Focus On Love by Candee Fick

February 13th 2018 by Bling! Romance

Free-spirited Elizabeth Foster turned her back on her father’s photography business to pursue musical theater, but a career on the stage remains second to a career behind the camera. The possibility of a one-show contract means she’s a few weeks from unemployment forcing her home, and her dreams of pursuing professional photography reemerge. With photography and theater opportunities unfolding before her, Elizabeth faces her biggest challenge yet—listening to her heart.

Meanwhile, sought-after photographer Ryan Callahan has put his career on hold to help his sister’s family, but the promise of a bigger assignment could lure him away so he can begin building a family of his own. With professional opportunities and personal obligations pulling at him, Ryan faces his toughest challenge—balancing family, relationships, and work.

If given the choice, what dreams would develop for Elizabeth and Ryan? And will they learn to trust each other enough to focus on love?

“Do you want to help me with the middle?” Liz grinned as the little girl nodded like a bobblehead doll. Soon she straddle-walked behind Hannah as they packed the snow tight, then angled their path to intersect where the guys smoothed out the giant base. The activity tugged at memories of the year Grandpa O’Neill had helped her build a snowman and stole Grandma’s scarf for a decoration.

“Hannah, that’s the best middle I’ve ever seen.” Ryan’s praise brought a sweet smile from the precious little girl, filling more of the lonely spots in Liz’s heart. “But do you think Liz can lift it up here?”

“You could help, you know.” Liz paused to straighten a kink out of her back.

“I could.” He waggled his eyebrows, then moved to face her.

With his arms under hers, they lifted the middle section and then sidestepped toward the base. One could imagine they were almost hugging … if not for the icy mass between them.

And only if one were prone to imagining the start of a romance where friendship grew.

Cheryl emerged from the woods with an armload of potential decorations and whistled. “Looking good, you two.”

“Yep, looking good.” Ryan’s teasing wink implied that he wasn’t thinking about the snowman.

Liz helped steady the mass of snow while Ryan packed handfuls of snow in and around the gap to seal the connection, his arms frequently brushing against hers. Heat rose in her face as she changed the subject. “What are we going to name him … or her?”

“I’m thinking he looks like a Herbert.” Ryan stepped back and tilted his head to the right, as if in thought. “What do you think, Hannah?”

The little girl giggled, then nodded so hard that her stocking cap slipped down over one eye.

With everyone’s help, soon Herbert had a head, arms, face, buttons, and pine-needle hair. Liz retrieved her camera from the truck and directed the Callahan clan to gather around the snowman for a family photo.

“You need to get in a few too.” Cheryl left the group and reached for Liz’s camera. “Go stand over by Ryan and pretend you like him.”

“Pretend?” Ryan huffed as if offended but gestured for Liz to take a spot between him and the snowman.

As if she belonged there with him and the two giggling children at their feet.

Caught somewhere between the wispy dream of a family of her own and the conflicting sense of coming home, it didn’t take much, if any, “pretending” to like Ryan.