you, you have a very beautiful home."

"Thank you. Did you all get everything finalized about the pictures?"

"We did, we were thinking that Saturday would be a good day to take them."

He nodded. "Saturday? I think that I have a meeting that morning but I should be finished by noon."

"Did Sophie tell you about her school project?" Vanessa asked her husband, doing her best not to look at me.

"Yeah she told me all about it when I picked her up from school. She's in the living room watching TV with Cam." He wrapped his arm around his wife's waist. A waist that up until a few minutes ago, I'd just been holding on to. . . "So Ms. Martin, will you be staying for dinner?"

"Please call me Natalie, but no I actually have to get going. I've already stayed long enough."

"Are you sure?" he continued. "Vanessa mentioned to me that you had just moved here so I seriously doubt that you know very many people in town."

"I would but I actually already made dinner plans with my neighbor that lives across the hall. Another time maybe?" I gathered up my portfolio, notepad and discarded heels. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Westbrook. You and your wife have a very beautiful family and I look forward to working with you."

"I can walk you out," Vanessa offered still not quite making eye contact with me.

I shook my head immediately, "Thanks but I can see myself out. I'll see you all Saturday."

And like a bat straight out of hell, I got the hell out of there. It was divine intervention that I didn't get pulled over considering how fast I drove back to my apartment. My heart was steadily racing and my hands continued to tremble. What was it about this woman that left me so off balance? Maybe it was how she'd looked at me when I'd caught her from falling or maybe it was the fact that her body had felt so right and natural against my own.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Not once in my twenty six years on this planet, had I ever considered sleeping with a married woman. I respected and admired the holy sanctity of marriage between two people. My parents own failed and miserable marriage taught me that. Vanessa was completely off limits to me. She had just employed me to do a job and that was it. I told myself that a friendship with her would have to suffice me because I could never have anything more. She was off limits.

I grabbed my phone and sent Mason a quick text: "Got the job. We shoot Saturday."

**

Saturday came too soon for my liking and before I knew it and I found myself right back at the Westbrook's home. I was adjusting my lighting and making sure that my camera and back up camera were geared up and ready to go. Thankfully, Vanessa and I had had very little to virtually no interaction since I'd arrived.

She was content to act like the other day hadn't happened and for that I was so relieved but slightly disappointed. She'd just told me to make myself at home and let her know if I needed anything while she and Jay had disappeared upstairs a while ago to get the kids dressed and ready. Little Sophie was the first to emerge, "Mom says that you're taking pictures of us today," she told me.

"I am," I admitted with a smile. "Are you excited?"

The little girl nodded quickly and fidgeted with the hem of her white shirt, "I love taking pictures. Can I help you?"

"You can't help me when I take pictures of you and your brother and sister," I explained to her. "But you can be my official assistant when I take them of your mommy and daddy. You can hand me my cameras and stuff."

She looked hesitant to accept my offer. "But what if I mess up or drop one and it breaks?"

I kneeled down to her level and looked her in the eye. "If that happens, it's okay. Just know that I have plenty of faith in you. And between you and me, if you do really well, I'll talk your mommy and daddy into taking everyone out for ice cream."

"Really?" The little girls blue eyes brightened, "You have yourself a deal," she extended her hand out for me to shake which I shook enthusiastically.

The others finally came down and I arranged everyone to where I wanted them. We began with a series of test shots before getting down to the business at hand. The first setting was all of them standing near the bottom of the staircase, while the next was all of them seated on the couch in front of the fireplace. I started with the group pictures first before moving to the individual ones. They honestly looked like the picture perfect, All-American family in their matching white shirts and crisp, khaki pants.

They were all so happy and smiling. Especially, Jay and Vanessa who couldn't keep their eyes off one another. He leaned in to kiss her during several shots and I put on the fakest and phoniest smile that I could muster. I hated to admit it but I was having a slight attack of the 'ugly, green eyed monster' which was more commonly known as jealousy. And for the life of me, I couldn't explain it! It wasn't as if we had slept together or even shared a kiss. But the more that I watched them together, the more anxious I became to wrap up this shit and get my ass back home away from them.

Sophie, bless her little heart was being the best assistant that I could ever ask for. She handed me my cameras and switched them out whenever I instructed her to and was so careful to not drop them. If I ever did decide one day to have children or adopt, I sincerely hoped that they would be as kind hearted and well behaved as she was.

I called for a break in the middle of our shoot to switch out my lenses when Vanessa's husband stepped away to take a phone call. He returned a few minutes later but said that he had to leave to take care of another work related emergency. He apologized profusely, "I am so sorry. Can we finish this up on another day? We'll pay you double for your time."

"No need. I'm sure that we'll have more than enough to use," I assured him.

A look of genuine concern crossed Vanessa's face as she touched his shoulder. "Is everything alright at work? You look worried."

"Yeah everything's fine. I should be back in time before the guests arrive but if I'm running late, I'll call," he told her kissing her on the cheek. I tried not to read too much into his sudden departure but that marked two separate occasions in which he'd gotten called into work for an emergency.

"I guess that we're all done here kiddos. You guys wanna go upstairs and change? Nana should be here to pick you up in a little bit," His wife announced as she ushered her brood upstairs.

Cam waved at me before leaving and Sophie ran over to give me a hug, "Thanks for letting me help you. See you later, Natalie."

I hugged her right back, tears pricking in the back of my eyes. "You did awesome today, have fun at your Grandmas."

A while later after the kids had left, I was still packing up my equipment and getting ready to load them into the trunk of my car when Vanessa came back downstairs, dashing any hope that I had of not being left alone with her. I tried to ignore her presence and instead focus on loading my equipment into my duffel bag. "I'll bring by the proofs in a few days and let you pick out which ones you want. I took a lot today so there should be plenty to choose from."

"That's fine," she told me walking over to look out the window.

I glanced over at her. "You okay? You seem distracted."

"Yeah I'm just concerned about Jay. He's been so stressed lately about work."

"Is that unusual?" I asked.

"I can't really put it into words but he's just been so on edge whenever his phone rings," Vanessa paused. "How was your date the other night? The one with your neighbor?"

I was somewhat taken aback at the abrupt change of subject. I shrugged, "It was nice I guess. We ate Chinese takeout and watched reruns of the Golden Girls."

"Oh," she turned to face me, her eyes not quite meeting mine. "Do you like her? Is she the type of woman that you usually go for?"

"Not really. She's seventy six years old and don't get me wrong, I've dated older women before but not that old," I smiled. "And more importantly, she's still very much in love with her husband to ever be interested in the likes of me."